AVIONS DE TRANSPORT REGIONAL ATR72 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-1081; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-143-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to verify installation of the four cotter pins securing the nuts of the fastener assemblies connecting the elevator control rods to the elevator bellcranks, as described in ATR Service Bulletin ATR72-27-1059, Rev. 2 (dated May 19, 2008). If any cotter pin is found missing, before further flight, a new one would have to be installed.
DOUG DONAHUE was named Embraer aircraft service sales representative for Duncan Aviation. Donahue joined Duncan in 2000 as a service sales representative. He has 15 years of experience. Duncan Aviation is an Embraer authorized service center for Legacy and Phenom aircraft. Duncan performs scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, AOG support, troubleshooting, engine maintenance, warranty work, modification, and component repair and replacement for the Embraer executive fleet.
BURKHART GROB LUFT UND RAUMFAHRT KG G103 series gliders [Docket No. FAA-2008-1078; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-051-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to remove a bolt from the airbrake bell crank and install a new bolt and new locking nut. Also, operators would need to inspect all parts of the airbrake bell crank for damage and, before further flight, replace any damaged parts, per the instructions of Grob Aerospace Service Bulletin No. MSB 315-76/1 and 869-27/1 (both dated June 23, 2008).
David Siegel has left Gate Gourmet to become president and CEO of XOJET, a two-year-old on-demand charter and aircraft ownership operation that appointed Siegel to its board a little over one year ago. The current holder of these positions, XOJET founder Paul Touw, will now assume the chairman’s role.
PASSUR AEROSPACE, INC., Greenwich, Conn., received a contract to provide its PASSUR FBO software for the Ross Aviation network of fixed-base operations. The software provides real-time flight, customer and airspace status through visual flight tracking and Web dashboards. The program also includes detailed marketing reports and analytics. Ross Aviation operates 13 FBOs throughout the U.S., including five locations in Hawaii (Bradley Pacific Aviation) as well as Arizona, New Mexico, California, Colorado, Alaska, Texas and Florida.
Hangar space for lease at the Van Nuys Airport. Maguire Aviation is in the process of developing 460,000 sq. ft. of hangar and offices for single and multiple tenant occupancy. Please contact Mike McDaniel or Tim Wray for more information at 800-451-7270. Click here to view the pdf
SAFE FLIGHT INSTRUMENT CORPORATION was selected to supply its automatic throttle system, AutoPower, as an option on the Gulfstream G150 business jet. The AutoPower system initially will be available for new production aircraft, and later for retrofit on in-service G150s. AutoPower is designed to reduce crew workload, improve situational awareness and passenger comfort by providing smooth and precise engine target settings for airspeed control.
EADS Socata executives are hopeful that the proposed merger with French conglomerate Daher will bring the general aviation plane maker closer to developing its first all new aircraft in two decades. EADS and Daher announced in early July that the two companies had begun exclusive negotiations for Daher to take a majority interest in Socata. Those plans progressed last week when the Central Councils and Work Councils of Daher, EADS France and Socata each approved the acquisition.
(325: Cessna Aircraft last week kicked off its campaign to organize its sixth Citation Special Olympics Airlift with pilot and actor Harrison Ford as the honorary chairman. The company hopes that some 325 Citations will transport 2,000 athletes to the 2010 Special Olympics USA National Games July 17-24 in Lincoln, Neb. Citation owners volunteer their aircraft and crew for the airlift. Cessna organized the first airlift in 1987 with 130 Citations carrying nearly 1,000 athletes to the games in South Bend, Ind.
(30,811: The National Business Aviation Association’s 61st Annual Meeting & Convention in Orlando, Fla. had a “solid turnout” considering the challenging economy, NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen said. The 30,811 attendees this year represented a decline of 3.7 percent from the 2007 show, which drew some 32,000 attendees.
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE officials have taken pains in recent years to characterize their supersonic flight studies as an R&D effort rather than an aircraft development program. But Pres Henne, the company’s senior vice president, programs, engineering and test, was more direct during a press conference last week at the NBAA convention in Orlando, Fla. Asked by a questioner, “What is the X54?,” Henne responded that Gulfstream has been working on a supersonic program “for a very long time,” adding that “someone” has to do a complete aircraft at some point in the future.
(200: AAI Acquisition, the company that bought the assets of the bankrupt Adam Aircraft in April with a $10 million bid, has grown the work force to 200 employees as it continues to work toward certification of the A700 Very Light Jet. The company in May had a team of 58 employees, most of whom were former Adam Aircraft workers. AAI has decided to keep the basic A700 design and engines, but is looking at a new avionics package, interior and a few other changes.
October 16-18 – Chevron Global Aviation Advanced Safety Training, Richmond, Calif. Contact Chevron Customer Service at (866) 557-3456 or e-mail to [email protected] October 20-22 – Airports Council International-North America Public Safety and Security Fall Conference, Ritz Carlton Pentagon City Hotel, Arlington, Va. For more information call (202) 293-8500 or go to www.aci-na.org/conferences
(22 Percent: North America comes in third in top markets for Boeing Business Jets. Boeing has sold 32 percent of BBJs and other VIP-configured Boeing aircraft in the Middle East and 24 percent in Europe. The company sold 21 new aircraft valued at $3 billion over the past year, increasing total sales to 182 BBJs and VIP derivatives. Sales continue to be brisk despite the long lead times. The next available delivery slots are in the 2014-2015 range for most of the Boeing products, with the exception of the 787.
Top executives of Aerion Corp. say wind tunnel test results for the company’s proposed supersonic business jet have been promising, but acknowledge they need to find an original equipment manufacturer partner by early next year to keep the program on schedule.
Testing is under way of an F-18 with a covered aft cockpit to help prove that a camera-equipped aircraft with no forward view windows could be a viable option for a future supersonic business jet.
THE SHARP DROP IN and volatility of worldwide stock market prices was clearly on the minds of attendees and exhibitors at last week’s National Business Aviation Association convention in Orlando, Fla. Most of the major business jet manufacturers emphasized that they are in much better shape to weather a business downturn now than they were during the last recession because most have much larger order backlogs.
HAWKER BEECHCRAFT Model 390 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-1067; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-052-AD; Amendment 39-15688; AD 2008-21-04] – This AD requires operators to the cabin barometric pressure switch and cabin altitude high switch installations and perform a functional test of the switches and related systems, following the instructions of Hawker Beechcraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 21-3899 (dated May 2008).
Hawker Beechcraft Corp. (HBC) announced the Hawker 450XP business jet, saying the 400XP successor “will receive the most comprehensive product upgrade in light jet history.”
JET AVIATION signed a memorandum of understanding with Vnukovo Invest to expand its operations at Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow. Jet Aviation will move into a 32,827-square-foot maintenance hangar, close to the Moscow Vnukovo-3 fixed-base operation. The new hangar will triple Jet Aviation’s maintenance and support space for OEM clients and local and transient customers. Jet Aviation currently operates from a 10,763-square-foot hangar at Vnukovo-3 where it provides line maintenance, support and AOG services.
RICHARD MCQUEEN was promoted to president and chief executive of Akron-Canton Airport in Ohio. McQueen succeeds Frederick Krum, who retired as airport director Sept. 30 after 32 years of service with the airport. McQueen, a 32-year veteran with the airport, most recently was assistant director. He joined the airport staff in 1982 as an accountant and was promoted to controller, then assistant director of finance and administration. He has managed the finances, accounting, contracts and government funding as well as personnel hiring and capital project administration.
VULCANAIR S.P.A. Model P68 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-1020; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-053-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to determine the safe fatigue limit of the wing structure using Vulcanair S.p.A. Service Bulletin No. 120 Rev. 1 (dated June 7, 2006). Operators would need to repetitively inspect the wing structure, the wing-to-fuselage attachments and the stabilator.
Hangar space for lease at the Van Nuys Airport. Maguire Aviation is in the process of developing 460,000 sq. ft. of hangar and offices for single and multiple tenant occupancy. Please contact Mike McDaniel or Tim Wray for more information at 800-451-7270. Click here to view the pdf
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE named CORJET Europe in Madrid, Spain as a Gulfstream Authorized Warranty Repair Facility, providing services for the Gulfstream G550, G200, GV, GIV-SP and GIV aircraft. As a warranty repair facility, CORJET is authorized to provide detailed maintenance services, including scheduled maintenance checks and inspections. CORJET Europe is a joint venture between Spanish companies Iberia Group and Gestair Group.
