EXXONMOBIL AVIATION LUBRICANTS introduced HyJet V, a new aviation hydraulic fluid that the manufacturer said is fire-resistant and provides higher stability and longer service life than Type IV fluids. The phosphate ester aviation hydraulic fluid has received approvals from Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier and ATR. The new fluid has a flash point of 345 degrees Fahrenheit, exceeding the 320-degree flash point standard required by Airbus and Boeing, ExxonMobil said.
Park Air Systems, a Northrop Grumman subsidiary, has been selected by Nav Canada to supply VHF radios as part of a US$50 million replacement program. Nav Canada plans to replace all ground-to-air VHF radio equipment at 320 sites throughout Canada. More than 2,000 pairs of radios will be replaced, using Park’s T6 multi-mode digital radios. About 250 pairs will be delivered in 2008.
THE FIRST VH-71 HELICOPTER made its first flight on Monday, Sept. 22 at the AgustaWestland facility in Yeovil, England. The aircraft, designated as “the first operational pilot production helicopter (PP-1),” flew for about 40 minutes on its maiden voyage. PP-1 is the first of five VH-71 production aircraft that will complete the initial phase, or Increment One, of the U.S. presidential helicopter replacement program. Increment Two will provide 23 operational helicopters with increased range and upgraded navigation and communications systems.
EADS SOCATA TBM 700 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0748 Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-041-AD; Amendment 39-15677; AD 2008-19-10] – Before further flight, inspect the gap between the landing gear control button and the floor panel. If the gap is below limits, modify the floor panel per the instructions of EADS SOCATA Mandatory TBM Aircraft Service Bulletin SB 70-154 (dated April 2008).
HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC. TFE731-4, -4R, -5, -5AR, -5BR and -5R turbofan engines [Docket No. FAA-2008-0264; Directorate Identifier 2008-NE-07-AD; Amendment 39-15679; AD 2008-19-12] – The AD requires replacement of certain interstage turbine transition (ITT) ducts with a serviceable, redesigned ITT duct. This AD resulted from reports of 49 low-pressure turbine (LPT) blade-separation events, six of which resulted in circumferential failure of the LPT2 or LPT3 nozzle assembly.
FRASCA received a number of orders recently for its TruFlite reconfigurable flight training devices from flight training schools around the country. Elizabeth City State University in N.C ordered a TruFlite Cessna 172R/Beech Duchess FTD; L3 Vertex in Madison, Miss., placed a contract for a Cessna 206 TruFlite; and Lansing Community College in Michigan and Epic Aviation in Florida each bought Cessna 172 TruFlites.
THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION has clamped down on the number of erroneous or fraudulent medical certificates issued, but still needs to make more progress in its evaluation of certificate applicants, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar (D-Minn.) said Friday. The T&I Committee in 2007 released a report that cited “egregious” cases of fraud and found that 10 percent of pilots involved in fatal accidents had medical conditions that were not reported on their applications for medical certificates (BA, April 2, 2007/155).
RICK DAY was appointed senior vice president-operations for FAA’s Air Traffic Organization. Day previously was the ATO’s vice president-en route and oceanic services. In his new role he will direct the ATO’s largest business units: en route and oceanic, system operations, technical operations and terminal. The new position was created in July and has been filled on an acting basis by Steve Zaidman, who also is vice president-technical operations.
THE PORTSMOUTH, N.H. INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT will conduct a full-scale airport emergency exercise Saturday Oct. 4. The airport expects responders from approximately 25 local, state and federal agencies to participate. For more information, contact Andrew Zielike at the Pease Development Authority at (603) 433-6536 or at: [email protected].
DAVID KROGMAN was named general manager of West Star Aviation’s facility in Grand Junction, Colo. (GJT). Krogman will replace Rick Brainard, who left the job to become vice president of sales. Krogman will oversee all day-to-day operational activities at the aircraft maintenance facility and fixed-base operation in Grand Junction. He has been serving as director of hangar operations there since July 2006. Prior to that, Krogman had been Citation and Hawker program manager since joining West Star in 1996.
Satellite communications provider Iridium Holdings LLC took steps to prepare for the launch of the next generation satellite constellation with a definitive agreement to merge with GHL Acquisition Corp. The merged company will be renamed Iridium Communications Inc.
THE WICHITA aviation community plans to form the Wichita Aero Club, based on the Aero Clubs of Washington and Atlanta and The Wings Club in New York. The group, comprising a consortium of business, government and educational organizations, will host monthly luncheons with speakers addressing major aviation industry issues. The Wichita Aero Club also plans to have a Web site, online newsletter, and fund-raising events.
THE HONDAJET WILL NEED A FIRE EXTIGUISHING SYSTEM, says the Federal Aviation Administration, which recently issued special certification conditions for the Very Light Jet. Part 23 airplanes don’t normally require a fire extinguishing system, but because the HA-420’s engines are mounted aft on the top of the wings, out of the pilot’s primary field of view, the agency states that “early visual detection of engine fires is precluded” and a fire extinguishing system is necessary.
MARK H. HILDEBRANDT , 52, was elected to the board of directors of HEICO Corp., Miami, Fla. Hildebrandt will fill the seat vacated by Joseph W. Pallot, who resigned to become the company’s full-time general counsel. Hilebrandt is a partner in the Miami law firm of Waldman, Hildebrandt, Trigoboff Marx & Calnan. He began his legal career as an assistant state attorney in the Miami-Dade County State Attorney’s office working under Janet Reno. He has been engaged in the practice of law for more than 25 years.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701 and 702) and Model CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-1007; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-135-AD] – Requires modifying the fuel system wiring along the fuselage and in the avionics compartment by installing protective conduit and spacers, in accordance with the instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 670BA-24-011, Rev. C (dated Nov. 28, 2005).
PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA established a new parts distribution center in Sydney, Australia to supply parts to customers in the Australia and New Zealand regions. The facility is the third parts distribution center that P&WC has opened worldwide as part of an aftermarket strategy to expand its global reach. P&WC opened a center in Singapore last year and one in Amsterdam in 2006. The new center will house a range of parts, including exchange accessories and line-replaceable units for all P&WC engine models.
BRISTOW is planning to open a new European headquarters and training facility in Aberdeen, Scotland. The helicopter services company has invested nearly 180 million pounds in the European business unit over the last three years. The new facility will include 12,000 square feet of office space, 6,000 square feet of classroom/training facilities and 11,500 square feet of space that will house up to four flight simulators. Bristow plans to begin construction next month and move into the new headquarters by May 2009.
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
Eclipse Aviation is awaiting word on when it can expect a cash infusion from Russia. Timing is a matter of concern since the Albuquerque, N.M., airframer’s current cash reserves only will sustain company operations at their current levels through the end of October.
THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD was continuing its investigation last week of the Sept. 19 fatal crash of a Learjet 60 (N999LJ) as it was attempting to take off from the Columbia, S.C. Metropolitan Airport. Investigators found pieces of tire from the aircraft about 2,800 feet down the runway. The aircraft ran off the end of the 8,600-foot runway, through a fence and across a five-lane highway before striking terrain and bursting into flames. Both pilots and two passengers were killed and two other passengers were severely injured.
M7 AEROSPACE joined forces with San Antonio Aircraft Support (SAAS) to open a new modification center in San Antonio, Texas that will specialize in custom corporate interiors. M7 said the new joint venture combines M7’s background in maintenance, repair and overhaul and engineering with SAAS’s experience in fabricating interior furnishings for corporate aircraft. The new center will install corporate interiors in regional aircraft, manufactured by Bombardier, Embraer, ATR, Saab and Dornier, as well as in a range of business aircraft and helicopters.
SUZANNE ROY was appointed vice president, India for CAE. Roy will be based in Bangalore. She joined CAE in 2005 as vice president, program management, responsible for CAE Civil Simulation Products development and implementation programs.
“THE OEMS are fat, dumb and happy with their current order backlogs and are oblivious to how quickly things will change,” is the assessment of industry veteran Brian Foley, who heads the business aviation market research and consultancy Brian Foley Associates. Foley, a former executive with Dassault Falcon Jet, forecast that the next downturn will be more pronounced than originally predicted and the subsequent recovery will take longer. Foley maintains that a weak U.S.
CLARKE MOUNCHER was named global program director Rolls-Royce 250 for all of BBA Aviation’s engine repair and overhaul RR250 activities. For the past 10 years, Mouncher has been a program director at H+S Aviation (a BBA company) and for the past two years he has led the R-R Model 250 program at H+S. In his expanded role he will be responsible for overhaul services at both H+S Aviation and Premier Turbines as well as repair activities at BBA Aviation’s Phoenix and Dayton Regional Turbine Centers.
