New World Jet Corp., the Part 135 certificate holder for Jet Aviation’s U.S. charter operations, is being acquired by FirstFlight, Inc., the rapidly expanding charter operation headquartered in Elmira/Corning, N.Y. FirstFlight, which recently announced the launch of a West Coast Division based in Van Nuys, Calif. (BA, July 21/36), said Wednesday it signed a definitive agreement to acquire charter operator New World Jet from Gold Jets.
CHELTON secured an FAA supplemental type certificate for its software Version 6.0B and air data and attitude heading reference system (ADAHRS) for the Eurocopter EC120B helicopter. The software and ADAHRS will provide use of either Class A or B Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning System, will support WSI Weather Radar, expand hover vector coverage, support ADS-B datalink functions and enhance the terrain database.
CESSNA AIRCRAFT has begun offering its labor coverage program ProTech to CJ3 customers. First offered to owners of Citation Mustangs, the program provides customers the option to pay a monthly fee to cover all labor costs for regular maintenance. Customers select one of three operational tiers based on aircraft use. Part of Cessna’s ProAdvantage family of programs, ProTech was designed to complement parts and engine maintenance programs.
NASA is working to improve cooperation with the Defense Dept. on aeronautics research and has made good progress on increasing collaboration with the U.S. Air Force, a senior official says. “We have not been a very good partner with DOD in some areas,” says Jaiwon Shin, NASA associate administrator for the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate. “We would work with DOD for two to three years, hold coordination meetings and draw up roadmaps and wiring diagrams, then it would fizzle out.”
HAWKER BEECHCRAFT completed the sale of its wholly owned fuel and line operations at seven U.S. airports to BBA Aviation, the parent company of Signature Flight Support, the world’s largest operator of FBOs. To clear the way for the transaction to close, Signature had to agree to sell one of the two FBOs at Indianapolis, Ind. International Airport (IND) because of antitrust concerns raised by the Department of Justice (BA, July 14/16). It is expected that Signature will keep its current facility at IND and resell the former Hawker Beechcraft facility there.
Early market acceptance of Gulfstream Aerospace’s new G650 business jet, which has resulted in firm orders for about 100 of the $60 million aircraft in just three months, sharply boosted the aircraft manufacturer’s firm backlog during the second quarter, according to parent company General Dynamics. Gulfstream got an overwhelming response to its G650 program launch announcement in mid-March, receiving Letters of Intent (LOI) for some 500 aircraft when the manufacturer began accepting deposits in April (BA, April 28/189).
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE’S EFFORTS to turn Letters of Intent for the new G650 business jet into firm orders got off to a roaring start in the second quarter, resulting in a book-to-bill ratio of 5.8:1 for the period, parent company General Dynamics said last week. A JPMorgan analysis described the April-June period as “a huge order quarter for Gulfstream” as total backlog jumped 50 percent. In addition to the influx of G650 orders, JPMorgan said the backlog increase “may also have included a recent $1.9 billion NetJets order.” See article below.
MARK WISE joined the recently formed West Coast Division of FirstFlight as director of maintenance. Wise, who will report to Richard Hodkinson (BA, July 21/36), formerly worked with Hodkinson in aircraft maintenance services for Elite Aviation, a company that Hodkinson founded. Wise also has been director of aircraft maintenance for Vulcan Flight Management in Seattle, Wash. and Jet Source in Carlsbad, Calif.
DIAMOND AIRCRAFT is working closely with Austro Engine on certification of a new turbo-diesel engine to replace the Thielert Aircraft Engines Centurion that currently powers the Diamond DA 42. The aircraft manufacturer is telling customers that Austro Engine hopes to win certification by the European Aviation Safety Agency this fall. See article on Page 39.
AVIDYNE AND SOUTHERN STAR AVIONICS have begun offering the Envision integrated flight deck on Cessna 320, 334, and 340 twin-piston aircraft. The aircraft were added to the FAA Approved Model List for the retrofit. Avidyne, working with Southern Star in Mobile, Ala., originally secured supplemental type certification for Cessna 401, 402, 414 and 421 models. The retrofit is the latest in a series of collaborative projects for Avidyne and Southern Star. Other STCs include installation of the Envision components on King Air E90 and Cirrus SR20/SR22 aircraft.
Clifford Development completed the first flights of its Citation S550 re-engined with Williams FJ44-3A engines. The Kalamazoo, Mich. company said the initial flights were a significant milestone in its quest to secure a supplemental type certificate for the program. A 30-minute maiden flight was used to evaluate aircraft handling and engine controllability. Subsequent flights evaluated aircraft systems interface with the engines and the aircraft’s response to more powerful engines. Clifford Development and Great Lakes Aviation test engineers and pilots flew the aircraft.
CESSNA secured European Aviation Safety Agency certification for its Caravan single-turboprop equipped with Garmin G1000 integrated avionics. EASA approval followed FAA certification in April. Cessna took orders for 272 Caravans last year and said sales continue to be brisk. Cessna now offers the G1000 integrated avionics package on all of its piston models, the Caravan and the Citation Mustang entry-level business jet. The Caravan G1000 package includes three 10-inch displays and the GFC700 integrated, dual-channel digital autopilot.
EMBRAER EMB-120, -120ER, -120FC, -120QC and -120RT airplanes [Docket No. 2003-NM-33-AD; Amendment 39-15613; AD 2008-15-01] – Following the instructions of Embraer Service Bulletins 120-27-0095, Rev. 01 (dated Oct. 30, 2007) and 120-27-0096, Rev. 01 (dated Oct. 1, 2007), operators must revise the Airplane Flight Manual to include operational limitations for use of the autopilot. Also, they should install two placards that advise the flight crew to check the pitch trim before descent. Modifying the elevator trim system would terminate the requirements of the AD.
FOKKER F.28 Mark 0070 and Mark 0100 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0675; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-192-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to conduct repetitive eddy-current inspections of the main landing gear’s main fitting to locate possible cracks, following the instructions of Messier-Dowty Service Bulletin F100-32-111 (dated Dec. 20, 2005). If cracks were found, they would need to be repaired before further flight.
FLIGHT SAFETY FOUNDATION brought a key safety workshop to North Africa. FSF’s Controlled Flight Into Terrain and Approach and Landing Accident Reduction Action Group (CAAG) hosted an Approach and Landing Accident Reduction Tool Kit workshop in Tripoli, Libya. Hosted by Afriqiyah Airways of Libya, the workshop was the first nongovernmental international aviation safety event held in Libya.
The National Transportation Safety Board expressed concern that a temporary control tower at Opa Locka Airport (OPF) has created unsafe conditions and recommended that FAA take steps to ensure that the tower meets agency requirements. NTSB also recommended that the controllers at OPF provide “progressive” taxi and ground movement instructions – those usually reserved for pilots unfamiliar with an airport – for any aircraft or airfield vehicles not visible from the tower.
AVFUEL CORPORATION added Big Sky Aviation of Millville Airport (KMIV) and Cape May Airport (KWWD) in New Jersey to its network of branded dealers. Big Sky Aviation was founded in 1998 in Millville and added the Cape May location in 2005. Each facility provides a range of aircraft, pilot and passenger services, including fuel, maintenance, flight training, aircraft rental, weather and Internet access.
FAIRCHILD F-27 and FH-227 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0734; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-004-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to modify their airplanes and revise their inspection or maintenance programs to incorporate instructions for maintenance and inspection of the fuel tank systems, as appropriate, by Dec. 16, 2008, using information developed in accordance with SFAR 88. This proposal resulted from fuel system safety reviews done on similar airplane models.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) used his prerogative as majority leader to move a bill to stop oil speculation directly to the Senate floor, but the chamber’s Republican caucus blocked debate on the bill last week.
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE Astra SPX, 1125 Westwind Astra and Gulfstream 100 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0299; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-254-AD; Amendment 39-15593; AD 2008-13-30] – This AD requires revising the “Limitations” section of the Airplane Flight Manual that pertains to reverse thrust operations. Also, inspect for damage to the bolts used to attach the “scissors” to the horizontal and the vertical stabilizers and replace the bolts, if necessary.
SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORP. sold two S-92 helicopters to International Handling Co. Ltd. The aircraft will be used for IHC’s offshore oil operations. The contract includes options for four additional S-92s. IHC is based in Azerbaijan.
Repayable investments from Canadian and British government agencies as well as a series of partners helped Bombardier to finally launch its CSeries family of airliners, putting the Canadian plane-maker in direct competition with Boeing and Airbus along with rival Embraer. Bombardier on July 13 formally launched the CSeries 110- to 130-seat family of aircraft with letters of interest from German carrier Lufthansa for up to 60 of the aircraft. Plans call for the first CSeries to enter service in 2013.
CAE sold one of its 7000 Series Bombardier Global Express flight simulators to the Canadian aircraft maker. The simulator will be the first equipped with the Bombardier Global Vision Flight Deck, a new cockpit configuration integrating advanced avionics with a range of ergonomic features. The simulator will be delivered next year to Bombardier’s Montreal training center.
VIKING AIR LIMITED DHC-6-1, DHC-6-100, DHC-6-200 and DHC-6-300 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0368 Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-007-AD; Amendment 39-15532; AD 2008-11-10] – Operators must modify and inspect the wing front spar adapter fitting and replace any cracked fittings. This AD, which resulted from the Canadian aviation authority, is intended to address corrosion-induced inter-rivet cracking on wing front spar adapter assemblies located on the horizontal and vertical flanges. The FAA estimates that this directive will affect 157 aircraft on the U.S.
AVIONS DE TRANSPORT REGIONAL ATR42 and ATR72-101, -102, -201, -202, -211 and -212 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0409; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-265-AD; Amendment 39-15587; AD 2008-13-24] – Requires measuring the hole diameter of the retainer on the aileron automatic tab bellcrank assembly, per the instructions of Avions de Transport Regional Service Bulletin ATR42-27-0098 or ATR72-27-1060 (both dated Dec. 19, 2006). If the hole diameter of the retainer exceeds specified limits, replace the retainer with one that meets specifications.
