Very Light Jet air taxi start-up DayJet is continuing its expansion with the addition of two new "DayPort" locations that will be staffed with ground infrastructure to support the company's per-seat on-demand service. DayJet added Naples, Fla. and Savannah, Ga., increasing the total number of DayPorts to seven. Other DayPorts are in Boca Raton, Gainesville, Lakeland, Pensacola and Tallahassee.
Adam Aircraft continued to make progress toward certification of its A700 Very Light Jet completing a series of environmental tests last month at the McKinley Climatic Laboratory at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. The aircraft's Williams FJ-33 engines underwent testing in freezing fog, freezing rain and blowing snow to evaluate the ground performance of the inlet anti-ice systems. The aircraft also was exposed to temperatures as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit to evaluate the impact of the cold on the flight controls, avionics, ECS, engine starters and other systems.
Was named chair of the Legal Committee for Airports Council International. A managing partner in the Pittsburgh, Pa. office of Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis, Letwin has extensive experience in airport and aviation issues and currently serves as solicitor for the Allegheny County Airport Authority.
Was named chairman emeritus of Texas Aviation Services (TAS), a helicopter completion and MRO firm based at Meacham Field in Fort Worth, Texas. Woodard, 76, founded an aviation maintenance and avionics company 36 years ago that ultimately became TAS. He formally retired from TAS at the end of the year, but remains a substantial shareholder in the new venture that owns the company "and will remain active with the company in a consulting role" TAS said in a statement.
Model 430 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2007-28688; Directorate Identifier 2005-SW-21-AD; Amendment 39-15312; AD 2007-26-10] - Requires replacement of certain servo actuator-to-actuator support attachment bolt with an airworthy bolt. Also, establishes a retirement life for certain bolts, and requires recording the retirement life on a component history card or equivalent record. This AD was prompted by an evaluation of certain fatigue-critical parts, which led to the conclusion that a life limit of 5,000 hours for the affected bolts would be appropriate.
CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701, & 702), CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705) and CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0414; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-340-AD] - This proposed AD would require operators to revise the "Airworthiness Limitations" section of the "Instructions for Continued Airworthiness" to incorporate new limitations for fuel tank systems.
A fund-raising specialist, was named director of development for aviation at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Fla. The school said Davis will work closely with Tim Brady, dean of the College of Aviation, to strengthen relationships with alumni and donors. Davis, who holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Indiana University, previously held fund-raising posts with the University of Central Florida and Lake Highland Preparatory School in Orlando, Fla.
Model S-61A, S-61D, S-61E and S-61V helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2007-0284; Directorate Identifier 2004-SW-06-AD] - This proposed AD would require installing an electric chip detector on each GE CT58 engine, as well as an on-board chip detector annunciation system. The proposal also would require revising the Rotorcraft Flight Manual to add procedures for crew response to the illumination of an on-board chip detector warning light and require testing of the engine chip-detector system at specified intervals.
ROCKWELL COLLINS will be supplying more components for the Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ). The two manufacturers previously announced that Collins would supply its Pro Line Fusion avionics for the new RJ, but the latest agreement calls for Collins to also provide the primary flight control computers, pilot controls and the horizontal stabilizer trim system. The flight control computers will be an integral part of the MRJ's fly-by-wire system. The pilot controls system includes the control wheels, columns, pedals, associated feel systems and pedestal controls.
JOSEPH M. GULLION was named vice president and general manager of MRO and Business Development for M7 Aerospace in San Antonio, Texas. Gullion will have responsibility for the company's maintenance, repair and overhaul unit, one of six lines of business at M7. Gullion has more than 30 years of aircraft maintenance and operations management experience and previously held posts with AlliedSignal, Dalfort Aviation, AAR Corp. and The Boeing Company. A former Navy pilot, Gullion holds degrees in marketing and communications and a master's degree in management.
Was hired to represent Mooney Airplane Company in the Upper Midwest. His sales territory will include the Dakotas, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. A veteran aircraft salesman, Vasey previously held sales posts at Elliott Aviation in Moline, Ill., and Galvin Flying Service in Seattle, Wash.
Model F406 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-0115 Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-080-AD; Amendment 39-15310; AD 2007-26-08] - Requires removal of the emergency blowdown bottle and installation of a new one following the instructions of Reims Aviation Service Bulletin No. F406-66 (dated May 7, 2007).
THE BUSINESS TRAVEL COALITION and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters are partnering on an Aircraft Maintenance Outsourcing Summit next month in Washington, D.C. The Feb. 11 meeting is designed "to elevate a national discussion over the efficacy of current U.S. airline industry outsourcing practices with respect to maintenance firms in the U.S.
MARKEY'S LETTER comes as the business aviation community is looking for ways to stay ahead of the emerging focus on environmental issues. A National Air Transportation Association official noted that the association's new Environmental Committee already has attracted more than two dozen members with more expected to participate in the initial meeting Jan. 28 in Savannah, Ga. (BA, Dec. 17/280). One of the key items on the agenda will be the development of a carbon offset program.
EUROCOPTER sold 11 new helicopters to the Spanish Interior and Defense Ministries. The Director for Traffic will take delivery of four AS355NP twin-engine and two EC135 twin-engine helicopters. Eurocopter valued the contract for the six helicopters at 20 million euros. Eurocopter also received contracts for two AS532AL (Cougar) helicopters for the Ministry of Defense for the FAMET (Army Airmobile Force) and three Cougars for the Military Emergency Unit (UME).
PIPER AIRCRAFT insists officials have not made a decision on a possible relocation of the company's manufacturing operations, despite a Jan. 15 vote on a $12 million incentive package from Indian River County Florida designed to keep the small aircraft manufacturer in Vero Beach, Fla.
Lisa Porter, NASA associate administrator for aeronautics research, will leave the agency on or around Feb. 1 to become the first director of the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA). In a Jan. 9 notice to colleagues at the civil space and aeronautics agency, Porter said the new organization will sponsor innovative research that will yield revolutionary game-changing capabilities for the intelligence community.
March 10-11 - Federal Aviation Administration, 33rd Annual Aviation Forecast Conference, Washington, D.C. Contact Linda Baranovics at (202) 267-5370; or e-mail [email protected] March 10-12 - Flight Safety Foundation 20th European Aviation Safety Seminar - EASS, Bucharest, Romania; Contact FSF at (703) 739-6700 March 13-15 - Aeronautical Repair Station Association, Annual Repair Symposium, Washington, D.C.; Contact ARSA at (703) 739-9543
EADS CEO LOUIS GALLOIS said the company has initiated talks to find an outside partner to help run Socata, EADS' general/business aviation manufacturing and support unit. Gallois did not say who the partner might be or how the partnership might be structured, but said the outside expert could aid Socata's development. There has long been speculation that EADS might sell off the Socata unit because it is not a good fit with EADS' other major lines of business.
The total number of accidents and incidents involving U.S.-registered business jet and turboprop aircraft last year differed only slightly from the results in 2006 although the number of fatalities increased for both jet and turboprop operators and Part 135 operators were involved in considerably more serious accidents in the year just ended, according to data compiled by Robert E. Breiling Associates of Boca Raton, Fla.
STANDARD AERO expects a $1.6 million facility transformation at its Winnipeg, Manitoba MRO unit will substantially increase its ability to overhaul Pratt & Whitney PT6A engines. "The transformation will increase the Standard Aero engine overhaul capacity, efficiency and provide faster turn times for our customers," said Manny Atwal, general manager of Standard Aero's PT6 Strategic Business unit.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION issued special conditions for the Adam A700 twin turbofan aircraft and Bell 429 helicopter. The special conditions for the A700 require protection of the VLJ's external centerline fuel tank, which is located below the fuselage pressure shell immediately below the wing. Because this tank is not in a protected area with the wings or fuselage as in most aircraft, FAA will require Adam to develop alternative ways to protect the tank.
HOW MANY AIRPLANES do you suppose you could sell in 50 years on the job? Well, since Philip Carrell sold his first airplane - a 1947 Stinson 108 in 1948 - he has averaged more than 10 sales a year, finding buyers for more than 500 aircraft. A lifelong resident of Portland, Ore., Carrell began working for fixed-base operator Flightcraft in 1948, the year it was founded, after he had completed his studies at Clark College. Carrell has sold planes for as much as $8 million to customers as far away as Australia, Brazil and the Czech Republic.
CESSNA AIRCRAFT appointed Elia Dragone general manager of its New York Citation Service Center. Dragone, who has more than 20 years of aviation maintenance experience, is returning to Cessna after a three-year stint with Jet Support Services Inc. He formerly spent nine years in sales and marketing at Cessna's New York facility, and Cessna credited him with helping to triple sales volume during that time. a
DELTA AIRELITE added another Learjet 45 to its fleet. The aircraft will be based in Tulsa, Okla. for use by Delta AirElite members and charter customers.
