WICHITA: The first flight of the B-29 Superfortress known as “Doc”, which follows a 16-year restoration project, has been scheduled for Sunday, July 17. The B-29 will take off from the non-joint use runway at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, adjacent to the hangar where the restoration team has been working to bring the historic warbird back to flyable condition.
BERN, Switzerland—Switzerland’s business aviation sector is poised for further growth, as long as capacity and regulatory issues do not stifle potential, industry players gathered for the first Business Aviation National Forum in Switzerland said. Business aviation has an image issue: It is perceived to be elitist and luxurious, said Hans-Ueli Vogt, a member of the Swiss National Council and chairman of the Parliamentary Group for Aviation.
Lider Aviacao will be the official provider of business aviation at Tom Jobim International Airport during the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. All ground operations will be coordinated by Lider Aviacao and Riogaleao. The area designated for general and business aviation will be divided between Lider Aviacao, with 70% of the space, and Universal Aviation, with 30%. Lider and Universal will be operating independent of one another.
JetSmarter, a private jet company, has launched its first transatlantic JetShuttle, a feature that offers single-seat trips for members flying between New York and London. The intercontinental flights will depart New York on Fridays at 9 a.m. and return from London on Sundays at 6 p.m. Flights will take place on a Gulfstream GIV-SP and Bombardier Global Express. The first flight is scheduled for Aug. 26.
Appareo has received Technical Standard Order (TSO) authorization from the FAA for its Stratus ESG transponder, a panel-mounted 1090 ES transponder, to help aircraft owners meet the 2020 mandate by providing Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast Out and built-in Wide Area Augmentation System GPS. Price with a GPS antenna is $2,995.
Pattonair has been awarded a renewed and expanded contract for global supply chain services by Rolls-Royce. The contract runs through 2022. Under the contract, Pattonair will support Rolls-Royce in ramping-up production of new engine programs that include the Trent XWB, Trent 100 and Trent 7000. Pattonair supports Rolls-Royce with supply-chain services, such as planning, inventory management, just-in-time delivery, production lines and kitting.
Send Solutions has received STC approval from the FAA for installation of “Airtext” passenger iridium texting systems on Cessna 750 or Citation X business jets. Airtext allows the ability for 16 passengers to send and receive SMS messages inflight or on the ground. Using the iridium satellite network, the product gives passengers connectivity through cell phones while on the aircraft.
Greenpoint Aerospace of Denton, Texas, has been named an authorized distributor and installer of Aviation Clean Air’s air-and-surface purification system, which provides clean, safe and healthy interior air, the company said. The system eliminates pathogens, allergens and odors, and provides surface purification in the cabin interior. Greenpoint is able to install the system on most business aircraft at its Denton facility.
Cessna Aircraft delivered its first Cessna Citation Latitude midsize jet to a customer in Mexico. The customer plans to use the aircraft for business travel within Mexico and throughout North America. Avemex, an authorized Citation sales representative in Mexico, will operate the Latitude on its air taxi certificate for the Latitude’s corporate owner.
Bliss Jet has launched regularly scheduled private jet flights between New York and London. Flights will leave Westchester County Airport in New York on Sunday nights and arrive at London Biggin Hill Airport. Return flights depart from London after lunch on Fridays. The service begins in September. Seats on the 14-passenger jets will cost $11,995 each way. The initial flights will be operated for Bliss Jet by Jet Access Aviation under a public-charter approval from the Transportation Department.
Avcorp Composite Fabrication in Gardena, California, has reached a collective-bargaining agreement with Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics and Allied Workers International Union Local 19 for a six-year contract. The agreement calls for wage increases of 1% in the first year, with increases of 2.25%, 2.25% and 2.75% for the next three years. Wage adjustments in years 5–6 will be reviewed by the company and the union.
Gulfstream’s super mid-sized Gulfstream G280 set a speed record on a trip between Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Luton, England. The crew completed the flight in seven hours, Gulfstream reports. The record will be sent to the Federation Aeronautique Internationale in Switzerland for recognition as a world record.
Airbus has signed a service contract with Jet Aviation Management to add its maintenance facility in Basel, Switzerland, to its authorized service center network for Airbus corporate jets.
TAG Aviation, in collaboration with Rockwell Collins, has been granted an FAA STC for the installation of the TTR-4100 TCAS II version 7.1 on Dassault Falcon 900, Falcon 900C and Falcon 900EX aircraft. The STC was jointly developed with Rockwell Collins and follows on the EASA Falcon 2000 and Falcon 50EX STCs. The STCs are available to Rockwell dealers on request.
MAC Air Group of Maine Aviation Corp. has opened a new 43,000-sq.-ft. fixed base operator facility, MAC Jets, at Portland International Jetport in Cumberland County, Maine. The facility specializes in charter, sales and maintenance.
Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd. & Co. KG Turbofan Engines [Docket No. FAA-2016-4551; Directorate Identifier 2016-NE-07-AD; Amendment 39-18576; AD 2016-13-12] The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd. & Co. KG (RRD) BR700-710A1-10, -710A2-20, and -710C4-11 turbofan engines. This AD requires removing the pawl carrier pivot pins, part number (P/N) BRR17117, from service and replacing them with parts eligible for installation.
Airbus Helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2015-6033; Directorate Identifier 2015-SW-019-AD; Amendment 39-18571; AD 2016-13-07] The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters Model AS365N3 helicopters. This AD requires inspecting the cabin and cockpit for labels, placards, or markings that provide jettison procedure instructions for cabin doors, removing any labels, placards, or markings that are in an incorrect location, and installing placards where they are missing.
Bombardier Inc. Airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2016-7422; Directorate Identifier 2016-NM-079-AD; Amendment 39-18579; AD 2016-13-14] The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier Inc. Model DHC-8-400-series airplanes. This AD requires an inspection to determine if certain left and right main landing gear (MLG) retract actuator rod ends are installed and repetitive liquid penetrant inspections (LPIs) of affected left and right MLG retract actuator rod ends, and corrective actions if necessary. This AD also provides optional terminating action for the inspections.
Textron Aviation Inc. Airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2016-5579; Directorate Identifier 2016-CE-010-AD; Amendment 39-18586; AD 2016-14-05] The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2008-15-06 for certain Textron Aviation Inc. Models 175 and 175A airplanes (type certificate previously held by Cessna Aircraft Company). AD 2008-15-06 required checking the airplane logbook to determine if the original engine mounting brackets had been replaced.
Airbus Helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2016-8032; Directorate Identifier 2016-SW-037-AD; Amendment 39-18578; AD 2016-12-51] The FAA is publishing a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters Model AS332L2 and Model EC225LP helicopters, which was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of these helicopters. This AD immediately prohibits flight of all Model AS332L2 and EC225LP helicopters. This AD is prompted by an accident involving an EC225LP helicopter in which the main rotor hub (MRH) detached from the main gearbox (MGB).
Matthias Muller has been named sales director for Europe at Global Jet Capital, based in Boca Raton, Florida. Muller began his role July 1. Most recently, he served as commercial leader at GE Capital Corporate Aircraft Finance.
