FOKKER SERVICES B.V. Model F.27 Mark 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, and 700 aircraft. [Docket No. FAA-2015-3633; Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-097-AD; Amendment 39-18416; AD 2016-04-22] This AD was prompted by a design review conducted by Fokker Services B.V. that indicated no controlled bonding provisions were present on many critical locations outside the fuel tank or connected to the fuel tank wall.
DASSAULT AVIATION Model FALCON 900EX and FALCON 2000EX airplanes. [Docket No. FAA-2015-3144; Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-110-AD; Amendment 39-18403; AD 2016-04-09] This AD was prompted by a report of significant fuel leakage at the middle position of the left outboard slat. This AD would require modifying the assembly of the slat extension mechanical stop.
M7 AEROSPACE LLC Models SA26-AT, SA226-T(B), SA226-AT, SA226-T, SA226-TC, SA227-AC (C-26A), SA227-AT, SA227-BC (C-26A), SA227-CC, SA227-DC (C-26B), and SA227-TT aircraft. [Docket No. FAA-2015-3607; Directorate Identifier 2015-CE-010-AD; Amendment 39-18398; AD 2016-04-04] This AD was prompted by information that the airplane flight manual (AFM) does not provide adequate guidance in the handling of engine failures, which may lead to reliance on the negative torque system (NTS) for reducing drag.
AIRBUS HELICOPTERS (previously Eurocopter France) Model AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350C, AS350D, AS350D1, AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, AS355N, and AS355NP helicopters. [Docket No. FAA-2015-2568; Directorate Identifier 2014-SW-026-AD; Amendment 39-18424; AD 2016-05-06] This AD supersedes AD 2014-07-52, which required repetitively inspecting certain reinforcement angles of the rear structure to tailboom junction frame (reinforcement angles) for a crack at 10 hr.
Thomas Hendricks, president and CEO of the National Air Transportation Association, based in Washington D.C., announced plans to resign, effective Aug. 31, 2016. A member of NATA’s board of directors will assume duties as interim president and CEO effective September 1 until a successor is named. NATA’s Senior Vice Presidents William Deere and Timothy Obitts will oversee the association’s daily activities.
Jan van der Heul has been appointed vice president of sales at Skytrac Systems. Van der Heul most recently was at CHC Helicopter, where he led a global team of account managers responsible for a helicopter oil and gas portfolio. Stephen Mitchell has been appointed sales director for Aura Aviation’s new rotary division, which operates as JetBrokers. Aura Aviation is based in the U.K.
Standard & Poor’s Ratings Service has lowered is revenue and earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) forecast for Bombardier for the next two years, primarily due to pressure in the company’s aerospace business, it said.
JetSmarter has formed a partnership with private jet charter operator Jet Edge International, in a deal valued at $350 million over the next seven years.
U.S. helicopter service provider Era Group has become the third operator to sign up to develop new missions for the AgustaWestland AW609 commercial tiltrotor.
Seeker Aircraft will begin manufacturing its light observation aircraft in the U.S., the company said. It was previously manufactured only in Australia.
Finmeccanica Helicopters is days away from conducting the first flight of its AW109 Trekker, the skidded version of its AW109 twin-engine light helicopter.
Sikorsky’s next commercial product will likely feature fly-by-wire and a high degree of automation, but it is undecided whether such a platform will benefit from the company’s X2 high-speed technologies
Finmeccanica Helicopters is negotiating with the FAA to restart flight tests of the AW609 commercial tiltrotor, following the loss of the second prototype last October.
China will likely overtake Japan this year as the largest civil helicopter market in the Asia-Pacific region, even as its rapid growth of the recent past abates to more realistic levels.
Germany aircraft manufacturer REMOS plans to unveil the next generation of its high-wing composite GX aircraft at the Aero Friedrichshafen 2016 trade show in Friedrichshafen, Germany, April 20-23.
Bell Helicopter has signed a letter of intent with Guangxi Diwang Group for 10 Bell 525 Relentless helicopters. It has also signed an agreement with Aichi Prefecture in Japan for one Bell 412EPI helicopter.
Honeywell Aerospace forecasts demand for 4,300 to 4,800 helicopters for civilian use over the next five years. That’s roughly 400 aircraft lower than last year’s five-year forecast.
After years of western rotary wing dominance, Russian helicopter manufacturers will take over the top slot as the single largest force in global sales over the next five years, the American Helicopter Society (AHS) predicts.
