Mitsubishi Aircraft has conducted the second and third test flights of its MRJ regional-jet program, first retracting the undercarriage and then the flaps of the aircraft.
Dassault Falcon Jet has completed a $60 million expansion of its Little Rock Completions Center, with 350,000 sq. ft. of production space and includes a 250,000 sq. ft. hangar earmarked for the Falcon 8X ultra-long business jet and the Falcon 5X large jet. The construction brings the total facility to 1.25 million sq. ft. The expansion includes renovation of cabinet, upholstery and headliner shops and an upgrade to older hangars. The expansion follows a $20 million, 116,000-sq.-ft. upgrade in 2008.
FlightSafety International has enhanced its Gulfstream G650 training program with upgrades to its simulators, including the addition of an autobrakes system to the initial and recurrent training programs. It also has upgraded the simulators to provide training for required navigation performance authorization required operations to assist in understanding navigation-system capabilities to develop an understanding of proper arrival and approach procedures, identify failures affecting the capability, and then react appropriately.
Gulfstream Aerospace announced that the second and third Gulfstream G500 aircraft, called T2 and T3, have joined its flight-test program with successful completion of their initial flights. T2 focuses on flight loads validation, and T3 is the main test bed for the G500 avionics systems. The G500 is part of Gulfstream’s new family of clean-sheet aircraft, the G500 and G600 and the first of the two to begin flight tests. T2 is concentrated on aircraft performance and systems testing.
Panasonic Weather Solutions, a division of Panasonic Avionics Corp., has introduced 4DAero, an electronic flight bag application, which provides pilots an interactive display of a planned flight route synchronized in time and space with forecast weather and other potential aviation hazards from its Panasonic 4D Weather platform. It offers situational awareness for flight-planning and real-time, inflight tactical-navigation decision-making.
Charter operator Acropolis Aviation, based at London’s Farnborough Airport, has joined Airbus Corporate Jets and CAMP, computerized maintenance-planning services, for ACJ. Acropolis announced that it will be the launch customer for the services. The offering combines Airbus’s expertise in maintenance program customization and technical documentation and CAMP’s computerized aircraft maintenance management.Acropolis will begin using CAMP on its Airbus ACJ319 G-NOAH in early 2016.
Joe Clark, co-founder and chairman of Aviation Partners , has received the Meritorious Service to Aviation Award from the National Business Aviation Association. The award was presented this month at the NBAA convention in Las Vegas. Clark received the award for his work in developing advanced technology winglet systems.
Duncan Aviation is hosting a free Next Generation seminar, the last one of the year on Dec. 9. It will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the 94th Aero Squadron Restaurant in Van Nuys, California. It will feature partners L-3 Aviation Products, Garmin Avionics, Satcom Direct, Honeywell, Rockwell Collins and Universal Avionics. They will present information about the Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) and Future Air Navigation Systems 1A mandates.
Priester Aviation will operate a U.S.-based fleet of Challenger 350 business jets for VistaJet’s Flight Solutions Program. Three new VistaJet-owned Challenger 350 aircraft, with a list price value of $80 million, are under operation with Priester Aviation, the company said. Seven VistaJet aircraft are in service in the U.S., with 55 aircraft worldwide. VistaJet acts as an agent for U.S. Flight Solutions Program customers to arrange flights to be operated by Priester within the U.S.
Avflight Corp.’s Flint location has become an FAA approved computer-testing center for Ariman Knowledge exams, including aircraft dispatchers, airline transport pilots and flight navigators, aviation-maintenance technicians, commercial pilot and military competence, flight engineers, instructors, instrument ratings, private and recreational pilots and others.
BendixKing, a division of Honeywell, and Blackhawk Modifications will promote the AeroVue integrated flight deck for Beechcraft King Air 200 aircraft. Blackhawk is a modification center for Pratt & Whitney engine upgrades. It will offer a program together with BendixKing for an AeroVue integrated flight deck and engine upgrade to the Model 200 King Air.
Magnetic MRO, based in Tallinn, Estonia, has received repair station certification from the FAA, which covers its maintenance, repair and overhaul operations, the company said. It is the first FAA-certified repair station in the Baltic States, a milestone in the development of the MRO industry in the region, it said. The certificate allows Magnetic MRO to issue deal release, EASA and FAA, certificates on its line, base, components and engines Part 145 activities.
AIRBUS HELICOPTERS Model SA341G and SA342J helicopters. [Docket No. FAA-2015-5914; Directorate Identifier 2014-SW-056-AD] — proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) that would require repetitively inspecting certain part-numbered main rotor hub torsion bar (torsion bar). FAA is proposing to adopt this new AD after European Aviation Safety Agency received a report of “several cases of cracks were found on the polyurethane (PU) coating of part-numbered 704A33633274 torsion bars installed on military Model SA341 helicopters.
TURBOMECA S.A. Arriel 2B, 2B1, 2C, 2C1, 2C2, 2D, 2E, 2S1, and 2S2 turboshaft engines. [Docket No. FAA-2015-3753; Directorate Identifier 2015-NE-26-AD]—proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) to correct an unsafe condition reported on the aforementioned engines. FAA is proposing to adopt this new AD after the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) reported that rupture of the 41-tooth gear forming part of the engine accessory gearbox’s bevel gear resulted in uncommanded inflight shutdown of an Arriel 2 engine.
TURBOMECA S.A. Arriel 1E2 turboshaft engines [Docket No. FAA-2015-4070; Directorate Identifier 2015-NE-31-AD]—proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) requiring removal of the tachometer box of affected Arriel 1E2 engines.
Fred Powell Jr and Wendy Burton have joined Stellar , where Powell will serve as vice president of operator systems. Burton has been appointed director of operator relations and integration.
PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP. (PW&C) PT6A-60AG, -65AG, -67AF, and -67AG turboprop engines. [Docket No. FAA-2015-3732; Directorate Identifier 2015-NE-25-AD]—proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) to correct an unsafe condition found on PW&C PT6A-60AG, -65AG, -67AF, and -67AG turboprop engines.
ASG had previously forecast single-digit growth at the upper end in early 2015, but it now appears that annual growth may be just under 5%, half of what the Hong Kong-based consultancy and brokerage had earlier predicted.
Aircraft-engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce will carry out a further restructuring of its business with the aim of taking £150-200 million ($225-300 million) of costs out of its corporate and management structure.
Gogo Business Aviation rolled into National Business Aviation Assocation’s (NBAA) 2015 expo, beginning delivery of 650 Gogo inflight entertainment and connectivity systems to fractional-ownership giant NetJets.
