The business aircraft accident record improved worldwide in the first quarter, led by declines in both the total number of accidents and fatal accidents involving U.S.-registered aircraft, safety analyst Robert E. Breiling Associates reports. Worldwide, the total number of business aircraft accidents dropped by four to 20 in the first quarter, according to initial Breiling data. Three fewer business aircraft were involved in fatal accidents.
France’s Dassault Aviation reported an 11% decline in revenue in the first three months of 2014, down €76 million ($105 million) to €586 million compared to the same period ending March 31 last year. The St. Cloud, France-based aircraft manufacturer expects to deliver 70 Falcon business jets in 2014 – seven fewer than last year – assuming continued recovery of the global business aviation market, according to first-quarter financial results released April 24.
Continued growth in both green and completed deliveries at Gulfstream Aerospace helped propel the General Dynamics (GD) Aerospace group to a nearly 20% jump in revenues and 30% increase in earnings in the first quarter. But at the same time, backlog continued to slide as orders slowed in the quarter.
Airbus Helicopters has completed the redesign and certification of the bevel gear vertical shaft fitted in its EC225 heavy helicopters. Failure of the component — a critical part inside the main gearbox — caused the ditching of two EC225s into the North Sea in May and October 2012, prompting a nine-month halt in operations for both the EC225 and the military version, the EC725. The stopping of operations created issues for oil and gas operators across the globe.
Textron is cutting its Beechcraft and Cessna workforces by 750 full-time employees and contractors, the company warned workers. “This reduction affects all areas of the Beechcraft and Cessna businesses, including salaried and hourly employees in positions spanning from management to non-management levels,” Textron Human Resources Senior Vice President Jim Walters said in a letter to employees. Beechcraft and Cessna had a combined workforce of more than 13,000.
The first two-seat, solar-powered aircraft has entered flight testing, with its developers describing it as the first such design “that might be suited for production.” Developed by Solar Flight, the Sunseeker Duo is being tested at Voghera in Italy. Designer Eric Raymond previously built the single-seat Sunseeker I, which flew across the U.S. in 1990, and Sunseeker II, which made the first solar-powered crossing of the Alps in 2009.
Landmark Aviation is maneuvering to increase its U.S. fixed-base operation facilities by nearly 50% with its acquisition of the Ross Aviation chain. The acquisition is slated to close later this year. Terms were not disclosed.
GARY STEPHENS was named engineering manager for Cabin Innovations. He will lead the engineering team involved in the design and development of galleys and interiors.
JOHN CAMERON joined FlightSafety International as regional director, business development, commercial simulation. He will support simulator sales in Europe and Africa. He has more than 35 years of aviation experience, formerly serving with CAE in Montreal. There, he held a number of director and senior director positions, including steering commercial and business aviation training sales in Europe.
Aviation Concepts Technical Services Incorporated (ACTSI) Business Jet Service Center in Subic Bay, Philippines, received approval as an authorized maintenance facility from Bermuda and Cayman Islands authorities. This approval enables ACTSI to maintain, repair, and return to service Cayman Islands and Bermuda-registered aircraft, including Boeing, Bombardier, Gulfstream, Hawker, Embraer and Cessna aircraft. ACTSI also holds approvals for U.S. and Isle of Man registered aircraft.
Associated Air Center secured supplemental type certification covering installation of Wi-Fi systems for the Satcom Direct Router (SDR) on Boeing 737-300, -400, -500, -600, -700, -800, -900 and -900 ER series aircraft. The dual-band SDR can manage multiple satcom systems, including Swift64, SwiftBroadband, Ku band, Ka band and X band. The SDR also has a 3G cellular capability while the aircraft is on the ground. The system integrates with a number of existing platforms manufactured by Cobham, Thrane & Thrane, Honeywell and Rockwell Collins.
Nextant is partnering with Purdue University’s Department of Aviation on a pilot training initiave. Nextant is donating two turbofan engines to the university for use in its test cell training research program. In addition, the department will become the first flight program to operate a Nextant 400XTi. Nextant says it and the university are planning a larger collaboration on training platforms for the next generation of pilots.
Industry leaders, wary that the Contract Tower Program may remain vulnerable to future budget cuts, are urging Congress to continue to dedicate funding to the contract air traffic control towers. Eleven associations wrote House and Senate Appropriations leaders asking for a measure that would dedicate at least $149 million to the program in fiscal 2015.
A wide range of industry associations are calling on the FAA to expedite regulations governing small unmanned aircraft systems (SUAS), and to allow their limited commercial use before final rulemaking is completed. The organizations are concerned the years-long delay in release of the FAA’s SUAS notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), now not expected until late this year, is holding back U.S. industry and encouraging entrepreneurs to operate in the absence of safety guidelines.
The maintenance facility that Gulfstream and HNA Group run at Beijing airport should more than double in capacity over the next two years, says Mark Burns, Gulfstream president for product support. The Beijing operation, with about 40 people now, can work on three to four aircraft at a time, says Burns. Within two years, it should have about 100 people working on eight to 10 at a time.
China’s Minsheng International Jet, which is being built up from Citic General Aviation, aims to become the largest general aviation operator in Asia, partly thanks to its association with sibling Minsheng Financial Leasing. With a focus on aircraft management, Minsheng Jet is planning to set up outside of mainland China, beginning with Hong Kong this year. It also hopes to work with foreign operators to create a virtual global service network.
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), hoping to help foster growth in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, is teaming with the Middle East and North Africa Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) to open a new office in Dubai, UAE.
