The city of Santa Monica, Calif., is continuing to explore all options to close Santa Monica Airport (SMO), including a possible new policy that would permit the city to lease airport property only to non-aviation entities such as art galleries and small shops.
DOUGLAS MCCROSSON was named president and CEO of CPI Aerostructures. McCrosson has served with the company since 2003, originally holding the role of director of business development. He also has served as vice president of business development, senior vice president of operations and COO.
CESSNA Models 310, 320, 340, 401, 402, 411, 414, and 421 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0562; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-015-AD; Amendment 39-17740; AD 2014-03-03] – requires either having the supplemental airplane flight manual/airplane flight manual supplement (SAFM/AFMS) inside the airplane and accessible to the pilot during the airplane’s operation or installing a placard that prohibits flight into known icing conditions and installing a placard that increases published airspeed on approach at least 17 mph (15 kt.) in case of an inadvertent encounter with icing.
TURBOMECA Arrius 2B1, 2B1A, 2B2, and 2K1 turboshaft engines [Docket No. FAA-2013-0381; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-16-AD; Amendment 39-17764; AD 2014-04-06] – requires initial and repetitive inspections of the hydro-mechanical metering unit (HMU) high pressure pump drive gear shaft splines, cleaning and inspections of the sleeve assembly splines, and replacement of the HMU if it fails inspection. This AD was prompted by inflight shutdowns caused by interrupted fuel supply at the HMU. FAA is issuing this AD to prevent inflight shutdown and damage to the engine.
SLINGSBY AVIATION Model T67M260 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0997; Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-044-AD; Amendment 39-17759; AD 2014-04-01] – requires repetitive inspections for cracked horizontal stabilizer attachment brackets and confirms that replacement with titanium brackets would constitute a terminating action for the repetitive inspections. The AD is prompted by several reports of cracked horizontal stabilizer attachment brackets on Slingsby T67 airplanes.
Mar. 3, 2014—SpeedNews 28th Annual Commercial Aviation Industry Suppliers Conference, Beverly Hills, Calif., speednews.com/all/conference Mar. 4-5, 2014—Air Charter Safety Foundation’s 2014 Air Charter Safety Symposium, NTSB Training Center, Ashburn, Va., www.acsf.aero Mar. 4-5, 2014—Defense Technology & Affordability Requirements, Washington, D.C., www.aviationweek.com/events Mar. 6, 2014—57th Annual Laureates Awards, National Building Museum, Washington, D.C., www.aviationweek.com/events
BOMBARDIER Model BD-700-1A10 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0705; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-052-AD; Amendment 39-17742; AD 2014-03-05] – requires modification of the air data probes and sensors. This AD was prompted by a report that the manufacturer has determined that some completion centers used the heater/brake monitoring unit (HBMU) logic circuit to control the line voltage of the drain mast heaters.
RICK CUTRERA has joined Key Air as regional business development manager. Cutrera is responsible for growing Key Air’s business in the Washington, D.C. and Mid-Atlantic region. He has more than 23 years of aviation experience, with a background in operations, management, sales and marketing for three major airlines.
Gama Aviation’s operation at Sharjah International Airport in the United Arab Emirates reports business aviation traffic increased 70% and fuel sales doubled in 2013 over 2012. Gama is on schedule to open a new dedicated fixed-base operation terminal this year that will include new passenger and crew lounges. In addition, the FBO is adding staff to accommodate the ongoing growth and expects to have doubled its employment at Sharjah by May. Gama has operated at the airport as a charter operator since 2006, but began providing fixed-base operation services there in 2012.
FlightSafety International has increased its helicopter training capabilities with the installation of two new simulators – an Airbus EC135 trainer in Dallas and a Sikorsky S-92 trainer in Sao Paulo, Brazil. FlightSafety expects to begin training on the EC135 simulator in April following Level D qualification. The EC135 simulator is equipped with a Garmin avionics panel with a Garmin GMX 200 multi-function display and WAAS certified Garmin GNS 430W and GNS 530W. It also includes the SFIM 2-Axis Autopilot.
BRIAN OSZAKIEWSKI was appointed director of government affairs for the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. Oszakiewski formerly served as legislative director for Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.), advising on aviation, rail, highway, water and freight issues. He also supported Lipinski’s work on the House General Aviation Caucus.
Signature Flight Support is adding a fourth London-area fixed-base operation (FBO) with the acquisition of the FBO assets of the JETS facility at London Biggin Hill. Signature announced that acquisition as it was preparing to break ground in San Jose, Calif., Feb. 28 on what will become one of its largest FBO complexes.
DAVE CHAIMSON was named vice president of business development for the Experimental Aircraft Association. Chaimson will oversee sponsorship development and fulfillment for EAA programs and activities, including the EAA AirVenture; EAA publication and online advertising; and new partnerships. A member of the senior management team, Chaimson will report directly to EAA Chairman Jack Pelton. He formerly was divisional vice president and vice president of worldwide marketing of Sony Creative Software, a technology arm of Sony Electronics.
A government watchdog believes FAA will need to work with the industry to find ways to attract new pilots in light of evidence that the supply pipeline is changing. In a Feb. 28 report, the Government Accountability Office finds “mixed evidence” on whether the industry is facing a pilot shortage. Some believe a sufficient supply exists if wages are adequate and job opportunities arise, GAO found. Others, however, express fear that the future supply will be insufficient given the rising costs of pilot training and new first officer requirements.
TIM LOCKERBY was named regional manager for the Great Lakes region for Duncan Aviation. Before joining Duncan, Lockerby spent 10 years as national sales manager for aftermarket at Rosen Aviation. There, Duncan Aviation was one of Lockerby’s customers. He has also served with Priester Aviation.
B-N GROUP Models BN-2, BN-2A, BN-2A-2, BN-2A-3, BN-2A-6, BN-2A-8, BN-2A-9, BN-2A-20, BN-2A-21, BN-2A-26, BN-2A-27, BN-2B-20, BN-2B-21, BN-2B-26, BN-2B-27, BN2A MK. III, BN2A MK. III-2, and BN2A MK. III-3 airplanes. [Docket No. FAA-2013-0924; Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-032-AD; Amendment 39-17755; AD 2014-03-18] – requires a one-time inspection and functional test of the engine control cables and depending on findings, replacement of the cables. This AD was prompted by reports where failure of engine control cable assemblies has caused engine control difficulties.
BARNARD RATSIRA was appointed director of fixed-base operation client relations for Jet Aviation. In that role, Ratsira will develop client relations and promote customer service quality in the European, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and Asia regions. He formerly managed Jet Aviation’s Geneva FBO.
Erickson is planning to begin flight tests of a new composite main rotor blade for its S-64 Aircrane heavy-lift helicopter. The company, previously known as Erickson Aircrane, is working with Newport News-based Advanced Technologies Inc. on the design of the blades, which Erickson believes could deliver as much as a 10-15% improvement in payload lift capability at altitude, and a 3-5% reduction in fuel burn. The company is also expecting a considerable reduction in maintenance and repair costs.
Honeywell’s Sky Connect Tracker III has received FAA supplemental type certification for installation on the Sikorsky S-76, AgustaWestland AW139 and Airbus AS350 platforms. The system uses the Iridium satellite network to enable automated tracking, text messaging and voice capabilities.
Rockwell Collins received European Aviation Safety Agency approval for installation of its cockpit display system aboard AgustaWestland AW189 helicopters. The cockpit includes the first two systems in Rockwell Collins’ HeliSure family to be certified: Helicopter Synthetic Vision System (H-SVS) and Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems (H-TAWS). Both H-SVS and H-TAWS are integrated into the cockpit display system, which comprises four 13.3-in. multifunction displays.
Jet Aviation is planning to temporarily move its Dubai business operations to Dubai World Central while runway construction is ongoing at Dubai International Airport. Both runways at Dubai International Airport are slated to undergo resurfacing work with construction scheduled for May 1-July 21. Once complete, Jet Aviation plans to resume full maintenance and fixed-base operations at Dubai International Airport.
Cessna, which kicked off the flight test program for its new Citation Latitude last month, has achieved the full envelope performance for maximum speed (440 KTAS), Mach speed (0.80) and altitude (45,000 ft.). The aircraft has also been cleared for a direct climb to 45,000 ft. with a gross takeoff weight of 29,000 lb. Cessna next plans to conduct a series of tests for low-speed performance of the Latitude. The Latitude program remains on track for certification in the second quarter of 2015, Cessna says.
While Democratic leaders have been quiet about business aircraft depreciation during the most recent budget talks, the top Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee on Feb. 26 proposed “eliminating special depreciation benefits related to corporate jets” as part of a larger tax overhaul package.
Textron’s proposed $1.4 billion acquisition of Beechcraft could help propel the bottom line of Textron’s Cessna Aircraft unit from a $48 million loss in 2013 to a $480 million profit by 2016, analyst Jeffries believes. Textron announced on Dec. 26 plans to buy Beechcraft by midyear and has since been lining up financing for the deal with the issuance of $600 million in notes in late January and the securing of a $500 million, five-year term loan, also in late January.
