NEIL TURNBULL was appointed chief operating officer of Vertis Aviation, the Swiss-based charter broker and services company. Turnbull, who will be based at the company’s Kensington, London office, will be responsible for expanding the Vertis brand and support growth of the fleet and systems. He has more than 27 years of international business aviation experience, most recently as general manager of SaxonAir Charter.
VARIOUS RESTRICTED CATEGORY HELICOPTERS originally manufactured Bell Model Numbers HH-1K, TH-1F, TH-1L, UH-1A, UH-1B, UH-1E, UH-1F, UH-1H, UH-1L, and UH-1P. [Docket No. FAA-2013-0736; Directorate Identifier 2013-SW-013-AD; Amendment 39-17747; AD 2014-03-10] – requires inspecting the tail rotor (T/R) cable assembly for an incorrectly machined body. This AD is prompted by a report from Bell that a defective body on the cable prevents the barrel assembly from fully engaging in the body cavity.
GROB-WERKE Models G115EG and G120A airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2014-0092; Directorate Identifier 2014-CE-002-AD] – proposes to require repetitive inspections of both elevator flanges on an airplane to detect any crack, and, depending on findings, replacement of the affected part. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information from the European Aviation Safety Agency, which cites reports of cracks found in the left hand elevator flange. FAA estimates that this AD will affect six aircraft on the U.S.
Quest Aircraft received FAA approval for a 565-lb. increase in the Kodiak’s maximum landing weight to 7,255 lb. – the same as the single-turboprop aircraft’s maximum takeoff weight. The increase is standard on new Kodiaks and available as an option to existing Kodiaks, the company says. The company has issued a service notice on the increase, saying no structural upgrade is required.
JASON MILLER has joined Sierra Industries as president. Miller will lead the company’s growing aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul organization. Miller formerly served with StandardAero as vice president/general manager of StandardAero’s Houston business unit. He also served as finance manager for StandardAero. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, he led and flew more than 70 air combat missions in Operation Iraqi Freedom, earning six Air Medals. He retired with the rank of major.
Eclipse Aerospace, which in October completed the first ceremonial delivery of its Eclipse 550 very light jet, inched closer to receiving all the necessary FAA clearances to begin formal deliveries with approvals on three key components and systems. FAA issued supplemental type certification for the auto throttle, standby display unit and anti-skid brake system.
TURBOMECA Arriel 2B, 2B1, and 2B1A turboshaft engines [Docket No. FAA-2006-23809; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-52-AD] – proposes to supersede AD 2007-10-07, which currently requires an inspection of the splines of the coupling assembly and the hydro-mechanical metering unit (HMU) drive gear shaft for wear. This proposed AD would require the same inspection and expand the affected population. This proposed AD would also remove Arriel 2B1A engines from the applicability.
A $300 million deal involving the sale of eight Gulfstream aircraft to China’s Minsheng Financial Leasing Co. helped push the Export-Import Bank’s financial backing of the business aircraft and helicopter market to more than $1 billion.
Bell Helicopter sold two Bell 412EPI and two Bell 407GX aircraft to Chongqing General Aviation Co., Ltd. The helicopters will be used by the Chongqing Firefighting Department for firefighting and search and rescue missions.
The recently funded and newly renamed Mooney International Corp. is in final preparations for the resumption of its aircraft production lines this week, ending a five-year hiatus. The planned Feb. 26 restart follows a cash infusion that Mooney received in October from California-based engineering firm Soaring America Corp. That deal, backed by Chinese investors, concluded on Oct. 7 following months of negotiations.
The strength of the large business jet market has returned industry billings to near the record-high level of 2008, but unit shipments are still almost half of what they were before the economic downturn, according to the latest General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) report.
PETER CUTLER was named vice president of customer support for Airbus Helicopters. Cutler, who will also continue as vice president of government programs, will be responsible for customer support in the U.S. for both the government and commercial business segments. He has more than 30 years of helicopter industry experience, primarily in the military aviation segment.
TREG MANNING was named vice president of sales and marketing for Airbus Helicopters. In this role, Manning is responsible for U.S. sales and marketing efforts for both the commercial and military markets, including sales of aftermarket services and products. Manning, who has been vice president of commercial sales since 2011, has more than 20 years of aviation industry experience.
AIRBUS HELICOPTERS Model AS332C, AS332L, AS332L1, AS332L2, and SA330J helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0737; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-111-AD; Amendment 39-17739; AD 2014-03-02] – requires inspecting the crimping of the ball joint of the upper- and lower-end fittings of the main servo-control and, depending on findings, replacing the main servo-control or repairing the ball joint. This AD was prompted by incidents of missing crimping on the ball joints of servo-control end-fittings.
BELL Model 204B helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0735; Directorate Identifier 2013-SW-014-AD; Amendment 39-17748; AD 2014-03-11] – requires inspecting the tail rotor (T/R) cable assembly for an incorrectly machined body. This AD is prompted by a report from Bell that a defective body on the cable prevents the barrel assembly from fully engaging in the body cavity. These actions are intended to prevent disengagement of the cable from the barrel, failure of the T/R pitch control, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
Duncan Aviation was recently named an authorized service center for Bombardier Learjet 70 and 75 aircraft. The agreement expands Duncan’s existing authorized service center status with Bombardier. With the latest authorization, Duncan Aviation’s full-service facilities in Battle Creek, Mich., Lincoln, Neb., and Provo, Utah, are authorized centers for the Learjet 40, 45, 60, 70 and 75.
Cessna hit another key milestone in its busy development schedule with the first flight of its new Citation Latitude midsize business jet. The aircraft, which was recently rolled out quietly before employees, flew a little more than three years after Cessna unveiled its first all-new Latitude during the National Business Aviation Association’s annual convention, keeping it on schedule for a 2015 certification.
Bombardier Aerospace received the first flight test permit from FAA for its Learjet 85 aircraft Flight Test Vehicle, clearing the way for the manufacturer to begin the long-awaited flight test program. The company is finalizing configuration of the aircraft and conducting further engine runs and high-speed taxi tests in preparation for the first flight, now expected within the next couple of weeks. The company reported earlier this month that the airplane had completed initial auxiliary power unit and engine runs, along with low-speed taxiing tests.
Embraer Executive Jets signed an agreement with Hawker Pacific for maintenance and support of Legacy 450 and 500 aircraft in the Asia-Pacific region. Hawker Pacific joins a network of 21 repair stations authorized to work on the Embraer 500. Embraer has been building up its network in anticipation of the Legacy 500’s entry into service in the first half of this year, followed by the 450 a year later. Hawker Pacific has supported Embraer aircraft in the Asia-Pacific region since 2007.
LEARJET Model 45 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2014-0010; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-218-AD] – proposes to require doing a fluorescent penetrant inspection of the metallic components of the thrust reverser’s attach flange for any corrosion; inspecting the thrust reverser flange for damage to the sealant, as applicable; installing sealants and gaskets, as applicable, to the thrust reverser flanges and service island flanges; and related investigative and corrective actions as necessary.
Rep. Frank LoBiondo’s (R-N.J.) bill to require FAA to conduct a formal rulemaking process before imposing sleep apnea testing requirements is heading to the Senate for consideration after the House passed the measure, H.R. 3578, by voice vote on Feb. 11. LoBiondo, who chairs the House aviation subcommittee, introduced the bill in November after FAA Federal Air Surgeon Frederick Tilton outlined plans to require pilots and air traffic controllers with a body mass index (BMI) to undergo testing for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
COSTRUZIONI AERONAUTICHE TECNAM P2006T airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0888; Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-024-AD; Amendment 39-17735; AD 2014-02-07] – requires, for affected airplanes equipped with NLG lower link assembly P/N 26-8-1417-000, a one-time inspection of the NLG lower link and, depending on findings, accomplishment of the applicable corrective action. This AD also requires installation of the improved NLG lower link assembly P/N 26-8-8000-000.
