Peter Fleiss, who has steered the Corporate Angel Network (CAN) for the past 14 years, is retiring effective Jan. 20. Former Flying Magazine Publisher Dick Koenig, who has served on the CAN board, will succeed Fleiss. Fleiss will take on the title of director emeritus and work with Koenig during the transition.
MARKE GIBSON , a retired major general with the U.S. Air Force, was named executive director of the NextGen Institute, effective Jan. 13. Gibson spent several decades in the USAF, holding positions in both the Pentagon and in the field. Most recently, Gibson served as director of current operations and training at USAF Headquarters. He was also deputy commander of the 7th Air Force Korea; commander of the 354th Fighter Wing, Eielson AFB, Alaska; wing commander of the 332nd Expeditionary Wing, Balad, Iraq; and as the deputy director of operations of NORTHCOM.
The FAA is planning to issue a draft request for proposals in March for private companies to operate the agency’s 252 contract control towers for the next five years, an action some see as a sign that the FAA will continue to support the facilities despite a proposed cut to the program last year.
JERRY DEMURO was named president and CEO of BAE Systems Inc. DeMuro, a former executive with General Dynamics, will take over on Feb. 1. He will be appointed as an executive director of BAE Systems plc in the U.K. and serve on the company’s executive committee as well as on the board of the U.S. side of the company. DeMuro led General Dynamics’ Information Systems and Technology from October 2003 to March 2013. He also spent time at the U.S. Defense Department as an acquisition official.
While FAA is taking steps to continue the contract tower program with plans to issue a request for proposals for contractors, lawmakers are moving to ensure the program receives congressional support. Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) last week urged Senate Appropriations Committee members in a letter to seek full funding for the program.
TURBOMECA Arriel 1A1, 1A2, 1B, 1C, 1C1, 1C2, 1D, 1D1, 1E2, 1K1, 1S, and 1S1 turboshaft engines [Docket No. FAA-2013-0557; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-22-AD; Amendment 39-17679; AD 2013-24-05] – requires a one-time inspection of the free turbine (FT) module (M04) for the affected Turbomeca S.A. Arriel 1 engines and, if a discrepancy is found, repair of the affected module. This AD was prompted by a “chip illumination event” in flight on a Turbomeca S.A. Arriel 1 engine.
TURBOMECA Arriel 2B1 [Docket No. FAA-2007-27009; Directorate Identifier 2007-NE-02-AD] – proposes to supersede AD 2007-19-09R1, which applies to affected engines that do not have modification TU157 incorporated. AD 2007-19-09R1 requires replacement of the hydromechanical metering unit (HMU) with a serviceable HMU. Since FAA issued AD 2007-19-09R1, the agency received reports of ruptures on HMU constant delta pressure valves that have less than 2,000 hr. in service.
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, which this year decided to end its annual Aviation Summit in favor of “grassroots” local events, has scheduled a series of six regional AOPA Fly-Ins and an “AOPA Homecoming” in Frederick, Md. The fly-ins will include a town hall meeting with association President Mark Baker, who will discuss industry issues and association initiatives. The events will also include educational and safety seminars, aircraft displays and exhibits, flying activities and clinics.
Helicopter lessor Milestone Aviation Group continues to increase its access to capital by closing on an unsecured $200 million revolving line of credit, a move that enables it to continue to rapidly expand its customer base that now numbers more than two dozen operators.
CRAIG OLSON was promoted to vice president and general manager, Business and Regional Systems, for Rockwell Collins. Olson succeeds Jeff Standerski, who recently became senior vice president, Information Management Services. Olson has served with Rockwell Collins for more than 27 years, holding multiple leadership positions including his most recent position as senior director and site leader of Rockwell Collins’ Head-up Guidance Systems business in Wilsonville, Ore.
TWC Aviation closed out 2013 with transactions that expand the company’s geographic coverage of its charter and management services. TWC added a Gulfstream G200 based in Florida. The aircraft is the fifth G200 managed by the company. TWC’s Aircraft Sales & Acquisitions group also completed a sale of a Gulfstream III and the acquisition of a Dassault Falcon 2000. The Falcon is added to TWC’s managed fleet, the ninth of that model.
Gulfstream Aerospace’s service center at London Luton Airport in the U.K. recently received European Aviation Safety Agency approval to perform maintenance on the Gulfstream G280. The facility earned similar EASA approval for Gulfstream’s G650 last year. The G280 entered service in November 2012, followed by the G650 in December 2012.
AGUSTAWESTLAND Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0604; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-110-AD; Amendment 39-17705; AD 2013-25-09] – requires inspecting the nose landing gear (NLG) pin installations for incorrect assembly. This AD is prompted by reports of incorrectly installed pins discovered on in-service aircraft. These actions are intended to detect incorrectly installed pins, which could result in collapse of the NLG during taxi or landing. FAA estimates the AD affects 102 helicopters on the U.S.
DOWTY PROPELLERS Model R408/6-123-F/17 propellers [Docket No. FAA-2008-1088; Directorate Identifier 2008-NE-15-AD] – proposes to revise AD 2008-21-07, which requires initial and repetitive inspections of the blade bonded metallic leading edge (L/E) guards for correct bonding until they accumulate more than 1,200 flight hours (FH) time in service. Since FAA issued AD 2008-21-07, Dowty Propellers has introduced updated service bulletins that identify terminating action to the requirements of AD 2008-21-07.
FAA Administrator Michael Huerta has written the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association apologizing for a delay in the agency’s response to a petition for an exemption from third-class medical requirements, saying that he would make it a priority, the association says. AOPA and the Experimental Aircraft Association nearly two years ago jointly petitioned the agency seeking the ability to use the driver’s license medical standard.
Gulfstream, in the midst of a long-term expansion plan that has almost doubled its employment in Georgia over the past seven years, is adding a 406,000-sq.-ft. Product Support Distribution Center near its Savannah headquarters. The facility, slated to open in 2015, is to house the company’s worldwide material distribution departments that are currently spread out over several warehouse buildings near Gulfstream’s main campus.
Correction: The Transportation Security Administration has approved 92 gateway airports and a total of 148 approved gateway facilities for business aircraft seeking to fly into Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Of the gateway facilities, 113 are approved fixed-base operations. The Jan. 6 edition of BA published an incorrect number of approved FBOs.
FAA was expected to file its response Jan. 10 to a lawsuit filed by the city of Santa Monica, Calif., seeking control over the destiny of Santa Monica Airport (SMO). If successful, the lawsuit could clear the city to close the general aviation airport in 2015.
PIPER Model J-2 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0724; Directorate Identifier 99-CE-013-AD; Amendment 39-17691; AD 99-26-19 R1] – revises an AD, which applies to certain airplanes equipped with wing lift struts. AD 99-26-19 required repetitively inspecting the wing lift struts for dents and corrosion; repetitively inspecting the wing lift strut forks for cracks; replacing any dented or corroded wing lift strut; replacing any cracked wing lift strut fork; and repetitively replacing the wing lift strut forks at specified times for certain airplanes.
VARIOUS AIRCRAFT EQUIPPED WITH WING LIFT STRUTS [Docket No. FAA-2013-0023; Directorate Identifier 96-CE-072-AD; Amendment 39-17688; AD 99-01-05 R1] – revises AD 99-01-05, which applies to certain Piper, FS 2000/2001/2002/2003 and Laviasa airplanes and which required repetitively inspecting the wing lift struts for corrosion; repetitively inspecting the wing lift strut forks for cracks; replacing any corroded wing lift strut; replacing any cracked wing lift strut fork; and repetitively replacing the wing lift strut forks at a specified time for certain airplanes.
Duncan Aviation has expanded its helicopter avionics testing capabilities as it sees a steady uptick in business from helicopter operators, the company says. Duncan added three new diagnostic tests to support Northern Airborne Technology (NAT) systems. Duncan has supported NAT avionics for six years.
BEECHCRAFT Models 1900, 1900C and 1900D airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0753; Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-025-AD; Amendment 39-17677; AD 2013-24-03] – requires inspections of the vertical stabilizer spar angles and hat section for cracks with corrective actions as necessary. This AD was prompted by reports of cracking in the front spar cap angles and hat section structure of the vertical stabilizer. FAA estimates the AD affects 400 airplanes on the U.S.
Honeywell is projecting 3%-5% organic growth in total 2014 aftermarket sales, driven by a bump in air transport and regional flight hours and continued solid demand for business aviation retrofits, modifications, and upgrades (RMU). The commercial aftermarket accounts for about 10% of Honeywell’s annual revenues, and the air transport segment generates about two-thirds of the aftermarket dollars. But Honeywell expects that a 6%-8% increase in large cabin business jet hours will also help drive growth.
TJ AGRESTI was appointed general operations manager for Mountain Aviation. Agresti will oversee an expansion of Mountain Aviation’s domestic and international flight operations. He has 20 years of aviation, finance, management and law experience. He has served as a chief pilot, manager and senior executive for a number of companies, including as CEO of EquityLock Solutions.
Bombardier continues to build up its business jet backlog, closing out 2013 with 30 more orders for its Challenger line and 28 more for its Global business jets, pushing the manufacturer’s total to at least 310 announced business jet orders for the year. Bombardier has not detailed its fourth-quarter orders, so the total yearly number is likely to grow. While it will probably be shy of 2012’s record number of gross orders of close to 400 business aircraft, Bombardier’s total is still well above 2011’s 223 aircraft.
