Two House General Aviation Caucus members are taking steps to ease medical certification requirements for recreational pilots, a move that comes after FAA failed to act on a nearly two-year-old petition from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) seeking relief from third-class medical certification requirements.
Flights into Stansted Airport in the U.K. were disrupted on the morning of Dec. 10 after a Gulfstream G550 struck and damaged the airport’s instrument landing system (ILS) while landing in low visibility. The aircraft struck an ILS mast aerial on runway 04 at 3:30 a.m. local time on Dec. 10, putting the system out of service and disrupting inbound operations throughout the morning. A Stansted Airport spokesman confirmed that the G550 landed safely and taxied to stand under its own power, but there was “some damage” to the ILS system.
Textron’s low-cost, jack-of-many-trades Scorpion aircraft has made its first flight at McConnell AFB in Wichita. The company is promoting the 1.4-hr. milestone as “one of the fastest developments of a U.S.-built tactical jet.” The flight reached a maximum altitude of 15,000 ft., according to Textron. The flight included pitch, roll and yaw doublets; controllability evaluations at 20- and 30-deg. banks; evaluations of the aircraft’s sideslip characteristics; tests of single-engine operations; and evaluations of the aircraft’s controllability in its landing configuration.
While the budget deal that passed the House last week would double passenger security fees to $5 this year and then to $5.60 in fiscal 2015, proposals floated recently to lengthen business aircraft depreciation schedules were left out of the package. Democrats in both the House and Senate in recent weeks have expressed a desire to close “tax loopholes,” such as the five-year business aircraft depreciation schedule. The budget deal must still pass the Senate, where it may run into more opposition.
Despite growing opposition and a bill pending in Congress, the Federal Air Surgeon is staying on course with his plan to require pilots and controllers with a body mass index (BMI) of at least 40 to undergo testing for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and seek treatment, if necessary.
AGUSTAWESTLAND Model A109C, A109E, A109K2, and A119 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0943; Directorate Identifier 2013-SW-001-AD] – proposes to require recurring visual inspections of the tail rotor (T/R) blade retaining bolts (bolts) for a crack, corrosion, damage, or missing cadmium plating in the central part of the bolt. If a crack is not detected by the initial visual inspection, then this proposed AD would require a liquid penetrant inspection. Replacing a cracked or damaged bolt would be required before further flight.
Inmarsat’s first Global Xpress satellite successfully launched Dec. 8 from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on a Proton Breeze M rocket. Inmarsat expects the Global Xpress constellation to comprise three satellites by the end of 2014, enabling Inmarsat to provide seamless global Ka-band coverage under the GX Aviation brand. The satellites are built by Boeing Satellite Systems International.
Wheels Up, the recently established and rapidly growing private membership and aviation services company, is teaming with Cessna’s CitationAir operation to offer flights on Cessna Citation Excel and Sovereign jets.
KELLY ALLENDER was appointed manager of FlightSafety International’s learning center in Dallas. Allender joined FlightSafety in 2001, serving in the company’s Cessna facility in Wichita. There he served as assistant manager, director of programs, program manager for Cessna Citation Mustang training, and ground and simulator instructor. He most recently was manager of the company’s facility in Tucson, Ariz.
Sabreliner is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the certification of the original Sabreliner business jet, the Model 40. The aircraft’s roots began as the Air Force T-39 aircraft, and incorporated many of the design standards to become the 40. Sabreliner subsequently delivered four additional models – the 60, 75, 75A/80 and 65. Production of the Sabreliners ended in 1982 after 631 were built. Of those, 232 are still in service, include 42 Sabre 40s. Sabreliner Corporation, which has facilities in Perryville and Ste.
RANDY ANNETT was promoted to manager of FlightSafety International’s learning center in Tucson, Ariz. Annett joined FlightSafety in 2011 at the Hawker Beechcraft training facility in Wichita, and served as instructor, program manager and assistant director of training there. Most recently he was assistant manager of FlightSafety’s Cessna learning center, also in Wichita. He formerly served as a pilot for Air Wisconsin Airlines and TMC Transportation.
The General Electric Honda HF120 engine for the HA-420 HondaJet light business aircraft has received FAA Part 33 engine certification, clearing the way for the start of full-scale production.
Signature Flight Support, continuing on an ambitious capital expenditure program for new and upgraded facilities, is opening a new private aviation terminal at its Newark Liberty International Airport location in New Jersey. The company has scheduled a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for Dec. 13.
Business aviation groups are encouraging the Department of Transportation to establish a registry for air charter brokers as part of a larger regulation to improve air charter consumer protections.
ALAIN CHAMPONNOIS was appointed vice president and general manager of Jet Aviation Saudi Arabia. In his new role, Champonnois will oversee fixed-base operations and line maintenance operations in Jeddah, Riyadh and Medina, Saudi Arabia, effective Jan. 1. He succeeds Hardy Butschi, who was recently named vice president and general manager of Jet Aviation Dubai. Champonnois has 20 years of industry experience, most recently serving as vice president of sales and business development for Skyservice Business Aviation.
PIAGGIO Model P-180 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0967; Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-042-AD] – proposes to supersede an AD requiring repetitive functional tests of the nose landing gear (NLG) steering manifold, and if a discrepancy in movement is found, replacement of the NLG steering manifold. This AD retains the requirements, but requires improved procedures for the functional tests. This AD also introduces an optional modification, which constitutes terminating action for the repetitive functional checks required by this AD.
Bombardier has conducted low-speed taxi tests on the all-new, all-composite Learjet 85 business jet, with a first flight from Wichita expected “in the next few weeks,” says Guy Hachey, president of the Canadian manufacturer’s Aerospace division. Deliveries of the Learjet 75 have also begun following delayed certification of the revamped version of the super-light Learjet 45 in mid-November.
Shell has become the latest company, and the first of the major oil companies, to declare it has developed an unleaded replacement for aviation gasoline. The launch of the formula follows a 10-year research and development program that included testing of Lycoming engines and a recent test flight of a Piper Saratoga. Shell must still undergo a testing program to obtain regulatory approvals from FAA and the European Aviation Safety Agency, along with ASTM specification for the fuel.
FAA is advising operators of various Hawker 750s, 800s, 900s and 1000s to check the aircraft aileron and aileron tab assemblies for potential problems that could cause oscillations at high altitudes. The agency issued a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) in late November encouraging the checks, saying it had received reports of wing/aileron oscillations from operators of Hawker 800XP and 850XP airplanes at altitudes above 33,000 ft. and at speeds of more than 0.73 Mach.
Clay Lacy Aviation, working with Envoy Aerospace, is hoping to secure certification next year for a Universal Avionics package that would enable Gulfstream IV and IVSP aircraft to meet new equipment requirements for North Atlantic crossings.
Duncan Aviation, one of the largest family-owned aircraft support companies in the U.S., is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its facility in Lincoln, Neb., this month. Established Dec. 5, 1963 by Donald Duncan, the company began with 12 employees and has since grown to more than 1,200. Duncan had a varied background, ranging from working on the family farm to selling surplus government airplanes and involvement with a car dealership in Clarinda, Iowa, before he became a Beechcraft distributor in Omaha, Neb.
Rockwell Collins is rolling out a series of upgrades to its Pro Line Fusion avionics suite to improve cockpit capabilities and prepare the systems for the latest Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) and Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) programs.
The America Association of Airport Executives, under the leadership of new President and CEO Todd Hauptli, has unveiled a new executive management team, comprising a core of veteran AAAE executives. Spencer Dickerson, who has been with the association for 33 years, is senior executive vice president, global operations and secretary to the board of directors. He will also continue to lead the U.S. Contract Tower Association and International Association of Airport Executive programs.
