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.
BELL Model 206A, 206B, 206L, 206L-1, 206L-3, 206L-4, and 407 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0481; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-003-AD; Amendment 39-17653; AD 2013-22-21] – requires, for helicopters with Apical emergency float kit installed, inspecting, labeling, and replacing the float inflation hoses. This AD was prompted by an incident in which the floats installed on a helicopter failed to deploy. FAA is issuing this AD to prevent failure of the emergency flotation gear to deploy during an emergency event.
Spirit AeroSystems is “deep” into the process of selling its Tulsa production facility, a move that should mean significant bottom-line improvement as the supplier shifts focus to growing airliner programs and tackles issues uncovered in a sweeping strategic review, say analysts at Canaccord Genuity.
EADS CASA Model CN-235, CN-235-100, CN-235-200, CN-235-300 and C-295 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0870; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM- 166-AD; Amendment 39-17657; AD 2013-23-02] – requires inspection of the feeder cables of certain fuel booster pumps for damage (including, but not limited to, signs of electrical arcing and fuel leaks), and replacement if necessary. This AD was prompted by a report of an inflight problem with the fuel transfer system.
DASSAULT Model Fan Jet Falcon; Model Mystere-Falcon 200 airplanes; and Model Mystere-Falcon 20-C5, 20-D5, 20-E5, and 20-F5 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0626; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-180-AD; Amendment 39-17642; AD 2013-22-10] – requires checking manufacturing references of pyrotechnical cartridges for batch number and date, repetitive checking of cartridges for electrical continuity, and replacing defective pyrotechnical cartridges, if necessary. This AD was prompted by reports of defective fire extinguisher bottle cartridges.
House lawmakers continue to move quickly to ensure that FAA conducts a formal rulemaking if it plans to require sleep apnea testing and treatment for pilots and controllers.
Cessna Aircraft received approval from the Brazilian Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil for its new TTx single-piston aircraft. Cessna began shipping the aircraft to customers in Brazil last month. Brazilian approval follows U.S. FAA type certification in June, which marked the return of a new, improved version of the original Corvalis after a more than two-year hiatus. The newly improved TTx incorporates a touchscreen Garmin G2000 Intrinzic flight deck. It is also offered with an optional flight into known icing system.
DON MILUM was named avionics sales director for Hawker Beechcraft Services. Milum will oversee global avionics sales efforts within the company’s network of factory owned service centers. A 25-year industry veteran, he spent 21 years with Honeywell, most recently as a senior sales manager. He has also served with Midcoast Aviation and Atlantic Aviation.
AERMACCHI Models F.260, F.260B, F.260C, F.260D, F.260E, F.260F, S.208, and S.208A airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0939; Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-043-AD; Amendment 39-17655; AD 2013-22-23] – for airplanes equipped with a Lycoming O-540 wide cylinder flange engine with a front crankcase mounted propeller governor, revises an AD prohibiting aerobatic maneuvers and calling for inspection of the propeller governor idler gear shaft set screw and corrective actions, if necessary.
RALPH LEACH has joined FlightSafety International’s FlightSafety Academy in Vero Beach, Fla. as managing director, marketing and sales. He has a range of experience, holding senior positions with an aircraft manufacturer, airline training companies, fixed and rotor-wing aircraft operators and transportation and management consulting firms. Leach formerly served as vice president, business development for Jet Asia in China, and before that was a senior consultant with CMR, London.
TURBOMECA Arriel 2D turboshaft engines [Docket No. FAA-2012-0940; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-26-AD; Amendment 39-17654; AD 2013-22-22] – supersedes an existing AD that required replacing the hydromechanical metering unit (HMU) at a reduced life. This AD maintains that requirement and also requires conducting inspections of the HMU. This AD was prompted by further cases of deterioration of HMU rotating components. FAA is issuing this AD to prevent an uncommanded inflight shutdown of the engine and possible loss of the helicopter.
Eric Byer, who spent more than 14 years with the National Air Transportation Association, was named president and COO of the National Association of Chemical Distributors, effective Jan. 1. Byer most recently has served with Obadal, Filler, MacLeod & Klein, PLC. There he led association programs for the firm’s largest clients, including holding the role of senior vice president of the Aeronautical Repair Station Association.
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.
European Aviation Safety Agency Executive Director Patrick Ky reiterated his organization’s commitment to rewriting regulations governing light aircraft (CS-23 in Europe/Part 23 in U.S.), and says based on experience from that effort, EASA would then like to turn its attention to CS-27/CS-29 governing rotorcraft. Ky, who spoke during the EASA 7th Annual Rotorcraft Forum last week, said EASA needs fewer rules, but better rulemaking. He highlighted the CS-23 effort as an example of improved rules.
RAYMOND JONES was named senior vice president, sales, marketing and asset management for Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. Jones was previously vice president, worldwide strategic accounts for Bombardier Business Aircraft. He has spent the past 10 years in business jet sales for Bombardier, also holding the titles of regional vice president for Europe and vice president of international sales.
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.
Argus has partnered with CharterPad, an online charter marketplace, to provide customers access to the Argus Ratings. Customers visiting the CharterPad can search Argus ratings and link directly to the Argus CHEQ website. The partnership comes as CharterPad has increased the number of Argus-rated operators in its system. Nearly half of all Argus-rated operators have joined CharterPad.
Inmarsat confirmed a Dec. 8 launch date for the first of its Global Xpress (GX) satellites, the Inmarsat-5 F1 (I-5 F1). Built by Boeing Satellite Systems International, the satellite was to have launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The satellite is the first of three that will be used for Inmarsat’s Global Xpress Ka-band. Inmarsat teamed with Honeywell to bring its planned GX Aviation inflight connectivity services to the business aviation market.
Poor weather and forecast icing conditions prompted the General Aviation Manufacturers Association to postpone its latest General Aviation Rally. The event was to be held Dec. 6 at Bombardier’s Dallas service center at Dallas Love Field. GAMA, noting Texas is home to more than 50,000 FAA-certificated pilots and more than 2,000 civil use landing facilities, is working to line up a new date.
Jet Aviation Saudi Arabia received approval from the Saudi Arabian General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) to provide on-site training to its fixed-base operation and maintenance team employees in Jeddah, Riyadh and Medina, as well as its commercial customers in Saudi Arabia. Jet Aviation offers courses on GACA regulations, maintenance human factor and hazmat (dangerous goods). The company also offers courses in ramp safety, aircraft ground handling and CPR/AED and first aid.
The designer of the distinctive Edgley EA-7 Optica is looking for new investment to restart production of the lightweight observation aircraft. John Edgley, who designed the EA-7 in the 1970s, believes there is now a wider market for observation aircraft for security and utility operations. He claims that the Optica, with its unique, helicopter-like visibility around the cabin, could find a niche in operations for which helicopters would be too expensive.
SIKORSKY Model S-76A, B, and C helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0514; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-068-AD; Amendment 39-17647; AD 2013-22-15] – requires certain inspections of each spindle cuff assembly or blade fold cuff assembly for a crack. If there is a crack, this AD requires replacing the cracked part. If there is no crack, this AD requires applying white paint to the inspection area to enhance the existing inspection procedure. This AD was prompted by the discovery of cracks in the spindle cuffs.
