A new FAA rule is easing restrictions on pilot flight review and recency requirements for both flight instructors and pilots of commuter and on-demand operators. The FAA issued the rule at the request of several parties seeking an overturn of a legal interpretation limiting exemptions from the 24-month flight review requirements. But it also comes as the agency and industry look at areas of flight instructor and pilot requirements to help boost the pilot population and improve general aviation safety.
National Air Transportation Association (NATA) was selected to provide its Safety 1st training programs for branded fixed-base operations that are part of the Eastern Aviation Fuels branding network. Eastern Aviation Fuels is the exclusive marketer of Shell branded aviation fuels. Customers will have access to a range of NATA Safety 1st training products, including the Professional Line Service Training, Safety 1st OSHA Modules and the Supervisor Online program.
BELL Model 214B, 214B-1, and 214ST [Docket No. FAA-2013-0697; Directorate Identifier 2013-SW-009-AD] – proposes to supersede an existing AD for affected helicopters with certain tail rotor hanger bearings installed. The existing AD currently requires inspecting the bearing to determine whether an incorrectly manufactured seal material is installed on the bearing. Since FAA issued that AD, we have determined that replacing the defective bearing is a required terminating action.
As the ban on FAA certification of new foreign repair stations passes the five-year mark, the number of applications from companies seeking U.S. approval has grown to close to 90, according to the agency. Industry groups maintain hopes that the ban could be lifted sometime in the upcoming weeks or next few months, but still fear it could take years for FAA to process the backlog given limited resources.
Meridian, a charter, management and aviation services company based at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey, is opening a new sales office in Denver. The new office, based at Centennial Airport, will be overseen by Todd Schieck, an aviation sales executive who recently joined Meridian Air charter. Schieck will maintain relationships with existing clients, as well as develop business for the company in the greater Denver area. Meridian has a Falcon 900EX EASy based at Centennial.
DOMINIQUE GARREAU was appointed managing director of MAINtag, which provide RFID tags, readers, software and integration services for aerospace applications. He formerly managed high-tech companies including Kurtosis Ingénierie, Dassault Electronique, the French Ministry of Defense for Radar Applications, and LEA.
FAA is taking the initial steps to begin a rulemaking that would implement some of the recommendations of the Part 23 Reorganization Aviation Rulemaking Committee, and the agency’s Rotorcraft Directorate already is beginning to consider how to apply some of the certification changes to helicopters, FAA officials told the Senate General Aviation Caucus last week.
Bell Helicopter delivered the first Russia-bound Bell 407GX to Helidrive in St. Petersburg. The helicopter will be used for private and charter flights. Helidrive is Bell Helicopter’s independent representative in northwest Russia. Bell has delivered more than 1,100 407s worldwide, including nearly 100 407GXs.
TURBOMECA Turbomeca ASTAZOU XIV B and XIV H engines [Docket No. FAA-2013-0575; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-21-AD] – proposes to require replacement of the second-stage turbine disc. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of cracks on the second-stage turbine disc. FAA is proposing this AD to prevent disc cracking, uncontained second-stage turbine blade release, damage to the engine, and damage to the helicopter. FAA estimates that this will affect six engines on U.S.-registered helicopters at a cost of $41,910. FAA will accept comments on the proposal through Oct.
The aircraft electronics market softened a bit in the second quarter of 2013 with total sales reaching $1.62 billion, according to the Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA).
ROLLS-ROYCE AE 3007A series turbofan engines [Docket No. FAA-2009-0811; Directorate Identifier 2008-NE-41-AD] – propose to supersede an existing AD that currently requires removing certain high-pressure turbine (HPT) stage 2 wheels, or performing inspections on them, and reduces their approved life limits. This proposed AD would clarify the AE 3007A turbofan engine model applicability, would further reduce the approved life limits of affected HPT stage 2 wheels, and would eliminate the inspections required by the existing AD.
A flourishing training market is continuing to provide a boost for light aircraft as Cessna announced one of its largest orders on record for its Cessna 172 Skyhawk single-piston. Moscow-based ViraZH ordered 79 Skyhawks for use at its flight schools throughout western Russia. Cessna did not provide details on the contract, but it could be worth close to $24 million, based on average list prices.
EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND Model BO-105A, BO-105C, BO-105LS A-1, BO-105LS A-3, and BO-105S helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2011-1285; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-073-AD; Amendment 39-17544; AD 2013-16-06] – requires inspecting for debonding of the erosion protective shell (abrasion strip) on the leading edge of each main rotor blade. This AD was prompted by the discovery of abrasion strip debondi ng during an inspection on one Model BO-105 helicopter and also by an incident on a second Model BO-105 helicopter that lost its abrasion strip inflight.
The European Business Aviation Association is hosting a conference in Istanbul to explore potential growth of the market in Turkey. The conference, scheduled Oct. 10-11, is being held in partnership with MNG Jet and Honeywell. The conference will provide a forum for business aircraft operators, service providers, financiers and senior transport officials from across Europe to discuss the untapped market in Turkey, EBAA says, noting that Turkey has enjoyed an average economic growth rate of 4% in recent years.
Craig Fuller, who this month stepped down as president and CEO of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, has joined the board of directors for Redbird Flight Simulations. “Craig Fuller is the perfect addition to our leadership team, and we look forward to benefiting from his insights and experience,” says Jerry Gregoire, chairman of Redbird Flight Simulations. “His leadership at AOPA has put him in touch with every facet of the aviation community.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association is still planning to hold this year’s annual Aviation Summit Oct. 10-12 in Fort Worth, but the association is scrapping plans for future summits to concentrate on a series of “grassroots” local events that will bring its new President Mark Baker to the members. The decision marks the first major shift for the association under Baker, who officially took the helm on Sept. 6, succeeding Craig Fuller, who served as president and CEO since late 2008.
FAA is extending the comment period on a proposal that would facilitate expanded use of enhanced flight vision systems (EFVS) in place of natural vision during landing. The comment period, originally set to close Sept. 9, was pushed to Oct. 15 at the request of Dassault.
DANIEL ZEDDY was appointed chief financial officer of Leading Edge Aviation Services. Zeddy has more than 25 years of experience in finance and accounting, human resources and information technology. He also has 20 years of experience in lean manufacturing programs.
A government and industry group operating under the auspices of the RTCA’s NextGen Advisory Committee (NAC) Sept. 19 will give the FAA a prioritized list of NextGen capabilities to help the agency navigate likely budget cuts due to sequestration.
As the business aviation community continues to rapidly expand in the Asia-Pacific region, transportation ministers are moving to lay the groundwork to create a regulatory environment to support the burgeoning industry. This effort, welcomed by business aviation leaders during a press conference in Beijing last week, is particularly important as business aircraft have been hamstrung in many areas in the region by operating restrictions and lack of infrastructure.
Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback signed a proclamation declaring September “Aviation Appreciation Month,” highlighting an industry that is the second largest contributor to the state’s economy. The proclamation is part of several activities the state has planned during the month to promote the industry. Others include an annual airshow in Wichita and a first-ever Kansas Aviation Expo on Sept. 26-27. The proclamation is the second such declaration by Brownback. He previously proclaimed May 2011 as Kansas Aviation Month to kick off an economic summit in the state.
Beechcraft is moving to build up its sales and support network in Europe with the appointments of Marshall Aviation Services as a sales distributor and Air Service Basel as an authorized service provider. The appointments come as the Wichita manufacturer sells off its key European maintenance, repair and overhaul station (MRO) to Marshall Aerospace.
Dynamic Precision Group, a manufacturer of turbine engine components based in Stuart, Fla., is poised to significantly expand its international manufacturing footprint with an agreement to acquire component fabrications and machining facilities from Unison Engine Components. Terms of the transaction, which is expected to close by year’s end, were not disclosed. The Unison facilities, based in the U.S., Canada and the U.K., provide precision manufacturing capabilities, designing, manufacturing and integrating components and systems for aircraft engines and airframes.
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association is expanding its international reach, shifting Greg Bowles to the association’s office in Brussels. Bowles, who had been director of engineering and manufacturing for GAMA, takes on the new role as director of European regulatory affairs and engineering, working with Brian Davey, GAMA’s director of European and international affairs.
