Cessna Aircraft completed the first international delivery of its TTx, handing over the fixed-gear single-engine aircraft to a customer in Thailand. Cessna received certification of the TTx in July, marking a return of the former Corvalis program that had suspended production in late 2010. The new TTx is the first aircraft to sport the Garmin G2000 avionics system with a glass cockpit and dual 14.1-in high-definition displays and touch screen controls.
Avicopter will build cabins for the Sikorsky S-76D helicopter as a second-source supplier. The work will be done by Avicopter’s Changhe factory at Jingdezhen, which has previously made eight cabins for the S-76C++. Czech company Aero Vodochody also makes S-76D fuselages. Avicopter will deliver its first cabins in 2016, according to the schedule. The cabins — fuselages forward of the tail booms — will be delivered to Sikorsky fully fitted with equipment.
The repair station security rule continues to languish at the Office of Management Budget, where it has now been under review for six months – twice the typical 90-day review time for most rulemakings. While the repair station rule sits at the White House office, the resulting ban on FAA certifying any new foreign repair stations has passed the five-year mark. Congress prohibited FAA from certifying new foreign repair stations until the Transportation Security Administration releases the long-awaited security rule. That prohibition took effect in August 2008.
Business aircraft activity is remaining relatively flat worldwide, increasing just 1% overall in the second quarter, compared with the same period a year earlier, according to engine maintenance management specialist Jet Support Services, Inc. (JSSI). But JSSI says the more recent trend of flight hours improving 3% over the first quarter is more promising, with a few key industries flying more.
StandardAero secured a three-year agreement to provide Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A engine maintenance, repair and overhaul services for RainAir Aircraft Services. Under the agreement, StandardAero will be the exclusive engine service provider for RainAir, which is based at Albertville Regional Airport in Alabama. StandardAero’s facility will perform line and heavy maintenance engine work up to hot section inspection at its Maryville, Tenn. facility and engine overhauls at its Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada shop.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 and 440) [Docket No. FAA-2013-0216; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-206-AD; Amendment 39-17521; AD 2013-15-05] – requires revising the maintenance program by incorporating new airworthiness limitation tasks. This AD was prompted by a determination that certain flap actuators require restoration by installing a redesigned flap actuator inboard pinion seal. FAA is issuing this AD to prevent flap system failure, and consequent reduced control of the airplane. FAA estimates that this AD affects 573 airplanes on the U.S.
Click here to view the pdf Second QuarterBizAv Flight OperationsBy Industry Sector Second Quarter BizAv Flight Operations By Industry Sector Category Year-over-Year (Calendar) Quarter-over-Quarter Automotive +10% +16%
JAMES RODDEY has joined Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University as communications and media relations manager. Roddey is responsible for working with print, broadcast and online media publications and campus and university outlets. He has more than three decades of broadcasting, marketing and public relations experience, including as Oregon public information officer, communications director for the American Red Cross, and producer of nationally syndicated educational television programs.
General Electric has signed partnership agreements with Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries (IHI) of Japan and Techspace Aero of Belgium to provide more than 37% of the company’s Passport engine, currently in development for Bombardier’s Global 7000 and 8000 business jets.
VARIOUS RESTRICTED CATEGORY HELICOPTERS Model HH-1K, TH-1F, TH-1L, UH-1A, UH-1B, UH-1E, UH-1F, UH-1H, UH-1L, and UH-1P helicopters; and Southwest Florida Aviation Model UH-1B (SW204 and SW204HP) and UH-1H (SW205) helicopters. [Docket No.
KEVIN HAWLEY joined Blackhawk Modifications as principal engineer. Hawley will provide expertise in electrical and mechanical systems and flight analysis to help with new product development. He has 35 years of aviation experience, holding positions with CAV Aerospace and Boeing Commercial Aircraft Company.
Cessna Aircraft agreed to a $28 million settlement to end a lawsuit brought by supplier Avcorp over breach of contract. The Wichita airframer says it still believes that it “acted in accordance with its rights under the contractual relationship with Avcorp … [but] we have chosen to settle the matter now to bring finality to our dealings with Avcorp.”
CHRIS HARANO was appointed CEO of Leading Edge Aviation Services. Harano, who formerly was president, succeeds Mike Manclark, who remains with the company as non-executive chairman. Harano has more than 20 years of experience in industrial services and manufacturing, previously as president of InsulTech and CFO of Day Software. He originally joined Leading Edge to spearhead the company’s strategic growth into new maintenance, repair and overhaul and manufacturing markets.
The U.S. Court of Appeals has set a timetable for the Experimental Aircraft Association’s petition seeking reimbursement from FAA for air traffic services, giving the association until Oct. 23 to file a brief on its case and providing the agency until Nov. 22 to respond. EAA filed the petition July 3 asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago to require FAA to refund more than $450,000 in payments that the agency charged for air traffic control services it provided during EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis., from July 29-Aug. 4.
GULFSTREAM Gulfstream 100 airplanes and Model Astra SPX and 1125 Westwind Astra airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0093; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-109-AD; Amendment 39-17515; AD 2013-14-10] – supersedes AD 2010-11-02, which required amending the airplane flight manuals (AFMs) to include additional procedures for verifying complete closure and locking of the main entry door (MED).
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) has added GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems as its 84th member. A division of GKN Aerospace, GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems designs and manufactures glass, acrylic and polycarbonate transparency systems.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council has agreed to a compromise solution on the introduction of global market based measures (MBMs) to tackle aviation emissions. The council accepted the principle of regional emissions trading schemes and agreed to have a single global MBM for aviation to be implemented from 2020. The principles for a global MBM should be adopted at ICAO’s assembly in 2016.
Business aviation leaders are encouraged by last week’s endorsement by transport ministers at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum of a set of core principles to foster business aviation in the region. The ministers, representing 21 economies, agreed to three core principles Sept.
BAE Model BAe 146 and Avro 146-RJ series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0631; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-142-AD] – proposes to require repetitive inspections and, depending on findings, repair of the pylon pick-up brackets. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of a cracked pick-up bracket of the forward outboard pylon of the number 1 engine due to stress corrosion.
VistaJet is partnering with Jet Aviation Flight Services and newly formed Wheels Up to expand into the U.S. Under the agreement, VistaJet will initially place 12 new Bombardier Global business jets valued at $600 million in the U.S. Jet Aviation will manage and operate the aircraft on its certificate. Wheels Up, meanwhile, a membership-based private aviation company unveiled in August by the founder of Marquis Jet, will market and sell the service, called the VistaJet Flight Solutions Program.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350C, AS350D, and AS350D1 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0679; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-015-AD] – proposes to require measuring the distance between the end of the main rotor collective pitch lever locking stud and the locking strip and repairing the locking stud if the clearance is insufficient. This proposed AD is prompted by a report that insufficient distance between the locking stud and the locking strip may cause the collective to become inadvertently locked in the low pitch position.
FlightSafety International is boosting its Cessna training with new training offerings and simulators at its facilities in Orlando, Fla., San Antonio, Texas, and Wichita. The Orlando center is now providing training for the full Citation XL series, including the addition of the XLS+, using a simulator equipped with a Collins Pro Line 21 suite. The simulator has received Level D approvals from the FAA, Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil of Brazil; Mexico Directorate General of Civil Aviation, and the General Authority of Civil Aviation of Saudi Arabia.
The Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) is hoping to provide a boost to the business aviation community in North Africa with a Middle East Business Aviation conference to be held Oct. 8 in Marrakech, Morocco. MEBAA says the event will provide a forum to cover common challenges and trends. MEBAA is hosting the event with the support of H.E. Abdullah Bouhouche, director general of civil aviation for the Kingdom of Morocco.
THIELERT TAE125-01 reciprocating engines [Docket No. FAA-2013-0561; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-23-AD] – proposes to require applying sealant to close the engine clutch housing (crankcase assembly) opening. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of engine power loss due to engine coolant contaminating the engine clutch. The design of the engine allows the crankcase assembly opening to be susceptible to contamination from external sources.
