PHILLIP WADE was promoted to vice president of business development in Titeflex Aerospace. Wade will be responsible for identifying new product development opportunities and expanding into new markets. He joined Titeflex in October 2000 and most recently managed the Quality and R&D groups.
A fatal midair collision between a Beechcraft Bonanza piloted by a National Transportation Safety Board employee and a Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee piloted by an FAA employee underscores the fact that the see-and-avoid principle alone is insufficient to guard against midairs when aircraft are flying under visual flight rules (VFR), the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) concludes.
Rockwell Collins’ largest acquisition to date—purchasing communications and systems engineering provider, Arinc, for $1.39 billion from the Carlyle Group—will give the avionics maker its own end-to-end communications link between the ground and the flight deck, a connection that is fundamental to the FAA’s Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen).
Embraer unveiled a series of “block-point” changes that include new standard and optional features for the Phenom 100 very light jet. These include multi-function spoilers, 11 new interior selections and new options including a refreshment center, stowage space and premium seats. The multi-function spoiler acts as a ground spoiler and speed brake. It can be used to increase drag and lift dump, along with reducing speed and sink-rate increase on the approach phase. The 11 new interior collections include new color choices and materials such as wood veneer.
VULCANAIR (type certificate previously held by Partenavia) Models P 68, P 68B, P 68C, P 68C-TC, P 68 “Observer,” P68TC “Observer,” and P68 “Observer 2” [Docket No. FAA-2013-0602; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-010-AD] – proposes to supersede an existing AD that established safe limits for the wing structure and required repetitive inspection and repair of the wing and stabilator structures when the airplanes reach safe life limits. That AD stemmed from reports of cracking and/or corrosion discovered in the wing spar.
Eclipse, in the final stages of certifying avionics systems before it begins delivery of the new Eclipse 550, has packaged some of the upgrades developed for the new aircraft as a retrofit option for existing Eclipse 500 very light jets.
COLT MEHLER was named vice-president - project engineering for Jormac Aerospace. Mehler joined Jormac in 2012 and has more than 13 years of customer completions engineering, project management and operations experience. He has served with Bombardier, Lufthansa Technik Completion Engineering, Midcoast Aviation and JetTech Aerospace.
Inflight connectivity specialist Aircell has enjoyed a fourfold growth in its business aviation division over the past four years as inflight Internet is becoming commonplace in fractional, charter and other operations.
DASSAULT Falcon 2000, 2000EX, 99900, 900EX and 50 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-1067; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-231-AD; Amendment 39-17444; AD 2013-09-03] – requires modification of the wing fuel tanks in the area of the wheel well. This AD was prompted by reports that collapse of the main landing gear (MLG) could cause wing tank structure failure, which could result in fuel spillage and consequent fire hazard. FAA is issuing the AD to prevent fuel spillage in the event of a MLG collapse, and consequent fire hazard.
EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND Model EC135 P1, EC135 P2, EC135 P2+, EC135 T1, EC135 T2, and EC135 T2+ helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0554; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-009-AD] – proposes to require analyzing the main gearbox (MGB) oil for indications of metal chips or pieces, reviewing the MGB log or equivalent record, and inspecting certain teeth in the MGB after two chip indications. This proposed AD is prompted by a partial tooth rupture found in an MGB that was returned to the manufacturer for repairs.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model AS332C1 and AS332L1 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0573; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-042-AD] – proposes to require replacing the rivets on the left-hand (LH) and right-hand (RH) Y350 longitudinal beams (longitudinal beams Y350). This proposed AD is prompted by a report that non-conforming rivets had been installed on an AS332 helicopter during a production modification. The proposed actions are intended to prevent failure of the longitudinal beams Y350 and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
While business aviation flights in the U.S. and Canada have remained flat to down overall this year, Part 135 activity continues to gain strength with improvements every month this year, according to the most recent data by aviation safety expert and industry analyst Argus International. Part 135 flights jumped 17.8% in July compared with July 2012. That follows a 12% improvement in June and a 10.7% increase in May. In fact, charter-activity gains have been in the double digits every month this year except March, which was up 9.3%, and February, up 5.5%.
ANDREW BRADLEY was promoted to president of global sales for Avjet Corp. Bradley has served with the company since 1997, and most recently was senior vice president, global sales. He will remain based at Avjet’s Washington, D.C. office.
Avantair is under order to liquidate after the fractional ownership provider failed to meet a deadline to respond to the involuntary petition for Chapter 7 liquidation that the company’s creditors filed in July. Avantair creditors, led by Soldier Creek Ranch, on July 25 filed the involuntary petition for Chapter 7 liquidation and sought the appointment of an interim trustee. The court granted the request for an emergency trustee and gave Avantair until Aug. 6 to respond to the petition. But U.S.
LEO MENDOZA was appointed regional sales leader for StandardAero’s Latin American Airlines and Fleets business. Mendoza brings a background in management and aviation sales with companies including Pratt & Whitney and MTU. He also managed the supply chain for Avensa Airlines in Caracas, Venezuela.
FlightSafety International has received European Aviation Safety Agency approval for more than 140 of its Part 147 maintenance courses, meeting the latest requirements under the EASA Training Needs Analysis regulation 1149/2011. The courses were aligned with the latest standards not only of EASA, but also the Civil Aviation Authority of Australia and Civil Aviation Administration of China and Transport Canada.
BBA Aviation is seeing pockets of growth in business and general aviation flight operations in North America, but overall traffic has remained flat, and is even down a little in Europe. “In terms of North America, interestingly we continue to see signs, positive signs of recovery, both in terms of macroeconomic indicators … and some of the underlying business confidence indicators,” says Simon Pryce, CEO of Signature Flight Support parent BBA Aviation.
JOHN YOUNG joined Kansas Aircraft Corp. as vice president, jet sales. Young has 23 years of sales, marketing and engineering experience with Cessna Aircraft and Honeywell. He most recently was regional vice president, Citation sales. He originally joined Cessna in 1990 as an engineer, where he was involved in the initial design work on the wing of the Citation X, and later held roles with Honeywell Aerospace before rejoining Cessna.
Pilatus has at least one fractional operation eyeing its new PC-24 twin jet for its fleet – its longtime and largest PC-12 customer, PlaneSense. The Portsmouth, N.H.-based fractional provider was hoping to become an eager buyer of the stillborn Grob SPn. The reason for that interest, says PlaneSense founder, President and CEO George Antoniadis, was the Grob twin’s large cabin, good economy and ability to fly into small and unimproved strips – attributes that mirror those of the PC-12.
EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND Model EC135 and MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0555; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-047-AD] – proposes to require inspecting the flight-control bearings repetitively, replacing any loose bearing with an airworthy flight-control bearing, and installing bushings and washers. This proposed AD is prompted by the discovery during a routine inspection of loose flight control bearings because of incorrect installation.
Executive Jet Management (EJM), among the nation’s largest charter and management companies, is undergoing a management shake-up with three of its top executives believed to have recently departed the company. Among those departing is President Robert Garrymore, who had served with EJM and its affiliate company NetJets since 1998. Garrymore became president of EJM in 2009. Others include Ronald Silverman, senior vice president of aircraft management, and Jim Lewis, senior vice president of aircraft maintenance, sales and acquisitions.
A strong showing by Gulfstream and Bombardier helped propel first-half general aviation billings to their highest levels since 2008, but the continued sluggishness at the light end of the jet market kept down business shipments overall, according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association’s (GAMA) first-half shipment report. But at the same time, the piston market – usually a leading indicator of market recovery – is showing signs of a rebound.
The White House has renominated both Deborah Hersman and Christopher Hart to new terms as members of the National Transportation Safety Board. In addition, the White House has also nominated Hersman to a third two-year term as chairman. Hersman was first nominated to the board in 2004 and has served as chairman since 2009. The latest nomination would extend her term on the board through Dec. 31, 2018. Hersman was thought to be a leading candidate to succeed Ray LaHood as Transportation Secretary and had key lawmakers endorsing that move.
