Kestrel Aircraft is stumbling along on the road to developing its 320+ kt. single-engine, carbon-fiber JP10 turboprop, as the company’s president and CEO Alan Klapmeier looks for sponsors willing to invest the tens of millions needed to bring the aircraft to market. Absent Chinese or Russian investors with deep pockets, he’s finding it very tough to woo white knight venture capitalists to back his program. How tough is this task?
The Small Airplane Revitalization Act, a bill calling on FAA to rewrite light aircraft standards, is set to head to the Senate floor after the Senate Commerce Committee approved it July 30. The bill, S.1072, is the companion to legislation passed by the House earlier this month. The bill essentially would require FAA to rewrite Part 23 certification standards, taking into account the recommendations of the Part 23 Reorganization Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC), by Dec. 31, 2015.
Quest Aircraft recently secured two more certifications for its Kodiak single-turboprop – from the Civil Aviation Administration of China and the Indian Directorate General of Civil Aviation – bringing to 12 the total number of approvals for the aircraft. Quest notes that its aircraft, designed for multi-mission operations in rugged terrains, has received strong interest in both regions, and the certifications “will help us move the discussion forward.” Quest received an order for 12 Kodiaks from Blue Eagle Aviation Investment Corp.
JIM BENNETT was appointed vice president of flight operations for Key Air. Bennett is a 40-yr. aviation veteran, most recently holding a similar position with Jet Access. He has more than 21,000 flight hours and holds type ratings in Boeing, Cessna, Bombardier, Dassault, Hawker and Gulfstream aircraft, among others. He also held numerous positions with Tag Aviation.
Piper Aircraft is continuing to see a steady increase in orders, with both revenues and deliveries up through the first half of the year, the company reports. The 13% increase in deliveries to 86 aircraft and 11% increase in revenue to $77 million continue a three-year trend of improved results for the Vero Beach, Fla., manufacturer. The company’s top-of-the-line M-Class family continues to slowly edge upward, with three more delivered in the first half, compared with a year ago.
Cessna Aircraft checked off two more milestones in its business jet development programs. The first production model of the new Citation X completed its first flight, and the first production M2 rolled off the assembly line. Slated to enter the market early next year, the new X flew a 3.1-hr. flight, averaging a cruise speed of Mach 0.915 at 41,000 ft. The aircraft reached 49,000 ft. and its top speed of Mach 0.935, putting the aircraft on track to reclaim the business jet speed title from Gulfstream’s 650.
CESSNA Models 172R, 172S, 182S, 182T, T182T, 206H, and T206H airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-1052; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-014-AD; Amendment 39-17471; AD 2013-11-11]—supersedes AD 2000-04-01, requires an inspection of the engine oil pressure switch and, if applicable, replacement of the engine oil pressure switch. This AD increases the applicability of the AD, places a life-limit of 3,000 hours time-in-service on the engine oil pressure switch, and requires replacement when the engine oil pressure switch reaches its life limit.
AVIC International’s Continental Motors unit is establishing a management team to assess the integration of the newly acquired Thielert Aircraft Engines as the company looks to expand and strengthen its diesel technologies, says Continental Motors President Rhett Ross.
Jeppesen is expanding its Mobile FlightDeck applications, rolling out a VFR version for the U.S. Already available in Europe, Jeppesen is offering U.S. VFR coverage for a $49 annual subscription. Jeppesen Mobile FlightDeck VFR includes navigation information, route planning capabilities, access to NOTAMS and weather data.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model EC 155B, EC155B1, SA-366G1, SA-365N, SA-365N1, AS-365N2, and AS 365 N3 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-1214; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-071-AD; Amendment 39-17482; AD 2013-12-04]—requires modifying the fuel tank draining system. This AD is prompted by a closed fuel tank drain that, in the event of a fuel leak, could result in fuel accumulating in an area containing electrical equipment. The actions are intended to prevent accumulation of fuel in an area with electrical equipment or another ignition source, which may lead to a fire.
Fractional ownership provider Avantair’s future appears doubtful, after certain creditors filed an involuntary petition for Chapter 7 liquidation of the company. Avantair, which grounded its fleet and furloughed its workforce in June, has until mid-August to respond to the petition. But in the interim, more of the company’s senior leadership are leaving. The latest to depart is CFO Bret Holmes, who is following the departures of President and CEO David Haslett, and other board members.
Cirrus is beginning initial production work of the first conforming Vision SF50 single jet, and is hoping to launch an 18-month certification program early next year. Patrick Waddick, who in March was named president of the Duluth, Minn., general aviation manufacturer, says the company is focused on completing the first certification aircraft, called C0, and kicking of the certification program late in the first quarter or early in the second quarter of next year.
Start-up Adept Airmotive, based in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, is designing a new 320 hp liquid-cooled six-cylinder to run on leaded or unleaded avgas, automotive gas or bio ethanol, says Raymond Bakker, the firm’s COO. The Adept 320T is a clean-sheet 120 degree, short-stroke, 24-valve V-6 that displaces only 3.2 liters, weighs but 320 lb dry, including radiator. It produces rated takeoff power at 51 in Hg MAP (manifold absolute pressure) and 5,500 rpm, thus it uses a reduction gear box to drive the prop. Seventy percent cruise power is achieved at 3,800 rpm.
The Experimental Aircraft Association’s (EAA) AirVenture rapidly is becoming the U.S. national airshow, with a broad-spectrum demographic that includes a large, but low-profile group of turbine aircraft owners and pilots. Stéphane Mayer, Daher-Socata CEO, says 70 TBM700/850 operators were at Oshkosh this year.
BRENT BOWEN was selected as dean of the College of Aviation at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Prescott, Ariz., campus. Bowen formerly was professor and head of the Aviation Technology Department from Purdue University. He also has formerly served as professor and chair of aviation science with Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology and directed the office of Air Transportation Policy and served as senior fellow with the National Center for Aviation Safety Research at Saint Louis University.
Cessna Aircraft has logged nearly 200 hr. on its Jet A-fueled Turbo Skylane JT-A aircraft since it first flew in May, and company executives say the aircraft remains on track for delivery in the third quarter. The manufacturer unveiled plans to develop the diesel-powered Skylane at EAA AirVenture 2012 in Oshkosh, hoping to tap into a growing demand for alternatives to light aircraft powered by aviation gasoline, particularly in parts of the world where aviation gasoline (avgas) is not readily available.
The Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee approved a $594.4 billion bill to fund the Pentagon and its wartime operations in fiscal 2014 that guts the administration’s request to purchase 20 Embraer A-29 Super Tucanos for the Afghan Air Force under the Light Air Support (LAS) program. The draft of the defense spending bill would slice $416.8 million for LAS and also remove all funding for the purchase of Mi-17 helicopters for Afghanistan.
The founders of Marquis Jet have struck a potential $1.4 billion deal with Beechcraft to launch new “private membership” venture, Wheels Up, which will be anchored around a fleet of the Wichita-based company’s King Airs. The agreement with Beechcraft—the largest of its kind for a fleet of business turboprops—includes firm orders for 35 King Air 350is, with options for up to 70 more. The deal also includes a comprehensive maintenance and services contract, covering both scheduled and unscheduled visits, as well as labor, parts and consumables.
General Aviation Manufacturers Association President and CEO Pete Bunce predicts the next wave of technology will come from engine manufacturers. Many recent advances have been driven by avionics, but with the high costs of certifying new engines, “we have been stagnated in propulsion for years.” But that’s changing, he says, with new diesel, hybrid and battery technologies on the horizon. “This revolution we saw in avionics is now going over to propulsion,” Bunce says, which makes it all the more important to streamline certification processes.
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) is holding its 10th general aviation rally Aug. 12 in in Albuquerque, N.M. The rally, held in partnership with Aspen Avionics, Bendix/King by Honeywell and Eclipse Aerospace, is expected to attract hundreds of attendees, including representatives from local aviation manufacturing companies, businesses that use general aviation and military members. Gov. Susana Martinez (R) and Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) are among the scheduled speakers.
GOODRICH certain externally-mounted hoists on various helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0521; Directorate Identifier 2013-SW-010-AD; Amendment 39-17486; AD 2013-06-51]—requires performing a cable conditioning lift and a load inspection test, deactivating or replacing any hoist that fails the load inspection test, and recording the results of the load inspection test. This AD is prompted by a report of a failure of the overload clutch resulting in in-flight failure of a hoist containing a dummy load during a maintenance flight.
The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) opened its 2013 AirVenture on July 29, welcoming FAA controllers to help bring in the thousands of aircraft to the week-long event. But the effects are sequestration were apparent without any military flights on the airshow schedule, or any forums involving the heads of either the FAA or NTSB.
