ART DAWLEY was named managing director of Wyvern Consulting. Dawley has more than 25 years of business aviation experience, serving as a corporate pilot, aviation department manager and most recently, a member of Wyvern’s audit team. He also has owned and operated a charter and maintenance business in Latin American since 2004.
While the light-jet market malaise continues to linger, Bombardier believes the market will return to its prior peak levels by 2016 and is maintaining a forecast of 24,000 deliveries valued at $650 billion through 2032. That is nearly the same 20-year outlook the Canada-based company gave a year ago, even though it had predicted the beginnings of a pickup in deliveries in 2013.
Cobham has received an AUD$7 million one-year contract extension from the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service to provide maritime surveillance services through June 2014 using two Reims F406 Caravan II twin turboprops. The aircraft, equipped with surveillance radar and satellite communications, fly 2,000 hr. of maritime patrol missions each year. The Australian Border Protection operation is the largest civil surveillance operation in the world, which Cobham has supported since 1995.
July 11—National Business Aviation Association, Business Aviation Regional Forum, Denver, Colo., (703) 783-9000, www.nbaa.org July 29-Aug. 4—2013 EAA Airventure Oshkosh, Wittman Regional Airport, Oshkosh, Wis., www.airventure.org Aug. 12-13—Aircraft Electronics Association Regional Meeting, Sao Paulo, Brazil, www.aea.net/events.asp Aug. 27-28—Aircraft Electronics Association Regional Meeting, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, www.aea.net/events.asp
Rockwell Collins is providing traffic alert and collision avoidance (TCAS II) systems for Bristow Group’s fleet of 44 helicopters, including Sikorsky S-76 C++ and S-92A helicopters. Retrofit of the Rockwell Collins TTR-4000 TCAS II systems aboard 24 Bristow helicopters is under way. Rockwell Collins will install its TTR-4100, which adds traffic computer capability and enables automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast applications on the remaining 20 helicopters within the next year.
Kaman Aerospace Group’s Aerosystems division was select to produce fixed leading edge (FLE) assemblies for Bombardier Global 7000 and 8000 wings. Kaman will be under subcontract to Vought Aircraft Division (Triumph), which is responsible for the design and manufacture of the wings. Triumph issued an advanced procurement authorization to Kaman while contract details are finalized. Kaman will produce the FLE assemblies at its facilities in Jacksonville, Fla., and Chihuahua, Mexico. The Global 7000 is expected to enter service in 2016, followed by the Global 8000 in 2017.
GKN Aerospace has signed a long-term agreement with Snecma to manufacture low-pressure turbine (LPT) cases for its new Silvercrest large/long-range business jet engine. First deliveries of cases to Snecma in Villaroche, France, will take place this month, ramping up as the engine is introduced into service through 2016. GKN Aerospace is a risk- and revenue-sharing partner with Snecma in the CFM56 program and has been the sole supplier of LPT cases for the CFM56 since 1986.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-215-1A10 and CL-215-6B11 (CL-215T Variant) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0426; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-084-AD; Amendment 39-17463; AD 2013-11-03] – requires repetitive detailed inspections for cracking of the left-hand (LH) and right-hand (RH) wing lower skin, and repair if necessary. This AD also provides terminating action for the repetitive detailed inspections. This AD was prompted by reports of a fractured wing lower rear spar cap and reinforcing strap.
Bombardier recently commemorated two milestones: the deliveries of the 500th Global long-range business jet and the 400th Challenger 300 super-midsize jet. The 500th Global business jet, a Global 6000, will enter service with French company Groupe Bollore. The 400th Challenger 300, meanwhile, will be operated by BJet, which also operates a Global 5000, Global 6000, Challenger 605, Challenger 850 and Learjet 60 aircraft.
Pilatus Aircraft opted for a clean-sheet design of its new PC-24 business jet after ruling out the Grob SPn-180, says Chairman Oscar Schwenk. During the preliminary design phase, Schwenk says that Pilatus was invited by the German government to bid on the SPn-180 program from bankrupt Grob. He was tempted because he says he has great respect for Dr. Burkhart Grob as an engineer. “I put 40 top people to work for three weeks studying the program. But Grob never built a production conforming prototype. There was no configuration control.
Icon Aircraft, the developer of the amphibious light-sport A5 aircraft, is moving forward to ramp up full-scale production with $60 million in new equity funding led by a Chinese investor. The latest investment is the company’s fourth and final round, which Icon says will be enough to demonstrate regulatory compliance, to ramp up production and to begin work on the next aircraft in the model line.
Voldirect SAS, a Rennes, France-based carrier, received air operator’s certificate approval to provide commercial service using the Daher-Socata TBM 850 in instrument meteorological conditions – marking the first such European approval. The European Commission recently signed off on single-engine IMC commercial operations, and the European Aviation Safety Agency is developing rules to recognize the operations, which are already cleared in Canada and the U.S.
JOHAN MOBERG was appointed safety auditor for Wyvern Consulting. Moberg has experience in offshore oil, gas and petroleum helicopter operations with more than 8,000 hr. of flight time. He has experience in the West African and Middle East regions. He also is type rated in Gulfstream, Learjet and Sabreliner aircraft.
PIAGGIO Model P-180 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0472; Directorate Identifier 98-CE-097-AD] – proposes to rescind an AD that would required inspections and corrective actions on the nacelles. The existing AD resulted from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) from the European Aviation Safety Agency that cited reports of a partial detachment of the inner protective film of the composite nacelles. Since FAA issued that AD, the agency has determined that the unsafe condition does not exist or is not likely to develop on affected type design airplanes.
Bell is attempting to reinvent the JetRanger and re-enter a market it left behind five years ago. Juggling development of the Model 525 super medium and the V-280 Valor, the company’s tiltrotor aircraft for the U.S. Army’s Future Vertical Lift requirements, Bell has now added what it calls the Short Light Single (SLS). The helo was unveiled at the Paris air show in a bid to regain market share lost to the Robinson R66 and Eurocopter’s EC120, which filled the void when JetRanger production ended in December 2010.
BELL Model 214B and B-1 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2008-0288; Directorate Identifier 2006-SW-25-AD] – revises an earlier proposal, which would require inspecting certain pylon support spindle assemblies for any corrosion, or a nick, scratch, dent, or crack, and repairing or replacing any unairworthy spindle before further flight.
Charter operator Travel Management Company is adding Aircell’s Gogo Biz service to its fleet of nearly 70 aircraft. The company, which operates Hawker 400XP and Hawker 800XP aircraft, began introducing inflight Internet service aboard its Hawker 800XP aircraft last year, and is expanding it to the entire fleet. TMC General Manager Scott Wise says inflight Internet has become a “must-have amenity” and says “you have to offer it or you’re going to lose business.”
Embraer President and CEO Frederico Fleury Curado is keeping the door open to a possible helicopter venture in the future even though the teaming agreement with AgustaWestland unraveled. In April, Embraer and AgustaWestland dropped plans to create a joint venture to produce helicopters in Brazil. “We had a memorandum of understanding, but we could not come to terms on fundamental points. It was very peaceful; we agreed to disagree,” he says. But “the business opportunity is still there” to produce helicopters in Brazil, Curado says.
FRANKLIN DAVIS was appointed safety consultant and auditor for Wyvern Consulting. Davis formerly served as director of aviation for American International Group in Teterboro, N.J. Davis has a 34-year career in corporate aviation and has served as chairman of the National Business Aviation Association’s Operations Committee.
The long wait for the release of the final aircraft repair station security rule continues as the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) extends its review of the new regulation past its 90-day window.
AARON MOOI was appointed president and general manager, Americas for Pattonair. Mooi is based at the aerospace supply chain provider’s Fort Worth facility and will oversee the company’s North American business. He formerly held a number of leadership positions with Parker Hannifin Corporation, including in its supply chain management business. He also has served with Aviall.
40 Years Ago June 25, 1973 – The Environmental Protection Agency calls for airport noise certification criteria, reduced-thrust takeoff limits on noise-sensitive runways, and new aircraft noise regulations. 30 Years Ago June 6, 1983 – British Aerospace unveils new 125-800 business jet, powered by two Garrett TFE731-5 engines. 20 Years Ago
EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND Model EC135 P1, P2, P2+, T1, T2, and T2+ [Docket No. FAA-2013-0446; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-007-AD] – proposes to require inspecting each linear transducer bearing for freedom of movement. This proposed AD would also require replacing the bearing if there is binding or rough turning or if there is chafing or damage on the lower side of the floor. Also, this proposed AD would require modifying and reidentifying a certain rod.
EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND Model MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0445; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-098-AD; Amendment 39-17458; AD 2013-10-05] – requires revising the operating limitations to prohibit flights under instrument flight rules (IFR) or under night visual flight rules (VFR) when the autotrim is inoperative. The actions of this AD are intended to prevent a workload situation whereby stabilizing the helicopter in flight would be difficult if not impossible, resulting in possible loss of helicopter control.
