June 6—National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Regional Forum, White Plains, N.Y., (703) 783-9000, www.nbaa.org June 17-19—National Air Transportation Association 2013 Air Charter Summit, Marriott Dulles, Dulles, Va., 703-845-9000, www.nata.aero Jun 21–22—National Business Aviation Association Flight Attendants/Flight Technicians Conference, Washington, D.C., (703) 783-9000, www.nbaa.org July 11—National Business Aviation Association, Business Aviation Regional Forum, Denver, Colo., (703) 783-9000, www.nbaa.org
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model AS350B, BA, B1, B2, B3, and D, and Model AS355E, F, F1, F2, and N helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0351; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-049-AD] – proposes, for affected helicopters with certain tail rotor (T/R) blades, installing additional rivets to secure each T/R blade trailing edge tab, and inspecting for evidence of debonding of the tab after the rivets are installed. This proposed AD is prompted by reports of T/R blade tab debonding.
Fresh from January’s acquisition of the former Jet Aviation facility at London Biggin Hill, the 328 Group has developed a new dedicated business jet arm known as JETS. Under the 328 brand sits 328 Support Services GmbH, the type certificate holder for all Dornier Do 328 aircraft, plus 328 Design GmbH. The JETS brand covers a range of VIP and business aircraft support services in Germany and the U.K. The Biggin Hill buy also means that JETS now has the group’s first-ever fixed-base operation (FBO).
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit vacated a lawsuit combining claims by airports groups and local communities against the FAA over continuation of the contract air traffic control tower program, as the groups seek a permanent legislative fix.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and Experimental Aircraft Association are concerned that FAA’s plan to charge the EAA for air traffic controller expenses during AirVenture in late July is another step for the agency to seek new revenue flows to offset its costs.
Pilatus Aircraft Ltd finally unveiled the PC-24 on May 21, outlining a single-pilot, clean-sheet turbofan aircraft that will offer the short, soft-field versatility of the PC-12, the cabin volume of a midsize aircraft and the cruise speed of a light jet. The aircraft, the first Pilatus jet in decades, will be priced at $8.9 million in 2017 U.S. dollars, and its closest direct competitor will be the Embraer Phenom 300.
Sheltair is working with international travelers transiting through its Ronkonkoma, N.Y., fixed-base operation to prepare for new Customs services coming to Long Island MacArthur Airport (KISP). These include Global Entry, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that permits expedited clearance for pre-approved travelers entering the U.S. In addition, the airport is building a new CBP facility and is expected to be able to accept non-U.S. citizen general aviation international arrivals soon.
Beechcraft is upping its product development spending by 300% as the company studies potential for a new single-engine turboprop, derivative diesel variants of its Beechcraft Bonanza and Baron aircraft and upgrades and/or derivatives of its King Air and other models, says Shawn Vick, president of Beechcraft International Services Co.
Honda Aircraft has begun flying its fifth conforming HondaJet aircraft, but its certification is likely still more than a year away. GE Honda pushed back certification of the HF120 engine that will power the HondaJet until later this year, which means most certification flight trials cannot begin until that point. Honda Aircraft continues to fly the aircraft, and President and CEO Michimasa Fujino says some of the work accomplished will count toward certification, but most of the certification flights will begin after engine certification.
ExcelAire received approval to operate its fleet of Embraer Legacy 600 business jets into London City Airport (LCY). ExcelAire has five Legacy 600s in its fleet. The approval requires special certification and training for London City operations.
ROBINSON R22, R22 Alpha, R22 Beta, and R22 Mariner helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0380; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-067-AD] – proposes to require for helicopters with certain fuel shutoff valves installed, replacing the fuel shutoff valve with a newer design fuel shutoff valve. This proposed AD is prompted by three accidents that occurred because the fuel shutoff valve was inadvertently moved to the “off” position.
European officials, who joined European Business Aviation Association and National Business Aviation Association leaders to kick off the 13th annual European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition on May 21, are underscoring the need to work together to shape the future of the air traffic control system and ensure that business aviation has fair and equitable treatment.
PIPER Model PA-18 and PA-19 aircraft [Docket No. FAA-2012-0756; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-012-AD] – withdraws a proposal that would have required either moving all toggle-style magnet switches located on the left cabin panel, adjacent to the front seat, away from this position; or replacing these switches with FAA-approved, non-keyed, rotary-style switches. Since issuance of the NPRM, the FAA has re-evaluated this airworthiness concern and determined that an unsafe condition does not exist that would warrant AD action.
Beechcraft, competing head-on with Nextant Aerospace with its “XPR” factory upgrade of the Beechjet 400, is planning to reissue a customer letter warning that major modifications to Hawker or Beechcraft aircraft that are not factory authorized will not be factory supported. The company originally stated the position in a customer communication in 2011, and Christi Tannahill, senior vice president of Global Customer Support for Beechcraft, says the company wanted to clarify its position because it has received customer inquiries about this support.
Atlantic Aviation, which earlier this month filed a lawsuit to halt plans for a Signature Flight Support fixed-base operation at Mineta San Jose Airport citing environmental and safety concerns, is filing a second suit, this time claiming the city had broken its own rules on fair, competitive bidding. Atlantic asks the Santa Clara County Superior Court to order the city to reissue a request for proposals (RFP).
Piper Aircraft received FAA certification for installation of its G1000 avionics suite in its twin-piston-engine Seneca V model. The certification follows similar approval last month for the installation of the G1000 aboard the Archer piston-engine aircraft. Piper, which is moving to expand its presence in the training market, says the G1000 all-glass avionics package has been requested by several flight schools.
The Internal Revenue Service has agreed to suspend audits the agency has been conducting on aircraft management fees and services while the agency drafts new guidance on taxing management activities. The agreement follows another recent meeting agency officials held with industry leaders, who have been appealing to the IRS to hold off on action against management companies until the management-fee tax issue could be resolved.
The Department of Transportation’s decision to continue funding contract air traffic control towers through fiscal 2013 comes as temporary relief for local communities, but backers of the program are continuing their push to preserve the contract tower program in the future.
General aviation groups this summer have agreed to highlight skills to avoid loss-of-control incidents as part of a multi-pronged effort to stem the recent increase in accidents that has raised the concern of industry, FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board. FAA last week held a meeting with a number of general aviation stakeholders to look at both short-term and long-term initiatives to help turn the accident rate, which has been stubbornly flat over the past five years and up in the past six months.
May 21–23—13th Annual European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE2013), Geneva, Switzerland, (703) 783-9000, www.ebace.aero June 6—National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Regional Forum, White Plains, N.Y., (703) 783-9000, www.nbaa.org June 17-19—National Air Transportation Association 2013 Air Charter Summit, Marriott Dulles, Dulles, Va., 703-845-9000, www.nata.aero
Beechcraft management, in the throes of divesting the Premier and Hawker 4000 programs, wants to make this crystal clear: The Hawker 400 and 800 programs are not for sale.
JOHN HUNT was appointed regional sales manager and director of business development for Cutter Aviation’s Aircraft Services and Avionics business unit in Phoenix. Hunt will focus on supplemental type certificate business development. He has more than 20 years of business aviation industry experience, including holding a sales role representing three original equipment manager manufacturers and general manager positions at a Part 135 charter and Part 121 flight school.
KEOW KEONG (KK) LOW was named regional sales manager for StandardAero’s helicopter programs in Asia. Low will provide marketing and service support on the Rolls-Royce M250 and the Rolls-Royce RR300 product lines for operators in the Asia-Pacific region. He formerly was with the company’s airline and fleets sector, where he also served as a regional sales manager.
