ROBERT OLIVER was named COO of Tempus Jets. Oliver recently joined the aviation services firm after serving as president of TWC Aviation. Oliver will focus on development business in the Asia Pacific Region. He will be based in Los Angeles.
BRP-POWERTRAIN Rotax 912 F2; 912 F3; 912 F4; 912 S2; 912 S3; 912 S4; 914 F2; 914 F3; and 914 F4 reciprocating engines [Docket No. FAA-2013-0263; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-12-AD; Amendment 39-17416; AD 2013-07-12] – requires a one-time visual inspection for excessive oil deposits or carbon deposits on the No. 2 and No. 3 spark plug center and grounding electrodes, and if found, replacement of the cylinder head before further flight. This AD was prompted by a report of certain No. 2 and No. 3 cylinder heads not manufactured to proper specification.
SKIP MADSEN joined Landmark Aviation as vice president of MRO. Madsen has 30 years of experience, most recently as vice president of MRO operations for Jet Aviation.
Bell Helicopter has begun offering the Max-Viz-15000 enhanced vision system as an option on new Bell 429s, as well as a retrofit installation on the helicopter. Bell and Astronics collaborated on the integration of the system, which they say will maximize visibility in poor weather and operating conditions. The EVS is installed at the factory on new helicopters and offered as a retrofit at Bell’s service facility in Piney Flats, Tenn.
BOMBARDIER Model DHC-8-102, -103, and -106 airplanes. [Docket No. FAA-2013-0297; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-205-AD] – proposes to require repetitive inspections for cracking of the lower longerons in the nacelles and replacement with new longerons or repair if necessary. Additionally, this proposed AD specifies an optional terminating action. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of cracking in a lower longeron in a nacelle.
Piaggio Aero is already planning to open an authorized service center (ASC) in China, even though it has just two Piaggio Avanti II turboprop aircraft in the country. The ASC will be set up as a joint venture with Chinese distributor CAEA (Beijing) Aviation Investment Co. Ltd., at the Zhuhai operating base of CAE’s Free Sky Aviation, which makes the aircraft available to private members. Li Xuefeng, president of CAEA, says the ASC will begin to provide services to customers as early as this year.
Pilatus named Tronrud Aviation as an authorized PC-12 sales and service center in the Nordic region of Europe, covering Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland. A subsidiary of Tronrud Engineering AS, Tronud Aviation specializes in manufacturing parts and machines and employs more than 170 people in Norway and Singapore.
GARY NORTHAM , who is dean of the College of Aviation at Embry-Riddle’s Prescott campus, was selected as the new president of the Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI), effective fall 2013. Northam has spent 16 years as a member of the AABI visiting team and has served as team chair, developing and teaching team training workshops and chairing a committee on the development of graduate criteria. He joined Embry-Riddle in 2005 as professor and chair of the Safety Science Department and became dean of the College of Aviation in 2010.
Daher-Socata has named Bartolini Air Maintenance in Lodz, Poland as a TBM service center, authorized to provide TBM 700 and TBM 850 maintenance, warranty support and parts and technical support. The move expands the company’s support efforts in Eastern and Central Europe. Founded in 2012 as a sister company of flight training specialist Bartolini Air, Bartolini Air Maintenance provides services for a range of aircraft from its facilities at Lodz Lublinek international airport.
Eurocopter has begun proving trials of its EC145 twin-engine helicopter with an optionally piloted flight control system. The self-funded demonstration program, revealed April 25, made its first flights in early April and has already carried underslung loads and performed what the company calls a “representative observation mission.”
The SunBorne Companies signed a lease agreement with charter and management company Prime Jet to take space at its One InterPort facility at Centennial Airport in Englewood, Colo., outside of Denver. Prime Jet is slated to take occupancy in early May. SunBorne is developing the 125-acre Centennial Interport at the airport. The Interport currently comprises 261,400 sq. ft. of existing hangar and office space with another 107,000 sq. ft. in design and development stage.
SHELDON EARLY was named president of Tempus Jets in Greenville, S.C. Early, formerly senior vice president, has been with Tempus since it was established in 2007 and became a partner in 2012. He will be responsible for worldwide flight options.
40 Years Ago April 9, 1973 – Lockheed-Georgia Co. gives go-ahead for production of JetStar Two, growth version of original JetStar. 30 Years Ago April 25, 1983 – Gulfstream decides to move forward with new Gulfstream IV after gathering 45 commitments for the aircraft. 20 Years Ago April 19, 1993 – Pilatus Aircraft contemplates buying financially struggling Piper with letter of intent that would have moved production of the PC-12 to the Piper plant in Vero Beach, Fla.
PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA (P&WC) PW118A, PW118B, PW119B, PW119C, PW123, PW123B, PW123C, PW123D, PW123E, PW123AF, PW124B, PW125B, PW126A, PW127, PW127E, PW127F, PW127G, and PW127M turboprop engines [Docket No. FAA-2013-0197; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-09-AD] – proposes to require inspection of the first stage PT blades and the removal from service of those blades that fail the inspection or their replacement with blades eligible for installation. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of fractures of the first stage power turbine (PT) blade.
China’s first business aircraft, the five-seat Primus 150, is progressing toward first flight following the delivery last year of its GE Aviation H85 turboprop engine. “It’s in the process of being installed in the airframe” by Avic general-aviation subsidiary Caiga in Zhuhai, says Brad Mottier, vice president and general manager of business and general aviation for GE Aviation. Ranging from 750- to 850-shp, the Czech-built H80 family has been selected on three programs in China, including the Primus 150 and Hongdu N5B crop duster.
An international government/industry group is putting the finishing touches on recommendations for a comprehensive rewrite of Part 23 certification standards and expects to deliver the final proposal to FAA within the next few weeks, the group’s co-chair says.
Gulfstream Aerospace’s backlog softened in the first quarter, continuing a trend that began with deliveries of the G650. But executives are encouraged by a pickup in orders for the G450/G550 large cabin aircraft that will keep the program on production targets this year and perhaps next.
FAA is hoping to finish its review and release a determination in June on TAC Air’s Part 16 complaint filed against the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority (CMAA), says Randall Fiertz, a director in FAA’s Office of Airport Compliance and Management Analysis. TAC Air filed the complaint in late 2011 over CMAA’s decision to build a competitive fixed-base operation (FBO) at Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA). CMAA in December 2010 selected Wilson Air Center to manage the new FBO, saying the facility will spur economic growth.
Bombardier is expanding its training offerings with the addition of a Level D full-flight simulator for Global 5000 and Global 6000 aircraft equipped with the Bombardier Vision Flight Deck. The CAE-built simulator was installed at Bombardier’s center in Dallas and will be ready for training in June. Bombardier also offers Global 5000/6000 training at its center in Montreal. In addition to the Montreal and Dallas facilities, Bombardier business aircraft training is offered through a network of authorized training providers.
GERRY MODGLIN was named CFO for aerospace supplier Herndon Products. He has 20 years of finance and accounting experience, including as director of finance and administration at Aurora Trailer Holding, corporate controller at Brand Scaffold Services, corporate finance manager Silgan Plastics Corporation and senior auditor at Arthur Andersen.
Gulfstream is moving to protect one of its strongest assets in the flourishing Chinese business aircraft market — its brand. Among the best known business jet brands in China, Gulfstream is investing in support services to ensure that its early advantage translates into long-term strength in the country. The phenomenon that has boosted Gulfstream in its early years is a familiar one in China, say industry officials outside of the company. When mainland Chinese buyers enter an unfamiliar foreign market, they reach for a known brand.
FAA Administrator Michael Huerta maintains that closing contract air traffic control towers will not jeopardize safety, but warns that efficiency will be sacrificed as a result. “We’re not doing anything that isn’t safe,” he told the Senate transportation appropriations subcommittee on April 18.
