Hawker Beechcraft Corp. has committed to stay in Wichita and employ at least 4,000 people there over the next 10 years. That promise was made after the airframer struck a deal with the state of Kansas that includes $45 million in state and local incentives, along with tuition assistance.
Pratt & Whitney Canada is investing more than $1 billion in research and development (R&D) over the next five years to develop the next generation of aircraft engines, the company says. The investment includes a $300 million repayable contribution from the government of Canada under the Strategic Aerospace and Defense Initiative program. The company is recruiting more than 200 engineers, which the company says will increase its engineering workforce to more than 1,500 in Canada.
B-N GROUP BN-2 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-1255; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-059-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators, before further flight, to visually inspect the elevator tip assemblies (top and bottom surfaces) for deformation of shape and signs of concavity, per the instructions of Britten-Norman Aircraft Ltd. Service Bulletin Number BN-2/SB 313, Issue 3 (dated Feb. 24, 2009). If signs of deformation or concavity were found, operators would need to inspect for delamination of the elevator tip.
Cessna recently handed over two Grand Caravans to Russian operator AirGEO. The aircraft will be based at Krasnoyarsk Yemelyanovo Airport in Siberia and used for passenger, cargo and special-mission operations. The Caravans are the first fixed-wing aircraft in AirGEO’s fleet, which previously included only helicopters.
Weststar Aviation Services has taken delivery of its first AgustaWestland AW139. The Malaysian operator, the largest commercial customer for the AW139 in the Asia-Pacific region, is scheduled to accept a total of nine of the medium twin-engine helicopters for use in offshore oil and gas operations.
HAWKER BEECHCRAFT B200, B200GT, B300 and B300C airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-1242; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-062-AD; Amendment 39-16542; AD 2010-26-03] – Fabricate and install a placard that limits operation of the aircraft when there is known or forecast icing. Also, replace the entire length of the pneumatic supply tube for the tail deice system with a new tube of a different material, per the instructions of Hawker Beechcraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 30-3889, Rev. 1 (dated October 2010).
DOREEN GONZALEZ was named senior manager, G650 procurement, for Gulfstream Aerospace. Gonzalez will be responsible for procurement of materials used in the manufacturing of the Gulfstream G650 business jet. She joined Gulfstream in 1992, most recently as senior purchasing manager for Gulfstream’s aircraft completion facility in Savannah, Ga. She also managed the completion material contracts for the Gulfstream Enhanced Vision System.
A rudder seized on a Cessna 560XL, N607QS, during landing Dec. 1 at Toledo Express Airport in Ohio. The aircraft had departed Monmouth Executive Airport near Belmar, N.J., carrying two crew and one passenger on a Part 135 flight. The aircraft landed without damage, and the occupants were not injured in the incident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the incident. After the aircraft had landed, ice was discovered around the rudder’s control cables and pulleys.
The Helicopter Association International is planning a forum on public-use aircraft Jan. 20 in Alexandria, Va. The forum is expected to include the participation of both FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board, which recently called for greater oversight of public-use operations. The forum will discuss a list of questions to FAA on public-use issues. HAI will broadcast the forum via the Internet for interested parties unable to attend the event. Internet participants will have the opportunity to submit comments and questions electronically during the meeting.
SAAB 2000 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-1198; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-145-AD] – This proposed rule would require operators to conduct a detailed visual inspection for corrosion on the left-hand and right-hand horizontal stabilizer rear spar adjacent to the inboard elevator hinge. If corrosion were found, operators would need to make repairs before further flight, per the instructions of Saab Aerosystems Service Bulletin 2000-55-013 (dated July 6, 2009).
EUROCOPTER FRANCE AS350B, B1, B2, B3, BA and EC130 B4 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2010-1228; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-12-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to replace the cup springs and fan nut in the torque damping system of the starter-generator. Also, operators would need to test the damping system, and after the modification is performed, mark “004” on the identification plate of the starter-generator, per the instructions of Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 80.00.07, Rev. 1 (dated Feb.
BOMBARDIER BD-100-1A10 (Challenger 300) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-1200; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-136-AD] – This proposed AD, which would supersede but retain the mandates of an existing directive (AD 2010-10-18), would require operators to replace the cabin pressure-sensing port plug with a new gridless plug and reidentify the safety valves, per the instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin A100-21-08 (dated June 18, 2009).
The First Lineage 1000 has been delivered to Falcon Aviation Services (FAS) of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The charter company formally accepted the aircraft during the recent Middle East Business Aviation exhibition. The aircraft, which is certified to carry up to 19 passengers in five distinct cabin zones, is the first of two Lineage 1000 jets ordered by FAS.
The National Transportation Safety Board is conducting a review of how the agency handles appeals for emergency revocations and other certificate actions. The agency has published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) soliciting comments on its procedures and other issues surrounding the appeal process. The safety board says it has received comments from various parties about the potential need to change the current procedures. NTSB also cites a need to update the rules and accommodate electronic filing capabilities.
London Executive Aviation (LEA) has become the first charter operator in Europe to add the new Embraer Legacy 650 business jet to its air operator’s certificate and charter fleet. LEA used a Legacy 650 to bring a family from St. Petersburg, Russia, to Dubai, then had the aircraft on static display at the recent Middle East Business Aviation show.
FlightSafety International has received FAA Level D qualification for its new Beechcraft King Air 350 full flight simulator based at FlightSafety’s Hawker Beechcraft facility in Wichita, Kan. The simulator displays the Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 integrated avionics system and is equipped with FlightSafety’s Vital Visual System and electric motion and control loading technology. Initial training has begun with pilots from Australia, France, the Philippines, Russia, Slovakia, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the U.S.
United Kingdom-based private jet booker PrivateFly.com reports it has seen sales in December skyrocket by up to 80% as dozens of airline flights out of Europe were canceled after a massive snowstorm hit the continent. London Biggin Hill-based operator PremiAir also has experienced a spike in bookings for its Learjet 45 and Premier 1 business jets.
King Aerospace, an Addison, Texas-based aircraft services specialist, named Rod Soret president. Soret, formerly COO for Gore Design Completions in San Antonio, will be based at King’s modification facility in Ardmore, Okla. He will direct large aircraft completions and modifications, along with depot facilities/programs and maintenance, repair and overhaul. In addition to Gore Design, Soret has served with Associated Air Center and The Dee Howard Company.
Hawker Beechcraft Services (HBS) in Chester, United Kingdom, continues to meet key milestones on its first Hawker 800XPR upgrade program and expects to achieve FAA certification in early 2011, with European Aviation Safety Agency approval following after that. HBS announced the program during the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition last spring and named its first customer, JoinJet of Denmark, at the most recent National Business Aviation Association Annual Meeting and Convention.
Two pilots employed by Wisconsin operator Air Cargo Carriers were released from custody after being detained in the Dominican Republic for more than two weeks. The pilots were caught up in a larger drug trafficking investigation that reportedly led to the arrest of 18 Dominican military and government officials. Drug smugglers apparently had stashed 321 lbs. of cocaine behind the ceiling and floor panels of the pilots’ Shorts SD-3-30 after they had arrived in Santo Domingo.
Nordam is realigning its senior management in a move that is part of a long-term succession plan for the company’s leadership, the firm says. Meredith Siegfried, currently COO, will become president of the Tulsa, Okla., manufacturer and repair specialist effective Jan. 1. In addition, T. Hastings Siegfried, who has been COO of Nordam’s Transparency Group, will become vice chairman and chairman of the company’s governance committee, in addition to his current duties. He also will lead government affairs and community relations.
Falcon Aviation Services (FAS) of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, took delivery of its first Lineage 1000. The charter company formally accepted the aircraft during the recent Middle East Business Aviation exhibition. Founded in 2006, FAS ordered two Lineage 1000 jets during the Dubai Air Show in November 2007. The aircraft is certified to carry up to 19 passengers in five distinct cabin zones.
Because of the holiday schedule, The Weekly of Business Aviation will not publish a Dec. 27 edition. The next issue will be dated Jan. 3. Please refer to the Aviation Week Intelligence Network (subscribers only) or AviationWeek.com for additional coverage. And, please accept our best wishes for a happy holiday season and a prosperous New Year.
The general aviation industry received a “late-in-the-year shot in the arm” with last week’s passage of a comprehensive tax bill that will extend certain aircraft depreciation benefits into 2013, as well as renew the research and development tax credit, industry leaders say. President Obama signed the bill—the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010 (H.R.4853)—into law Dec. 17, just a day after the legislation cleared the House. The Senate had approved the bill earlier last week.
Avantair executives have been encouraged by recent results in the fractional aircraft ownership business. The company, which operates Piaggio P180 twin turboprops in its fractional aircraft ownership program, says the turboprop fractional ownership category was up 2.8% from October 2009 to October 2010. Fractional aircraft activity for all aircraft has increased 13.1% from September of this year, Avantair adds. In addition, the company says it has doubled its sale of flight-hour time cards.
