Sikorsky has begun final assembly of the first production S-76D helicopter, with delivery scheduled for 2012. Czech manufacturer Aero Vodochody delivered the first production fuselage to Sikorsky Global Helicopters in Coatesville, Pa. in mid-November. The upgraded S-76D – with composite rotor blades, dual-speed rotor, active vibration control, Thales integrated flight deck and Pratt & Whitney Canada PW210S engines – is Sikorsky’s response to increased competition in the intermediate helicopter market.
EMBRAER E170 and E190 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-1161; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-152-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to replace the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) balance screw with a new balance screw in accordance with the instructions of Embraer Service Bulletin 170-24-0048, Rev. 01 (dated May 12, 2010) or Embraer Service Bulletin 190-24-0019, Rev. 01 (dated May 11, 2010), as applicable.
Look for the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to form a group to try to advise governments around the world on how to craft laws that advance justice without threatening to disrupt aviation’s largely no-fault approach to safety. Last week’s criminal conviction and fines imposed on Continental Airlines and one of its mechanics in a French court a decade after the crash of an Air France Concorde supersonic transport is just the latest in what ICAO insiders see as a disturbing global trend toward “criminalizing” aviation accidents.
A new VIP version of the Dornier 328 has been launched by Germany’s 328 Support Services, the type certificate holder for the twinjet regional airliner. The so-called 328DBJ, which made its debut at last week’s Middle East Business Aviation show, replaces the Envoy version of the 328 and will be the standard for all future VIP conversions, says 328 Support Services.
Lufthansa Technik and Panasonic Avionics Corp. are establishing a joint venture for the development, manufacture and sale of inflight entertainment (IFE) and cabin management systems (CMS) for VIP aircraft. Officials from the two companies say their new systems for VIP aircraft will be based on a combination of the technologies seen in Panasonic’s X Series commercial IFE system, Panasonic’s Global Communications Suite (eXConnect and eXPhone) and the “nice” CMS/IFE system developed by Lufthansa Technik’s Innovation Business Unit.
Flight Display Systems has begun offering inflight entertainment (IFE) retrofits for Cessna Citation Mustangs and Embraer Phenoms. The Alpharetta, Ga., manufacturer of IFE systems has introduced the Club CMS product for Cessna and Embraer light jets. The package includes a moving map; adapter cables for iPods, iPhones and iPads; a DVD/CD player; six audio channels that can provide up to 90 hr. of MP3 music; two new seven-in. LCD monitors; and four passenger switching panels with headphone jacks. The entire system costs $25,000, plus installation.
The Transportation Department’s inspector general is calling for better oversight of aircraft grants after an audit revealed that about $161 million of the U.S. government’s Fiscal 2008 payments to Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grantees nationwide were improper. The estimate — made only for AIP payments made electronically — is for $3.2 billion in electronic payments made that year, or about 5%. Total AIP funding in the year amounted to more than $4 billion for 1,500 grantees.
The House of Representatives last week passed a measure to extend FAA’s authorization through Sept. 30, 2011. The measure was included in a larger Fiscal 2011 continuing appropriations omnibus bill, H.R.3082, which the Senate is expected to clear this week.
Lee Juan Lanford, 87, a co-founder and longtime head of Associated Air Center (AAC), has died from complications of Alzheimer’s disease, AAC parent company StandardAero announced last week. Lanford helped establish the Associated Radio Company in 1948 at Love Field in Dallas, initially as a three-man operation that specialized in the repair and installation of surplus radio equipment in ex-military aircraft that were being converted into private/corporate aircraft.
Max-Viz and One Sky Aviation have received FAA supplemental type certification for the installation of the Max-Viz EVS-1500 dual optical-zoom infrared enhanced vision system (EVS) on the Agusta A109 helicopter. “This STC has been the most globally customer-driven certification program we have initiated, with four additional follow-on orders, with multiple systems, prior to the STC even being completed,” says Bob Yerex, VP-sales for Max-Viz.
The 700th Embraer E-Jet was recently delivered to British Airways. The 98-seat Embraer 190 will be operated by British Airways’ wholly owned subsidiary, BA CityFlyer, which flies domestic and international routes from London City Airport. This milestone comes just more than a year after Embraer delivered the 600th E-Jet in September 2009.
CHRISTOPHE ROBIN was appointed vice president-engineering for Daher-Socata Airplane Division. He will oversee future development of the TBM 850 single-turboprop aircraft. Robin formerly established his own company, Dyn’Aero, which has designed and developed more than 17 light and ultralight aircraft, such as the CR 100 two-seat aerobatic trainer. He also has participated in competition aerobatics at the French national level.
An upgraded Thrush 510G agricultural aircraft powered by the General Electric-developed M601-H80 turboprop was scheduled to make its public debut last week, just two weeks after completing its first flight from the airframe maker’s Albany, Ga. site.
The industry’s “No Plane No Gain” advocacy campaign has taken root since its launch nearly two years ago, says National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) President and CEO Ed Bolen, who provided an update last week on the program that NBAA and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association jointly unveiled in February 2009. The effort has been visible both inside and outside Washington, with the creation of House and Senate General Aviation Caucuses and proclamations supporting the industry by 18 state governors, he says.
BERNARD DELOUYE was named Dassault Falcon’s new customer service manager to support its customers in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan and Syria. He will be based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Delouye has more than 24 years of experience in aeronautical maintenance, working on both helicopters and Dassault fighter jets.
SOCATA TBM 700 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0862; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-040-AD; Amendment 39-16518; AD 2010-23-28] – Insert Temporary Revision No. 3 (dated March 2009) into the “Emergency Procedures” and “Limitations” sections of the Pilot’s Operating Handbook. Also, replace the existing oxygen-generator release pin with an open pin, per the instructions of Daher-Socata TBM Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 70-168 (dated December 2009).
EUROCOPTER FRANCE SA330F, G and J; and AS332C, L, L1 and L2 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2010-0670; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-42-AD; Amendment 39-16513; AD 2010-23-23] – Inspect the positioning of each lower and upper door catch of the rear-hinged door. If any catch is improperly installed, replace the affected catch, adjust the micro-switches and conduct a functional test of the hinged-door indicating system before further flight.
Although just four years old, the Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) can claim credit for helping save a key business airport from extinction. And it is now leading a fight to end the practice of “grey charter” by which operators essentially charter their private aircraft to friends, relatives and friends of friends.
Gulfstream will hit another key milestone in the development of the G650 this month when the fifth aircraft joins the flight test program. The ultra-long-range aircraft, which has accumulated more than 900 hr. of flight testing, remains on schedule for certification and initial deliveries in 2011, Jay Johnson, chairman and CEO of Gulfstream parent General Dynamics, told analysts at the Credit Suisse Group Aerospace and Defense Conference Dec. 2. Gulfstream plans to deliver 10-12 of the “initial phase” G650s next year, he says.
JOHN JARRELL was appointed vice president and general manager of the aviation business unit of EMS Technologies. Jarrell joins EMS from Sensis Corp., where he was vice president and general manager of Air Traffic Systems. He oversaw the company’s aviation business strategy, including leading the development of next-generation aviation data systems.
CHRIS LITTLE was promoted to engine manager for Dallas Airmotive. Little will be responsible for sales of engine services for Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A, JT15D, PW500 and PW306C engines in Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and Oklahoma. He will be based in Texas.
FAA is providing more time for comments on a proposed rulemaking to require airport operators to establish safety management systems. The comment period, originally Jan. 5, has been extended to March 7 at the request of airports and other industry associations, including the Experimental Aircraft Association.
The first Legacy 650 in the Middle East has been delivered by Embraer to an undisclosed customer from Jordan during a recent ceremony held at the company’s headquarters in Brazil. The aircraft will be managed by Jordan-based private jet charter operator Arab Wings.
Jet Aviation has won the first Boeing 747-8 cabin completions contract, and will outfit the aircraft at its Basel, Switzerland, center for a Middle East customer. The company’s in-house interior design studio also was contracted to design the cabin interior. The aircraft will arrive in Basel in early 2012, provided there are no more delays to the Boeing 747-8 program. Completion could take up to 24 months from then.
