Despite Swearingen SJ30 owners Emivest Aerospace filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Oct. 20, insiders are saying the light business jet may have a bright future and that the program is definitely not dead. Executives at last week’s Middle East Business Aviation (MEBA) show say a strong potential investor with an aviation background is waiting in the wings to inject $200 million to achieve critical mass production for the first time in the aircraft’s history. Emivest must find a buyer for the company by Jan. 31 or face liquidation (BA, Nov. 1/6).
The National Transportation Safety Board and a helicopter services company remain at odds over the findings in an Aug. 5, 2008 crash of a Sikorsky S-61N helicopter in California that killed nine and injured four others. The safety board last week determined that a contractor’s improper actions and inadequate oversight by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and FAA led to the accident.
Fokker Services Asia (FSA) has broken ground on a new service facility located in Singapore’s new Seletar Aerospace Park and plans to move into the state-of-the-art facility early next year. The free-span hangar will be able to accommodate three regional aircraft or two narrow-body jetliners. With the move into the new quarters, FSA plans to add heavy maintenance capabilities for additional types of regional aircraft and anticipates doubling its work volume over the next five years.
ROBINSON R22 , R22 Alpha, R22 Beta, R22 Mariner, R44 and R44 II helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2010-0711; Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-25-AD; Amendment 39-16521; AD 2010-24-03] – Visually inspect each tail-rotor control pedal bearing block support for cracks, measure the thickness of each support, install support safety tabs on certain supports, and replace supports of a certain thickness during the next 2,200-hr. overhaul.
The Chicago Department of Aviation is seeking a Deputy Commissioner - Facilities to manage all physical plant facilities at Chicago O’Hare International Airport. The City of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. For full details and to apply go to: http://flychicago.com/BusinessInformation/Jobs/Default.aspx
The technology exists to produce a battery-powered Cessna 172 trainer, says George Bye, founder and CEO of Bye Energy. Bye says his company will have a battery-powered N-model Skyhawk flying out of Denver’s Centennial Airport by next spring. Cessna Aircraft is assisting in the project. Bye believes the training market is a primary target for his avgas-less aspirations.
BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA Model 222, 222B, 222U, 230 and 430 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2010-1137; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-079-AD; Amendment 39-16523; AD 2010-19-51] – Inspect the main-rotor hydraulic servo actuator for certain deficiencies and replace any unairworthy parts before further flight. This emergency AD, which was prompted by a collective servo actuator malfunction, is intended to detect a corroded or nonconforming piston rod before it fails or causes the servo actuator to fail, which could lead to loss of control of the helicopter.
A Bell 429 helicopter has been added to the air ambulance fleet of San Juan Regional Medical Center. The light-twin helo will be used to support the medical center’s AirCare unit based in Farmington, N.M. Established in 1992, AirCare has transported nearly 10,000 patients using an airplane and a Bell 222, which has logged almost 13,000 flight hours.
Niki Lauda, the three-time Formula 1 World Champion, has placed an order for a Global 5000 through NL Holding GmbH. The aircraft, scheduled for delivery at the beginning of 2012, will be the first Global 5000 jet to be delivered with the new Global Vision flight deck. Lauda currently operates a Challenger 300, which he uses to travel to Formula 1 races around the world from his home base in Austria.
FlightSafety’s Bell 212 and 412 simulators have been approved by the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) of Brazil. ANAC approved FlightSafety’s Bell 430 full-flight simulator in 2009. FlightSafety offers training programs and simulators for all three aircraft types at its center in Fort Worth and has provided factory authorized training for Bell Helicopter for more than 30 years.
BOMBARDIER DHC-8-102 , -103, -106, -201, -202, -301, -311, -315, -401 and -402 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-1157; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-137-AD] – This proposal would require operators to install a drain system for the lower windshield frames. On Series 400 airplanes, operators also would need to inspect for corrosion of the window frame and its anchor nuts and replace any corroded nut with a new or serviceable nut.
Piaggio Aero has received both type and production certificates for its P.180 Avanti II from Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC). The ANAC type certificate confirms that the design of the twin-turboprop aircraft complies with Brazilian rules. The Avanti II previously gained EASA and FAA certification in 2005. The Avanti II can now be sold, registered and operated throughout Brazil.
StarPortUSA recently delivered a Citation III equipped with a Universal UNS-1Lw wide area augmentation system flight management system (WAAS-FMS). The three-week-long, 350-man-hr. avionics installation, which was performed at StarPortUSA’s Orlando Sanford International Airport facility, involved interfacing the new FMS with the existing electronic flight instrument system, flight director and autopilot.
Mid-Continent Instruments recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of its West Coast facility in Van Nuys, Calif. The full-service repair station, including overhaul, repair, exchange and distribution, has expanded from a 500-sq.-ft. building to its current 15,000-sq.-ft., state-of-the-art facility.
Garmin’s new ESP system was certified aboard a King Air 200, Garmin says. The supplemental type certification comes four months after Garmin unveiled the Electronic Stability and Protection system during the Experimental Aircraft Association’s AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis. ESP, an electronic monitoring and exceedance-correcting technology, is compatible with G1000 and G3000 integrated flight decks. The system is designed to help pilots maintain stable flight and ward off situations that could cause stalls and spins, steep spirals or other loss-of-control conditions.
Bombardier Aerospace has won the 2010 Quebec Prize of Excellence in Corporate Citizenship in the Large Enterprise category. The Quebec Prize recognizes corporations in Quebec that stand out on the basis of their fair and sustainable business practices and rewards bold, innovative ethical actions. Bombardier was lauded for strengthening the integration of corporate social responsibility and continuing to develop new products with a reduced environmental footprint.
GE Aviation is planning to build an electrical power integrated systems research and development Center on the University of Dayton campus in Dayton, Ohio. Dayton was designated as the first Ohio Aerospace Hub of Innovation, created by Gov. Ted Strickland (D), in which the state partners with local universities and businesses to foster economic development to bring high-tech companies and jobs to the region. GE Aviation is participating as an initial launch partner of the hub.
GORDON POTTER was named aircraft sales manager for PremiAir Global in the U.K. Potter joins PremiAir from Patriot Aviation, where he led the helicopter sales department. Before that, he held sales positions in the automobile industry.
Héroux-Devtek Inc. was awarded a contract by Dassault Aviation to provide the landing gear for a new business jet program. The Canadian aerospace manufacturer did not provide specifics on the new program, but it likely could be Dassault’s SMS (super mid-sized) aircraft that has been under development. Olivier Villa, Dassault’s senior vice president for civil aircraft, said earlier this year that the design is frozen for the aircraft and that supplier selection and work share would be finalized by year’s end. Formal introduction, however, would depend on market conditions.
Austin, Texas-based businessman Grant Jacobson has created Texas Jacobson Aviation (TJA) to provide free flights for two charitable organizations, Grace Flights and Veterans Airlift Command (VAC), which furnish air service to medical patients and wounded veterans, respectively.
DENNIS KANEY has joined Dallas Airmotive as regional engine manager. Kaney will sell Honeywell TFE731 engine and auxiliary power unit products, along with Pratt & Whitney Canada PW305 engine services, in the Northeast, including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island and Maine. He has worked as an airframe and powerplant technician, account manager and most recently in customer sales and support functions for maintenance service providers.
The 100th Falcon 7X was delivered during a recent ceremony at Dassault’s completion center in Little Rock, Ark. A Brazilian financial services company was the recipient of the 100th Falcon 7X. The Falcon 7X fleet has accumulated more than 57,000 flight hr., operating in more than 25 countries with orders coming from more than 40 countries. The high-time aircraft has more than 3,000 flight hr. Unveiled during the 2001 Paris Air Show, the aircraft was certificated and entered service in 2007.
The first Piper PA-46 Matrix fitted with Avidyne’s Entegra Release 9 has been delivered. The R9 upgrade features dual IFD5000 integrated flight displays and dual FMS900w wide area augmentation system (WAAS)-capable flight management systems, along with digital 16-watt VHF nav/com radios and dual WAAS/Required Navigation Performance-capable GPS receivers. List price is $72,800, plus installation. Certification of Entegra Release 9 for the Piper Mirage and the Meridian is expected next year.
JERRY HANSEN was appointed director of operations for Schubach Aviation. Hansen, who has 22 years of industry experience, will be responsible for communications with FAA, flight line oversight, company plans and policies, and flight and maintenance personnel hiring. He previously was director of operations for West Coast Charter in Santa Ana, Calif. He also has served as director of operations for Jimsair Charter in San Diego and chief pilot for Advanced Aviation in Long Beach, Calif.
