Embraer has delivered the first Phenom 100 to a customer in India. The aircraft also was the first of 18 Phenom 100s delivered to India’s Invision Air Services Pvt. Ltd., a Mumbai-based on-demand charter company. Invision Air ordered the Phenom 100s three years ago, along with two Embraer Phenom 300 jets. The Phenom will enter service this year.
A pilot was seriously injured and the passenger killed when their Bell 206 helicopter apparently struck an inactive electrical line and crashed at about 3 p.m. MDT Nov. 3 near Meeker, Colo. The helicopter, N8533F, was owned by Denver-based Kauffman Well Service and operated by Mile High Helicopter Co. of Englewood, Colo. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a visual flight rules flight plan had been filed.
FAA has granted supplemental type certification for installation of the CAV Aerospace TKS ice-protection system on Quest Aircraft’s Kodiak single-turboprop utility aircraft. The certification is part of a series of improvements that Quest has sought since receiving certification for the Kodiak in 2007.
Sikorsky deliveries in China will set a company one-year record in 2010, as the Stratford, Conn.-based helicopter manufacturer plans to ship 10 new S-76 and S-92 helicopters to the world’s most populous nation by the end of December. Recent deliveries include two S-76C++ search and rescue helicopters to the Ministry of Transport’s China Rescue and Salvage Helicopters, as well as two S-76C++ rotorcraft to Eastern General Aviation Company. Earlier this year Sikorsky delivered two S-76C++ helicopters to the Zhuhai Helicopter Branch, a division of China Southern Airlines.
Part 135 industry representatives call a potential FAA plan to apply new Part 121 flight, duty and rest requirements to on-demand operations “alarming” and say such a move would be unworkable.
BOMBARDIER CL-215, CL-215T and CL-415 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-1108; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-151-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to conduct repetitive ultrasonic inspections of the hydraulic accumulators for cracks. Any cracked accumulators would need to be replaced, per the instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletins 215-541, 215-3155 and 215-4414 (all Rev. 1 and dated March 12, 2010).
PHIL CHERNIN has joined the board of directors of Solairus Aviation. Chernin owns his own investment banking firm in Lafayette, Calif., and has been the CEO and CFO of both technology and consumer companies. He began his career at Ernst & Young. He also has been around aviation throughout his life. His father was a founder of Seaboard World Airways.
Thanks to the recent issuance of a series of FAA supplemental type certificates (STCs), a number of Dassault and Gulfstream aircraft equipped with Rockwell Collins Pro Line 4 and Pro Line 21 avionics can be upgraded to provide Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) Localizer Performance with Vertical guidance (LPV).
FAA’s takeoff and landing data shows a continued recovery in business jet traffic, as October was the 11th consecutive year-over-year positive month, a Morgan Stanley report says. Traffic was up 5.7% year-over-year and 1.3% sequentially last month.
JetSelect Aviation has been certified as compliant with Industry Standard for Business Aircraft Operations by the International Business Aviation Council. JetSelect offers on-demand aircraft charter, management and maintenance to businesses and individuals.
Ocean Sky has opened an office in Dubai, which will serve as a base for its expansion in the Middle East over the next several years. The Dubai operation initially will focus on providing charter and aircraft management services, but Ocean Sky anticipates expanding into further areas, such as aircraft acquisition and sales and fixed-base operations.
FBO chain TAC Air cited the economic downturn for its decision to sell its facility in Greenville, S.C., to rival Greenville Jet Center (GJC) and warned that economy activity levels cannot support two FBOs at Tennessee’s Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA), where the local airport has outlined plans to build a second FBO.
The former Embraer Legacy 600 involved in the Sept. 29, 2006, midair collision over the Amazon in Brazil finally has reached the U.S. after remaining out of service in the Brazilian jungle for four years. Cleveland-based Constant Aviation has begun a major inspection and renovation of the Legacy, work that culminates months of advance planning, several trips to Brazil and weeks of preparations at the remote military base in the Brazilian jungle where the Legacy landed after the midair accident.
SIMON WHEATLEY was promoted to U.K. manager of Air Partner’s Private Jets Division. Wheatley has served with the company since 1998, originally as part of the ServicePlus support team in the Commercial Jet division. In 2002, he moved to the Private Jets division.
Piper Aircraft has received a contract for six Piper Seminole training aircraft valued at $3.9 million from Airline Transport Professionals (ATP), a nationwide firm that specializes in airline pilot training and pilot career development. The airplanes will be delivered to ATP this year. ATP will use the aircraft for flight training it provides under Mountain State University’s ATP pilot operations degree program. The aircraft will increase ATP’s training fleet to 87 Piper Seminoles. ATP also operates 50 Cessna 172s, five Diamond DA40s and a CitationJet.
BOMBARDIER Regional Jet Series 100, 440, 700, 701, 702, 705 and 900 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0223; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-105-AD; Amendment 39-16503; AD 2010-23-14] – Conduct a visual inspection for corrosion and related damage to the lower inner section of the passenger door. If necessary, repair any damage found and apply corrosion inhibitor compound. This AD, which resulted from an MCAI originated by an aviation authority of another country, was prompted by several cases of corrosion in lower structural members of passenger doors.
Dec. 15—The Wings Club Luncheon Featuring Gary Kelly, Chairman, President & CEO of Southwest Airlines, The Yale Club, New York, (212) 867-1770, [email protected] Dec. 15—Future of Aviation Advisory Committee meetings, Washington, http://www.dot.gov/faac Jan. 20-21, 2011—European Business Aviation Association Regional Forum “One Europe: A Roadmap for Aligning East and West,” Hilton Vienna, Austria, www.ebaa.org
Eurocopter AS 350 B2 helicopters operated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) will be fitted with Cobham’s synthetic vision electronic flight instrument systems (EFIS). The 14 LASD rotorcraft, which are being completed by Hangar One in Carlsbad, Calif., will have two screens (a primary flight display and a multi-function display), a WAAS Beta III GPS receiver, an integral TSO C-194 helicopter terrain awareness and warning system, an integral flight management system and an analog interface unit.
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 Click here to view the pdf
SCOTT WELLS was appointed as a field service representative in the China and North Asian markets for Hawker Beechcraft. Wells, who has a base at the company’s regional sales office in Beijing, has more than 25 years of aviation industry experience. He has served as a crew lead for several Part 145 repair stations, director of maintenance for Part 91 and 135 operations, and as a crew chief, instructor and quality manager for the U.S. Air Force.
Avfuel Corp. has a new branding alliance with Reeder Flying Service of Twin Falls, Idaho. Reeder will serve as an Avfuel-branded fuel dealer and participate in the AVTRIP and Avfuel Contract Fuel programs. In operation since 1941, Reeder provides a range of fixed-base operation services and amenities, along with helicopter charter and maintenance, aircraft sales and aircraft parts sales.
Tanis Aircraft Products, a Glenwood, Minn., specialist in custom-designed aircraft engine preheater systems, was recently acquired by company President Bob Krueger. Kreuger had been a majority shareholder since 2006 and acquired the remaining shares from Linda Cole, who is retiring after 30 years with the company. Founded in 1973, Tanis has a number of FAA parts manufacturing approvals on aircraft preheat products, including oil sump and battery heaters and custom-fitted insulated covers.
FOKKER F.28 Mark 0070 and 0100 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0516; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-251-AD; Amendment 39-16484; AD 2010-22-05] – Inspect the hydraulic lines associated with the parking brake shutoff valve (PBSOV), remove any contamination from the hydraulic system and replace each unmodified PBSOV with a modified unit.
40 Years Ago Nov. 16, 1970 – Edward W. Stimpson is elected president of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. 30 Years Ago Nov. 3, 1980 – Mitsubishi Aircraft International continues development of the Diamond I business jet, predicts that manufacturer would deliver 130 of the aircraft by the end of 1982. 20 Years Ago
