DENISE BELL was appointed manager, southeast U.S. for Bombardier Business Aircraft. Bell has 13 years of experience working with Bombardier aircraft, both with Bombardier Aircraft Services and with Comair. She has served with Bombardier since 2001, beginning as a customer support project analyst, and was appointed regional manager for central and south Florida in 2008. She is based in Florida.
Gulfstream Aerospace has rebranded its cost-per-hour program to PlaneParts and signed the launch customer, Winston-Salem-based Landmark Aviation. Formerly known as BudgetPlus, PlaneParts customers make monthly payments based on a 12-month, fixed cost per hour to receive qualifying components at no charge for both scheduled and non-scheduled events.
CESSNA LC40-550FG, LC41-550FG and LC42-550FG airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-1186; Directorate Identifier 2009-CE-065-AD] – This supplemental proposed rulemaking would require operators to repetitively inspect the rudder hinges and the rudder hinge brackets for cracking, deformation and discoloration, as was mandated by AD 2009-09-09, but would enable operators to terminate those inspections if they incorporate Modification Kit MK400-07-01A, per the instructions of Cessna Single Engine Service Bulletin SB09-27-01, Rev. 3 (dated July 20, 2010).
FAA is closing the comment period for its proposed flight- and duty-time regulations Nov. 15, but the agency has indicated it would take as many late comments as possible. FAA rejected requests for an extension, saying industry had opportunity to provide input through the Flight and Duty Time Limitations and Rest Requirements Aviation Rulemaking Committee. While the proposal is for Part 121, FAA has stated the Part 135 community should expect to see a proposal that looks either similar to, “if not exactly like,” the Part 121 final rule (BA, Sept. 20/3).
FirstFlight, a charter, management and aviation services company based at Elmira Corning Regional Airport in New York, has successfully completed the Air Charter Safety Foundation’s Industry Audit Standard audit, as well as achieved International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations registration. The approvals come as FirstFlight also has continued to comply with Wyvern and Argus audits.
Cessna’s new Citation “Ten” has captured considerable interest since its unveiling during last month’s National Business Aviation Association Annual Meeting and Convention in Atlanta, says Scott Donnelly, president and CEO of Cessna parent Textron. While not an all-new aircraft, Donnelly stresses that the Ten is a fairly comprehensive upgrade of the Citation X. “Clearly, we have a number of new things in the pipeline that are other pretty significant refreshes, as well as clean-sheet aircraft,” he says.
BOMBARDIER Regional Jet Series 100 and 440 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-1039; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-002-AD] – This proposed AD, which would retain the requirements of but supersede AD 2005-06-04, would mandate that operators conduct a detailed inspection for wear of the left and right engine throttle control gearboxes. If the wear value on the gearboxes exceeds certain limits, operators would need to replace the affected gearbox with a new or serviceable gearbox.
CESSNA Model 402C and 414A airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-1084; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-056-AD] – For certain aircraft modified under a supplemental type certificate currently held by Sierra Industries and formerly held by Robertson Aircraft Corporation, this proposed AD would require a complete inspection of the flap system, per the instructions of Sierra Industries, Ltd. Service Bulletin SI09-82 Series-1, Rev. IR (dated Sept. 8, 2010).
Honeywell and Gulfstream have received a $1.2 million contract from NASA for an 11-month flight test program to evaluate head-down SmartView with an enhanced vision overlay. Officials from the two firms believe that the enhanced display has the potential to allow pilots to fly instrument approaches down to lower weather minimums than they can with unaided vision.
FAA has taken the next step in regulating safety management systems (SMS) with Friday’s release of a proposal to require Part 121 operators to implement SMS. FAA in October released an SMS proposal for airports (BA, Oct. 25/10). Congress last summer mandated that the agency release an SMS proposal for Part 121 carriers within 90 days.
The Corporate Angel Network (CAN) continues to expand as it reached a new record in October for the number of patients transported in one month. CAN, which arranges transport of cancer patients to treatment using empty seats on corporate aircraft, arranged flights for 317 patients in October, the largest monthly number in the organization’s nearly 30-year history. That surpasses the record of 307 patients flown in July. CAN has scheduled more than 35,000 flights since its founding in 1981.
KEVIN FARLEY has been named director of marketing for Flexjet. Farley has served in sales, marketing and business development executive roles, including national marketing manager at Comair Holdings and director of sales and marketing at Midwest Airlines. In his new position, he will be responsible for directing all aspects of marketing personnel and function, including the development, implementation and evaluation of marketing plans and communication strategies to further strengthen Flexjet’s market position and brand recognition.
NetJets Inc., Berkshire Hathaway’s fractional jet provider, has agreed to buy Marquis Jet, which sells so-called “jet cards” whose buyers get to use NetJets aircraft for a fixed number of hours, the company announced last week. Under the terms of the agreement, Marquis Jet becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of NetJets. No additional details were disclosed. According to NetJets Chairman and CEO David Sokol, the acquisition should yield meaningful cost benefits and more competitive pricing.
CAE has signed an agreement with Hangar 8 to provide training on eight types of aircraft, including Hawker Beechcraft, Bombardier, Cessna, Dassault Falcon and Embraer types. Hawker training will be done at the Emirates-CAE facility in Dubai. Other training will take place at Burgess Hill near London or at CAE’s SimuFlite facility in Dallas.
World Fuel Services Corporation and ExxonMobil Aviation have partnered to launch the Avitat Premier Card program. This new affinity card can be used to obtain discounted fuel and aviation-related services at participating Exxon and ExxonMobil Aviation-branded Avitat FBO locations throughout the U.S. and the Bahamas.
The National Air Transportation Association’s (NATA) Safety 1st program has released an online De/Anti-icing Training Module to complement its Professional Line Service Training online training. NATA’s Safety 1st De/Anti-icing module is designed specifically for the general aviation industry to familiarize line service specialists with the responsibilities of their job and give an overview of the skills necessary for safe aircraft departures in winter weather.
The congressional landscape will change for the general aviation community, with the Republicans taking over the House and the loss of several key committee chairmen —including Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.). But National Business Aviation Association President and CEO Ed Bolen notes that general aviation has been a “nonpartisan” industry over the years that has navigated numerous power shifts.
Ruag Aviation has received European Aviation Safety Agency supplemental type certification (STC) for installation of the navAero tBag C22 electronic flight bag (EFB) system on a Bombardier Challenger 601. Ruag completed the STC under its designation organization authorization certification. The STC covers dual installation of the EFB system with cross-CPU Ethernet connections and ARINC 429 connectivity.
West Star Aviation’s facility in Grand Junction, Colo. (GJT) was appointed as an authorized service center for Hawker Beechcraft. The authorization covers Beechcraft King Air, Baron and Bonanza models. The agreement enables West Star to provide complete airframe and engine services, as well as process warranty claims.
Bombardier has established customer delivery teams that will assist with the entry-into-service for its business aircraft. The teams will be provided for customers of new Learjet, Challenger and Global aircraft and will comprise Bombardier avionics technicians and cabin interior experts, as well as Bombardier-trained, third-party maintenance specialists.
Piper Aircraft, which last month unveiled its newly dubbed, revamped Altaire single-engine jet (BA, Oct. 25/5), is hoping to build on interest with its “Altaire Advance” step-up program. Under the program, buyers of any new “M-Class” Piper airplane—either the Meridian, Mirage or Matrix—would receive a discount toward the purchase price of the Altaire or could defer a portion of the initial deposit required, depending on the airplane.
Flexjet has become the first fractional jet ownership company to achieve the Air Charter Safety Foundation’s Industry Audit Standard (IAS) registration. The IAS entails a thorough review of a company’s compliance with safety and security regulations, as well as its development and implementation of a safety management system. The Air Charter Safety Foundation’s audit program specifically evaluates compliance with the Federal Aviation Regulations for both Part 135 and Part 91, subpart K.
ANTONIO REGILLO was appointed sales manager, Canada for Bombardier Business Aircraft. Regillo has served with Bombardier since 2002, initially as a liaison engineer and then as a sales engineer. He was promoted to sales account representative for Europe and Africa in 2006 and later was named team lead for international sales support. He will be based in Montreal, working with Peter Likoray.
