Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. has agreed in principle to take a minority stake in Eclipse Aerospace, with the transaction to be closed by the end of the year. Neither side will disclose the deal’s value or how Sikorsky’s holding will be structured, but Mason Holland, chairman and CEO of Eclipse, says it was “priceless” in terms of assuring success and credibility in the market.
In Japan, business aircraft operators also are expected to have more access. According to reports, Tokyo International/Haneda Airport (HND) is expected to begin permitting daytime operations of business aircraft before the end of the month, thanks to lobbying efforts by the Japan Business Aircraft Association. Corporate operators have long found it difficult to gain more than limited access to HND.
Group 3 Aviation Inc. has opened new satellite helicopter flight training and commercial helicopter service facilities in Anchorage, Alaska. Group 3 Aviation Alaska is currently the only FAA-approved Part 141 helicopter flight training facility in Anchorage. In addition to Schweizer 300CBi and R44 helicopter training, the new facility will offer local aerial photo and film services through its close relationship with production partner Indie Aerials LLC.
H.I.G. Capital, a global private equity firm, closed the deal to purchase Volvo Aero Services from AB Volvo late on Oct. 6 for an undisclosed amount. Claes Malmros, Volvo Aero Services’ president and CEO, will remain, as will the rest of the management and staff. He says the company will change its name to VAS Aero Services within 45 days of Oct. 7. Transitioning functions such as information technology and financial systems from Volvo should take about one year.
Clifford Development is planning to deliver a Citation II/IIS re-engined with Williams FJ44-3 turbofans to a Canadian customer by the end of the month following the recent supplemental type certification from Transport Canada. CEO Jim Clifford says business had been slow in 2010 and the firm has fought to survive with the support of investors. But more recently business has begun to improve, he says.
Aviation Fabricators (AvFab) has received European Aviation Safety Agency approval for the installation of its two-place, side-facing divan in a Cessna 441. The divan is equipped with mounted shoulder harnesses. The installation requires no airframe modification, AvFab says.
Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) has unveiled PT6A cost-optimization packages, including an overhaul program for PT6A-41/42 models, a compressor-turbine vane ring refresh program for most small PT6A engine versions, and a 50% discount for operators wishing to convert their PT6A-66 engines to PT6A-66Bs, representing savings of up to $170,000 per engine. “The market has changed significantly for our customers during the last two years,” says Raffaele Virgili, vice president of customer service for P&WC, adding the recession has taken its toll.
MITCHELL CANNON was named program administrator for Gulfstream Aerospace’s Organizational Designation Authorization (ODA) office. Cannon is responsible for supplemental type certificates and major repair and alterations supporting Gulfstream’s Savannah Final Phase operations in Georgia. Cannon has served with Gulfstream Savannah’s Final Phase ODA department since November 2009. Before that, he spent 10 years with Piper Aircraft. He also has worked for Nordam Group, Sino Swearingen Aircraft, Cessna Aircraft, Aircraft Conversions LLC and Square D Co.
Cessna says it will continue to have the world’s fastest production civil aircraft after unveiling the Citation Ten, a second-generation model 750 that will cruise faster, higher and farther than the current Citation X, which reaches Mach 0.92.
Long-time aviation writer and editor Edward Tripp died Oct. 16 of natural causes at his Cincinnati, Ohio, home. He was 75. Tripp was born in Boston, Mass., served in the Korean War with the U.S. Army, and was a graduate of Columbia University. He was an accomplished aviator who held a commercial pilot license and was rated to fly airplanes, helicopters and gliders.
LEARJET Model 45 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0676; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-095-AD; Amendment 39-16479; AD 2010-21-19] – Replace aluminum fire extinguisher discharge tubes with new, improved tubes. Also, replace certain fire extinguisher containers and inspect for pressure indicator discrepancies on fire extinguisher containers, taking corrective actions if necessary, per the instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 40-26-05 or 45-26-9 (both Rev. 2 and dated May 4, 2009), as applicable.
Fractional ownership company NetJets is laying the groundwork to streamline its fleet and bring in the next generation of business jets with last week’s announcement that it will buy up to 125 Embraer Phenom 300s valued at more than $1 billion. The order, announced Oct. 18 at the National Business Aviation Association Annual Meeting and Convention in Atlanta, includes 50 firm orders and 75 options for the Phenom 300 “Platinum Edition,” which includes enhancements designed specifically for NetJets.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model AS350B, BA, B1, B2, B3, D, AS355E, F, F1, F2, and N helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2010-0969; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-62-AD; Amendment 39-16461; AD 2010-21-01] – Determine whether a structural cross-member and its two doublers are installed. If they are not installed, inspect for cracks in the center cross-member in the area around the attachment point of the tail-rotor directional ball-type control. If any cracks are found, replace the unairworthy center cross-member with an airworthy one before further flight.
Baldwin Aviation last week formally launched its new Web-based SMSlite program designed for operators that have already achieved International Standard for Business Aviation Organizations (IS-BAO) registration. “SMlLite was created for flight organizations looking to improve their methods of collecting, reporting and distributing safety data and communicating it more effectively through their organizations,” says Baldwin Aviation President and CEO Don Baldwin.
Nextant Aerospace of Richmond Heights, Ohio has secured its first fleet order for the 400XT, a 40-aircraft, $150-million purchase by Cleveland-based fractional provider Flight Options. The upgraded Beechjet 400A/XP airplanes, which will be delivered over the next five years, include Nextant’s power-by-the-hour engine and tip-to-tail aircraft maintenance warranty. Eight of the aircraft are to be delivered to Flight Options in 2011 following FAA certification, which books all of Nextant’s production slots for the year.
Bombardier has secured the first customers for its new Global 7000/8000 line that was formally unveiled during last week’s National Business Aviation Association Annual Meeting and Convention. In weeks leading up, Bombardier indicated plans for a new aircraft—widely believed to be a direct competitor to Gulfstream’s high-speed, long-range G650 (BA, Oct. 4/1). But the Canadian company instead detailed plans for two direct competitors: a Global 7000 that would be “cabin focused” and a Global 8000 that would be “range focused.”
Charter and management company FirstFlight has added a Hawker 800XP to its fleet. The aircraft, based in Elmira, N.Y., will be available for charter primarily in the New York metropolitan area market. FirstFlight currently operates aircraft ranging from the G550 to the Premier under full management and available for charter.
New Jersey’s Teterboro Airport (TEB) last week honored two dozen of its operators with Good Neighbor Awards for following voluntary restrictions, as well as keeping below certain noise levels. Only a few operators qualified when the awards began in 2004, but TEB officials note that number has steadily increased in the past couple of years as the airport and operators have worked together on noise issues.
NetJets Transportes Aéreos, the operating company of NetJets Europe, has received approval from the Portuguese Civil Aviation Authority to conduct extended-range operations under commercial rules, which means the company can fly its Gulfstream G550s 180 min. flight time from an airport at any given point along a route. Previously the limit was 120 min. flight time from an airport.
JULIE TIMMONS was appointed manager, MRO modifications sales for Midcoast Aviation. Timmons will serve as the customer liaison for scheduled projects, provide paint and interior modification pricing, and support the company’s regional sales team. Timmons began her career in aviation in 1993 as an intern with the Illinois Division of Aeronautics and joined Garrett Aviation, now Standard Aero, in 1997. She joined Midcoast in 2008 as customer account manager for green completions.
Blackhawk in Waco, Texas recently was granted European Aviation Safety Agency certification for its XP engine upgrade for Piper Cheyenne I, II and IIXL models. The XP upgrade package replaces original engines with new 750-shp. Pratt & Whitney PT6A-135A turboprop engines. The upgrade enables Cheyenne aircraft to reach cruise speeds of 280 kt. and lowers operating and maintenance costs, Blackhawk says. Blackhawk previously had obtained approvals for upgrades for other turboprop aircraft, including the Beechcraft King Air series and the Cessna Conquest I.
Signature Flight Support has added a foothold in Montreal with a licensing agreement for Starlink Aviation’s fixed-base operation (FBO) at Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (CYUL) to operate as a branded Signature FBO. Starlink joins the company’s network of more than 100 locations. Starlink further will offer the Signature Service Promise program. The company’s aircraft charter, management, corporate shuttle, and maintenance, repair and overhaul services will continue to operate under the Starlink Aviation brand.
TAD DIXON was named tenant and hangar sales manager for Signature Flight Support. Dixon will be based in Orlando, Fla., and support the tenant office and hangar sales agreements for Signature’s global fixed-base operation network. He previously was vice president for First Team Properties.
