BOMBARDIER Regional Jet Series 100 and 440 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-1229; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-106-AD; Amendment 39-16471; AD 2010-21-11] – Before further flight, inspect to determine the torque value and correct lockwire installation of certain nose landing gear (NLG) valves and NLG door selector valves. Replace or rework the valves, as applicable, in accordance with the instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 601R-32-104 (dated March 3, 2009).
JBA Aviation, an aircraft brokerage firm headquartered in Houston, was appointed as a U.S. representative for the RUAG Aerospace Dornier 228. RUAG is revamping and reintroducing the Do 228 New Generation twin turboprop. Marketed for the 19-passenger market, RUAG also sees potential in the corporate, cargo and special-mission markets.
Executive AirShare is celebrating its 10th anniversary as a regional fractional aircraft ownership company. The company began with two aircraft at Wichita’s Mid-Continent Airport (ICT) and now operates a fleet of 21, including seven Phenoms and a mix of 14 Beechjets and King Airs. The company, which bases aircraft in cities where its owners live, has aircraft located in Kansas City; Wichita, Kan.; Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Okla.; Dallas; Fort Worth and, more recently, Buffalo, N.Y.
Speaking before his first NBAA convention, TSA Administrator John Pistole last week stressed the importance of partnership, particularly because of the diverse nature of the business aviation. “I know you fly everything under the sun. Obviously a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t make sense,” he told attendees during the opening general session Oct. 19.
Embraer has secured Brazilian National Civil Aviation Agency and European Aviation Safety Agency approval for its $30-million, 3,900-nm.-range Legacy 650. FAA certification will be undertaken when needed for U.S. customers, Embraer says. The Legacy 650 is a variant of the Legacy 600 with more fuel, thrust and weight that add 500 nm. of range. It also can fly 14 passengers 3,500 nm. and land with 200-nm. NBAA reserves. The aircraft is powered by 9,020-lbst. Rolls-Royce AE3007A2 turbofans and is equipped with Honeywell Primus Elite flat-panel avionics.
General Dynamics’ Aerospace Group is consolidating its four brands into two beginning in January. Under the consolidation, the five General Dynamics Aviation Services facilities will operate as Gulfstream, joining the existing five Gulfstream service centers. The combined Gulfstream service organization has more than 3,300 employees and will continue to be led by Mark Burns, currently president of Gulfstream product support and General Dynamics Aviation Services.
Hawker Beechcraft Chairman Bill Boisture says his company is “moving forward” in light of the recent International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) vote against a new contract, and gave indications that those plans may not include a future in Wichita. The IAM Oct. 16 rejected a contract offer from Hawker Beechcraft that included a 10% cut in wages, higher health care contributions, and provisions to either shut down or transfer work that would reduce the company’s workforce in Wichita by about one-third.
FAA has acknowledged the Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) Industry Audit Standard (IAS) as a tool to validate a company’s safety management systems (SMS), the foundation notes. FAA’s recently published advisory circular on SMS, AC-120-92A, lists ACSF as a source for third-party SMS evaluation. The IAS comprehensively evaluates an operator’s SMS program, as well as best practices and regulatory compliance. In 2009, 24 audits were completed, and 32 will be completed in 2010, the ACSF says. Charter customers can review the IAS registry at www.acsf.aero/registry.
ROBERT GLASSCOCK was appointed program administrator for Gulfstream Aerospace’s Organization Designation Authority (ODA) office. Glasscock manages Gulfstream’s ODA type certification activities association with research and development. He formerly was the Gulfstream G650 certification product development team lead. He joined Gulfstream in April 2006 after serving with the FAA Aircraft Certification office in Denver. He also has served with Piper, Bombardier Learjet, Lockheed Martin and Hawker Beechcraft.
Piper Aircraft’s newly named and redesigned Altaire single-engine jet drew an enthusiastic reaction from current and prospective deposit holders, company executives say, noting that the order book had begun to increase before the end of last week’s National Business Aviation Association Annual Meeting and Convention in Atlanta.
Daher-Socata’s ambitions to expand its business aircraft line could represent the last hope for the near-defunct SPn utility jet to make it to market. Socata has long wanted to add to its single-turboprop-engine TBM product line, but was hobbled by a lack of interest from its parent, EADS. The sale to privately held Daher in early 2009 and the recent return to the business of Stephane Mayer, who devised the growth plans before a three-year stint at ATR, have set the stage to realize the company’s goal.
BBA Aviation has promoted Mary Miller to vice president of industry and government affairs for the company’s U.S. operations, where she will be responsible for strengthening the group’s existing relationships with industry associations and government agencies, as well as establishing new relationships with other aviation-focused bodies. She joined Signature Flight Support in 1992 following the merger of Butler Aviation and Page Avjet. At Signature, she was most recently vice president of customer relations.
Business aviation advocates were pleased that the International Civil Aviation Organization’s 37th annual assembly this month endorsed climate goals close to targets set by the business aviation community last year. The assembly agreed to carbon neutral growth by 2020, and an improvement in fuel efficiency on average of 2% per year until 2050. The ICAO member states also agreed to explore market-based measures for commercial operators, but the executive committee report notes that states “may wish” to consider an exemption for small aircraft operators.
BLR Aerospace has named Heritage Aviation in Burlington, Vt., an authorized dealer for its King Air winglet systems. Under the deal, Heritage may sell and install BLR’s complete line of certified winglet systems for Beechcraft King Air series aircraft. Heritage has equipped its four King Air C90s with winglet systems, which offer fuel savings ranging from 5%-15% in climb and 2%-4% in cruise for composite savings of 3%- 5%.
BOMBARDIER DHC-8 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0643; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-030-AD; Amendment 39-16462; AD 2010-21-02] – Replace the access panel latch assembly of the alternate extension system for the landing gear with a modified latch assembly, in accordance with the instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 8-32-166, Rev. A (June 15, 2009) or Rev. B (dated March 2, 2010), as applicable.
Only three new jets were delivered to fractional fleet operators in the first half of 2010, and net incremental sales of new ownership shares deteriorated, Honeywell Aerospace reports in its 19th annual Business Aviation Outlook. Honeywell forecasts slow deliveries in this segment as “excess capacity is worked off and shareholder levels are rebuilt.” But the company adds some improvement could begin later next year leading into 2012 as fractional operators begin to replace existing aircraft. See article on Page 2.
Elliott Aviation’s headquarters facility in Moline, Ill., has received Class IV repair station certification from FAA. Elliott Aviation performs maintenance on aircraft manufactured by Beech, Hawker, Cessna, Embraer, Daher-Socata, Dassault and Bombardier. The company also has facilities in Des Moines, Iowa; Minneapolis, and Omaha, Neb.
The National Transportation Safety Board last week released the preliminary details of two runway overruns involving business jets on Oct. 1, including a Gulfstream G-IV that encountered wind gusts at Teterboro, N.J. In addition to the Teterboro overrun, a Cessna Citation 550 slid off the runway in Manteo, N.C. into the Croatan Sound. Minor injuries were reported in the Cessna accident, and no one was injured in the Gulfstream overrun, thanks in part to the Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS) installed at Teterboro Airport in 2006 (BA, Oct. 11/2).
Signature Flight Support, which operates the fixed-base operation at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), is offering corporate flight departments and charter operators personalized assistance in gaining access to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Representatives will be at Signature’s booth (3257) at the 2010 NBAA annual meeting and convention in Atlanta, where attendees can complete the DCA Access Standard Security Program (DASSP) application process and learn more about implementing and using the DASSP.
Business Jet Access (BJA), a family-owned aviation services company based at Dallas Love Field, has achieved International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations registration. Registration follows an audit of the company’s operations, standards, procedures and risk-management systems. The company also has been issued an ARGUS platinum rating recertification. Founded in 1993, BJA provides charter, management and maintenance services. The company’s air carrier certificate includes a “10 or more seats” authorization.
London-based global spares support company A J Walter Aviation will open an office in Miami Nov. 1. The new operation will back up its recent deployment of service-ready component inventories for Airbus and Boeing spares in Los Angeles and Miami.
Yingling Aviation and Garmin Inter–national concluded an agreement with FedEx Express last week to install the TKS Ice Protection System and the Garmin G600 avionics suite in the express freight company’s fleet of 252 Cessna Caravans. Yingling President Lynn Nichols says the idea to upgrade the aircraft originated at FedEx some years ago but took shape following discussions between FedEx and Peter Wilkinson, general manager of Cessna’s McCauley Propeller Systems. The contract’s value was not disclosed.
Although aircraft sales remain stubbornly slow, the service side of the industry appears to have bounced back. Gulfstream Aerospace’s service center in Savannah, Ga., the largest of Gulfstream’s 12 service centers, is rapidly approaching capacity with 50-60 corporate jets being worked on each day. Hawker Beechcraft’s aftermarket sales are up by more than 20% from this time last year, and Cessna also is reporting a 20% growth in aftermarket revenues.
TIMCO Aerosystems Interiors Engineering and Manufacturing division is adding a facility in Wallburg, N.C., to accommodate an expansion of its FeatherWeight galleys, lavatories and passenger seating lines. The company is investing $2.75 million in the new facility and expects to hire 275 new employees over the next five years.
