BOMBARDIER Regional Jet Series 100, 440, 700, 701, 702, 705 and 900 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0550; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-124-AD; Amendment 39-16454; AD 2010-20-19] – Conduct fluorescent-penetrant inspections of the air-driven generator (ADG) strut to detect cracks, per the instructions of Bombardier Alert Service Bulletin A601R-24-120, Rev. C or A670BA-24-020, Rev. C (both dated April 20, 2009), as applicable.
JetBlue founder David Neeleman and Acadia Woods Partners LLC have bought Los Angeles-based private jet operator JetSuite for an undisclosed sum. JetSuite was founded in 2008 by current CEO Alex Wilcox, a former JetBlue executive who worked with Neeleman to create that airline back in 2000. “We were raising capital in order to take delivery of five more aircraft,” Wilcox says. JetSuite currently has seven Embraer Phenom 100s.
The number of accidents involving U.S. business jets held steady through the first three quarters of the year, but turboprop accidents were up slightly over the same period in 2009, according to the latest statistics released by Robert E. Breiling Associates, Inc. of Boca Raton, Fla.
BILL COLLERAN was appointed director, technical information services for Gulfstream Aerospace. Colleran will oversee Gulfstream’s technical publications, Computerized Maintenance Program (CMP) and reliability/maintainability organizations. He previously was senior site manager, contractor logistics support (CLS) for Gulfstream at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla. He has spent 17 years with CLS, executing several maintenance contracts in support of U.S. government Special Air Missions. Colleran also spent 12 years in the U.S.
Garmin has developed a G1000 retrofit program for the King Air 300 and 350 twin-turboprop airplanes. The supplemental type certificate for the installation is anticipated in mid-2011. Once complete, King Air owners will be able to install the system at any Garmin-authorized G1000 retrofit dealer. The G1000 also is available as a retrofit package for select King Air C90, 200, B200, 300, 350, and Cessna CitationJet aircraft. “We have received a tremendous response to our G1000 retrofit programs,” says Gary Kelley, Garmin’s vice president of marketing.
The Kansas economy is expected to continue its sluggish employment rebound over the remainder of 2010, according to a new report from Wichita State University’s Center for Economic Development and Business Research. The report forecasts that in 2011, employment will rebound, picking up some of the losses from the recession, but full employment recovery is not expected to be achieved until after 2012.
Palm Springs, Calif.-based charter operator Desert Jet has added a 2008 Beechcraft King Air B200GT to its fleet. The King Air, which will be used for operations out of Long Beach and Bermuda Dunes Airports, can cruise 40-kt. faster than earlier King Air 200s and has a 1,600-mi. range. The aircraft joins a Cessna Citation V and a Citation Encore in the Desert Jet fleet.
On-demand charter operator Desert Jet has added a Hawker 1000 to its operations. The aircraft joins the company’s existing fleet – a Citation Encore, a Citation V and a King Air B200GT.
President Obama has signed the Small Business Lending Fund Act of 2010, which included an extension of the provision for bonus depreciation (BA, Sept. 27/3). Bonus depreciation was originally included in the federal stimulus act, and now extends accelerated depreciation to strategic business assets, including aircraft purchased this year and placed into service before the end of 2011.
BOMBARDIER Regional Jet Series 100, 440, 700, 701, 702, 705 and 900 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0375; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-014-AD; Amendment 39-16443; AD 2010-20-09] – Replace certain balance washer screws installed in the air-driven generators (ADGs) with new screws. This AD, which resulted from an MCAI originated by Transport Canada, was prompted by five reported cases of balance washer screw failures because of metallographic non-conformity on similar aircraft types.
Daher-Socata handed over the first Polish-registered TBM 850 to Sat Film, a television cable and communications operator that provides services in Lodz, the third largest city in Poland. Robert Kowalczyk, the Sat Film owner and pilot, ordered the aircraft to help his effort to extend his operations throughout Europe.
Hawker Beechcraft, Inc. plans to add a new company director with the recent resignation of Nigel Wright. Wright was the leader of the Onex/Goldman Sachs team that bought the aircraft manufacturer from Raytheon in 2007. He is leaving to become chief of staff for Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
SCOTT PLUMB was appointed vice president, Hawker jet sales for Hawker Beechcraft in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He has more than 20 years of aerospace sales and marketing management experience, including with Gulfstream Aerospace, Airbus and British Aerospace. Most recently he was with VistaJet Aviation Services, where he was chief commercial officer and a board member.
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has completed its review of a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) calling for new equipment and operating requirements for commercial helicopter operations. The NPRM, cleared by OMB last week, stems from concerns raised over the increasing number of accidents involving commercial helicopter operations and air ambulance operations in particular. OMB approval is one of the last steps before FAA releases a proposal.
STEVE JONES is taking a new position as general manager of Al Bateen Executive Airport in Abu Dhabi. Currently the managing director of London Oxford Airport, Jones will step into his new duties Nov. 17. He has more than 36 years of aviation experience, including 10 years at Oxford Airport. He began with British Aerospace in 1974 as an apprentice with Hawker Siddeley. He subsequently was a quality manager for the certification of all British Aerospace’s aircraft built in Chester, U.K. He also was responsible for the operations of the Hawker 125 business jet.
The National Business Aviation Association has released its 2010 Business Aviation Fact Book, a profile of the industry that offers real-world information and data about its value to citizens, companies and communities across the country. NBAA’s Business Aviation Fact Book notes on the first page that business aviation contributes $150 billion to U.S. economic output and generates more than 1 million jobs.
The tepid recovery in the general aviation market has faltered, industry leaders believe, pushing several manufacturers into another round of layoffs. Employees at both Hawker Beechcraft and Piper Aircraft were warned late last month of upcoming layoffs. Those notices followed announced plans to cut another 700 positions at Cessna (BA, Sept. 27/1).
Garmin International was awarded FAA supplemental type certificate approval for its Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems (HTAWS), clearing the unit for installation. Added to Garmin’s GNW 430W/530W avionics, the HTAWS provides graphical and audible alerts of potential terrain and obstacle conflicts. The system has forward-looking terrain avoidance capability with visual and aural advisories. HTAWS also provides a reduced-protection mode that enables low-level operations with minimal alerting while continuing to provide terrain and obstacle protection.
A Piaggio P-180 came to rest with the landing gear retracted at St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Fla., International Airport, after the pilot had aborted the flight on Sept. 12, the National Transportation Safety Board says. The aircraft, N590JL, registered to Get Me There LLC, was on a local maintenance test flight. The airplane was substantially damaged, but neither the pilot nor the co-pilot were injured. The aircraft was in for an inspection, which involved the removal and replacement of the left elevator.
FAA has awarded Lockheed Martin a three-year contract extension to continue to provide automated flight service station services. The contract option that is being exercised is worth $356 million and is a follow-on to the initial contract awarded in 2005. This agreement was unusual for the FAA at the time, as it covered the provision of service as well as the system technology.
Oct. 19–21—National Business Aviation Association 63rd Annual Meeting & Convention, Atlanta, (202) 783-9000, www.nbaa.org Oct. 22—The Wings Club’s 68th Annual Dinner-Dance Honoring Allan McArtor, Chairman Airbus Americas, with its Distinguished Achievement Award, The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York, (212) 867-1770, [email protected] Oct. 22—European Aviation Club seminar on passenger rights, Hotel Bristol Stephanie, Brussels, e-mail: [email protected]
Bombardier Aerospace’s board of directors last week gave the go-ahead to expand the company’s family of large business jets that will “build upon” the Global 5000 and Global Express XRS jets already in service, in a move that is widely viewed as a head-on challenge to Gulfstream’s new G650 jet.
KEVIN CONNELLY was appointed vice president, aftermarket services for Sargent Aerospace & Defense. Connelly will oversee Sargent’s aftermarket services business, including original equipment and third-party maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) work in Miami; Tucson, Ariz; Franklin, Ind.; and Torrance, Calif. He has 16 years of MRO experience, most recently as general manager for ACE Service, a joint venture between Parker Aerospace and Singapore Airlines.
Farnborough-based business aircraft management and charter group Gama Aviation has added a Learjet 60XR to its U.K. air operator certificate. The aircraft is available for third-party charter from its European base and joins two Hawker 800s, a Hawker 1000, a Gulfstream 550, two Learjet 45s, one Beechcraft 200 Super King Air and two Challenger 604s.
The governors of Maryland and New Jersey have become the latest to issue proclamations lauding general aviation and small airports. Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) declared September “General Aviation and Community Airport Month.” “I am pleased to recognize this vital system of community airports and aircraft that contributes $2.1 billion into our local economy and creates nearly 6,800 jobs to our state,” says O’Malley. “It’s important that we continue to support this industry, which is vital to not only Maryland, but the entire country.”
