Sikorsky Aircraft’s X2 technology demonstrator recently achieved the maximum speed of 225 kt. in tests at the Development Flight Center in West Palm Beach, Fla. The speed represents an unofficial record. The previous record for a 3,500-kg. class of rotorcraft was 216 kt., set by a Westland Lynx in the mid-1980s. The demonstrator incorporated a new tail configuration to decrease pilot workload as aircraft speed increases and improve aircraft handling qualities.
XOJet is planning to expand operations in New York City and Los Angeles, citing steady growth and increased demand for its services. “We’ve always flown out of these two markets, but our steady growth, including the addition of new employees, and the overall increase in demand for our services has created the need to establish business offices in each market,” says XOJet CEO Blair LaCorte. XOJet has built a fleet to include “super midrange planes” that are suited for transcontinental flying between Los Angeles and New York, LaCorte says.
Despite its initial concerns about receiving little benefit from opening negotiations with Hawker Beechcraft, the International Association of Machinists (IAM) is returning to the bargaining table (BA, July 19/1). “We have decided the consequences of inaction would be grim, drastically affecting the employment levels and the future of the Wichita operations,” IAM officials told members Friday. The union noted the company’s request for cost savings, flexibility and a longer-term agreement.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE AS350B3 and EC130 B4 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2010-0779; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-84-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to conduct a functional check of contactors 53Ka and 53Kb by rotating the pilot and co-pilot throttle twist grip controls between the “IDLE” and “FLIGHT” position. If the throttle twist grip controls are not functioning properly, repair the controls, per the instructions of Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 05.00.61 for AS350B3 helicopters or ASB No. 05A009 for EC130 B4 helicopters (both dated Nov. 16, 2009).
EUROCOPTER FRANCE EC 130 B4 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2010-0713; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-63-AD; Amendment 39-16369; AD 2010-15-03] – Inspect certain electrical harnesses for damage, per the instructions of Eurocopter France Emergency Alert Service Bulletin No. 88A001 R1 (dated April 17, 2007). If damage is found, repair the harness. Even if damage is not found, protect the harness from possible future damage by installing harness clamp blocks.
EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2010-0780; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-68-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to conduct repetitive visual inspections of the tail-rotor control lever in the area around the split pin bore for score marks, notching, scratching, or cracks, per the instructions of Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin MBB BK 117 C-2-64A-002, Rev. 2 (dated Aug. 6, 2007).
Million Air-Salt Lake City was added to the Air Charter Safety Foundation’s (ACSF) Industry Audit Standard Registry. Million Air underwent the ACSF audit, which entails a review of an operator’s processes and procedures, regulatory compliance and implementation of a safety management system. The ACSF is scheduled to conduct 30 audits of Part 135 operators this year using the Industry Audit Standard.
As Los Angeles-based TWC Aviation continues to add to its managed fleet, its recent International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) certification helps sell its services and show its customers that it adheres to best practices, the company says. TWC Aviation opted for IS-BAO because it is administered by the International Business Aviation Council, an independent organization, and is accepted by the European Union, says Scott Cutshall, director of sales and aircraft management services.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE AS-365N2, AS-365 N3 and SA-365N1 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2010-0781; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-49-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to replace the aluminum tail-rotor blade pitch control shaft with a steel tail-rotor blade pitch control shaft. This proposal was prompted by an incident in which loss of tail rotor control occurred after the tail-rotor shaft broke. FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 36 helicopters on the U.S. Registry and cost U.S. operators a total of $163,620, or $4,545 per helicopter.
STUART KUPFER was appointed vice president of hospitality for Jet Aviation U.S., where he will be responsible for developing and implementing hospitality initiatives for the company’s fixed-based operation, charter and aircraft management services. He will focus on new service initiatives for Jet Aviation’s U.S. FBOs and the development of a new customer, service standard for domestic and international visiting flight crews, as well as for the passengers on board the aircraft. He has worked with five-star hotels across the U.S.
CHRISTOPHE NURIT was appointed vice president of sales and marketing for MD Helicopters. Nurit previously spent 11 years in positions of increasing responsibility with Bell Helicopter, most recently as marketing and sales director for the Middle East and Africa.
MARISSA REDDICK was promoted to purchasing manager for Mid-Continent Instruments. Most recently purchasing supervisor, Reddick will continue to work with vendors. Reddick has served with Mid-Continent since February 1997, and has a background in lean manufacturing, material resource planning and inventory management.
FAA is accepting comments until Aug. 29 on a new draft policy on certification of permanently installed rechargeable lithium batteries on transport-category aircraft. The proposed policy memo would establish when special conditions will be proposed for use of the lithium batteries, as well as what the proposed special conditions would entail.
Signature Flight Support has expanded handling services throughout Germany. Through agreements with fixed-base operators and airport authorities at 12 airports across Germany, Signature Flight Support’s Munich location can schedule flight support services, arrange credit and offer a single invoice for customers’ flights in Germany. Signature plans to increase the number of agreements in the coming months.
With business aviation set to soar in China, Bombardier projects 600 business jet deliveries for the country between 2010-2019, while Dassault predicts it can sell 20 aircraft a year over the next 10 years, according to a new report from FlyCorporate. Both manufacturers are shoring up their presence in Asia by opening offices, as well as forming local partnerships centered on mainland China, the report says.
Cleveland-based private air traveler Flight Options has unveiled its new Apple iPhone application to handle fractional ownership and jet card customer requests.
Business aviation advocates are expressing concern that new laws governing pilot safety will have a substantial impact on the industry and will impose a series of new burdens. The rules were signed into law Aug. 1 as part of an extension of FAA’s authorization (BA, Aug. 2/3). The pilot safety rules stem from the Feb. 12, 2009, crash of Colgan Air Flight 3407 in Buffalo, N.Y.
Honeywell has received FAA technical standard order (TSO) approval for a flight management system software upgrade that provides GPS-enabled approaches and access to Future Air Navigation System (FANS) routes. The TSO authorizes installation of the FMS 6.1 software upgrade in aircraft with the Honeywell FMZ-2000 flight management system. Honeywell estimates that about 600 aircraft are eligible for the upgrade, including Falcon 900B, Hawker 800XP and Challenger 601 jets.
Gulfstream Aerospace has promoted business aircraft sales veterans Roger Sperry and Tarek Ragheb to regional senior vice presidents, international sales. Sperry has a 37-year career selling aircraft, most recently as division vice president for Gulfstream’s South America and Far East territory. His career began in 1973 with Cessna Aircraft and moved to Learjet in 1992, holding senior sales and marketing positions. In 1996 he formed Galaxy Aerospace’s sales and marketing department as executive vice president, worldwide sales and marketing.
The Transportation Security Administration is estimating that a new streamlined process for prescreening passengers and crews of international flights will eliminate about 60% of its workload. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Transportation Security Administrator John Pistole jointly announced the new process during the Experimental Aircraft Association AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis. (BA, Aug. 2/ 3). A Notice To Airmen has been released explaining the new process that uses the U.S.
Piaggio America expanded its North American network with the appointment of three more authorized service centers to support the P.180 Avanti II. The additions are Crownair Aviation, which provides services in San Diego and Carlsbad, Calif., and Constant Aviation in Birmingham, Ala. The latest appointments bring the number of Piaggio authorized facilities in North America to 11.
ULRICH GEHLING was appointed general manager for Ruag Business Aviation’s facility in Oberpfaffenhofen, near Munich in Germany. Gehling joined Ruag in June after serving with Grob Aircraft as chief operating officer. Before joining Grob, he spent 15 years with Pilatus Aircraft in Switzerland, managing development programs such as the PC-12NG and the PC-21 pilot-training platform.
South River Aviation heads Joshua and Julia Hochberg have recently acquired the assets of Sonoma Jet Center. The facility will be operated by New Sonoma FBO and continue to do business as Sonoma Jet Center. Joshua Hochberg is president of both New Sonoma FBO and South River Aviation, an aviation firm that is seeking to acquire, develop and manage fixed-base operations nationwide. John Bridi will remain general manager and the remaining staff will stay intact. Based at Charles M.
New York charter broker Emerald Jet Charter has added helicopter service to its travel portfolio, arranging trips from the three heliports in Manhattan.
