Two family names, famous for their aviation exploits, are back in the news again for helping expand the envelope of powered flight — one for a record flight that ended Thursday. The Solar Impulse, a spindly-looking aircraft “fueled” solely by the Sun’s energy, touched down at 9 a.m. July 8 in Payerne, Switzerland, having just spent 26 hours and 9 minutes aloft — the longest and highest ever for a solar-powered aircraft.
ECLIPSE AEROSPACE Model EA500 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0691; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-027-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to incorporate changes in the electronic flight information system and the Airplane Flight Manual.
JEFF ROBERTS has become the owner, president and chief executive of AirCare Solutions Group, a corporate aviation training and service provider. Roberts takes over for company founder Doug Mykol, who will work with Roberts to help steer the company as part of the ownership transition.
Three key officials have taken office following their recent confirmation by the Senate and swearing-in ceremonies. The Transportation Security Administration at long last has a new leader with the July 1 formal swearing in of John Pistole as an assistant secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, heading TSA. Pistole, the former deputy FBI director, was sworn in by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano at Penn Station in New York City. He was the Obama Administration’s third (and first successful) nominee for the post that has been open since January 2009.
Accidents involving U.S.-registered business turboprop aircraft jumped by more than 70% in the first six months of this year, while business jets were involved in the same number of accidents when compared with the first half of 2009, according to the latest data from Robert E. Breiling Associates, Inc. The increases in turboprop activity come as business aircraft flight activity has picked up in 2010.
More than 500 general aviation workers last week attended a rally at Lunken Airport in Cincinnati to demonstrate the importance of the industry to the local economy. The Ohio General Aviation Forum, held at the Air10 Jet Center, was organized by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, along with GE Aviation and Hartzell Propeller. GAMA estimates that in addition to the hundreds of GA employees, 50 state and local officials and numerous industry leaders turned out for the July 7 event.
SHARON SINGER joined charter broker VizStar as chief financial officer. Singer has more than 25 years of human resources experience across a range of industries, most recently as a senior leader of human resources and global director of the training and development team at Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs.
The White House, meanwhile, earlier this month moved to fill another key aviation opening, selecting another former past president of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) for the role. The White House has nominated Duane Woerth as the U.S. ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organization. Woerth, who was president of ALPA from 1999 to 2006, currently is senior vice president-airline relations for the travel advertising firm Sojern, which he co-founded. He has served on several airline boards and is currently a director at Hawaiian Airlines.
STEPHANIE CURTICE joined the staff of the Wichita Aero Club. Curtice will oversee membership promotional efforts, event coordination and marketing. She has held public relations, marketing and sales positions with SouthernCare Hospice, Via Christi Health and MMS Medical Supply Company. She founded her own musical consulting firm after graduating from Wichita State University, and also has served in her family business, C&C Sprinklers.
CELINE SHABBAS was promoted to director of U.K. trading for Air Partner. Shabbas joined Air Partner in 2002 as part of the operations team at the company’s London-Gatwick headquarters. She was appointed European marketing manager in May 2006, and subsequently was promoted to director of group marketing in November 2009. In her new role, Shabbas will be responsible for service delivery, client retention, new business generation and staff progression.
Asking prices for used business jets increased slightly and inventories of used in-production jets continued to decline slowly in June, dropping below the 12% level for the first time since October 2008, JP Morgan says in its July Business Jet Monthly report. However, the gains were largely attributed to the strength of the heavy jet segment. The number of heavy and medium jets for sale declined 30 basis points each, while the number of light jets on the market climbed 20 basis points. The increase in asking prices “was solely driven by heavy jets” says JP Morgan.
Angel MedFlight Worldwide Air Ambulance is taking applications for its 2010 Angel MedFlight Scholarship of Excellence in Aviation. The scholarship will be awarded in August and the recipient will receive $3,000 toward his or her tuition for an aviation-related program at an Arizona college or university. All entries must be postmarked by July 16 to be considered for the 2010 award.
NationAir Aviation Insurance was selected by XL Insurance to serve as a broker in the Cessna Affiliates Insurance Program. NationAir is one of six brokers selected for the program, which includes aircraft hull and liability, as well as comprehensive general liability insurance underwritten by XL Insurance. NationAir also was named the preferred insurance provider by the Lancair Owners and Builders Organization.
Bombardier Aerospace will hold a Latin American Safety Standdown Aug. 11, right before the opening of the 7th annual Latin American Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition (LABACE), at the Hilton Morumbi Hotel in São Paulo. The safety standdown will feature speakers including: Capt. Gene Cernan, U.S.
CFM International, Bombardier, Asian Aerospace 2011, Breitling and MasterJet are among the companies joining TAG Farnborough Airport in staging events and hospitality at the Farnborough-based hotel Aviator during Farnborough International Air Show week. TAG Farnborough Airport and TAG Aviation have moved their air show chalet to the TAG Group-owned property, conveniently located just a short walk from the show site. Access to Aviator is located next to the main air show entrance of Gate B.
VINCE JIMENEZ was named component repair and overhaul regional sales manager for General Dynamics Aviation Services (GDAS). Jimenez is based in Long Beach, Calif., and is responsible for the Midwestern U.S. for GDAS California, which specializes in aircraft components. He has served with Gulfstream Long Beach since March 1999, initially as a senior dispatcher, then material planner and service center scheduler. He also has held positions with Boeing and McDonnell Douglas.
Ada, Okla.-based General Aviation Modifications, Inc. (GAMI) last week conducted a demonstration of a possible 100LL aviation gasoline replacement for members of an industry coalition that is working on strategies to phase out leaded aviation fuel.
Former Mooney Aircraft CEO Gretchen Jahn was tapped as chief operating officer for light-sport aircraft manufacturer Remos Aircraft. Jahn headed Mooney from 2004-2006 and subsequently served as general manager of Alpha Aviation Ltd. of New Zealand and director of Knotridge, Limited, which provides aviation and manufacturing consulting services.
Evidence of whether the industry has begun to grow again should come later this month, when business jet builders and suppliers report second quarter and half-year financial results. “Backlogs continued to decline in the first quarter despite higher demand for large aircraft, and it’s unclear to us whether this reversed in the second quarter,” says JP Morgan analyst Joseph B. Nadol. Reports likely to be closely followed include Rockwell Collins Inc. (July 16), Cessna parent Textron (July 21), Honeywell International (July 23), Gulfstream parent General Dynamics Corp.
BOMBARDIER DHC-8 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0643; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-030-AD] – This proposal would require operators to replace the latch assembly of the access panel for the alternate extension system for the landing gear. This proposed AD, which resulted from an MCAI originated by Transport Canada, is designed to prevent the latch assembly from failing in the closed position, which could prevent immediate access to the landing gear alternate extension system by the flight crew during an emergency.
The Cirrus Owners and Pilots Association (COPA) will hold a Cirrus Pilot Proficiency Program (CPPP) Aug. 6-8 at the Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport in Kansas City, Mo. CPPP offers recurrency training with Cirrus-specific flight and ground instruction during a weekend of socializing with like-minded COPA members. The program includes nine ground courses, two segments of flight instruction and a Partner-in-Command program. Contact Bill Settle, regional sales director, at 303.517.6965 or mail: [email protected].
EUROCOPTER FRANCE SA330F, G and J; and AS332C, L, L1 and L2 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2010-0670; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-42-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to inspect the upper and lower catches of the hinged doors to ensure that the catches are correctly positioned. This proposal, which resulted from an MCAI issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency, was prompted by a report of a rear-hinged door on a Model AS332L1 helicopter opening in flight.
Solairus has reached the 50-aircraft milestone with the additions of six large-cabin business jets to its charter and managed fleet in the past 30 days. The company added a Florida-based G550 and a California-based Bombardier Challenger 601-3R to its charter fleet. In addition, the company’s Part 91 management business unit grew nearly 20% with the additions of a Northeast-based Bombardier Global Express, California-based Challenger 601 and Dassault Falcon 900, and a Northwest-based Challenger 605. The Solairus base has grown to more than 200 employees.
PIPER AIRCRAFT PA-32R-301T and PA-46-350P airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0122; Directorate Identifier 2009-CE-067-AD; Amendment 39-16338; AD 2010-13-07] – Replace any spot-welded, V-band exhaust coupling with a riveted, V-band exhaust coupling. This AD was issued to prevent failure of the V-band exhaust coupling, which could cause the exhaust pipe to detach from the turbocharger, which could result in the release of high-temperature gases inside the engine compartment and a possible inflight fire. FAA estimates that this directive will affect 596 airplanes on the U.S.
JOHN HARDY was appointed director of spare parts sales for West Star Aviation, Inc. Hardy will be based in East Alton, Ill., but will oversee the parts sales for all West Star Aviation locations. He is returning to West Star after serving as a project engineer at Liberty Partners and director of sales and operations at Avionics Sales. He also formerly served as director of avionics for the East Alton facility.
