FAA must do more to include and coordinate the work of other agencies on the NextGen initiative, and also review industry involvement, according to a new government report. The U.S. Transportation Department’s Inspector General (IG) conducted a sweeping analysis of the NextGen program at the request of Congress. In general, the IG says, “A number of critical actions are still needed to move NextGen from planning to implementation,” and “not taking timely action on these issues could delay FAA’s plans to transition to NextGen.”
Gulfstream Aerospace has received FAA approval to provide Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) functionality on Gulfstream G150 aircraft. The optional WAAS-capable receiver can be installed on new G150s during final-phase manufacturing, or as a retrofit on in-service aircraft. WAAS provides a number of benefits, including enhanced safety, increased flight-planning options and improved airport access.
Massport is slated to become the new owner of Massachusetts’ Worcester Regional Airport (ORH) on July 1 following FAA approval of a three-way agreement between the city, the state and the Massachusetts Port Authority. Massport has been managing the airfield for six years. Under the deal, the city of Worcester will receive $15 million in cash and land transfers, and a nine-member advisory committee, composed of residents and local representatives, will be appointed.
Bombardier Aerospace has delivered its first Challenger 605 and Global 5000 jets to customers based in Argentina. The Challenger 605 jet can fly five passengers from Buenos Aires to Dakar or Buenos Aires to San Juan, Puerto Rico non-stop, while the Global 5000 can connect Buenos Aires-New York and Buenos Aires-Cape Town non-stop with eight passengers and three crew.
Aircraft charter and management company JetFlite International has launched JetFlite Select, its own twist on the jet card membership program. JetFlite Select is a jet card that offers access to a full-service concierge 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year, says John Williams, president of JetFlite International’s eastern division. “This is a concept I was involved with when I was CEO of eBizJets, which later became Sentient Jets,” he says, adding the card is an alternative to fractional ownership.
And Pelton believes the 198,000 aircraft in the current Cessna fleet helps position the company for the future, giving the company incentive to support all of the fleet, even the oldest models still flying. “It’s really clearly a competitive advantage for us. If you look at the tough times we’re in, people aren’t buying airplanes,” he observes. “We have really made customers the centerpiece of our focus. When they do start flying again, they will either buy a new Cessna aircraft or recommend that others do.
Wipaire, Inc. has received supplemental type certification for installation of the Wipline 7000 amphibious float on the Quest Kodiak single turboprop. FAA had granted technical standard order authorization for the Wipline 7000 float in December. The new floats include the traditional Wipline flat-top deck for easy loading and safety. The main gear system has been completely redesigned, which improves reliability and makes for easy maintenance.
BOMBARDIER CL-600, -601, -601-3A, -601-3R, CL-604 and CL-605 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0039; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-239-AD; Amendment 39-16350; AD 2010-14-05] – Replace certain hydraulic accumulators. This AD, which resulted from an MCAI originated by Transport Canada, was issued following seven cases of on-ground hydraulic accumulator screw cap or end cap failure, which resulted in loss of the associated hydraulic system and high-energy impact damage to adjacent systems and structure.
The third and final Gulfstream G250 test aircraft has joined the flight-test program. The third super mid-size business jet completed its first flight June 28. During the two hour, 56 minute flight, the aircraft reached a maximum speed of 250 knots and a top altitude of 20,000 feet. All three aircraft that are part of the 1,300-hour flight-test campaign have now entered the flight-test program, beginning with the first, S/N 2001, on Dec. 11, 2009.
Pratt & Whitney Canada is pushing ahead with alternative fuels research with the goal of making its engines biofuel-ready. These include the PW800 turbofan under development for large business jets, which will share its core with the PW1000G geared turbofan for the Bombardier CSeries and Mitsubishi Regional Jet.
Gulfstream Aerospace has named Joanne Davis director of government contracts. She will be responsible for leading the group’s support of the company’s U.S. and international government programs and sales activities, including engagement efforts for head-of-state, multi-mission and special-mission aircraft sales, modification, maintenance and support services.
Travis County STAR Flight has placed its third Eurocopter EC145 into service. The public safety air rescue program, which is based in Austin, Texas, flies a variety of missions—including emergency medical services, search and rescue, firefighting and law enforcement support— for more than 19 counties in the central Texas. Casey Ping, STAR Flight’s program director, says, “We chose the EC145 because it supplies the power, reliability and cabin size to meet our broad mission parameters.”
Alexander Aviation Associates has been tapped as a representative agency for the re-launch of the Insurance Program for Cessna Owners and Affiliates (IPCOA). IPCOA ended its three-year relationship with Arch and International Aerospace, and sought a new underwriting partner. Program changes include simpler deductibles, higher liability limits, competitive pricing and more-limited agency representation. IPCOA then chose to offer this program on a semi-exclusive basis through selected agents, including Alexander Aviation Associates.
High demand at the relatively new Houston Executive Airport drove the facility to recently open a new 12,000-sq.-ft. hangar, bringing total aircraft leased space to more than 83,000 sq. ft., including a 26,000-sq.-ft. corporate hangar completed last year.
A Chinese delegation led by President Hu Jintao visited Bombardier Aerospace’s facility in Toronto last week. Dr. Jianwei Zhang, president of Bombardier China, and Gary Scott, president of Bombardier Commercial Aircraft, hosted the delegation. The delegation toured the production lines of the Q400 NextGen turboprop and a Global Express XRS business jet
EUROCOPTER FRANCE EC 155B, EC155B1, SA-360C, SA-365C, SA-365C1, SA-365C2, SA-365N, SA-365N1, AS-365N2, AS 365 N3 and SA-366G1 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2010-0610; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-47-AD] – This proposed rule, which would supersede an existing directive (AD 2005-03-09), would require operators to conduct initial and repetitive visual or borescope inspections of the main gearbox (MGB) planet gear carrier for cracks. If any cracks were found, operators would need to replace the carrier before further flight.
Bethesda, Md.-based business jet travel consultant Shaircraft Solutions has expanded its presence via social media sites, with active profiles now on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, CEO and attorney James Butler says.
While the market has remained stubbornly slow, aircraft brokers are finding that some aircraft are moving. Janine Iannarelli, founder and president of Houston-based Par Avion Ltd., who has been in the business for 25 years, agrees with many top analysts and industry leaders that the largest of the business jets are faring best in the downturn. The newest of midsize and lighter jets are moving very slowly, but only to well-qualified buyers or those with cash.
DERRICK SEYS was named engineering manager for Elliott Aviation. Seys will be responsible for overseeing development of avionics and completions programs at Elliott Aviation’s headquarters at Illinois’ Quad City International Airport (MLI). He has more than 20 years of aviation and aerospace experience, most recently serving as a technical manager at ARINC Engineering Services in Oklahoma City.
Nextant Aerospace last week completed the first mating of a Williams International FJ44-3AP engine to a Beechjet 400A aircraft. The aircraft is the first of two aircraft that will be used in the upcoming flight test program, leading to FAA certification of the engine upgrade under a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC). The effort will replace Pratt & Whitney JT15D-5 engines, which Nextant Aerospace says will increase the range of the 400/400XP from 1,333 nm to more than 2,000 nm with four-passenger, NBAA IFR range.
FAA is proposing a $450,000 civil penalty against Dassault Falcon Jet Corp. and its completion center at Little Rock, Ark., for installing improperly electroplated parts on aircraft.
Funding for the pre-NBAA volunteer project to refurbish a children’s club in Atlanta is nearing its $100,000 goal with more than three months remaining, an organizer said last week. Jim Cannon, chairman of the local committee for the annual convention, said that on Sunday, Oct. 17, volunteers would gather at the Boys and Girls Club in Brookhaven, close by Dekalb-Peachtree Airport, which is site of the convention’s static aircraft display.
Demand for engineers to work on a variety of in-service projects, such as the Airbus A330 Freighter and A380, plus new work related to the wing development for the A350, are driving Airbus North America to open a second engineering office in Wichita, Kan. A new facility is opening this month across the street from the current engineering office in downtown Wichita, which has run out of space. Airbus expects to reach about 300 personnel in the city by year’s end, up from 200 currently. It already has begun hiring to fill positions in the new office.
While the industry will permanently lose a percentage of the employees laid off by Cessna and other airframers, Cessna Chairman and CEO Jack Pelton is optimistic that the industry will be able to retain a fair number of those employees, once the market improves. “One of the things about our industry is that we do provide high-paying, good manufacturing jobs,” Pelton said in a recent speech before the Aero Club of Washington.
Bell Helicopter affiliate McTurbine, Inc. has received authorization from Rolls-Royce to perform maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services on Model 250 Series II and Series IV turbine engines. The Corpus Christi-based firm received FAA approval for such work earlier this year. As an authorized maintenance center, McTurbine can now provide customers with engine and module MRO services, as well as component and accessory exchange services, field support and warranty administration.
