A bill extending FAA’s operating authority was passed by the Senate late on June 30, following similar action in the House a day earlier. The provision lasts through Aug. 1 and is the 14th such extension since the last full FAA authorization expired in 2007. It gives House and Senate lawmakers an extra month to reach consensus on a full FAA reauthorization, and House aviation leaders are confident they are close to agreement and can finish the bill in July.
Innotech-Execaire Aviation Group has earned an FAA supplemental type certificate for installation of the Cabin Air-quality (I-CAIR) system on Bombardier Global Express and Global XRS aircraft. The I-CAIR system, which was jointly developed by Innotech Aviation and Montreal-based Air Data Inc., can be installed at Innotech’s completion center in Montreal. European Aviation Safety Agency approval of the installation is expected within the next few weeks.
AgustaWestland and Russian Helicopters have broken ground on a final assembly plant that will build civilian models of the AW139 medium twin helicopter in Tomilino, near Moscow. The facility is expected to produce five aircraft in 2011 and eventually assemble 20 helicopters per year and employ more than 100 people. HeliVert, a Russian Helicopters and AgustaWestland joint venture, will run the plant, which will produce rotorcraft to meet the needs of civilian operators in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Cessna’s Skycatcher has won the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Piper General Aviation Award for 2010. The Model 162 won the annual award for having made “an outstanding contribution to the advancement of general aviation.” The Skycatcher design team will officially accept the award during the 10th AIAA Aviation Technology, Integration and Operations Conference, which is scheduled for September 13-15, in Houston. AIAA is the world’s largest technical society dedicated to the aerospace profession.
Anchorage, Alaska-based Aero Twin, Inc. has received additional FAA approval for improvements in its Honeywell TPE331-12JR-701AT/-703AT engine installation in the Cessna Caravan, Grand Caravan and Super Cargomaster. The original FAA Supplemental Type Certificate (No. SA02291AK) was awarded to Aero Twin, Inc. by the FAA Anchorage Aircraft Certification Office on July 24, 2007, and was the first FAA-certified Honeywell engine upgrade for the Caravans.
Piper Aircraft will shut down from Aug. 9-13 in another round of furloughs designed to avoid layoffs. Only those working on the Piper Jet and other critical functions will be spared, but the shutdown includes management, says a spokesman. Despite the shutdown, Piper is optimistic about the future and has raised its 2010 production rate to 162 aircraft a year, up from the 90 aircraft produced in 2009, says the spokesman. The original production rate this year was 208, he added.
GILLES GENETE was appointed general manager for the CIRCOR Aerospace France Group of businesses, including Industria S.A.S. of Paris, Bodet Aero of Chemille and A D N of Pau plus Atlas Productions in Tangiers, Morocco. Genete has more than 20 years experience with Senior Aerospace, Bosal Group, TRW and Schlumberger. CIRCOR Aerospace Products Group designs, develops and manufactures aircraft components and sub-systems, including landing gear, fluid controls, DC motors and high-performance switches.
BOMBARDIER Regional Jet Series 100 and 440 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-1029; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-103-AD; Amendment 39-16348; AD 2010-14-03] – Modify the wiring of certain air-driven generators (ADGs) in accordance with the instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 601R-24-113, Rev. A (dated Aug. 11, 2005). This new AD, which supersedes an existing directive (AD 2009-06-17), was prompted by the failure of several ADGs to come on line during test deployments.
Charter broker VizStar, Inc. will merge with charter service provider Celestial Jets. The new company will be a full-service private aviation company specializing in providing luxury service. It has ready access to 5,700 executive jet aircraft in more than 7,200 airports worldwide.
EADS CASA CN-235, CN-235-100, CN-235-200, CN-235-300 and C-295 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0640; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-142-AD] – This proposed rule would require operators to perform a number of maintenance tasks to ensure the safety of the fuel system. This new AD, which would supersede an existing directive (AD 2008-09-22), resulted from an MCAI originated by the European Aviation Safety Agency.
BRENDON DEDEKIND was named director, real estate for Signature Flight Support. Based in Orlando, Dedekind will oversee and direct airport and commercial real estate activities, facilities planning, property management, construction and project management. He formerly was vice president of acquisition and leasing for Avalon Park Group Management and a leasing associate, project manager and associate developer at Lincoln Property Company. He also has held positions at Siemens Westinghouse Power Company and Cosentini Information Technology.
ExecuJet Middle East has added two new Bombardier Challenger 605s to its managed fleet. The aircraft management company has an FBO and maintenance facility located at Dubai International Airport and has expressed interest in building on its Middle Eastern presence by looking at further developments within the region.
Los Angeles-based charter operator TWC Aviation has added an Embraer Legacy 600 to its fleet. The aircraft carries 13 passengers and includes premium leather seats, burl wood cabinetry, a dual DVD entertainment system and a SATCOM phone.
ALLFBO.com, a Web-based software application that enables fixed-base operators to manage customer reservations either over the phone or online, has been created to cut employee workloads and make connections with pilots, schedulers and dispatchers easier, founder Chase Larabee says.
AgustaWestland has delivered the first of 10 AW139 medium-twin helicopters to Ornge, a not-for-profit charitable organization that coordinates all aspects of Ontario, Canada´s aero-medical transport system. The contract includes an option for two additional aircraft. The helicopter is equipped with an advanced aero-medical interior and is the first EMS-configured AW139 in North America featuring the Full Ice Protection System (FIPS) for flights in known icing conditions with real all-weather capability.
GULFSTREAM Model 200 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0555; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-053-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to revise the “Limitations” section of the Airplane Flight Manual to prohibit deploying the air brakes above 360 knots/0.79 Mach indicated airspeed. This proposal, which resulted from an MCAI originated by the Civil Aviation Authority of Israel, was issued because extension of airbrakes above those speeds could result in vibration and high-cycle fatigue failure of the airbrake inboard hinge.
Manufacturers of transport aircraft would be required to demonstrate that an aircraft certified to fly in icing conditions could safely operate in a “supercooled large drops” environment under a new rule proposed last week by FAA, which is looking to expand icing certification standards. Powerplants and other aircraft components also would be required to perform safely in freezing rain or drizzle, ice crystals or combinations of icing phenomena.
Aerospace stocks are likely to benefit from the ongoing recovery in global traffic and yields, says a new report from analyst Jefferies. “While it is clear that the market for business jets is improving, with year-over-year departures up by a low double-digit rate, it is also fair to say that the pace of change is moderating as one can compare the most recent monthly numbers with the six month data,” writes analyst Howard Rubel. “Departures are also about 20% or so below the peaks of 2007-2008.
Royal Jet, the Abu Dhabi-based private jet operator, has added a sixth Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) to its fleet. The new jet can seat up to 18 passengers and includes a VIP lounge area, two more lounges, a private office, a stateroom and two bathrooms complete with showers. The acquisition of the BBJ was driven by a steady growth in demand for large aircraft in both the VIP and the corporate jet sector in recent years, said President and CEO Shane O’Hare.
BOMBARDIER CL-604 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-1227; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-119-AD; Amendment 39-16347; AD 2010-14-02] – Conduct initial and repetitive fluorescent-penetrant inspections of the air-driven generator (ADG) strut to detect cracks. This AD, which resulted from an MCAI originated by an aviation authority of another country, is intended to prevent cracks in the strut, which could lead to structural failure and departure of the ADG during deployment.
Phillips 66 Aviation has provided an introduction membership to its branded dealers to the National Air Transportation Association. The membership extends to more than 500 Phillips 66 locations.
Gulfstream Aerospace is continuing its march toward certification of the G650 by adding a fourth aircraft to the flight test program. The fourth aircraft, Serial Number 6004, has accrued more than five hours since taking off for the first time June 6. S/N 6004 will be the first of the G650s to be fitted and tested with a full interior, which will be installed this summer. The aircraft will be used to evaluate cabin systems. The flight test program will encompass five aircraft and an estimated 1,800 hours.
The National Transportation Safety Board returns to its full complement of board members with last week’s confirmation of Earl Weener and Mark Rosekind. The Senate on June 22 approved Weener for a term running through Dec. 31, 2015 and Rosekind through Dec. 31, 2014.
