AgustaWestland has launched AW139 HUMS (Health Usage and Monitoring System) web services. The data-monitoring service, developed in collaboration with GE Aviation, enables AW139 operators to manage the transmission health and usage data collected during operations and rapid sharing of the data with AgustaWestland customer support and services organization. This optimizes HUMS usage, giving a simple set of indicators for technical staff for efficient data analysis and maintenance of AW139 transmission components, AgustaWestland says.
Cessna handed over its first CJ4, the company announced last week. Delivery, to an unnamed customer, followed FAA type certification of the newest member of the CJ family in March (BA, March 22/5). Cessna says the aircraft was the first equipped with its new Green Trak flight planning software designed to minimize total trip cost by indexing the costs of direct operation, fuel burn and carbon emissions. Cessna has orders for more than 150 of the $9 million jet and expects to deliver 15 this year.
The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) recently released a guide to help European operators prepare for emergencies. The guide was developed after a survey EBAA conducted last year found that just under one-third of business aircraft operators do not possess an emergency response plan.
Wichita, Kan.-based Belite Aircraft was named the 2010 Grand Champion Ultralight this month at Sun ’n Fun in Lakeland, Fla. The manufacturer made its first appearance at Sun ’n Fun and displayed the Superlite and Trike versions of the FAA Part 103 aircraft targeting recreational flyers. All are available fully assembled or in kit form from the Wichita, Kan.-based manufacturer. Belite Ready To Fly Factory pricing starts at $25,000. Kits start at under $10,000.
The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) listed the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) among its top 10 milestones in European business aviation in the past 10 years.
TURBOMECA Arriel 1B, 1D, 1D1, 2B and 2B1 engines [Docket No. FAA-2009-0302; Directorate Identifier 2009-NE-09-AD; Amendment 39-16245; AD 2009-08-08R1] — Establish a new, lower limit of 5,000 flight cycles for certain Power Turbine (PT) wheel blades. If any PT blades exceed 5,000 flight cycles, remove Module M04, the PT wheel assembly, or the PT blades prior to the next flight.
April 13, 1970 — Six general aviation associations form the General Aviation Associations Committee to provide a unified front and, among other things, improve “our image before the general public.” April 7, 1980 — Department of Energy officials, concerned by reports that U.S. agricultural production may be impacted by shortages of aviation gasoline, urge major refiners to boost avgas production. April 16, 1990 — Bombardier agrees to acquire Learjet Corp. from Integrated Resources for $75 million and assumption of a $38 million line of credit.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the April 19 near-collision of Southwest Airlines Flight 649 and a Cessna 172 at Burbank (Calif.) Bob Hope Airport. The skies were clear with 10-mile visibility when the event occurred, according to preliminary details released by the NTSB last week.
A spate of crashes involving turboprop aircraft drove the total number of business aircraft accidents up by about one-third in the first quarter of this year, according to a report from safety expert Robert E. Breiling Associates. U.S.-registered business aircraft were involved in 16 accidents in the first quarter of 2010, up from 11 in the first quarter of 2009. Fifteen of those accidents involved turboprops. This is not quite double the eight business turboprop accidents reported in the first quarter of 2009.
Dassault Falcon Jet’s net orders fell from a peak of 203 in 2007 to negative 98 in 2009, as the company experienced a sharp 45% reduction in backlog value in one year. The report notes that the result excluded NetJets, which walked away from 65 delivery positions after 2014. Gulfstream appears to have fared better than most, cushioned by an impressive order book for the G650. “With G650 certification and initial deliveries scheduled in 2011, the bulk of these revenues will remain unrealized (save for healthy progress payments) for the next several years,” it says.
Rockwell Collins has secured supplemental type certificates to provide Localizer Performance with Vertical guidance (LPV) upgrades for King Air C90GTi, B200, B200GT, B200C, B200CGT, 350 and 350C aircraft. Rockwell Collins worked with Hawker Beechcraft to develop the coupled LPV upgrade, enabling King Air operators with Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics to use the 1,900 LPV approaches currently available with minimum decision heights as low as 200 feet. The upgrades will be offered through the Rockwell Collins network of certified dealers.
MATTHIEU LOUVOT was named vice president, head of corporate strategy and company development for the Eurocopter Group. Louvot most recently was adviser to French President Nicolas Sarkozy in the industry, energy and transportation sectors.
Hartzell Propeller Inc. has developed the new Claw 2.0 propeller, an advanced structural composite propeller for aerobatic aircraft that uses ASC-II technology. The Claw 2.0 recently achieved FAA type certification, and the original Claw and Claw 2.0 are the only certified advanced composite propellers available for aerobatic use. Hartzell is offering the Claw 2.0 propeller for Extra 300/330 series aircraft flying in the experimental category.
Diamond Aircraft has received FAA certification for its turbo-diesel-powered DA42 NG airplane. The plane, equipped with twin 170-horsepower Austro Engine AE-300 turbo-diesel powerplants, also is now approved for IFR and flight-into-known-icing operations. For existing DA42 owners, the approval covers conversion of TAE-powered DA42s to the NG configuration and includes optional installation of the Garmin GFC 700 autopilot.
Transactions for medium- and long-range business jets increased 23% in the first quarter of 2010, compared with the same quarter last year, reports AircraftPost.com. “However, when compared to the first quarter of 2008, transactions were down 25%,” AircraftPost.com adds. “Market exposure, calculated from when the aircraft comes on the market to closing, increased two-fold in 2010.” Selling prices fell an average 12% over 2009, compared to the 39% drop in the first quarter of 2008, it says, noting that market price is running an average 20% below market value.
The recent yearend financial reporting season for most business aircraft manufacturers was telling, with confirmation of the scale and seriousness of order backlog erosion across the industry, according to consultant Rolland Vincent Associates. “Most dramatically hit was industry volume-leader Cessna, where 66% of the company’s hard-earned order backlog value was emptied,” says the report. “At Bombardier’s Business Aircraft Division, net orders were a startling minus 85. Yearend 2009 backlog fell by 55% year-over-year at Hawker Beechcraft.”
JDA Aviation Technology Solutions (JDA) has signed a deal with Houston’s Harco Aviation LLC, a repair station and aircraft management services company, for the 135Pro certification support program. The 135Pro certification support program includes manuals specifically tailored to help new charter operators and corporate flight departments satisfy FAA requirements. The customized web-based application and document manager enables the owner/operator to store and access all Part 135 requirements and obtain full-time support from the JDA 135 team.
40 Years Ago April 13, 1970 — Six general aviation associations form the General Aviation Associations Committee to provide a unified front and, among other things, improve “our image before the general public.” 30 Years Ago April 7, 1980 — Department of Energy officials, concerned by reports that U.S. agricultural production may be impacted by shortages of aviation gasoline, urge major refiners to boost avgas production. 20 Years Ago
Bombardier last week formally opened a regional service office (RSO) in Mumbai, India. The RSO, part of an overall expansion of Bombardier’s international service and support network, is the first to serve both Bombardier business and commercial aircraft operators. The 1,900-square-foot RSO, located near the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, is overseen by Subeer Kapoor, manager of RSO, Bombardier commercial aircraft.
The Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) added John Grillo, president of Executive Fliteways, and Jim Segrave, president of Segrave Aviation, to the ACSF Executive Committee. Grillo, a 36-year veteran of the aviation industry, has been a member of the National Air Transportation Association’s Air Charter Committee, where he helped to establish operational and regulatory standards for the industry.
April 13, 1970 — Six general aviation associations form the General Aviation Associations Committee to provide a unified front and, among other things, improve “our image before the general public.”
BRITISH AEROSPACE HP.137 Jetstream Mk.1, Series 200, Series 3101 and Model 3201 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0056; Directorate Identifier 2009-CE-051-AD; Amendment 39-16259; AD 2010-08-04] — Inspect the nose landing gear’s steering jack piston rod, check the torque of the end fitting, and determine the safe life of the steering jack piston rod. If the piston rod is found cracked or unserviceable, remove the steering jack and replace it with a serviceable unit before further flight.
GILLES BOUCTOT was appointed chief operating officer for Messier-Dowty (Safran Group). Bouctot most recently was executive vice president of the Aircraft Equipment branch of Messier-Dowty parent Safran Group. He also has served as chairman and chief executive of Messier Services International and executive vice president and chief operating officer for Aircelle (formerly Hurel-Dubois). His career began at Snecma.
