SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT’S S-92 helicopter fleet passed the 200,000-flight-hour milestone less than six years after the first S-92 was delivered in late 2004. Currently, 105 S-92s operate in 21 countries. More than a dozen have amassed 5,000 flight hours, and the highest-time S-92 has 8,100 hours.
The Los Angeles City Council late last month voted to phase out Stage 2 aircraft at Van Nuys Airport (VNY). The vote follows approval by the Los Angeles World Airports Board of Airport Commissioners last year, and continues the battle over Stage 2 aircraft at VNY that has been ongoing for years.
DAHER-SOCATA handed over the first Australian-bound Garmin G1000-equipped TBM 850 turboprop aircraft. The Garmin 1000 avionics suite replaces traditional instruments with large liquid-crystal display screens and integrates the primary flight, navigation, weather, traffic, ground proximity and technical information on the aircraft. The TBM was delivered to Warwick and Katrina Hawksworth of Capstone Financial Services.
THE NUMBERS for this year’s European Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition are looking better than 2009 so far, reports European Business Aviation Association President and CEO Brian Humphries. “Hotel bookings are running higher than last year, and exhibitor bookings are up 5 percent,” he said. “Eurocontrol will be there to update their business aviation survey, which will update figures in the post-recession market, where the market is going and how the recovery is going.” The conference is set for May 4-6.
Private aircraft flying out of Ireland’s Shannon Airport began preclearing passengers last week at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for flights landing at 206 airports in the United States. Full U.S. preclearance of private aircraft allows passengers to make all the necessary immigration, customs and agriculture inspections at Shannon before departure to the U.S., enabling a more efficient arrival process at their destination. Shannon Airport is the first location in the world to offer preclearance to private aircraft.
The European Business Aviation Association is reaching across Europe to foster the business aviation community, said President and CEO Brian Humphries, who disagreed that his association was in “competition” with other business aviation advocates. Humphries responded to remarks of Central European Private Aviation (CEPA) Chairman Dagmar Grossman, who suggested that EBAA was in competition with the new association (BA, March 1/97).
Bridgeford Flying Services -- Our 33,000 sq ft. hangar will accommodate up to G550 and Global size aircraft. -- Also, available for partial or exclusive rental, our 14,000 sq ft. hangar with office and kitchen area. -- Includes fuel discount program. -- We also specialize in Part 135 and 91 aircraft management programs. Inquiries to [email protected] or at 707-603-1202
PILATUS PC-12/47E airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-1158; Directorate Identifier 2009-CE-063-AD; Amendment 39-16211; AD 2010-05-02] – Update the software for the Honeywell KSG 7200 air data, attitude, and heading reference system (ADAHRS), per the instructions of Honeywell International Service Bulletin KSG 7200-34-09, Rev. 0 (dated Sept. 24, 2009) or replace the ADAHRS unit with a new unit, following the instructions of Pilatus PC-12 Service Bulletin No. 34-022 (dated Oct. 5, 2009).
GLENDA THOMPSON was appointed supply chain specialist for Mooney Airplane Company. Thompson has a background in purchasing and parts management, both with Mooney and with other aviation and automotive companies. She joined Mooney in 2005 and has served as master scheduler, production planner and buyer.
AVIONS DE TRANSPORT REGIONAL ATR 42 and ATR 72 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0155; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-026-AD; Amendment 39-16210; AD 2010-05-01] – Replace certain L’Hotellier fire extinguishers that may contain Halon 1211 gas that does not meet firefighting specifications, following the directions of L’Hotellier Service Bulletins 863521-26-001, Rev. 1 (dated Jan. 28, 2010) and Rev. 2 (dated Feb. 4, 2010).
CESSNA has added seven flight training schools to its global network of more than 280 Cessna Pilot Centers (CPCs). The newest CPC members are: Air Associates of Missouri in St. Louis; Fly Carolina in Rock Hill, S.C.; FreeFlight CDVA in Lokeren, Belgium; Gulf Air Center in Gulf Shores, Ala.; Gunner Aviation in Rancho Murieta, Calif.; Phoenix East Aviation in Daytona Beach, Fla.; and Premier Flight Training in North Las Vegas, Nev.
EMBRAER EMB-135ER, -135KE, -135KL, -135LR, -145, -145ER, -145MR, -145LR, -145XR, -145MP and -145EP airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0170; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-127-AD] – This proposal would require operators to revise the “Airworthiness Limitations” section of the “Instructions for Continued Airworthiness” to incorporate new maintenance tasks involving structural components.
THE ALLIANCE OF ARABIAN JETS and France’s Happy Design Studio have partnered to help private business jet and yacht owners create their own custom interiors. The deal was announced at last week’s Aircraft Interiors Middle East (AIME) show in Dubai.
MELISSA MADDOX was appointed vice president, operations for StandardAero’s Business Aviation sector. Maddox will continue to service as vice president, global security and risk assurance for the company. She has served with the company for 14 years, including 11 years in the company’s Augusta, Ga. facility.
TAC Air, a rapidly growing division of Truman Arnold Companies, is seeking a professional for a senior management position at its corporate headquarters in Texarkana, Texas. Ideal candidate will have a minimum 10 years experience in aviaton, including at least 5 years experience in a management capacity. Undergraduate and/or graduate degree(s) in aviation management or a closely related field desired. Please forward letter of interest and resume to: Director of Human Resources
OTTAWA, CANADA-based Guardian Mobility has won a contract to supply Mexico’s federal government with 65 Guardian 3 aircraft tracking devices, along with Guardian Mapping. The Mexican government is equipping its aircraft with tracking units from Guardian Mobility to manage its national security operations. With Guardian Mapping, the government can track aircraft locations in near real time and report flight times and distances for all 65 of its aircraft.
THIELERT TAE 125-01 engines [Docket No. FAA-2009-0747; Directorate Identifier 2009-NE-28-AD; Amendment 39-16199; AD 2010-04-06] – Modify the engine oil system by installing a filter adaptor to the catch tank, per the instructions of Thielert Service Bulletin TM TAE 125-0016, Rev, 1 (dated June 15, 2007). This AD, which resulted from an MCAI issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency, is intended to prevent engine inflight shutdowns and reduced control of the Diamond DA42, Piper PA-28-161 and Cessna 172 airplanes in which the powerplants are installed.
– The Middle East continues to play a strong role in the charter market, with the number of broker inquiries rising in the last 12 months, according to a new report by Empire Aviation Group. The regional market for business jet charter is continuing to recover, said Empire, which says it manages and operates the Middle East’s largest mixed aircraft fleet, with 21 planes. The company posted another month of strong charter demand in January, with an 11 percent hike in charter sales.
BELL HELICOPTER affiliate company SkyBOOKS, Inc. has been selected as the online electronic record-keeping program by Hawaii’s Paradise Helicopters. The SkyBOOKS Full Service Flight Operations and Maintenance Tracking program provides Paradise Helicopters with an electronic record-keeping system to help manage three Bell 407s and three MD 500Es.
BOMBARDIER CL-600, -601, -601-3A, -601-3R and -604 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-1021; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-054-AD; Amendment 39-16217; AD 2009-06-05 R1] – Replace certain wing anti-ice piccolo ducts and revise the “Normal Procedures” and “Abnormal Procedures” sections of the Airplane Flight Manual that pertain to operations in icing conditions.
GUARDIAN MOBILITY has launched the Guardian Gryphon, a platform for simplified air-to-ground communications using real-time data. Guardian Gryphon handles text messaging and a data communication over the Iridium network and uses an onboard interface to enter data and send the information directly into a centralized database on the ground.
TERRY ARMSTRONG, who co-founded DAC International in 1981, has retired. Armstrong, who had served as chief operating officer, will continue in an advisory capacity for the company’s Corporate Aviation unit. The Austin, Texas, company, which was acquired by Greenwich AeroGroup last year (BA, June 1/259), specializes in avionics and test equipment for general aviation, corporate, commercial and military aircraft. DAC co-founder Michael Crouch will remain president.
DOWTY R354/4-123-F/13, R354/4-123-F/20, R375/4-123-F/21, R389/4-123-F/25, R389/4-123-F/26 and R390/4-123-F/27 propellers [Docket No. FAA-2008-0545; Directorate Identifier 2008-NE-16-AD; Amendment 39-16219; AD 2010-05-09] – Conduct repetitive visual inspections of the propeller blade root outer sleeves for cracks, per the instructions of Dowty Propellers Alert Service Bulletin No. SF340-61-A106, Rev. 1 (dated March 20, 2008). Before further flight, remove any blades found with cracked root outer sleeves.
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE helicopters may be key to protecting half the U.S. population from the effects of a stroke, said Daniel Hankins, M.D., president of the Association of Air Medical Services, referencing a recently released study. The research, led by Dr. Brendan Carr, of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, noted that 45 percent of Americans, or approximately 135 million people, live more than one hour’s drive from primary stroke centers where urgent care can save lives or minimize a stroke’s effects.
NATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION has partnered with the Ohio Regional Business Aviation Association (ORBAA) to tackle state and federal issues. “NATA looks forward to a collaborative effort with ORBAA and its members as we address issues facing the general aviation community, whether it is a local tax increase in the state of Ohio or gathering grassroots support from ORBAA members on federal legislation,” NATA President James Coyne said. ORBAA was established to promote business aviation in the state of Ohio.
