Gulfstream To Drop G150, Focus on Large Bizjet Market - Gulfstream Aerospace will cease production of the midsize G150 next year so it can “focus on the super-midsize and large-cabin jet markets,” Mark Burns, president of the Savannah, Georgia-based aircraft manufacturer, announced today. The company’s line-up will thus consi
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FOCUS ON MRO - September 28, 2016
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Gulfstream To Drop G150, Focus on Large Bizjet Market

Gulfstream Aerospace will cease production of the midsize G150 next year so it can “focus on the super-midsize and large-cabin jet markets,” Mark Burns, president of the Savannah, Georgia-based aircraft manufacturer, announced today. The company’s line-up will thus consist of the G280 in the super-midsize category and the G450, G500, G550, G600 and G650/650ER in the large-jet segment.

The G150—a derivative of the G100/Astra SPX—is manufactured under contract by Israel Aerospace Industries in Tel Aviv. Today’s announcement will mark the end of the G150’s more than 10-year production run, though shipments of the original IAI Astra began in the mid-1980s. According to Gulfstream, the last G150 has recently been ordered and will be delivered in mid-2017.

“The G150 has had a distinguished history, spanning more than a decade,” said Burns, “and it remains an important part of our business. Our product support organization will continue to provide support to our G150 owners and ensure there are enough parts, tooling, sustaining engineering and personnel available [for] the worldwide G150 fleet.”

Nearly 120 G150s are currently in service around the world and the twinjet is certified in more than 45 countries, including the U.S., Brazil, Canada, China, England, Germany, Israel and Switzerland.

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FAA Opens Investigation in SMO Evicition Notices

The FAA has subpoenaed the city of Santa Monica and issued a notice of investigation into the city’s efforts to evict the two main fuel providers at Santa Monica Airport. “These actions may be causing, and appear intended to cause, impairment of the airport, including but not limited to, a de facto closure of the airport in violation of applicable law,” the agency told the city in the September 26 notice of investigation.

The Santa Monica city council voted on August 23 to close SMO “as soon as it is legally permitted with a goal of on or before July 1, 2018,” and followed that vote with 30-day eviction notices that were delivered on September 15 to Atlantic Aviation and American Flyers. The city took that step with the stated intention of providing city-run services.

The NOI gives Santa Monica officials 10 days to respond and further said it “strongly recommends that the city withdraw the notices to vacate until such time as this matter can be resolved.” The FAA is demanding a lengthy list of detailed items surrounding the city's plans to provide the aviation services.

While the FAA moves forward in its own proceedings, NBAA and AOPA have sought to join a lawsuit before the U.S. Appeals Court for the Ninth Circuit over the city’s obligation to run the airport through 2023. The associations on September 26 jointly filed a motion to intervene in the case.

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Bombardier Celebrates Safety Standdown 20th Anniversary

Bombardier once again invited the aviation industry to its annual Safety Standdown, and yesterday the 20th event got under way with more than 450 corporate, military and commercial aviation participants from more than 250 organizations attending the free event in Wichita. It began in 1996 as a human-factors training session for Learjet’s flight demonstration team and has hosted more than 9,000 attendees since then.

Bombardier Business Aircraft president David Coleal opened this year’s event, pointing out that the Safety Standdown demonstrates “how competition can take a back seat for a higher purpose. It’s also clear that the vast majority of accidents occur due to human factors, and that’s why we’re here."

NTSB member Robert Sumwalt praised the event, saying, “I don’t know any other conference that offers this much [and] doesn’t charge a fee. Over the years the Safety Standdown has addressed each of the items on our Most Wanted list.”

“What more noble purpose than to enhance safety, to save lives?” said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen. “We’re here to learn, and share the knowledge we gain.”

The Bombardier Safety Standdown runs through tomorrow, and after each morning’s general session, features a variety of workshops covering topical safety issues. Those who can’t attend can view the general sessions and selected workshops online. 

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AviationManuals Acquires Maximum Manuals

AviationManuals has acquired Maximum Manuals of Carlsbad, California. The acquisition allows AviationManuals to expand its product line to create tailored Minimum Equipment Lists and provide electronic flight bag application packages for aircraft operators. Maximum Manuals, which was purchased from co-owners Aaron and Caterina Taylor, was integrated into AviationManuals operations near Washington, D.C., with minimal staff growth to accommodate the increased business base. The Maximum Manuals team remains active in other aspects of the aviation industry and will provide ongoing support to AviationManuals.

"Our companies complement each other perfectly. We have already begun to deliver these new offerings,” said CEO Mark Baier. “Maximum Manuals fit our growth strategy nicely, since it includes acquiring companies that perform complementary industry activities, in this case both software and manuals for aircraft operator support. Through the acquisition, AviationManuals gained several hundred aircraft operator and owner customers, as well as an excellent custom software application that aids in the development of manuals online."

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Constant Adds Beechjet Engines to Rotable Program

Constant Aviation Rotable Exchange (Care) has launched a program for Beechjet operators with Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-5 and -5R turbofans that allows them to choose to lease, exchange or purchase an engine, outright.

“The engine is often the most expensive component on an aircraft. When evaluating overhaul costs, there are multiple factors to take into consideration,” said Dana Seese, v-p Care and parts distribution. “Care’s Beechjet engine program has options for every price point." In addition to parts specific to the engine, the program holds an inventory of more than 9,000 Beechjet line items valued at more than $5.2 million. Care has dedicated sourcing agents available 24 hours a day.

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GA Groups Urge NTSB To Set Record Straight on GA Safety

Twenty-one aviation organizations are urging U.S. NTSB chairman Christopher Hart to convey that general aviation is one of the safest modes of transportation. Last week, the organizations wrote to the chairman expressing concerns about a recent NBC news segment that highlighted NTSB data to question general aviation safety, the groups said.

The organizations noted that from 2008 to 2014, general aviation aircraft accidents resulted in 3,628 fatalities. This compares with 277,310 automobile accident fatalities; 38,343 fatalities on motorcycles; 5,561 on bicycles; and 5,831 fatalities in recreational boating accidents.

“As you know, just two years ago, the general aviation accident rate dropped to nearly one fatal accident for every 100,000 flight hours,” the organizations added. “Given the hundreds of thousands of flight hours each year it is understandable that aviation accidents receive significant media attention because they are so infrequent given the enormous amount of private and business flying in the U.S.”

The associations stressed that the NTSB has an “inherent responsibility” to provide a comprehensive view of safety trends and outline the improvements in general aviation safety over the years.

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Textron OKs Western Aircraft as Authorized Mx Facility

Western Aircraft has been designated an authorized service facility for Textron Aviation’s Beechcraft and Cessna platforms. Under a new agreement, Western Aircraft can perform maintenance, service and support for 90-, 200/250- and 300/350-series Beechcraft King Airs, as well as for Bonanza and Baron pistons. The agreement also names Western Aircraft a Cessna Aircraft propeller service station for single-engine piston aircraft from Cessna and Beechcraft, in addition to Cessna Caravan turboprop singles.

Besides the authorized service facility designation, Western Aircraft has also been named a Textron Aviation spare parts reseller. The agreement includes parts for all models of aircraft designed, manufactured and marketed by Textron Aviation, including Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker.

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Ruag Geneva Adds EASA Part 145 Extension

Ruag Aviation has extended its EASA Part 145 Maintenance Organization and FAA approvals to include line maintenance for the Bombardier Challenger 604 and 605 at its facilities in Geneva. The approval also includes Malaysian-registered aircraft.

The company is also an authorized service center for Airbus Helicopters, Bell, Bombardier, Cirrus, Cessna, Diamond, Dassault Aviation, Embraer, Leonardo-Finmeccanica (AgustaWestland), Piaggio, Sikorsky, Pilatus, Piper and Mooney. In addition to EASA approvals, Ruag Aviation holds existing rights for aircraft registered in the U.S. , Saudi Arabia, Russia, UAE Dubai, Canada, Aruba, Bermuda, Equatorial Guinea and Cayman Islands.

Ruag Aviation has a full-service FBO and MRO services including AOG support, cabin interiors, aircraft painting, system upgrades and component services for civil and military aircraft and helicopters.

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Recent Airworthiness Directives
AD Number: Transport Canada CF-2016- 11R1
Manufacturer: Bell Helicopter
Model(s): 429
Published Date: September 21, 2016
Effective Date: October 5, 2016
 

Supersedes AD CF-2016-11, which requires repetitive inspections of bearings of roof-mounted flight controls. Revised AD maintains these inspections but limits them to bellcrank part numbers and provides compliance time instructions for helicopters that have previously been inspected per the Bell Helicopter Alert Service Bulletin. Also notes that no retroactive action is required for helicopters inspected in accordance with the original AD. Prompted by pooling of water on the roof structure, which can leak and cause corrosion of the bearings and thus result in “intermittent restrictions such as binding and roughness in the flight controls.”

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