EASA Emergency AD Issued for CJs with Tamarack Winglets
EASA has issued an emergency AD requiring operators of EU-registered Cessna CitationJet/CJ1/CJ1+/M2, CJ2/CJ2+, and CJ3/CJ3+ light jets fitted with Tamarack Aerospace active load-alleviation system (Atlas) winglets to immediately deactivate those devices before continued flight. However, a Tamarack representative told AIN that previously released modifications should address the agency’s concerns.
"Recently, occurrences have been reported in which Atlas appears to have malfunctioned, causing upset events where, in some cases, the pilots had difficulty to recover the aeroplane to safe flight,” reads the EASA emergency AD. Similar actions by the U.S. FAA and other agencies are expected to follow.
Marketed as offering improved range, speed, and fuel efficiency for light jets, Atlas uses active load-alleviation tabs—called Tamarack Active Camber Surfaces (TACS) by the company—rather than structural reinforcement to counter increased aerodynamic loading on the winglets in turns and turbulence. TACS is located outboard of each aileron and moves independently of the primary control surfaces.
Although the TACS is movement-restricted to minimize the possibility of control authority interference, the NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) database shows U.S. pilots have reported at least two instances of such difficulties on Atlas-equipped aircraft. One of those reports cited a “rapid onset of aileron divergent flutter on the left aileron,” requiring the pilot to reduce airspeed to alleviate the flutter condition.
A little more than three months into 2019, activity and pricing in the used business aircraft market is mixed amid political and economic uncertainty in the U.S. and abroad, according to a report from business aviation consultant and broker Mente Group. The Dallas-based group said an increased availability of good preowned inventory and limited access to pre-buy inspection facilities because of high demand for ADS-B conversions are contributing to an “in-flux” preowned market.
“As a result, we are beginning to see decreasing market values in what were relatively strong sectors last year,” said Mente Group CEO Brian Proctor. “Some of the higher-end markets are giving back price gains realized last year in a more buoyant environment.”
Price gains made last year on used super-midsize and larger business jets have been erased, Proctor explained. For example, the 8 to 10 percent price gains on Bombardier Challenger 350s last year are gone this year, he noted, as are the 5 to 8 percent price increases on Gulfstream G550s. “Challenger 300s were up about 15 percent in 2018 and today they’re down about 10 percent,” Proctor added.
Meanwhile, a modest recovery has begun in South America, with stabilization in Brazil, Chile, and Argentina. Activity is up in Eastern Europe, but Brexit concerns are stifling it in Western and Central Europe.
Bizjets Contribute To Honeywell’s Q1 Organic Growth
Despite a 15 percent drop in total sales at Honeywell, organic sales in its aerospace unit grew 10 percent in the first quarter, helped by a combination of business and commercial aviation demand, the New Jersey-based company announced late last week. It marked the third consecutive quarter of double-digit organic growth—sales growth among businesses it didn’t spin off during the quarter—for the segment that supplies engines, avionics, APUs, and Internet connectivity to commercial and business aircraft manufacturers, noted chief financial officer Greg Lewis on an earnings call with analysts.
Honeywell Aerospace recorded rising shipset volumes across its Gulfstream jet platforms, higher avionics deliveries on the Dassault Falcon 900 and 2000, and increased shipments of its HTF7700L engines for Textron Aviation’s Cessna Citation Longitude. Organic sales in commercial aftermarket were also up 8 percent, driven by a combination of global airline demand and the ADS-B mandate. Interest in JetWave and its business jet software products also drove Honeywell’s connected aircraft area, the company said.
Momentum in aerospace is expected to continue, Lewis explained, “with growth in narrowbody production rates and increased business jet deliveries as several new models have recently entered into service."
Drone Delivery Service Wing Gains FAA Air Carrier Nod
Google/Alphabet unit Wing has become the first drone delivery company to receive FAA air carrier certification, it announced today. “This is an important step forward for the safe testing and integration of drones into our economy. Safety continues to be our number-one priority as this technology continues to develop and realize its full potential,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao.
Wing said it plans to develop its delivery service through the Unmanned Aircraft System Integration Pilot Program (UAS IPP) over the next several months in the test markets of Blacksburg and Christiansburg, Virginia. “We’ll be reaching out to businesses and community members to demonstrate our technology, answer questions, and solicit feedback with the goal of launching a delivery trial later this year,” it said this morning.
The company submitted data to the FAA that included the results of more than 70,000 test flights and 3,000 residential deliveries to customers in Australia. Results from those tests showed that “Wing carries a lower risk to pedestrians than the same trip made by car,” the company said, adding it has plans to expand the delivery service to other markets nationwide. Wing launched commercial drone-to-home delivery service in select neighborhoods in Canberra, Australia, earlier this month and announced its intention to begin a similar service in Finland in December.
NATA To Honor Banyan Air Service’s Don Campion
NATA selected Banyan Air Service president Don Campion as this year’s recipient of the association’s Distinguished Service Award. Recognizing individuals or organizations for ongoing outstanding service and contributions to the industry, the award will be presented on June 18 during NATA's Annual Meeting and Aviation Business Conference.
The association cited Campion’s 40-year aviation business career that has been “hallmarked by his philanthropy and community service extending beyond general aviation and his business locality.”
“He has been a role model for many of us within aviation business and we applaud him for his dedication to giving back to his community,” said NATA president Gary Dempsey. “He is a champion for state issues, joining the fight to get tax relief on labor. Don is a very effective leader and gentleman.”
Campion co-founded Banyan Air Service at Florida's Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE) in 1979 after serving as a contract copilot for a South Florida charter operator. His business has since grown from one small hangar that he ran with a friend and two employees to a staff of more than 190 and more than 400 aircraft based in a complex spread over 100 acres and encompassing one million square feet. A longtime member of NATA, he served on the association’s board of directors from 1999 to 2002. Campion is also president of the Florida Executive Airport Association.
Van Horn Assures Blades Safe Following Fatal Crash
Van Horn Aviation (VHA) assured customers that its composite rotor blades were safe on Friday following the crash last Tuesday of a 1981 Bell 206B III that was on a company test flight. The accident killed contract experimental test pilot Rucie Moore and Van Horn engineering manager Stephen Estes, the sole occupants. Registered to TRE Aviation in Wilmington, Delaware, the helicopter went down just after 7 a.m. local time in a field near Fountain Hills, Arizona, and was consumed by a post-crash fire.
VHA president Dean Rosenlof stressed that “current production blades were not on the [test] aircraft” when it crashed and that Moore and Estes “were performing experimental flight-test maneuvers” immediately before the accident. “While we cannot comment on the ongoing investigation, we are confident that the NTSB will not find our blades to be the cause of this tragic accident,” he said. “Our customers should feel secure that Van Horn Aviation rotor blades are safe to fly.” Rosenlof encouraged customers who had been working with Estes on support issues to contact him directly.
Tempe, Arizona-based VHA was founded in 2001 and specializes in the design, test, certification, and manufacture of composite rotor blades for legacy Bell models—including the 206B, 206L, OH-58, and UH-1—and is developing replacement blades for other makes and models of helicopters.
After its first full quarter of ownership, the Rockwell Collins acquisition already is reaping greater-than-anticipated benefits at United Technologies Corp. (UTC) as its newly formed Collins Aerospace unit posted a net profit of $856 million on $6.5 billion in sales, UTC executives reported today. UTC completed its $30 billion acquisition of Rockwell Collins in late November, combining the company with its own UTC Aerospace Systems (UTAS) to form Collins Aerospace.
Noting the acquisition brought 20 cents of accretion in the first quarter and was marked by “really solid performance,” UTC chairman and CEO Greg Hayes said, “This exceeded even our expectations. As we worked as a combined team for a full quarter, I am even more confident in the long-term value the acquisition is going to bring.”
Sales for both commercial and aftermarket activity within Collins Aerospace were up in the “low double digits.” The company said that the integration activities remain on track to produce $150 million in synergies this year.
UTC executives also acknowledged some ramifications to its business from the Boeing 737 Max grounding, saying it could have up to a 10-cent-per-share effect this year.
Longtime Bizav Charter Executive Dorothy White Dies
Dorothy “Dar” White, whose business aviation career spanned more than 30 years and involved roles at a number of well-established charter and management businesses, died on April 15. She was 63.
White most recently had run her own business, Global Charter Solutions, that provided air charter services for a range of clients. She also had become deeply involved in the St. Louis-area business aviation community, holding several roles with the Greater St. Louis Business Aviation Association, including serving on the board of its educational foundation.
Originally from New Jersey, White began her aviation career as a dispatcher for an air cargo company based in St. Louis. From there, she held positions ranging from charter sales representative, regional sales director, and vice president for companies that included The Air Charter Group, Jet Aviation Business Jets, Priester Aviation, Sentient Jet, Signature Flight Support, and Pentastar, among others.
She had pride in customer service and a passion for the industry, saying, “There are endless reasons for using a private jet, and they all speak success and accomplishment.”
She is survived by her husband Greg Kruse; children Jennifer (Christopher) Caldwell, Carrie Seeler, and Katie (Ross) Lindemann; and five grand and great-grandchildren.
AIN Webinar: Safe and Efficient Single-pilot Operations
Technology and a shortage of pilots to fill the flight decks of tomorrow’s business jets and airliners are creating pressure to facilitate more single-pilot operations. Avionics manufacturers are developing technology for safe single-pilot operations, but pilots have been flying alone safely in light aircraft through Part 23 jets for many years. Learn about factors that are causing the flying landscape to shift toward more single-pilot operations, what kind of automation avionics manufacturers are developing for single-pilot operations and what we can learn from experienced pilots flying in single-pilot operations.
Join AIN editor-in-chief Matt Thurber tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. EDT as he moderates the discussion with Dror Yahav, CEO, Universal Avionics; and Charlie Precourt, former NASA astronaut, safety expert, and Citation owner. Sponsored by Universal Avionics. Register for the free webinar.
People in Aviation
John Peery was promoted to president and COO of Mercury Air Cargo. Peery has more than 30 years of air cargo experience, including serving as general manager for the Northwest U.S. and regional v-p for Aeroground.
Macquarie Capital named Timothy Alden managing director, co-leading the firm’s aerospace, defense, and government services coverage alongside Jeremy Parker. Alden has more than 20 years of experience in the aerospace, defense, and government services sector, formerly leading aerospace and defense coverage for Jefferies and also holding senior investment banking roles at Goldman Sachs.
Cadence Aerospace appointed Jacob Haynes group controller for its Washington state operations. Most recently controller at Cadence Aerospace Precision Machine Works in Tacoma, Washington, Haynes expands his chief accountant responsibilities to also include the company’s Giddens operation in Everett.
Professional Aircraft Accessories named Jonathan Clarke v-p and general manager. Clarke joins Professional Aircraft Accessories after spending 30 years with Delta Air Lines, where he most recently was v-p and general manager for landing gear, engine operations, and APUs.
Donna Chase joined TurbineAero as v-p of sales and marketing. Chase has 32 years of aviation/aerospace experience, including 26 with Honeywell, where she ran the $500 million global business aviation aftermarket business.
Jet Aviation appointed Jeremie Caillet v-p of VIP completion programs. He succeeds Neil Boyle, senior v-p of global completions, who is retiring at the end of May. Caillet joined Jet Aviation in 2008 as an engineering team leader and before that was with Dassault Falcon Jet.
AINalerts News Tips/Feedback: News tips may be sent anonymously, but feedback must include name and contact info (we will withhold name on request). We reserve the right to edit correspondence for length, clarity and grammar. Send feedback or news tips to AINalerts editor Chad Trautvetter.
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