Bell is working with the FAA on a revised and shorter inspection schedule for key components of its 407 helicopter series tail booms. A related service bulletin and airworthiness directive could be issued this week.
The move comes after the NTSB took the extraordinary move of issuing a public appeal to mandate such inspections as it continues to investigate the June in-flight tail boom separation on a Bell 407 in Hawaii that seriously injured three of the six aboard. The NTSB also opened the public docket of that investigation on October 31st.
Bell told AIN via email that the company “is unable to comment about the referenced accident as it is still under investigation by NTSB. The Bell 407 does not have a history of events of this nature. In the meantime, Bell is working with our regulators on an inspection procedure to ensure fleet safety while the NTSB completes its investigation.”
Several bulletins and ADs have been issued since 2007 related to Bell 407 tail booms with regard to the aft fuselage top skin and bulkhead, replacement attachment hardware and torque checks, installation of external strap doublers on the upper-left longeron, and repair instructions for cracked longerons. One of those, (AD) 2012-18-09, requires recurrent torque checks of the boom’s attachment hardware every 300 hours.
Last week the NTSB issued a public appeal for immediate and more frequent inspections of all Bell 407s based on its investigation of the Hawaii accident to date.
The Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) has voiced deep concern over the unprecedented campaign being waged by the environmental lobby on the industry’s viability.
“Business aviation is under attack,” Ali Alnaqbi, MEBAA’s founding and executive chairman, told AIN. Alnaqbi—who is also chair of the governing board of the International Business Aviation Council—cited a growing chorus of disapproval regarding the inequalities inherent in the industry, including a declaration this summer by the French transport minister that restrictions should be placed on business aviation. Further, he said increased efforts to track aircraft and passenger identity were ominous developments.
MEBAA constituents are a vital cog in the global industry because of the number of high-net-worth individuals, VVIPs, and royal families who fly privately. Boeing previously told AIN that more than a third of BBJ products went to customers in the Middle East, especially in the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Alnaqbi said that while the entire aviation industry contributed 2 percent to global CO2 emissions, business aviation’s share was less than a quarter of that, at 0.44 percent. Fully, 85 percent of private aviation use was devoted to business, while only 15 percent was family, leisure, and holiday travel, he claimed. But to environmental activists, such arguments fall on deaf ears.
On-demand, average hourly charter rates moved lower for light and heavy jets, but were higher for turboprops and midsize and super-midsize jets between October and November, according to private aviation charter marketplace JetASAP. Based on 1,983 quotes received through the JetASAP app, fliers saw an overall 4.5 percent increase in hourly rates.
Specifically, light jet hourly rates fell 3 percent to $6,812 while heavy jets edged slightly lower by 0.3 percent to $13,916. However, rates for turboprops climbed 12 percent to $3,839, followed by a 9 percent increase for super-midsize jets to $11,723. Midsize jet rates increased 5 percent to $8,215.
“During the month of November our clients received an average of seven quotes per trip request, which is a strong sign the industry is getting back to normal after unprecedented demand last year,” said JetASAP founder and CEO Lisa Kiefer Sayer. “Even with the rate increase in pricing as we expected, we are seeing great quotes come through the app."
Canadian business jet manufacturer Bombardier held a ground-breaking ceremony today for a service center at Abu Dhabi International Airport, marking its expansion into the United Arab Emirates.
To open in 2025, the nearly 100,000-sq-ft facility will serve as a key hub for Bombardier service activities in the Middle East and add more than 100 jobs. With capabilities to service the breadth of Bombardier’s Learjet, Challenger, and Global families, its hangar will have the capacity to fit up to four Global 7500s simultaneously.
In addition to the large hangar, the facility will include a parts depot and provide scheduled and unscheduled heavy maintenance, aircraft modifications, paint modification, aircraft-on-ground capabilities, and aircraft parking services.
“Abu Dhabi is a dynamic financial hub for business and commerce in the UAE, and this service facility will provide significant benefits, quick aircraft turnarounds, and OEM peace of mind to our growing customer base,” said Bombardier president and CEO Éric Martel. Jamal Salem Al Dhaheri, managing director and CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports, added, “the presence of Bombardier underlines Abu Dhabi Airport's commitment to general aviation and is a major step forward to make Abu Dhabi the hub for general aviation in the region.”
The Abu Dhabi Service Centre is part of a multi-year global expansion of the company's service capabilities that is more than doubling its footprint by nearly 1 million sq ft.
FlightAware Global is the industry's most robust fleet tracking tool, loaded with features to simplify and enrich the flight experience for aircraft owners, operators, and passengers. Global customers can get the right mix of features for their fleet, including aircraft privacy and worldwide satellite coverage, and can easily change them as needed.
The Gulfstream I that was once owned by Walt Disney is about to undergo a full interior restoration which will return it to its 1960’s appearance. The twin-engine turboprop had sat for decades in a backlot area of Disney World in Florida following its 1992 retirement and was recently repainted and trucked across the country to Anaheim, California, where it was one of the star attractions at this year’s D23 Convention in September. It was later announced that the airplane would go on exhibit at the Palm Springs Air Museum.
Now the museum, which is displaying rarely seen interior items from The Mouse, as the aircraft came to be known, has announced it will head up a two-year cabin restoration of the airplane in partnership with Georgia-based Phoenix Air Group which has vast experience as an operator of the type and has offered to donate any needed parts.
“We are so thrilled to partner with the Walt Disney Archives on this amazing restoration project,” said museum vice-chairman Fred Bell, adding that the museum has restored more than 60 aircraft in its 26-year history. “We know that we have a special responsibility to Walt Disney, to the archives, and to the millions of Disney fans around the world to do this work accurately as possible so that the airplane can be enjoyed for decades to come.”
In support of its expanding MRO and customer service activities, UK-based Pilatus and Tecnam aircraft dealer Oriens Aviation has moved to a larger facility at London Biggin Hill Airport.
“Demand for our aircraft sales and maintenance services is continually increasing,” stated company CEO Edwin Brenninkmeyer. “This larger base at London Biggin Hill offers [us] an excellent platform for growth.”
The company, which holds EASA and FAA Part 145 maintenance approval along with its UK CAA authorization, now occupies the recently-refurbished Hangar 170. The facility offers nearly 20,000 sq ft of space including workshops and modern offices to house the company’s maintenance and sales operations, an increase of 3,000 sq ft over its former location.
Oriens provides service for the Pilatus PC-24 light jet and PC-12 single-engine turboprop as well as serving as an authorized service center for the Cirrus SR20X. It plans to add the Tecnam P2012 Traveller to its service offerings in the near future with other Tecnam models to follow.
“We are delighted with the tremendous success Oriens Aviation is seeing here at the airport and we are pleased to support the company in its growth,” said Robert Walthers, Biggin Hill’s commercial director. “Oriens Aviation is a vital part of our business aviation ecosystem.”
Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) is partnering with American Express (Amex) to offer a payment option for qualifying customers that will allow them to extend payment terms when purchasing a new or used PWC engine. By extending payment terms, customers will be able to generate revenue from the engine before paying for it.
“We’re committed to providing payment solutions to help businesses gain greater flexibility and improve working capital to unlock new opportunities for growth,” said Phanikar Yenamandra, v-p of B2B strategy and enablement for global commercial services at Amex Canada.
In the pilot phase of the program, Amex’s payment solution will be available on new and used engines sold outright or with an exchange, including those engines under the P&WC Smart program. Engine exchanges are popular because they don’t require as much logistics and they reduce aircraft downtime.
“Our portfolio of flexible, alternative maintenance and payment solutions continues to expand,” said P&WC v-p of customer service Irene Makris. “Along with our Amex collaboration, we have recently introduced our spare engine solutions portfolio including lease-to-own, on-wing leasing, and long-term leasing options, all of which enable the customer to conserve capital, help keep operating costs down, and economically extend the life of the aircraft. These solutions complement P&WC’s payment solutions offerings already available with our existing partners.”
The U.S. Army has selected Bell's V-280 Valor tiltrotor as the basis for the design that will replace the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter as its next Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA). In a decision announced on December 5, the Textron subsidiary prevailed in the long-running competition against the Sikorsky-Boeing SB-1 Defiant coaxial rotor design based on Sikorsky's X-2 technology program.
The FLRAA program was designed to produce aircraft to eventually replace up to 4,000 Sikorsky Black Hawks. Bell started developing and testing the V-280 Valor next-generation tiltrotor as part of the Pentagon's Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator program that began in 2013.
The initial production aircraft are expected to be operational by 2030 and the entire program could have a value of up to $80 billion. The most recently announced target price per V-280 (2018) is $43 million. The announced development contract is valued at $232 million and covers the final design of the production prototype aircraft and any Army-specified changes, including weapon system design, sustainment, digital enterprise, manufacturing, systems integration, flight testing, and airworthiness qualification.
“This is an exciting time for the U.S. Army, Bell, and Team Valor as we modernize the Army’s aviation capabilities for decades to come,” said Bell president and CEO Mitch Snyder, president and CEO of Bell. The award is a potential financial bonanza for Bell and guarantees its continuation as U.S. military long-term rotorcraft supplier.
Women in Aviation International (WAI) has selected the 2023 inductees for its International Pioneer Hall of Fame. Established in 1992 to honor women who have made significant contributions to aviation as record setters, pioneers, or innovators, the inductees include Nancy Bird, the first Australian woman to use her commercial license in Australia and founder of the Australian Women Pilots Association; Martha and John King, owners and founders of King Schools, and military trailblazer Col. Merryl Tengesdal USAF (Ret.).
The Naples Airport Authority’s Noise Compatibility Committee (NCC) re-elected Chris Auron as chair and Richard Krawczun as vice-chair for 2023. Auron is a pilot and aircraft mechanic who served in the U.S. Air Force for 10 years and later in the Arizona Army National Guard. He has lived in Naples, Florida since 2011 and was appointed to the NCC in March 2019. He represents the geographic area northwest of the airport. Krawczun has over 35 years of experience in local and municipal government service and has experience in the public sector. Appointed to the NCC in March 2020, he represents the area southeast of the airport.
Southeast Aerospace hired Michael Roy as business development manager for Latin America. Roy brings over 12 years of experience developing business and selling aviation technology, parts, and repair services in the Latin American market. He previously held roles in marketing and sales operations at Bose Corporation and as a consulting director of sales for LATAMCO Consulting.
Unmanned Safety Institute hired Thomas Reese as v-p of operations succeeding Don Shinnamon who will transition to the role of director of audit programs. Reese has an background in aeronautical science and operational experience in both crewed and remotely piloted aviation. In his new role, Reese will oversee the company’s continued growth in both its academic and commercial markets.
TJ Spitzmiller returns to aircraft engineering and certification firm Peregrine as v-p of business development and administration. Spizmiller has over 20 years of experience in the aerospace industry having previously worked in supply chain management with Eclipse Aviation and Honeywell, and as general manager of Sarasota Avionics, Sarasota, Florida location. He also holds an FAA Commercial Pilot and Flight Instructor certificate with Instrument and Advanced Ground Instructor ratings.
The digital flip-through issues of AIN’s award-winning MEBAA Convention News are now available online. It’s a great way to quickly scan the news from MEBAA 2022, whether you’re in Dubai attending the show or watching from afar.
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The digital flip-through issues of AIN’s award-winning 
