The European Union (EU) last night implemented new travel restrictions excluding most non-EU citizens from entering its member states for at least 30 days. The ban will not include long-term residents, people working in essential services, diplomats, and cross-border commuters. Also exempt are citizens of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, as well as the UK, which left the EU in January.
The closure of EU external borders to most non-citizens will create further pressure on cash-strapped airlines, while also limiting the scope for business aircraft flights. Non-EU flight crew will be permitted to cross external and internal EU borders under a commitment to ensure the movement of goods and EU citizens. The restrictions, confirmed late March 17, are intended to create uniform rules among the passport-free Schengen zone states.
EBAA said it respects the decision by EU to suspend border access while calling on the European Commission, EU, and Switzerland to provide relief measures for the business aviation sector, which it says employs over 370,000 people in Europe. EBAA also asked for an exemption for medical flights from restrictions.
"It is still too early to fully evaluate the extent of the crisis's impact on the business aviation sector. But we have been receiving reports of operators' aircraft grounded, airport closures, and staff being put on leave across Europe due to the rapidly evolving crisis and travel restrictions," commented EBAA secretary-general Athar Husain Khan.
Albuquerque, New Mexico-based One Aviation recently cleared a significant hurdle in its plan to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy, though when that emergence will occur remains up in the air. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) this month provided clearance for Citiking International US to acquire One Aviation, according to the law firm of Paul Hastings that represented the company in the matter.
Citiking, a U.S. entity backed by Chinese investors, has financially supported One Aviation’s service operations for Eclipse 500 and 550 very light jets since the company filed for bankruptcy in October 2018. The trip through Chapter 11 has taken longer than originally hoped. “The bankruptcy process is unbelievably difficult to navigate,” One Aviation CEO Alan Klapmeier told AIN. “The process for certifying an aircraft is much more reasonable."
While Klapmeier emphasized One Aviation is progressing toward exiting Chapter 11, the Covid-19 crisis presents another impediment with people avoiding travel.
PrimeFlight Builds on GSE Business with ProFlo Buy
PrimeFlight Aviation Services has added another company to its growing portfolio through the acquisition of the assets of Alvada, Ohio-based aircraft refueling equipment supplier ProFlo Industries as well as a majority stake in the South American based ProFlo LATAM.
The move will further expand its reach into the ground support equipment (GSE) segment and follows PrimeFlight’s recent acquisition of its GSE maintenance subsidiary in Eagan, Minnesota, Global Aviation Services.
“With the addition of the ProFlo team to our GSE maintenance division, we will be able to better control our inventory of refueling equipment and support the continued growth of our existing fueling operations,” said Dan Bucaro, president and CEO of PrimeFlight Aviation Services. “We also will be able to leverage the ProFlo team’s expertise to continue to grow our GSE maintenance division, which saw a rapid expansion with our acquisition of Global Aviation Services in October of 2019.”
ProFlo Industries supplies a range of refueling equipment and spares globally as well as provides inspections, support, and training. “Leveraging the extensive combined footprint of PrimeFlight and Global Aviation Services, we will be better positioned to provide industry-leading after-sales support and service,” said ProFlo Industries president Terry Bosserman.
The acquisition followed recent expansions in the aircraft cleaning market, including purchases of California-based International Aero and Appearance Group in Wichita.
Dubai-based business aviation and MRO services provider Falcon Aviation has been awarded D1 approval for non-destructive testing (NDT) from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, United Arab Emirates’ General Civil Aviation Authority, and Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation. The approval expands Falcon Aviation’s services and opens up a new area of business for the company that also provides charter, FBO, and aircraft management.
“The approval of our non-destructive testing workshop by the GCAA, EASA, and GACA authorities is a cornerstone in our continued expansion plan,” said Falcon Aviation COO Capt. Raman Oberoi. With its fully trained NDT technicians, the company is able to offer five NDT methods: penetrant testing; ultrasonic testing; eddy current testing; magnetic particle testing; and X-ray radiography testing.
With MRO facilities at Al Bateen Executive Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport, Falcon Aviation is also expanding its Al Bateen facility to add third-party regional aircraft MRO services to support aircraft such as the Bombardier Q400.
Aviation Groups Urge Federal Covid-19 Aid
With the general aviation industry one of many feeling the pinch as a result of the burgeoning Covid-19 crisis in the U.S., a coalition of industry organizations including NBAA, NATA, GAMA, HAI, EAA, and AOPA issued a written plea to Congress asking for relief assistance.
The letter sent to House and Senate leaders expressed concerns about the long-term possible impacts on the general and business aviation sector, which generates $77 billion a year in labor income and supports communities throughout the U.S.
“Due to the nature of the Covid-19 pandemic, there is currently no certainty as to when economic conditions will improve, which threatens the survival and prospects of thousands of general aviation businesses,” the letter stated. “Further, the threat of potential domestic travel restrictions and locally-imposed travel restrictions have the potential to cause even more significant harm to these companies as this crisis continues.”
The coalition is asking for assistance to all air carriers, including charter and fractional fleet operators, similar to what was offered to commercial airlines in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks.
In a separate letter to Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, the groups pledged their support wherever possible during this crisis and pointed to the industry's diverse fleet that can respond rapidly to transport time-sensitive supplies, medical equipment, organ transplants, and key personnel and patients to more than 5,000 general aviation airports.
C&L Earns Transport Canada Approval for Commercial Mx
C&L Aviation Service, a unit of Bangor, Maine-based C&L Aerospace Group, has been awarded Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) approval for maintenance services on commercial aircraft registered in Canada. Depot-level maintenance is performed by C&L Aviation Service from its FAA and European Union Aviation Safety Agency approved 140,000-sq-ft Part 145 facility in Bangor.
It focuses on regional jets and turboprops including Embraer ERJ 135/140/145, Saab 340, ATR 42/72, Dash-8, and CRJ 200/700. It also specializes in corporate aircraft including the Bombardier Challenger 604/605, Hawker 800 series, Cessna Citations, and Beechjet 400A. “Having the TCCA authorization in place is great news for our Canadian customers,” said C&L Aviation Group CEO Chris Kilgour. “We already provide parts and component repairs to our Canadian customers, so having the ability to perform quality maintenance on their aircraft here in Maine is a natural fit.”
The TCCA certification comes on the heels of a new hangar project for C&L at Bangor as well as a new parts warehouse in Dallas, Texas.
Beechcraft Starship Gets ADS-B In/Out
Addison, Texas engineering firm Aerospace Quality Research and Development (AQRD) has designed and developed an installation package to enable the Beechcraft Starship to comply with ADS-B Out requirements.
AQRD cited challenges of bringing the aged Starship pusher-prop fleet into compliance, including lack of available support for the airframe and components and limited real estate in the flight deck. “This is a significant milestone for the Beechcraft Starship, as it will ensure that the Starship will be shared and enjoyed for decades to come,” AQRD said.
AQRD used its in-house development team to design an upgrade that makes the Starship not only ADS-B Out-compliant but also ADS-B In-capable with upgraded flight deck and transponders.
Beech Aircraft certified the Starship, the first all-composite business aircraft, in 1988 and produced 53 before ending production in 1995. Most have since been parted out, while several are on display at museums. However, a handful of the aircraft—noted for its unusual canard-wing design—are still in service.
The Starship is among a number of antiquated aircraft for which AQRD has engineered upgrades to ensure they can keep flying. Others include the Dassault F1 Mirage and Northrop F5.
FAA Shutters MDW Tower after Positive Covid Tests
The FAA closed its Chicago Midway Air Traffic Control Tower after several technicians there tested positive for Covid-19. Duties at that tower were shifted to the Chicago Terminal Radar Approach Control in Elgin, Illinois, but operators are advised of the potential for delays and a reduced rate of operations.
“The air traffic system is a resilient system with multiple backups in place,” the agency said in a statement. “This shift is a regular execution of a long-standing contingency plan to ensure continued operations. Each facility across the country has a similar plan that has been updated and tested in recent years.” It added that the safety of its staff is a top priority and those employees are an “essential component of our airspace.”
The FAA confirmed the tower would remain closed today but was unclear of the timing on when it would reopen.
Closure came at the request of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), which had urged the FAA to disinfect the tower to ensure it meets appropriate public health standards and coordinate with the local health authority and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on testing of all personnel at the tower.
“NATCA is adamant that the testing must occur immediately,” the association said but added it was encouraged that the FAA is moving forward with rapid testing of MDW personnel.
Preventing Aircraft Loss of Control with Expanded Envelope Exercises
Aviation accidents include a high percentage of loss-of-control situations, and aerospace engineer Ed Wischmeyer has some ideas on how to help pilots avoid losing control of their airplanes and crashing. Ultimately, his goal is to stop adding to the list of friends who have died in accidents.
According to the FAA, “A Loss of Control accident involves an unintended departure of an aircraft from controlled flight.” LOC is the primary cause of general aviation fatal accidents, the FAA says.
Requires a special detailed inspection of the aileron internal structures from aileron inboard end to outboard end, including front and rear spars, all aileron ribs, upper and lower skins, for cracks, creases or buckling, corrosion, damage to fasteners or other defects, using a flexible borescope through existing aileron drain holes, and immediate repair or replacement, if necessary. This AD stems from reports of cracks and corrosion damage found on the aileron internal structure of an in-service airplane.
Requires revising the airplane flight manual to incorporate revised limitations and procedures. This AD was prompted by a report of a landing incident where the alpha limiter engaged in the landing flare in unstable air while on the approach, resulting in a high rate of descent landing and damage to the airplane.
Requires revision to the rotorcraft flight manual (RFM) supplement one-engine inoperative (OEI) performance limitations. A discrepancy was found in the previous revisions of the applicable supplements of the RFM, not specifying the OEI performance limitations for 10 or more passenger seating configurations, as required.
Requires inspecting a certain part-numbered curvic coupling for proper engagement and depending on the inspection results, inspecting for play, inspecting the curvic coupling teeth, inspecting the flapping bearing teeth, replacing parts, performing a rigging check, and reporting information. This AD was prompted by a report of disengaged teeth of a curvic coupling due to improper installation.
Requires inspections and replacements of the emergency light battery (ELB) pack if internal batteries are four years or older. AD also includes a new restoration task to minimize risk of fire. This action stems from a report of smoke and signs of an overheating from the ELB on an in-service airplane. Follow-up investigation found excessive corrosion surrounding the internal lead acid batteries, which caused an electrical short circuit that led to the observed smoke and overheating. The reported event occurred in 2018 and the affected batteries were manufactured in 2004. The ELB manufacturer recommends a preventative replacement of the internal ELB batteries every 48 months.
Supersedes and retains the requirements of EASA AD 2019-0107 and requires modification of the windows jettisoning system by removing the polytetrafluoroethylene skin between the window seal and the helicopter airframe, and installing silicone seals instead of seals currently installed on the helicopter cabin windows. The original AD stemmed from difficulties encountered jettisoning a window. Investigation revealed excessive friction between the window seal and the helicopter airframe. Airbus Helicopters since has developed modifications to address the issue.
Emergency AD requires replacement of affected tail rotor and hub assembly within five flight hours. EAD stems from an occurrence of finding a surface defect on a tail rotor blade. Investigation results determined that this defect may have been generated during manufacturing, and identified a batch of tail rotor blades which may have a similar defect.
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