Light plane and business jet shipments increased across all categories in the second quarter of 2014, according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). A total of 592 aircraft were delivered by GAMA members in the period, up 5% from the 567 shipped in the same period last year. As a result, billings inched up from $5.723 billion in second quarter 2013 to $5.739 billion in the most recent quarter.
Textron’s Lycoming Engines report work underway on as many as 25 aircraft engine integration projects for general aviation, most of which are outside of the U.S.
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association named Jonathan Archer director of engineering and airworthiness. Archer brings 24 years of aviation industry experience to his new role, formerly serving as an associate with Booz Allen Hamilton where he provided support to both the FAA and Joint Planning and Development Office. There he helped facilitate a pilot study involving safety management systems for FAR Part 21 design and manufacturing organizations as well as on NextGen air traffic management initiatives.
Business aircraft operators, law enforcement agencies and others using FAA’s Block Aircraft Registration Request (BARR) program to preserve anonymity when airborne will lose such privacy protections as the agency transitions from secondary surveillance ATC radars to the new automatic dependent surveillance — broadcast (ADS-B) system.
The FAA is taking the next step toward a rewrite of FAR Part 27 and Part 29 standards, planning to establish an international “forum” to look at possible changes to the standards for helicopters. The agency in February 2013 solicited comments on potential interest for realigning the standards, including whether the weight- and passenger-based thresholds should be re-evaluated. Part 27 is currently restricted to helicopters with a maximum weight of 7,000 lb. or nine or fewer passenger seats.
July 11— At 1419 EDT, a Mooney M20M (N72FG) crashed shortly after takeoff from the Greenwood Municipal Airport (HFY), Greenwood, Indiana. The private pilot was fatally injured and his flight instructor received serious injuries. The airplane was heavily damaged by impact and a post-impact fire. The Mooney was registered to and operated by the private pilot as a personal/training flight. It was VFR for the flight, but the pilot filed an IFR flight plan for the flight that was originating at the time with a destination of the East Texas Regional Airport (GGG), Longview, Texas.
Barfield, Phoenix, Arizona, appointed Johann Panier chief executive officer. Panier formerly spent 12 years with Air France Industries, where he held a number of positions, including head of department for equipment and engine purchasing, head of external repairs and head of major projects for AFI KLM E&M business development. He has also served with Dedienne Aerospace.
