A blank stare from your copilot may annoy but that is not as disconcerting as an instrument panel full of blank screens. The NTSB has now updated Part 830, effective March 8, updating and increasing the number of reportable “incidents” to include glass panel failures.
An FAA Fact Sheet issued Jan. 14 implied the FAA is less than satisfied with airports’ compliance with requirements to submit Wildlife Hazards Assessments. It’s been more than a year since a flock of Canada Geese brought down US Airways 1549. The FAA issued a certification alert June 11, 2009, to airport operators that had experienced “triggering events” including multiple or damaging wildlife strikes with aircraft.
Cessna Aircraft Co. rolled out the 300th Citation Mustang at its assembly facility in Independence, Kan., the company announced Feb 4. It will be delivered later this year to a retail customer in Australia. The first Mustang was delivered in 2007. The entry-level, $3 million Mustang was announced at the 2002 NBAA Convention and first flew in April 2005.
Sun Air Jets’ charter operation has satisfied the certification standards for flight operations and safety management systems for Wyvern Consulting Ltd., Aviation Research Group/US (Platinum), International Standards for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) and Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF). Headquartered at the Camarillo, Calif., Airport, between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, Sun Air Jets offers charter, aircraft management, maintenance, aircraft fueling and ground handling services.
Reps. Ike Skelton and Jo Ann Emerson, both Missouri Democrats, and Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), the chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, introduced legislation Feb. 2 to prevent the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating greenhouse gas emissions solely under the authority of the Clean Air Act. Discussing the bill, Skelton stated: “Simply put, we cannot tolerate turning over the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions to unelected bureaucrats at EPA. America’s energy and environmental policies should be set by Congress.”
I have two concerns with your Feburary Intelligence item (page 16) concerning the Loran C shutdown. There are factual errors, and your readers aren’t getting the most important and dangerous implications of shutting down Loran.
Thank you for your great detective work and the insightful writing on the Hawker 800 crash in Owatonna, Minn. (“A Failed Go-Around,” Cause & Circumstance, February, page 59). This is especially meaningful for us for several reasons. We have operated Hawkers for 17 years now, since 1994. We operate 700s, 800XPs and a 1000. We currently employ 17 full-time qualified Hawker captains and have introduced and trained about 70 Hawker crewmembers over the years.
Corporate Angel Network, White Plains, N.Y., has elected Joseph T. Lombardo, executive vice president, Aerospace, General Dynamics and president, Gulfstream Aerospace, to the board of directors of CAN.
General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), Washington, D.C., named Kathryn Fraser as the Association’s manager of operations supporting GAMA’s work in safety, security and operations.
The war against FOD is never-ending, and even the toughest veteran can benefit from advice and resources to develop a winning strategy. The following organizations and resources can provide guidance and programs to help you: National Center for Aerospace and Transportation Technologies www.ncatt.org National Aerospace FOD Prevention, Inc. Guidelines www.nafpi.com National Aerospace Standards 412, Aerospace Industries Association www.aia-aerospace.org
Gulfstream Aerospace, Savannah, Ga., named Florian “Flo” Thiele senior regional sales manager, Product Support Sales, for parts of Europe, the Middle East and Asia. He is based in Zurich and reports to Jeff Hill, director, International Product Support Sales. Jenson Saw has joined Gulfstream’s field service organization assisting customers in Beijing and surrounding areas. Dan Nale was named vice president of Advanced Aircraft Programs, a newly created department.
Cessna, Wichita, announced that Mike Shonka, executive vice president and chief financial officer is retiring. Eric Salader, who is joining Cessna from Textron, will assume his duties. Ron Alberti, senior vice president of Integrated Supply Chain, will assume a new role responsible for the transition of work from Columbus, Ga., and Wichita to Cessna’s facility in Mexico. He will also oversee Skycatcher production in Shenyang, China.
AMSTAT reports that slowly increasing sales and shrinking inventories may signal a modest turnaround in the market for used business aircraft. Tom Benson, executive vice president of the Tinton Falls, N.J., provider of business aviation fleet information, said although market conditions still are not great, “it would seem that for the pre-owned business aircraft market, the worst is probably behind us.”
Lance R. Fera (Herndon, VA ), (former TAG executive) (Herndon, VA )
“Seeking the Sensible” (Viewpoint, December 2009, page 7) was a nice job. Thanks. It’s nice to read and get support from all our friends that know we (at TAG U.S.) were bamboozled. By the way, I can really relate to the story about your son missing the housing deadline.
As a former E-1B (and C-9B) aviator, I thought “Command Decision” (Flight Log, December 2009, page 72) was a great story with a great ending. I never had a single-engine-out carrier landing but had a few frightful carrier landing events. The story talked about seat swapping halfway through the four-hour flight to accommodate the other pilot to gain carrier landing experience. That surprised me; we never did that. Whoever was designated the plane commander, regardless of rank, was the sole authority for decision making for the safe operation of the aircraft.
AircraftLogs, Columbus, Ohio, announced that John Taylor has joined the company as director of sales and marketing. He will serve as the primary point of contact for flight departments transitioning to AircraftLogs. Aspen Avionics, Albuquerque, announced that Angela Anderson has joined the company as marketing manager. She will be based in Albuquerque and will report to Brad Hayden, director of marketing.
Dec. 25, 2009 — At about 1258 CST, a Bell 407 helicopter (N600CE) was substantially damaged during a hard landing after a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff from the Wise Regional Health System Helipad (XA57) in Decatur, Texas. The pilot and flight medic sustained serious injuries and the flight nurse received minor injuries. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Air Evac EMS Inc., of North Plains, Mo. It was VFR and a company flight plan was filed for the positioning flight.
On the morning of July 31, 2008, a low-pressure system immediately west of the border intersections of North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota anchored a stationary front extending southeast across southern Minnesota and Wisconsin. The system produced generally nasty weather in the area of the Owatonna, Minn., Degner Regional Airport (OWA), about 70 miles south of Minneapolis.
The TSA extended the comment period for its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking calling for all aircraft repair stations to adopt security programs, from Jan. 19 until Feb. 18. The extension came at the behest of the Professional Aviation Maintenance Association and International Air Transport Association. IATA cited the complexity and scope of the rule and said the additional time was necessary to provide foreign repair station operators time to review the proposal.
The Airbus Corporate Jet Center has created a quick-conversion kit that enables A320 airliners to be readily transformed into VIP airplanes, converting the forward area of the aircraft by installing two double-VIP and four club VIP seats, along with hi/lo tables. The conversion also includes quality leather upholstery, woolen carpets and curtains for added ambiance and privacy. The first kit is to be delivered during the second quarter to an unidentified Middle Eastern customer, along with provisions for installation of a second kit later this year.
