New TSA Chief Adm. James Loy held true to his promise to work with the general aviation community. (See Intelligence, October, page 40.) He recently met with NBAA President Jack Olcott and Senior Vice President of Government and Public Affairs Pete West regarding possibilities for the NBAA's Transportation Security Administration Access Protocol (TSAAP) proposal, the NBAA executives said.
The FAA commissioned a new 345-foot-tall control tower at Orlando International Airport (MCO) in October. The tower, said to be the tallest in North America, is attached to an 11,700-square-foot base building housing electronic systems and administrative offices. The total project, funded by the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, cost $28.7 million.
Sen. John Breaux (D-La.) has sponsored an amendment to the Aviation Security Improvement Act that would prohibit traffic over stadiums during events. Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) immediately placed a ``hold'' on the legislation in protest of the Breaux amendment. The two senators have negotiated to find a compromise, but none was reached at press time. General aviation groups, which oppose the measure, also are attempting to prevail on Breaux as well as Rep.
The NBAA has honored five aerospace students from the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences at the University of North Dakota with aviation scholarships totaling $9,000. The recipients are Prashant Franklin, Gregory Peterson, Tina Conover, Justin Fryklund and Jered Lease.
``The certification standard for Chapter IV/Stage 4 shouldn't have an impact on the average operator,'' IBAC Director General Don Spruston told B/CA. ``It is an increased standard and is probably right, and if the states follow ICAO's recommendations -- that it is a certification standard -- it is completely acceptable.''
The House Transportation Appropriations Committee approved the $60 billion fiscal 2003 transportation appropriations bill that includes $13.6 billion for the FAA and $5.1 billion for the Transportation Security Administration. The bill might be rolled into a fiscal 2003 omnibus spending bill as the government continues operating under a resolution that provides interim spending authority.
Bombardier has announced permanent layoffs of nearly 2,000 employees and temporary furloughs of another 2,100 workers in coming weeks, along with drastic production reductions in its Learjet, Challenger and Global business jets as well as its regional turboprop lines. The company said its actions are meant to bring costs and production in line with the current business environment.
The Transportation Safety Administration released its proposed compliance program for operators of charter aircraft that weigh more than 95,000 pounds. The ``95K'' program could cause problems and force some operators, particularly those flying business jets like the Global Express, to seek alternative means of compliance, sources say.
As we went to press Blakey was headed for Wichita to make the rounds in the general aviation community there. Planned were visits to Raytheon Aircraft, Cessna Aircraft and Wichita State University. Blakey also was slated to speak at the General Aviation Air Safety Investigators workshop sponsored by GAMA.
The Eclipse 500's second and subsequent flights were postponed because program managers were ``experiencing difficulties'' with one of the 770-pound-thrust Williams EJ22 microturbines, said a company spokesperson. The engine was returned to Williams' Walled Lake, Mich., facility for modifications, and Eclipse said it expected to resume flight tests ``soon.''
Dassault Aviation has selected a Hamilton Sundstrand ram air turbine (RAT) system to supply emergency power for the Falcon 7X. Thomas Geen, vice president and general manager of flight systems for Hamilton Sundstrand, said the contract is expected to generate more than $40 million over the life of the program. A RAT is a wind-driven turbine deployed into the airstream to generate emergency electrical and/or hydraulic power for flight controls and essential instruments.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University will get a new ATC simulator for training and research. Developed by Adacel, Inc., the 180-degree simulator will provide a 3-D view of an airport, modeling custom-set weather conditions, visibility, fleet mix, aircraft flight dynamics and aircraft traffic loads. The simulator can test future runway/taxiway configurations, support runway incursion analysis and mitigation, and conduct pilot/controller studies.
According to Sabatini (see above), the FAA's plan to review business jet regulations is part of a broader effort to make it more forward-looking, issuing rules adaptable to changes in industry. The FAA needs to get a better understanding about where the industry believes the market will be in the future, Sabatini said. As an example, he wondered what Vern Raburn was thinking 10 years ago that caused him to see the market niche for the Eclipse. The FAA needs to be more proactive so it can enable new technology like the Eclipse, he said.
The Canadian-American Business Council, Washington, D.C., announced CMC Electronics of Canada and Honey-well Aerospace Electronics Systems as the winners of the 2002 Canadian-American Business Achievement Award. The award is presented annually to a pair of Canadian and U.S. firms whose joint enterprise demonstrates ``strong business growth, remarkable innovation and noteworthy community contribution.''
The B-N Group has taken delivery of the first of a new batch of Islanders from Romaero of Bucharest, Romania. The deal, which was signed in July, calls for 24 Islanders to be produced over the next two years for the British company.
Business Air, Denton, Texas, has named Case May manager of charter operations. Business Air is a diversified general aviation company located at Denton Municipal Airport offering FBO services, aircraft sales, acquisitions and leasing.
``If I believed the skies were safe, I wouldn't be here supporting this bill.'' Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) explaining her support of a measure to allow airline pilots to carry firearms on passenger aircraft. (Time magazine) ``A mile of highway gets you one mile. A mile of runway gets you anywhere.'' Headline in full-page ad placed by the AOPA in BusinessWeek magazine
A grand party was held at American International Group's Teterboro hangar on Sept. 18, in celebration of the AIG flight department's 50th anniversary. Over 100 guests attended the affair, including Dassault Falcon Jet's John Rosanvallon, Lee Monson of Boeing Business Jet, Doug Smith of Bombardier, NBAA President Jack Olcott and Flight-Safety International's A.L. Ueltschi, all paying homage to AIG's long participation in business aviation.
All Weather Inc. of Hunt Valley, Md., delivered its new integrated display system to the Aeronautics Division of Tennessee's DOT. The software/display program -- StormFront -- will be used by the state to provide pilots with real-time access to 37 Automated Weather Observation Systems (AWOS) throughout the state.
Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) has expressed frustration about the year-plus ban on general aviation at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). ``Although general aviation here is willing to adopt any measures on the ground or in the air that the TSA mandates, the agency refuses to issue regulations and seek comment,'' Norton said.
One of Marion Blakey's first moves as FAA administrator was to direct the FAA's Plain Language Coordinator to work with all departments to improve the quality of written products, including regulations, Advisory Circulars and Airworthiness Directives. ``If the public can't understand our decisions we will not be effective,'' Blakey said in an agency memo.
Thunder Aviation NA, Inc., St. Louis, has appointed Dorothy White to the position of director of flight services. White, who has over 17 years of experience in the aviation industry, is an active member of the Greater St. Louis Business Aircraft Association and the Greater St. Louis Travel Association.
Guardian Jet, LLC, Guilford, Conn., has hired Stan Smith to serve in the newly created position of director of flight operations. He will oversee transition training and added-value services such as the Guardian Standards Program targeted for the owner-pilot light jet market. Smith comes to the position following a one-year active duty tour as a C-5 instructor pilot in the U.S. Air Force.
The FAA has issued another AD on Textron Lycoming AEIO-540, IO-540, LTIO-540, O-540 and TIO-540 series reciprocating engines with crankshaft gear retaining bolts, P/N STD-2209 installed. The AD applies to engines used in thousands of single- and twin-engine general aviation aircraft and requires replacement of the crankshaft gear retaining bolt in accordance with Lycoming Service Bulletin No. 554, dated Sept. 30. The AD also prohibits the use of zinc-plated (gold in color) crankshaft gear retaining bolts in any engine listed in the AD.
