EMBRAER E170 and 190 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0614; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-045-AD; Amendment 39-16286; AD 2010-10-07] – Conduct repetitive operational tests of the outboard slat skew sensor, and, if necessary, replace any defective sensor with a serviceable one. This AD, which resulted from an MCAI originated by the aviation authority of Brazil, is intended to prevent the slat from detaching from the wing and possibly hitting and damaging the horizontal stabilizer and elevator, which could compromise airplane controllability.
The city of San Bernardino is hoping the recent opening of a fixed-based operation by Houston-based Million Air at California’s San Bernardino International Airport will lead to an increase in service and operations. The airport, which has a 10,000-ft. runway, is located on the former Norton Air Force Base in the San Bernardino foothills about 65 miles east of Los Angeles. The city has approved spending $92 million in an ongoing attempt to attract an airline in a region where it competes with Los Angeles International, Ontario and Palm Springs airports.
The Greater Washington Business Aviation Association wrapped up its fourth annual Safety Standdown May 20, drawing more than 80 pilots and other attendees, as well as safety experts from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Bombardier Aerospace, MedAire and NTSB. The Safety Standdown covered a range of topics, including the complexity of the Federal Aviation Regulations, human error, controlled flight into terrain, distractions in the cockpit and travel health and fatigue management.
The National Transportation Safety Board last week issued a safety alert urging parents to use child restraint systems when flying with children under the age of 2. The alert warns that preventable injuries and deaths have occurred involving children younger than 2 years old who were not using a restraint system. In other cases, children have become separated from the parents during survivable crashes, and parents were not able to locate them during evacuation, the NTSB notes. NTSB recommends that FAA require the use of child restraints for the younger children.
40 Years Ago May 18, 1970 — House and Senate pass FAA authorization bill that establishes airport/airways development trust fund and includes 7-cent-per-gallon tax on aviation fuel, including previously untaxed jet fuel, as well as aircraft registration and use taxes. 30 Years Ago May 5, 1980 — General Aviation Manufacturers Association President Ed Stimpson expresses concern that general aviation deliveries will drop to around 13,000 units in 1980, well shy of the 15,000 predicted and the 17,048 delivered in 1979.
Aspen Avionics has relocated its corporate headquarters at Albuquerque’s TechCommons Business Center from a 6,000-square-ft. facility to a 23,000-square-ft. building nearly a year ahead of schedule. The company needs the space because it is in the final stages of certifying its new Evolution Flight Display system. The move is part of an effort by Aspen Aviation to transition from a research and development company to a manufacturing company, with the related expansion of customer support, marketing and sales activities, the company says.
ARGUS International has accepted the International Air Transport Association Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) to meet the audit requirements for the ARGUS rating system. German business aviation operator DC Aviation was the first charter operator to receive a platinum rating after achieving IOSA Registration. Similar to the ARGUS platinum audit, the IOSA assesses the operational management and control of an airline with a focus on safety management.
Cessna is working to ramp up the deliveries of its 162 Skycatcher as the company handed over two of the light-sport aircraft (LSA) to the Experimental Aircraft Association and one to Sporty’s Pilot Shop. The initial Skycatcher was delivered late last year to Rose Pelton, wife of Cessna Chairman, President and CEO Jack Pelton.
MARISSA REDDICK was promoted to purchasing supervisor for Mid-Continent Instruments. Reddick will be responsible for overseeing cost, quality and standards of parts purchased by Mid-Continent. She joined Mid-Continent in 1997 and has a background in lean manufacturing process, material resource planning and inventory management.
Asia Pacific Aerospace near Brisbane International Airport in Australia is increasing its small and medium gas-turbine-engine capability with the acquisition of Victorian-based Aviation Turbine Overhaul (ATO). ATO provides a range of aviation and non-aviation machining, welding and metal spraying, along with repair, testing and overhaul of Rolls-Royce 250 engine fuel accessories and components. Asia Pacific Aerospace is an authorized maintenance center for the Rolls-Royce 250 engine.
Cessna, which shed and consolidated 566,000 square ft. of factory space in 2009, has plans to consolidate another 315,000 square ft. this year and in 2011, says Scott Donnelly, president and chief executive of Cessna parent Textron. The airframe manufacturer had announced late last year that it was closing three plants in Columbus, Ga., and moving the work to plants in Independence, Kan. and Mexico (BA, Dec. 14/271).
Cessna is halting production of its Citation Mustang through early July as the Wichita, Kan., airframer works through a supplier issue. Scott Donnelly, president and chief executive of Cessna parent Texton, told analysts this month that flooding in Rhode Island impacted certain suppliers, forcing Cessna to shut down the production line this month. The company is issuing “rolling furloughs” to about 200 workers, says Doug Oliver, director of corporate communications. The company did not specify the affected suppliers, but expects to resume Mustang production in July.
Sagem Avionics, Inc. of Grand Prairie, Texas has teamed with Denver-based Professional Resources In System Management, LLC (PRISM) to provide flight data analysis (FDA) services, beginning with corporate operators. The agreement will enable PRISM to expand its flight safety offerings that include an online safety management system program. Under the new PRISM flight operations quality assurance and FDA program, recorded data from aircraft operations will be analyzed to identify for potential safety and efficiency improvements.
HAWKER BEECHCRAFT Premier airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0523; Directorate Identifier 2010-CE-018-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to replace certain starter-generators, per the instructions of Hawker Beechcraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 24-3963 (issued May 2009). This proposal is designed to detect and replace starter-generators with defective armature insulating materials, a condition that could result in the loss of all non-battery electrical power. FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 213 airplanes on the U.S. Registry and cost U.S.
London Aviation Executive CEO Patrick Margetson-Rushmore says he’s optimistic that European business aviation traffic will continue to increase this year. “For us, the year is going well so far. One glance at our order book shows that the European business aviation industry is beginning to recover,” he notes. “We’re realistic, of course. The industry recovery will be gradual rather than dramatic.”
The Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS) will hold a Safety Management Training Academy June 13-17 at the Ogelbay National Training Center and Resort in Wheeling, W. Va. The five-day event will emphasize safety management systems, patient safety, aviation/vehicle operational safety and workplace safety. AAMS developed the academy to provide management training certification in emergency medical transport.
BOMBARDIER Regional Jet 700, 701, 702, 705 900 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0792; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-057-AD; Amendment 39-16300; AD 2010-10-21] – Install thermal fuses in the No. 1 and No. 2 hydraulic systems, per the instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 670BA-29-005, Rev. A (dated Jan. 29, 2009). Also, revise the “Airworthiness Limitations” section of the “Instructions for Continued Airworthiness” to incorporate fuel system limitations and critical design configuration control limitations associated with the fuse installation.
Helicopter operators would be required to use the New York North Shore Route when operating in that area of Long Island, N.Y., under a rule FAA proposed last week. The proposal would mandate use of a route that is currently voluntary. The North Shore Route was added to the New York Helicopter Route Chart in 2008.
The investigation into the January 2009 ditching of US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River has led the National Transportation Safety Board to issue nearly three dozen recommendations seeking improved technology, certification standards, operational procedures, training, life-saving equipment and passenger briefings.
FAA has reopened the comment period on an April 5 policy statement on a special issuance of airmen medical certificates to applicants using certain antidepressant medications. Under the new policy, FAA will evaluate issuing a special waiver on 1st, 2nd or 3rd class medical certificates to individuals who demonstrate they are being treated for depression and who remain stable for a 12-month period. Previously, individuals were denied a medical certificate and prohibited from flying if they used antidepressant medications.
New York-based Emerald Jet Charter, a new charter broker company, is offering offset carbon emissions for every charter flight they broker without added cost as part of its standard business practices. The company has partnered with Carbonfund.org to offset emissions in support of Carbonfund.org’s third-party validated carbon-reduction projects. Emerald Jet Charter has access to more than 5,000 aircraft for charter.
BRIAN BAUER was named chief commercial officer for Global Aviation Holdings. Bauer is responsible for business and market development, sales management and planning. He previously was president of Evergreen International Airlines.
GULFSTREAM Astra, Astra SPX and Gulfstream 100 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0034; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-120-AD; Amendment 39-16307; AD 2010-11-02] – Modify the warning and caution lights panel, changing the panel and main entry door wiring and the wiring harness connecting the door to the panel, per the instructions of Gulfstream Service Bulletin 100-31-284 (dated Aug. 17, 2006).
Stratos Jet Charters has inked a deal with a charter agency to offer service out of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The company will have aircraft ranging from a Beech King Air 200 up to a Hawker 850XP for the new service.
EMBRAER EMB-135, ERJ-145, -145ER, -145MR, -145LR, -145XR, -145MP and -145EP airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0714; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-041-AD; Amendment 39-16290; AD 2010-10-11] – Replace certain landing gear electronic units with new ones, per the instructions of Embraer Service Bulletin 145-32-0120, Rev. 02 (dated Feb. 17, 2009) or 145LEG-32-0032, Rev. 02 (dated Feb. 17, 2009), as applicable.
