REP. JOHN MICA (R-Fla.) introduced a bill to require the Transportation Security Administration to follow certain standards for issuing security directives and to conduct a formal rulemaking when any emergency regulation or security directive remains in place for more than 180 days. The legislation is similar to a provision Mica offered to the TSA Authorization Act, H.R.2200. That bill passed the House and must receive Senate consideration.
The White House last week nominated Mark Rosekind, president and chief scientist of aviation fatigue specialist Alertness Solutions, to the National Transportation Safety Board. Rosekind would fill the position vacated by Kathryn Higgins, who resigned last summer (BA, July 27/39).
LONDON OXFORD AIRPORT has gained approval from the U.K.’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs as only the second general aviation/business aviation airport to be allowed to import domestic pets. Owners of dogs, cats and ferrets can now, for the first time, transport their pets on flights into the airport from overseas under the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS). The first fully approved carriers are NetJets and Air Med.
Improvements to address what Eurocontrol safety specialists have termed serious issues in traffic alert and collision avoidance (TCAS) system software logic are poised for market introduction to business, commercial and military users by Phoenix, Ariz.-based Aviation Communication & Surveillance Systems (ACSS).
Honeywell is researching ways to merge the sensor input from an infrared (IR) camera with the 3D synthetic vision display on its SmartView system to lower landing minimum visual requirements and possibly even eliminate the need for a head-up-display.
Aviation marketing firm International Marketing Associates, Inc. (IMA) has launched Hollywood Jets to offer private jet membership for aircraft and helicopter charter, aircraft management, sales and consulting services.
AIRCELL’s High Speed Internet system will be offered as an option aboard Dassault Falcon’s entire fleet of business jets, Aircell said. Dassault is the first original equipment manufacturer to select the system for its entire fleet. The Aircell High Speed Internet system will enable passengers and crews to use Wi-Fi devices, such as laptops and PDAs, to surf the Web, send and receive e-mail and access corporate VPN at mobile broadband speeds while in flight.
BELL HELICOPTER’S Training Academy at Fort Worth Alliance Airport in Texas secured European Aviation Safety Agency Part 147 maintenance training organization approval.
Columbia Helicopters received a production certificate from FAA for its Model 234 and 107-II helicopters. Columbia, the only commercial operator of the aircraft, acquired the type certificates in late 2006 for the aircraft after years of negotiations with Boeing. The PC will enable the Portland, Ore.-based company to manufacture and certify parts for the helicopters under an FAA-approved production system. “This is another very significant milestone in our company’s history,” said Columbia Helicopters President Mike Fahey.
Troy, N.Y.-based VoiceFlight Systems has received FAA certification for its VFS101 pilot speech recognition system, the first such product awarded a supplemental type certificate (STC) by FAA. VFS101 uses technology to provide accurate speech recognition and nearly instantaneous response, which enables voice entry of complex flight plans to be accomplished 10 times faster than is possible with the conventional GPS entry knobs.
TELEDYNE CONTINENTAL MOTORS O-470, IO-470, TSIO-470, IO-520, TSIO-520, IO-550 and IOF-550 engines [Docket No. FAA-2009-0367; Directorate Identifier 2009-NE-10-AD; Amendment 39-16023; AD 2009-19-06] – Conduct repetitive visual inspections of EQ3 cylinders for cracks, per the instructions of TCM Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) No. MSB09-1B (dated July 14, 2009). Removal of all EQ3 cylinders is the terminating action to the repetitive inspections.
– Rockwell Collins has cut the range for earnings per share (EPS) in its fiscal 2009 guidance from $3.70-$3.90 to $3.70-$3.75. The move covers an approximately $12 million-$20 million after-tax – or 8 cents per share – charge to cover worker layoffs, close its San Jose, Calif., facility and relocate engineering and production work to other existing locations.
DASSAULT Falcon 2000 and 2000EX airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0791; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-213-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to inspect the shock absorbers for damage, per the instructions of Dassault Mandatory Service Bulletin F2000-366 Rev. 2 or F2000EX-167 Rev. 1 (both dated Dec. 1, 2008), as applicable. If any damage were found, operators would need to repair the shock absorbers before further flight, in accordance with the instructions of the applicable service bulletin.
BLAIR DESCOUROUEZ was appointed a regional sales manager for King Aerospace Commercial Corp. Descourouez, who is responsible for sales and marketing efforts in the Western U.S., formerly was vice president of operations for Ambassador Jet Center and also has held management positions with Double Diamond Resorts and Business Jet Access. He has 14 years of aviation experience, including aircraft management, charter, refurbishment and aircraft sales.
PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA’S assembly plant in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, last week celebrated the delivery of its 10,000th engine, a PT6A-60AG for the Air Tractor AT-602. The Lethbridge plant opened in May 1993 and P&WC has assembled PT6 engines there for more than 15 years. The PT6 has been selected for more than 100 applications, involving business, commuter, utility and training aircraft. P&WC opened a regional service center in Lethbridge in July to provide maintenance and support for P&WC engines.
THE NATIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION’S Schedulers & Dispatchers (S&D) Committee is offering scholarship programs that provide monetary and training awards for business aviation professionals in an effort to further professional growth within the scheduling and dispatch function. For its S&D Scholarship, NBAA announced a new scholarship sponsor, Jet Aviation FBO & Charter Sales, which joins ExxonMobil Aviation and the Avitats, Signature Flight Support, Universal Weather and Aviation Inc., Chevron Global Aviation, Air BP Aviation Services, Jeppesen Dat
AIRPORTS are slated to become the first focus of FAA Safety Management System rulemaking. FAA has released a timeline indicating that a notice of proposed rulemaking covering SMS for airports would be released in mid-2010. The agency, meanwhile, next month plans to close the comment period on an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking requesting comments on potential SMS requirements for all certificate holders.
BRISTOW GROUP signed a contract to buy three AgustaWestland AW139 medium twin-engine helicopters. The aircraft, which will be a new type for Bristow, will be delivered later this year and in early 2010.
MCCAULEY B5JFR36C1101/114GCA-0, C5JFR36C1102/L114GCA-0, B5JFR36C1103/114HCA-0, and C5JFR36C1104/L114HCA-0 propellers [Docket No. FAA-2006-25173; Directorate Identifier 2006-NE-24-AD; Amendment 39-16021; AD 2009-19-04] – This rule, which supersedes an existing directive (AD 2008-08-01), requires repetitive inspections of propeller blades for cracks. If any cracks are found, blades are to be removed from service. Also, this rule mandates a new life limit for the blades, requiring removal, before further flight, of blades with more than 10,000 operating hours.
Business aviation advocates are hoping that a new study underscoring the economic benefit of business aircraft use will provide ammunition in combating the ongoing wave of negative publicity that has battered the industry over the past year, as well as assuage the concerns of corporate boards as they make aircraft purchase decisions.
EMBRAER EMB-135BJ, -135ER, -135KE, -135KL, -135LR, -145, -145ER, -145MR, -145LR, -145XR, -145MP and -145EP airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-0083; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-266-AD] – This proposal would require operators to inspect certain engine anti-ice system valves before further flight, according to the procedures listed in Embraer Service Bulletins 145-30-0049 (dated June 28, 2006), 145-30-0049, Rev. 01 (dated Oct. 19, 2006), 145LEG-30-0016 (dated June 28, 2006) or 145LEG-30-0016, Rev. 01 (dated Feb. 5, 2007), as applicable.
EMBRAER SERVICE CENTERS in the U.S. have been certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency. The Mesa, Ariz., and Fort Lauderdale, Fla. facilities, which were opened about a year ago, are now authorized to perform nonroutine maintenance services on Phenom 100s and Legacy 600s registered in Europe.
– The fractional business jet market fleet was 66 percent sold at the end of August, excluding card programs, according to UBS’s Business Jet Update. This is significantly lower than the 71 percent of a year ago and the historical average of 73 percent. UBS points to sagging new-share sales and renewals, which are off 50 percent from the recent peak in 2007.
NINE TIMES A CHARM? The Senate late Thursday (Sept. 24) passed a three-month extension of FAA’s authorization and the aviation excise taxes. The extension matches the House extension passed earlier last week. FAA’s authorization and the aviation taxes were set to expire Oct. 1. The action is the ninth time in the last two years that Congress has issued a temporary extension in lieu of a long-term reauthorization bill.
