TURBOMECA Arrius 2F engines [Docket No. FAA-2009-0330; Directorate Identifier 2008-NE-43-AD] – This proposed rule would require operators to visually inspect the P3 air pipe (first section) and right-hand rear bulkhead half-wall for damage and play, per the instructions of Turbomeca Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 319 75 4810 (dated May 14, 2008). Operators would be required to replace the P3 air pipe and right-hand rear half-wall if any damage were found.
Cessna Aircraft has reaffirmed its commitment to the Model 162 SkyCatcher by exhibiting a mockup of the light sport aircraft at the recent Sun ’n Fun Fly-In in Lakeland, Fla. and declaring that it would repair a production version of the airplane involved in a March 19 spin test incident (BA, March 30/12).
ROBBY HARLESS was named vice president and general manager of Gulfstream Aerospace’s Dallas facilities. Harless will be responsible for the mid-cabin completions facility, the Gulfstream product support center and the General Dynamics Aviation Services product support center. He formerly was general manager of the Gulfstream facility in Brunswick, Ga.
THE AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION foresees the need to tell its members’ stories to people outside the industry for many years to come, President and CEO Craig Fuller said. But the new General Aviation Serves America campaign also is focusing on what AOPA sees as “immediate advocacy concerns and needs,” he said, including the potential for user fees in the Obama administration’s fiscal 2010 budget, the Transportation Security Administration’s dealings with GA, FAA reauthorization and funding for air traffic control modernization. See article on Page 198.
AIR TRACTOR AT-400, -401, -401B, -402, -402A and -402B airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-23646; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-005-AD; Amendment 39-15849; AD 2006-08-08 R1] – This new AD, which replaces an existing directive (AD 2006-08-08), retains the requirement to repetitively conduct eddy-current inspections of the wing lower spar cap and make modifications in order to reach the safe life and, for certain aircraft models, lowers the safe life for the wing lower spar cap. However, this new AD would reduce the number of repetitive inspections for certain airplanes.
TEXTRON SHAREHOLDERS last week appeared to have re-elected Lawrence K. Fish and Joe T. Ford to the board of directors despite a call from an institutional investor advisor for their removal. Advisory company Risk Metrics recommended voting against the return of Fish and Ford in part because of their support for “excessive personal use of company aircraft.” Textron executives, however, backed Fish and Ford, arguing that executive use of company aircraft is appropriate, especially considering the importance of Cessna Aircraft to Textron’s profitability (BA, April 20/183).
GROB AIRCRAFT has made its first fleet sale since the German airframe maker was acquired earlier this year by H3 Aerospace, a Munich-based Aerospace development and investment firm. The contract, which calls for VT Aerospace to buy 20 G115 trainers, is valued at up to €10 million. VT Aerospace, the U.K.-based training organization that operates a fleet of 97 Grob aircraft, plans to start taking delivery of the new aircraft toward the end of this year.
FORMER FAA acting Administrator Bobby Sturgell has joined Rockwell Collins as senior vice president of its Washington, D.C. operations. Sturgell succeeds Woody Hogle, who heads the company’s international operations. He will steer Rockwell Collins governmental, regulatory, legislative and industrial affairs strategies, and work with Congress and the administration. Sturgell stepped down from the FAA earlier this year when the Obama administration took office.
FAA has given the go-ahead to draft a new rule that would codify many voluntary Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) safety initiatives as well as best practices, a senior agency official told a congressional panel last week.
The Environmental Protection Agency plans to delay a series of changes the agency published last fall to clarify Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) regulations (BA, Dec. 8/261). EPA in late November released a 278-page SPCC “Amendments” rule that the agency said was designed to encourage greater compliance with the regulations.
LANDMARK AVIATION formally opened a new $4.6 million, 5,000-square-foot terminal at Ashville Regional Airport (AVL) in North Carolina. The fixed-base operation includes a conference room, pilot’s lounge, flight planning area and new 23,000-square-foot hangar. With the addition of AVL, Landmark has 41 FBOs in its network, with locations in the U.S., Canada, and Western Europe.
JET AVIATION has added more than 20 aircraft to its fleets in the U.S., Asia and EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) regions. The aircraft include Falcons, Gulfstreams and Bombardier Global, Challenger and Learjet aircraft. Seven of the aircraft are available for charter. Jet Aviation provides aircraft management and flight support services from its bases in Teterboro, N.J.; Zurich, Switzerland; Dubai, U.A.E.; and Hong Kong, China. The company manages more than 200 aircraft.
BRUNO CERVIA was tapped to serve as head of research and development for Pilatus Aircraft. Cervia has served with Pilatus for 23 years in various management functions, and most recently has overseen development of new products. Pilatus credited Cervia for substantially contributing to the success of the PC-21 turboprop trainer.
While the economic downturn will eventually end, Piper Aircraft CEO James Bass notes that what might not end is the effect that the government’s assault on aviation is having.
BOMBARDIER CUSTOMER SERVICES last week opened a new $4.3 million component repair and overhaul center for commercial aircraft at Love Field Airport in Dallas. The facility will perform repair and overhaul of structural components for nacelles and support the RB211 E4 and IAE V2500 engines.
DAHER-SOCTA, which recently secured certification for installation of Garmin Synthetic Vision Technology aboard the TBM 850, debuted the newly SVT-equipped 850 last week for the U.S. public at the 35th annual Sun ’n Fun fly-in at Florida’s Lakeland Linder Regional Airport. Offered as an option for the TBM 850, the SVT provides three-dimensional depictions of the terrain, obstacles and traffic on the G1000’s primary flight displays – providing enhanced situational awareness.
Cirrus Design Corp., following months of evaluation, has temporarily suspended its “SR Sport” light sport aircraft program, citing economic conditions as a significant factor in making the “difficult and sometimes painful” decision.
Dassault Falcon Jet has eliminated 44 positions in its Teterboro, N.J., organization and at its Little Rock Service Center in Arkansas, citing deteriorating conditions that led to 27 more cancellations than orders in the first quarter. “The global economic downturn combined with unfair criticism in the media and some political leaders has had a severe adverse impact on our business,” the company said in a statement. “During the first quarter of 2009, contract cancellations greatly exceeded new orders.”
GARMIN SUBSIDIARY Digital CycloneSM now offers AOPA Airport Directory, Canadian radar, METARs and TAFs data on Pilot My-Cast, a cell phone-based product. This content is in addition to the U.S. weather and flight filing data already available on Pilot My-Cast, which is compatible with many popular phone models, such as BlackBerry and Windows Mobile devices.
AmSafe Aviation is hoping that growing demand from commercial airlines will help offset plummeting general aviation sales. AmSafe Aviation President Bill Hagan told BA that general aviation had been its fastest-growing segment as its airbag technology has caught on with small-plane owners and operators. The Phoenix, Ariz.-based aircraft seat restraint specialist introduced the airbag technology to the GA market four years ago, and within two years the airbags could be found on some 80 percent of new production piston aircraft (BA, April 20/181), Hagan noted.
EADS SOCATA TBM 700 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0124 Directorate Identifier 2009-CE-004-AD; Amendment 39-15882; AD 2009-08-09] – Inspect the electrical wiring harness at Frame C14 and between Frames C16 and C17 for wire chafing and incorrect routing, per the instructions of EADS SOCATA Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 70-163 (dated November 2008). If any wire chafing or incorrect routing is found, repair and reroute the electrical harness before further flight.
MIKE RUNDE joined the Aviation team of Mead & Hunt as a project engineer. He will manage design, field work, and construction engineering for various civil engineering projects. He has drafted airport, as-built plans, performed topographic surveys as an intern for the architectural firm and also is experienced in CAD design.
SKY SHUTTLE HELICOPTERS has begun operating its first two AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters from its new helipad at the Hong Kong Heliport. The 12-seat medium twin rotorcraft are being used to provide shuttle flights between Hong Kong, Macau and Shenzhen. Sky Shuttle plans to eventually acquire four more AW139s and build a second helipad.
GENERAL DYNAMICS AVIATION SERVICES’ facility at Barnes Municipal Airport in Westfield, Mass., was recently designated an authorized Aruban repair station. This certification enables the Westfield facility to perform maintenance and alterations on aircraft registered on the Caribbean island. The facility already is authorized to perform maintenance on aircraft registered through the European Aviation Safety Agency and Bermuda’s Department of Civil Aviation.
