The first Zeppelin in the U.S. since the ill-fated Hindenburg crashed in 1937 began tourist flights Oct. 31 under an exception to Federal Air Regulations Part 91 for general aviation. Airship Ventures uses historic Moffett Field in California’s Silicon Valley, home to coastal patrol air ships in World War II, as its home base. It also will fly from the GA field at Oakland Airport and from Charles M. Schultz Airport in Santa Rosa. At $495 for an hour’s ride, the 12 passengers onboard won’t be traveling cheap, but the sightseeing is unique.
THIELERT AIRCRAFT ENGINES TAE 125-02-99 engines [Docket No. FAA-2008-0841; Directorate Identifier 2008-NE-23-AD; Amendment 39-15720; AD 2008-22-23] – Requires replacing the existing clutch and installing a new, improved clutch as specified in Thielert Service Bulletin TM TAE 125-1006P1, Rev. 1 (dated May 30, 2008). This AD, which resulted from an MCAI issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency, was prompted by the results of an investigation of several in-flight engine shutdowns. Those powerplant failures reportedly were caused by cracked disc springs in the clutch.
The Transportation Security Administration last week agreed to extend the comment period for its Large Aircraft Security Program proposal by another 60 days. The proposal was published in the Oct. 30 Federal Register and set a Dec. 29, 2008 deadline for comments (BA, Nov. 3/204). The extension pushes the deadline to Feb. 27, 2009. The proposal would require all aircraft weighing more than 12,500 pounds to implement an approved security program and submit to periodic audits.
DASSAULT Falcon 2000EX airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0830; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-285-AD; Amendment 39-15711; AD 2008-22-15] – Requires removing the two existing fire-monitoring units (part number 6342-01) and replacing them with new ones (part number 6342-02), per the instructions of Dassault Mandatory Service Bulletin F2000EX-138 (dated March 5, 2007). This AD, which supersedes AD 2007-02-01, resulted from an MCAI originated by the European Aviation Safety Agency.
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Cessna Aircraft will defer a previously planned ramp-up in business jet production next year because some of the Wichita manufacturer’s customers are having trouble securing financing for their aircraft purchases, according to Lewis Campbell, chairman and CEO of Textron, Inc., the parent company of Cessna.
SEN. ROBERT BYRD (D-W.Va.) agreed to step down as head of the Senate Appropriations Committee Friday and Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), 84 – currently head of the Commerce Committee – is expected to succeed Byrd, 91, as chairman of Appropriations. That would open the door for Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) to take over as chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, which could cause a headache for business aviation advocates. Rockefeller has been a principal supporter of imposing user fees on business aviation operators for access to the national airspace system.
GENERAL AVIATION MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION elected Jeppesen President and CEO Mark Van Tine as chairman of the association for 2009. Van Tine has been vice chairman of the board and chairman of the International Affairs Committee of GAMA. Robert Wilson, president of Honeywell Business and General Aviation, will succeed Van Tine in the vice chairman role. He also will continue as chairman of the Technical Policy Committee. Jim Ziegler, chief operating officer at Jet Aviation, was elected chairman of the International Affairs Committee.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model AS332C, L, L1 and L2 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2008-0430; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-42-AD; Amendment 39-15694; AD 2008-21-10] – Before further flight, replace at least one of the hydraulic pumps with an airworthy pump, following the instructions of Eurocopter France Emergency Alert Service Bulletin 01.00.73 (dated Aug. 23, 2007). This AD, which resulted from an MCAI originated by the aviation authority of France, was issued following two cases of hydraulic power system loss on two aircraft.
TURBOMECA Arriel 2B and 2B1 engines [Docket No. FAA-2008-0935; Directorate Identifier 2008-NE-28-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to replace certain low-fuel-pressure switches of the Hydro Mechanical Unit (HMU) and perform a one-time inspection of other HMU switches to determine if any parts might be missing, per Turbomeca Mandatory Service Bulletin 292 73 2826 (dated March 13, 2008).
AMETEK AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE was selected to provide the windshield heat controller (WHC) system for the Embraer Legacy 400-500 family of business jets. The WHC uses Ametek’s Amphion power control technology to control and protect the windshield. The technology eliminates the need for active cooling of power control products.
JOHN A. MARTIN was appointed vice president and general manager of PATS Aircraft Completions in Georgetown, Del., a division of DeCrane Aerospace. Most recently, Martin was director of aftermarket sales, marketing and business development at Spirit Aerosystems, Inc., vice president of business development at TIMCO Aviation Services, Inc. and president of Aviation Management Inc. Earlier in his career he spent more than 23 years with Goodrich Corp. in a variety of management posts.
CESSNA AIRCRAFT COMPANY Model LC40-550FG, LC41-550FG and LC42-550FG (Columbia Aircraft) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-27628; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-025-AD; Amendment 39-15713; AD 2007-07-06 R1] – This AD, which supersedes an existing directive (AD 2007-07-06), permits operators to install access panels to facilitate the inspections required by the earlier rule.
H.J. (HANK) ESPOSITO, better known as “Mr. Teterboro,” died last week. The U.S. Army Air Corps veteran served in Europe during World War II before embarking upon a half-century-long career at Atlantic Aviation’s New Jersey FBOs in 1949. Esposito spent the last two years working part-time for Jet Aviation Teterboro.
The National Transportation Safety Board is participating with Mexican officials in the investigation of a fatal Learjet 45 crash that has generated speculation about possible sabotage because it was carrying key government officials.
JAY HOFFER was named senior director of operations at Sabreliner Corporation’s repair, overhaul and maintenance facility in Perryville, Mo. Hoffer will report to the vice president of operations for Sabreliner’s Southeast Missouri region, which also includes facilities in Ste. Genevieve and St. Mary. Hoffer retired from the U.S. Navy Supply Corps in 1992 after a 20-year career in contracting and financial management.
November 11-12 – VLS/Business Aviation Management Forum, Crowne Plaza, West Palm Beach, Fla., www.aviationweek.com/conferences November 16-18 – Middle East Business Aviation Airport Expo, Dubai, UAE, www.meba.aero January 11-15, 2009 – American Association of Airport Executives: 23rd Annual Aviation Issues Conference, Kona, Hi. For more information contact AAAE at (703) 824-0500 or go to www.aaae.org/products/allmeetings.html February 11-12 – Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (ABACE Forum 2009), Hong Kong
SAAB Model 2000 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0848; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-082-AD; Amendment 39-15702; AD 2008-22-07] – Replace the fuel pump harness inside each inboard wing fuel tank in accordance with the instructions of Saab 2000 Service Bulletin 2000-28-013 (dated Oct. 11, 2007). Also, modify the wiring of the 28 VDC supply to the signal conditioner and the 132VP feed-through connector, per the instructions of Saab 2000 Service Bulletin 2000-28-014, Rev. 02 (dated Jan. 23, 2008).
THE U.S. COURT OF APPEALS stayed a Department of Transportation requirement that would compel employees to be directly observed during drug and alcohol testing. The Air Transport Association and Regional Airline Association objected to the rule, saying it “borders on harassment” (BA, Oct. 27/196). The appeals court ruling stays the requirement, which was to go into effect Nov. 1, pending further review. The case was brought by the BNFS Railway Co. and others who objected to the rule.
AVIDYNE CORP. received FAA technical standard order approval for its MLX770 two-way datalink receiver. The MLX770, which relies on the Iridium satellite network, will provide datalink weather to Entegra- and EX500-equipped aircraft both in the U.S. and internationally. The unit uses WSI’s InFlight weather data, including graphical and textual MEXARs and TAF, and the option for radar. Avidyne and WSI also plan future products including Wind and Temps Aloft, inflight weather advisories and lightning. The MLX770 also provides two-way text messaging.
Hangar space for lease at the Van Nuys Airport. Maguire Aviation is in the process of developing 460,000 sq. ft. of hangar and offices for single and multiple tenant occupancy. Please contact Mike McDaniel or Tim Wray for more information at 800-451-7270. Click here to view the pdf
General Dynamics last week expanded its global business aviation reach with the completion of its approximately $2.18 billion acquisition of Jet Aviation from Dreamliner Lux S.a.r.l, which is controlled by the Permira Funds. Announced in August (BA, Aug. 25/85), the acquisition provides General Dynamics maintenance, repair and overhaul, fixed-base operation and aircraft management and charter businesses that are located throughout Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North and South America.
DESPITE THE NEED to cut back planned business jet production increases at Cessna Aircraft next year, Textron Chairman and CEO Lewis Campbell remains a firm believer that a continuing flow of new products is a major factor in increasing aircraft sales.
Aviation associations last week pledged to work with President-elect Barack Obama as they began preparing for transitions within the Executive Branch and on Capitol Hill, with speculation already beginning on who the new president will select to head the Transportation Department and FAA.
