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THE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, for the first time, is expanding the use of the DCA Access Standard Security Program to provide access to restricted airspace during the Republican National Convention Sept. 1-4 in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn. The program, instituted for flights to and from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, may be considered for other applications in the future. See article on Page 69.
MARGARET JENNY was selected as the next president of RTCA, Inc., the organization formerly known as the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics. Jenny will succeed Dave Watrous, who will conclude his 19-year tenure as president of the organization at the end of this month. RTCA is a private, not-for-profit corporation that develops consensus-based recommendations regarding communications, navigation, surveillance and air traffic management (CNS/ATM) system issues.
September 10 – National Business Aviation Association, Regional Forum, Hanscom Field (BED), Bedford, Mass. For more information, contact NBAA at (202) 783-9000 September 10-11 – Technology Training Corp’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Conference, Holiday Inn, Arlington, Va., (310) 563-1223 September 15-18 – Arinc’s Flight Simulator Engineering and Maintenance Conference, Hilton Salt Lake (Utah) Center. For more information call (410) 266-2008 or see www.arinc.com
BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA Model 430 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2007-0177; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-19-AD; Amendment 39-15616; AD 2008-15-04] – Requires operators to adjust the rigging of the tail-rotor pitch-change mechanism in accordance with the instructions of Bell Helicopter Textron Alert Service Bulletin 430-07-39 (dated Jan. 9, 2007). If either at the full-left pedal position or full-right pedal position a gap exists between the tail-rotor yoke and the flapping stop, replace the tail-rotor yoke with an airworthy one.
ROLLS-ROYCE DEUTSCHLAND Dart 528, 529, 532, 535, 542 and 552 engines [Docket No. FAA-2006-24825; Directorate Identifier 2006-NE-17-AD; Amendment 39-15623; AD 2008-16-05] – This AD, which expands the applicability of an earlier directive, requires a dimensional inspection of the intermediate-pressure turbine (IPT) disk or an ultrasonic inspection of the seal arm contact between the high-pressure turbine (HPT) and the IPT disk seal arm. Operators would need to rework or replace the IPT disk if it is worn beyond acceptable limits.
EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION said its 2008 AirVenture drew an estimated 540,000 attendees, which EAA described as “a slight decrease from 2007 and nearly equal to 2006’s attendance.” The show drew more than 10,000 arriving aircraft to Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh and other airports in east-central Wisconsin. There were 797 commercial exhibitors, a total that EAA said was up slightly over 2007.
Federal Aviation Administration issued a new airworthiness directive (AD 2008-16-15) last week superseding an earlier AD and requiring operators of Eclipse EA-500 aircraft to comply with an Eclipse service bulletin regarding use of a standardized procedure for testing and modifying (as applicable) the throttle lever of the aircraft.
GENERAL ELECTRIC CO. CF34-8E engines [Docket No. FAA-2008-0821; Directorate Identifier 2008-NE-20-AD; Amendment 39-15619; AD 2008-16-01] – Requires reprogramming the full-authority digital engine control (FADEC) software from version 8Ev5.40 to an FAA-approved software version. This AD, which was prompted by six loss-of-thrust control events involving the same software fault scenario, is intended to prevent loss of thrust control and controllability. This AD, which affects engines installed on Embraer 170 airplanes, becomes effective Aug. 15.
DANA LOCKHART joined GMT Global Republic Aviation to lead the company’s capital markets activities. Lockhart will be responsible for raising financing to acquire aircraft. He also will develop and manage relationships with GMT lenders. Lockhart has 40 years of aviation and aerospace experience, previously serving with Airbus Americas as chief financial officer and vice president of sales finance. Lockhart also worked for Fairchild Credit Corporation and Lockheed Corporation.
ACCORDING TO FAA, U.S. general aviation operators recently completed a three-year period that was the safest ever. But the agency believes further improvement is necessary. FAA set a goal of reducing the number of fatal accidents by 10 percent through 2018. The agency also wants to reduce GA and Part 135 accidents in Alaska from the 2000-2002 average of 130 accidents per year to fewer than 100 annually. These goals were included in FAA’s recently released draft Flight Plan for the years 2009-2013.
NATIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION has scheduled a Business Aviation Regional Forum Sept. 10 in Bedford, Mass. The day-long event is expected to include 30 aircraft on display and 60 exhibitors. The event is designed to introduce business aviation to local business leaders as well as provide informational sessions for the business aviation community.
The number and severity of accidents involving business turboprops in the U.S. was up significantly during the first six months of 2008, according to data compiled by Robert E. Breiling Associates, Inc. of Boca Raton, Fla.
THE WHITE HOUSE said Tuesday that President Bush intends to nominate Mark Rosenker, currently chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, as vice chairman of the agency. Rosenker began serving as a member of NTSB in December 2005. His two-year stint as chairman was scheduled to expire Aug. 9. Rosenker was renominated as chairman in October but the Senate did not act on the nomination. It is expected that Rosenker will continue to head the agency at least until after the November elections.
Cessna Aircraft, which had planned to be delivering Model 172 Skyhawks powered by Thielert Aircraft Engine diesel powerplants this year, is still seeking a viable alternative following the German engine maker’s insolvency filing earlier this year.
FLIGHT DISPLAY SYSTEMS secured FAA parts manufacturing approval for its Flight View Camera and Satellite Radio Amplifier. Mounted on the cockpit glare shield, the Flight View Camera provides passengers with a pilot’s view of taxi, takeoff and landing. The Satellite Radio Amplifier provides access to XM or Sirius satellite service. Flight Display priced the Flight View Camera at $1,250 and Satellite Radio Amplifier at $1,875.
Sentient Flight Group LLC, which recently named Jake Cartwright president and CEO of Sentient Flight Group, Inc., announced new titles and responsibilities for a number of its executives last week (BA, Aug. 4/49).
Hawker Beechcraft Corp. (HBC) accomplished a substantial financial turnaround during the second quarter, reporting an operating profit of $86.4 million for the period, compared with a loss of $36.6 million in the second quarter a year ago.
Avidyne and Honeywell are hoping to expand general aviation aircraft and pilot accessibility to synthetic vision with new products unveiled at last month’s EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis. Garmin, meanwhile, has found another platform for its recently announced synthetic vision system with the TBM 850.
CESSNA has begun offering options for installation of the Ballistic Recovery System (BRS) parachute and AmSafe Aviation Inflatable Restraints (AAIR) on its single-engine piston models. Cessna’s authorized service centers will install the BRS system on Model 172/182 aircraft and the AAIR system on 177, 182, 206 and 210 aircraft. The BRS uses a small portion of the baggage compartment and does not require aerodynamic changes to the airframe, Cessna said. The AAIR self-contained, self-powered airbag systems are compatible with standard seats and seatbelt attach points.
PILATUS PC-6 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0822; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-045-AD; Amendment 39-15621; AD 2008-16-03] – Requires operators to conduct repetitive inspections of the leaf springs in the overhead flap-operating mechanism. If any cracks are found in the leaf springs, replace them with new springs in accordance with the instructions of Pilatus PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 27-002 and 27-003 (both dated July 2, 2008).
MIKE TURNER was appointed avionics sales manager for StandardAero. Turner will support domestic and international sales teams based in Tucson. He previously spent 28 years with Bombardier in a variety of roles, most recently as regional avionics sales manager. He also served as a navigation system specialist in the U.S. Air Force.
A healthy backlog helped drive Triumph Group to a 17 percent increase in net sales and a 43 percent increase in operating income for the first quarter of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009, the Wayne, Pa. company said. Triumph, which manufactures and repairs aircraft components and accessories for commercial, regional, business and military aircraft, reported fiscal 2009 first quarter net sales of $320.6 million, up from $275 million in the same quarter a year ago.
