SINGLE-ENGINE PERSONAL JETS are expected to be a major focus of attention at this month’s EAA event, with both Piper Aircraft and Cirrus Design having recently rolled out prototypes of their new single-engine jets. Both companies would like to make first flights and log enough hours early this month to enable their new aircraft to fly into Oshkosh for the show. See article on Page 3.
Starting Aug. 6, operators of some 10,821 Hawker Beechcraft Bonanzas, Barons and Skippers will have one year to replace tens of thousands of circuit breaker toggle switches in their airplanes with switches of improved design, according to an airworthiness directive issued by the FAA last week.
ALL FIVE PEOPLE aboard a Cessna 206 aircraft were killed June 29 when the airplane crashed shortly after takeoff from Santa Rosa, N.M. Visibility was approximately 10 miles when the accident happened about 7 p.m. local time.
DESPITE A BACKLOG of orders for more than 2,000 Eclipse 500 twin-engine Very Light Jets, manufacturer Eclipse Aviation is jumping into the single-engine personal jet market and plans to begin taking orders for the $1.35 million Eclipse 400 this month. The company had a flying proof-of-concept version of the single-engine jet on display at last year’s Experimental Aircraft Association AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis.
Signature Flight Support, the nation’s premier provider of executive aviation services, has management opportunities available on the West Coast. We offer a competitive compensation and benefit program including a 401(K) savings program, tuition reimbursement, health insurance and relocation assistance. If you would like to join our management team, please email your resume to [email protected]. EOE M/F/D/V
Cirrus Design Corp. celebrated the Fourth of July holiday a day early, making a successful 45-minute first flight of the prototype of its single-engine personal jet on July 3 from company headquarters at the Duluth, Minn. airport.
EMBRAER EMB-135ER, -135KE, -135KL, -135LR, -145, -145ER, -145MR, -145LR, -145XR, -145MP and -145EP airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0182; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-262-AD; Amendment 39-15577; AD 2008-13-14] – Requires revision of the “Airworthiness Limitations” section of the “Instructions for Continued Airworthiness” to incorporate new limitations for fuel tank systems. This AD results from an MCAI originated by the aviation authority of Brazil. The FAA estimates that this directive will affect 668 aircraft on the U.S. Registry and cost U.S.
Three carriers have become the first aviation industry representatives on a Boeing-backed organization that’s pursuing second-generation, algae-based alternative fuels for commercial aircraft.
TOM WELCH joined Elliott Aviation as regional sales manager for the Great Lakes region. Based in Chicago, Welch will be responsible for sales to aircraft owners in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. Welch has more than 30 years’ experience in the industry with a number of firms. He formerly owned Wisconsin Aerospace, Milwaukee, which provides aerospace technical consulting and record review services for owner banks and aircraft leasing corporations. He also is a certified A&P mechanic.
PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA PW206A, PW206B, PW206B2, PW206C, PW206E, PW207C, PW207D and PW207E engines [Docket No. FAA-2007-0219; Directorate Identifier 2007-NE-46-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to inspect the compressor turbine (CT) disc bore area for damage, and, if any damage is found, replace the CT disc before further flight, per the instructions of P&WC Alert Service Bulletin PW200-72-A28280, Rev. 4 (dated Aug. 28, 2007). Also, operators would need to replace the existing CT disc retaining nut and associated hardware.
Corporate Hangar Development for 2 parcels at Deer Valley Airport (DVT) Request for Proposals (RFP) The City is seeking proposals for the lease of two parcels on which limited aeronautical commercial activity will be permitted. The RFP documents are expected to be released by July 1, 2008.
The House and Senate last week passed a sixth short-term extension of the FAA authorization and aviation excise taxes, pushing the new deadline to the end of September – little more than a month before the general elections. The latest extension came just days before the authorization and aviation taxes were set to expire. The Sept. 30 extension deadline coincides with the end of the agency’s fiscal year and also marks the end of the first full year that the comprehensive, long-term FAA funding bill was intended to cover.
DASSAULT Falcon 2000EX airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0294; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-288-AD; Amendment 39-15558; AD 2008-12-14] – Requires upgrading of the wings’ anti-ice monitoring circuitry by installing modifications M2814 (per the instructions of Dassault Service Bulletin F2000EX-116) and M2949 (according to the instructions of Dassault Service Bulletin F2000EX-140).
Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer dedicated a major new training and education center Thursday at the company’s principal production facility in Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil.
A new traffic flow management computer network developed for FAA by Computer Sciences Corp. entered operational service June 18 and is expected to provide flow control specialists with a better view of traffic, choke points and weather.
WEST STAR AVIATION received supplemental type certification to install the L-3 Avionics GH-3100 standby instrument and a magnetometer on Cessna Citation 550 and 560 aircraft. The GH-3100 replaces attitude, altitude and airspeed standby instruments with a single-box package. West Star will perform the installation at its East Alton, Ill. facility.
DASSAULT Falcon 20-C5, 20-D5 and 20-E5 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0296; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-307-AD; Amendment 39-15567; AD 2008-13-04] – Requires replacement of the wing anti-ice flexible hoses with new hoses of an improved design. This AD, which resulted from an MCAI originated by the European Aviation Safety Agency, was prompted by the discovery of a collapsed wing anti-ice flexible hose on a Falcon 20-C5.
ARGOSY, a supplier of composite materials, specialty chemicals and other technologies and services for aerospace manufacturers and repair and overhaul shops, won certification from the Civil Aviation Administration of China for coatings developed at its facility in Shanghai. Argosy’s Shanghai facility is a distributor for Azko Nobel Aerospace Coatings (ANAC), and the certification covers custom blending of ANAC coatings for a range of aircraft applications and requirements. Argosy says it can blend and ship coatings within 24 hours of receipt of orders.
DASSAULT Falcon 7X airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0641; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-105-AD; Amendment 39-15573; AD 2008-13-10] – Requires replacement of all secondary power distribution boxes (SPDB) with upgraded units in accordance with the instructions of Dassault Service Bulletin 7X-064 (dated April 16, 2008). Until the SPDB units are replaced, operators should implement temporary Airplane Flight Manual procedures and Master Minimum Equipment List restrictions.
CHRIS SHAFFER was promoted to service manager for Elliott Aviation ’s headquarters facility at Quad Cities International Airport (MLI) in Moline, Ill. Shaffer, formerly Hawker team leader for the Moline facility, will oversee maintenance and service programs for all aircraft types. Shaffer, who has 14 years of aviation maintenance and management experience, served as assistant facility manager at Raytheon Aircraft Services in Denver for six years before joining Elliott in 2006. He has also held maintenance and service posts for Air Wisconsin and Gulfstream Aerospace.
ASSOCIATED AIR CENTER (AAC) is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. The company, which specializes in conversions and modifications of large business jets and airliners for VIP use, began business in Dallas in 1948 installing surplus radio equipment in former military aircraft that were being operated by individuals and corporations.
AMERICAN LEGEND AIRCRAFT COMPANY and Texas Sport Aircraft Company received certification for use of a new 72-inch Sensenich propeller for the Legend Cub light-sport aircraft and Texas Sport kit aircraft. The composite propeller increases speed by up to 10 miles per hour and is ground adjustable. The propeller is offered as an upgrade from the Legend Cub’s standard wood Sensenich propeller for $1,895, or for $2,556 for Legend Cubs equipped with the Continental O-200 propeller. The Legend Cub is similar to the design of the Piper J-3 and PA-11 Cubs.
DAVID DAVENPORT was promoted to regional operations manager for FlightSafety International. Davenport also will continue as manager of FlightSafety’s learning center in Savannah, Ga. In his new position, he will oversee operations in Savannah; Daleville, Ala.; Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas; Long Beach, Calif.; West Palm Beach, Fla.; and a new center in Lafayette, La. scheduled to open by the end of 2008. A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Davenport served in the Air Training Command.
CHOICE AVIATION recently opened a new fuel and maintenance facility at Yellowstone Regional Airport in Cody, Wyo. (COD). An Avfuel-branded dealer, Choice participates in the AVTRIP pilot refueling incentive program and Avfuel Contract Fuel purchasing program. Choice also has a newly renovated customer terminal and on-site flight training. Choice is one of the oldest family-owned, Avfuel-branded dealers, founded at the end of World War II by Glenn Nielson. The facility is now run by Jay Nielson and his father Jim Nielson.
