Engine maker Pratt & Whitney Canada will consolidate powerplant flight test operations at a new facility to be built at Montreal’s Mirabel International Airport. The consolidation effort represents an investment of approximately $90 million, the company said.
AVIONS DE TRANSPORT REGIONAL ATR42 and ATR72-101, -102, -201, -202, -211 and -212 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0409; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-265-AD] – This proposed rule would require operators to inspect the aileron tab bellcrank retainer to ensure that it has the proper hole diameter, following the instructions of ATR Service Bulletins ATR42-27-0098 or ATR72-27-1060 (both dated Dec. 19, 2006), as applicable. If the retainer does not meet specifications, it would need to be replaced.
ATR received an order for two ATR 72-500s that will be operated by Bangkok Airways of Thailand. Irish-based leasing company AIR Ltd. placed the order and will lease the aircraft to the Thai airline. ATR valued the contract at $37 million. The newest aircraft will increase the Bangkok Airways ATR 72-500 fleet to 10 aircraft. The latest aircraft on order are slated for delivery in late 2008 and early 2009.
EMBRAER ERJ 170 and 190 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-27785; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-267-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to conduct a functional check to determine the ability of the Flight Guidance Control System (FGCS) channels to engage, using the procedures outlined in Embraer Service Bulletin 170-22-0003, Rev. 01 or Service Bulletin 190-22-0002, Rev. 01 (both dated Nov. 5, 2007), as applicable. In addition, operators would be required to install Primus Epic field-loadable software version 19.3 or higher.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE EC130 B4 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2007-28229; Directorate Identifier 2006-SW-23-AD; Amendment 39-15434; AD 2008-06-22] – Requires inspecting the pilot and co-pilot collective levers for proper bonding between the twist-grip drive tubes and the control pinions. If debonding is present, replacement of the collective levers is required before further flight. This AD was issued to prevent loss of cockpit throttle control of the engine and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. The FAA estimates that this AD will affect 73 helicopters on the U.S.
A Cessna Citation X business jet was substantially damaged this month when it ran off the side of a runway after landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York.
April 23-26 – Aircraft Electronics Association, 51st Annual Convention & Trade Show, Washington, D.C. Contact Debbie McFarland at (816) 373-6565. April 24 – National Business Aviation Association Regional Forum, Henderson Executive Airport (HND), Las Vegas, Nev. For more information, contact NBAA at (202) 783-9000
HELICOPTER ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL upgraded the association’s Maintenance Malfunction Information Report (MMIR) system to provide the option for users to receive e-mail alerts of MMIR reports on aircraft that are similar to models flown by the user. MMIR allows operators to research part failure reports, submit Service Difficulty Reports, complete warranty claim forms, and track part malfunctions for internal company use. The service is free for the aviation maintenance community.
LAST WEEK’S ANNOUNCEMENT came just three years after Embraer announced plans to become a major player in the business jet market (BA, May 9,2005/207) and introduced the Phenom 100 Very Light Jet and Phenom 300 Light Jet. Since then the company has logged orders for hundreds of Phenoms. The manufacturer expects to win certification of the smaller Phenom 100 in the second half of this year and deliver 10 to 15 of those aircraft to customers before yearend.
BRAZILIAN MANUFACTURER EMBRAER detailed its new MSJ and MLJ business jets last week, and said it has received letters of intent from customers for a combined total of more than 100 of the new models. The company plans to announce prices and begin seeking contract commitments for the MSJ and MLJ at the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE) next month in Geneva.
THE CONTINUING CONTROVERSY over FAA’s handling of its airline oversight is beginning to take a toll on the agency’s ranks (BA, April 7/154). The entire management team of the Southwest Airlines Certificate Management Office has turned over in the last year, a key principal maintenance inspector is under investigation and the agency acknowledged last week that it had “reassigned” Thomas Stuckey, manager of the Southwest Region’s Flight Standards Division.
The National Business Aviation Association, which began representing the nation’s largest corporate flight departments more than 60 years ago, announced Wednesday that it plans to begin holding an annual three-day event next year focused on the association’s members who operate light jet, turboprop and piston-powered aircraft. NBAA President Ed Bolen announced plans for the Light Airplane Conference & Exhibition (LAC&E) during last week’s Sun ‘n Fun Fly-In in Lakeland, Fla.
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Denver, Colo. on Wednesday approved the sale of the assets of Adam Aircraft to AAI Acquisition, Inc., a Delaware corporation that was formed by a team of former senior level Adam executives and a Russian private equity asset management company, Industrial Investors. AAI Acquisition emerged as the winning – and only – bidder for the assets of Adam Aircraft on April 4 with a $10 million minimum bid (BA, April 7/160). The sale is scheduled to close Tuesday (April 15) and AAI Acquisition executives expect to restart the company immediately.
The city of Santa Monica last week filed a 40-page response trying to ward off a “headlong assault” from the Federal Aviation Administration, following the agency’s recent issuance to city officials of an “Order to Show Cause” warning of possible enforcement action because of the city’s ban on larger business jets at Santa Monica Municipal Airport (SMO).
TWO IMPORTANT environmental meetings are scheduled in coming weeks. Five groups, including the Airports Council International, the International Air Transport Association and Air Transport Action Group, are holding the 2008 Aviation & Environment Summit April 22-23 in Geneva. That session will include a broad cross-section of senior executives from engine and airframe manufacturers, airports and government.
HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC. TFE731-4, -4R, -5, -5AR, -5BR and -5R series engines [Docket No. FAA-2008-0264; Directorate Identifier 2008-NE-07-AD] – This proposal would require operators to replace currently installed interstage turbine transition (ITT) ducts with a serviceable and redesigned ITT duct.
OMNI AVIACAO took delivery of a Learjet 40 that was configured for Emergency Medical Services conversion. The aircraft was modified to allow easy access for a stretcher. Lifeport supplied a medical kit for the aircraft, which can transport one patient on a stretcher and a four-person medical team on flights of up to 1,800 nautical miles. The Model 40 joins Omni’s fleet of three Learjet 45 business jets and one Learjet 31. Based in Portugal, Omni Aviacao provides a range of fixed-wing and helicopter services in Europe.
MOONEY AIRPLANE COMPANY delivered the first of its new Acclaim Type S single-engine piston aircraft to a customer in Illinois. Billing the aircraft as “the fastest single-engine production piston airplane in the world,” Mooney unveiled the aircraft in October 2007. The Acclaim Type S is powered by a Teledyne Continental Motors IO 550-G engine and equipped with dual Kelly Aerospace turbochargers that will provide a maximum speed of 242 knots at Flight Level 250. Priced at $599,500, the aircraft is five knots faster than the original Acclaim.
– The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating two April 5 accidents involving Robinson R-44 helicopters that resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft. Just after midnight CDT one R-44 (N402PD) operated by the Topeka, Kan. Police Department was substantially damaged when it hit a light pole in a parking lot in that city while the pilot was attempting to make a precautionary landing. The pilot told FAA investigators that the engine overspeed warning light had illuminated and he started to execute an autorotation.
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) is expected to meet with Sen. Rockefeller soon to renew discussions on the stalled FAA reauthorization bill. Baucus and Rockefeller have been at odds over the future of the aviation excise taxes, and Senate Commerce Committee leaders had indicated it could be as late as September 2009 before a comprehensive reauthorization bill is passed.
Honeywell Aerospace achieved a major breakthrough for its aircraft propulsion program last week as Embraer announced that a new version of Honeywell’s HTF7000 turbofan will power both the new Midsize Jet (MSJ) and Midlight Jet (MLJ) that the Brazilian manufacturer is developing. Rockwell Collins was selected to supply its Pro Line Fusion integrated avionics systems for the new business jets.
PILATUS AIRCRAFT LTD. PC-12, PC-12/45 and PC-12/47 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0070; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-098-AD; Amendment 39-15452; AD 2008-07-11] – This AD calls for the establishment of new life limits for the pitch-trim actuator and pitch-trim actuator attachment parts to ensure that these components do not fail. The FAA estimates that this AD will affect 500 airplanes on the U.S. Registry and cost U.S. operators $40 per aircraft to perform the inspections and another $12,240 per aircraft to take remedial actions. This AD becomes effective May 9.
JET SOURCE, based at McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad, Calif., added a Bombardier Challenger 601 to its charter feet. The aircraft seats up to 10 passengers and has a range of more than 3,400 miles.
WOODLAND AVIATION was approved as an authorized Cessna service facility for all models of Cessna single-engine aircraft as well as for Diamond Aircraft. Woodland, an Avfuel dealer, operates at Watts/Woodland airport in California. It was acquired in June 2007 by the owners of Davis Flight Support in Sacramento. Woodland provides repairs and inspection of turbine and piston aircraft. Davis Flight Support was recently renovated to provide newly designed office space, showers, flight planning, sleep rooms, catering, a recreation area and executive conference area.
DORNIER 328-100 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0297; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-330-AD] – This proposal would require operators to install a drain hole in the lower skin of the left-hand and right-hand elevator horns in accordance with the instructions of Avcraft Dornier Service Bulletin SB-328-55-450, Rev. 1 (dated Nov. 19, 2003).
