HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC. ATF3-6 and ATF3-6A engines [Docket No. FAA-2007-29092; Directorate Identifier 2007-NE-30-AD; Amendment 39-15431; AD 2008-06-19] – Requires the removal from service of certain low-pressure compressor (LPC) aft shafts and replacement with serviceable shafts. This AD was prompted by the discovery during fluorescent-penetrant inspections of eight cracked LPC aft shafts. The directive was issued to prevent uncoupling and overspeed of the low-pressure turbine, which could result in uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane.
Cirrus Design Corp. announced promotions last week for three members of its sales team. Bruce Gunter was named vice president, domestic sales for the Duluth, Minn. manufacturer. Gunter joined Cirrus in 1998 as a regional sales manager and subsequently served as regional director and Eastern divisional director.
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE Astra SPX, 1125 Westwind Astra and Gulfstream 100 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0299; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-254-AD] – This proposal calls for revision of the “Limitations” section of the Airplane Flight Manual through incorporation of information that limits the normal use of reverse thrust to idle. Also, it would require operators to visually inspect the bolts used to attach the “scissors” to the horizontal and the vertical stabilizers and replace any damaged bolts before further flight.
THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION has been quietly discussing the possibility that a long-term FAA reauthorization bill might get pushed off until September 2009. Senior Transportation Department officials recently have talked about such a plan with key staff members on Capitol Hill as well with certain industry representatives, sources say. During a recent speech commemorating the opening of new administrative offices at the Denton, Texas Airport, Sen.
CHEVRON GLOBAL AVIATION developed a new online training course covering quality assurance and required aviation procedures for fixed-base operation employees. The course, Product Integrity 101, is designed for line service, customer service and operations personnel. The course will be available in the second quarter and cover fuel receiving, fuel basics, product testing, fire and safety, incident response, contamination, quality assurance inspection and testing, product storage, and documentation requirements.
PPG INDUSTRIES has developed a glass-faced acrylic replacement windshield for Bombardier Challenger 600, 601, 604 and 605 business jets. PPG subsidiary Sierracin/Sylmar Corp. manufactures the new lightweight, heated windshield. PPG said the windshield provides the chemical and abrasion resistance of glass with the weight savings of plastic. Sierracin/Sylmar also produces replacement side cockpit windows for the Challenger 600 Series and passenger-cabin windows for Challenger 600, 601 and 604 aircraft.
April 8-14 – Sun ‘n Fun Fly-In, Inc., Lakeland, Fla., (863) 644-2431 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 April 29-May 1 – Flight Safety Foundation, 53rd Corporate Aviation Safety Seminar, Palm Harbor, Fla., (703) 739-6700
DOWNING AVIATION ASSOCIATES, the Gilbert, Ariz.-based general aviation consultant, is opening a second location at Chandler Municipal Airport. Downing leased office space with Chandler Air Service, a move which Downing said will enable customers to “fly directly to our front door.” Formed in 2001, Downing Aviation Associates provides technical, marketing, business and contract management resources for startup and established business, general aviation and regional aviation firms. The new office is located at 1725 E. Ryan Rd. Suite 9, Chandler, Ariz.
IRA P. BERMAN, senior vice president administration and general counsel for Gulfstream Aerospace, Savannah, Ga., was named a vice president of General Dynamics, the parent company of Gulfstream.
THE BOEING COMPANY agreed to acquire Vought Aircraft Industries’ interest in Global Aeronautica, LLC, a South Carolina fuselage subassembly facility for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. After the transaction is complete, Global Aeronautica will become a 50-50 joint venture between Boeing and Alenia North America, a subsidiary of Italy’s Alenia Aeronautica, a Finmeccanica company. Vought will continue to produce the aft fuselage for the 787 at its facility adjacent to Global Aeronautica in North Carolina.
ELLIOTT AVIATION earned European Aviation Safety Agency approval for installation of the Rockwell Collins Integrated Flight Information System (IFIS) aboard European-registered King Air B200 and 350 twin-turboprop aircraft equipped with Pro Line 21 avionics. The Rockwell Collins IFIS provides electronic chart, graphical weather, and enhanced map display capabilities.
KEY AIR, LLC is adding a new location outside of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metroplex. Key Air will operate a full service fixed-base operation at the Anoka County-Blaine Airport (ANE) that will include 80,000-square-foot hangars and an executive terminal and business center. Key Air noted that ANE is a strategic location because the airport is 15 minutes from downtown Minneapolis and offers 4,800- and 5,000-foot runways and precision approach systems. Key Air expects to begin providing line service this spring and complete the terminal and hangar facility in the fall.
GULFSTREAM’s G200 business jet set seven city-pair speed records over a 10-day period on trips between North America, Europe and Asia. The aircraft departed Gander International Airport in Gander, New Foundland, Canada, on Feb. 16 and flew 2,193 nautical miles to London Luton Airport in 4 hours and 45 minutes. The aircraft averaged a speed of .79 Mach. Two days later, the aircraft flew 1,362 nm from London to Moscow’s Vnukovo International Airport in 3 hours and 13 minutes with an average speed of .80 Mach.
Several field reports of certain Avidyne Entegra EXP5000 primary flight displays (PFDs) displaying incorrect altitude and airspeed information prompted the FAA last week to issue an airworthiness directive that limits the use of those units.
Officials of the Florida Aviation Trades Association (FATA) expressed cautious optimism last week that state legislators would take action to resolve a situation that has left unsuspecting pilots with huge tax bills after visiting the state.
ERIC PANGBURN was promoted to chief pilot for Omniflight Helicopters, an air medical provider based in Addison, Texas. Pangburn has 14 years of industry experience and 29 years of U.S. military experience in the Coast Guard, Coast Guard Reserve/Army Reserve (pilot) and the Army National Guard. He will be responsible for the training of new pilots as well as the recurring instruction and education for all current Omniflight pilots. He also will oversee compliance with FAA requirements and conduct Air Medical Resource Management safety seminars.
VIRGIN CHARTER, Richard Branson’s recently released “online marketplace” designed to link customers and charter flights (BA, Feb. 11/59), added Linear Air, a Concord, Mass.-based air taxi, to its network. Linnear Air is the first air charter company in the Virgin Charter network to operate the Eclipse E500 Very Light Jet. Virgin Charter this month opened its service to the public after holding a limited test period with a select group of clients and operators.
The Smithsonian Institute is looking for evidence of possible bird residue as part of the investigation into the crash of a Citation 500 earlier this month in Oklahoma City, Okla. The aircraft, N113SH, crashed shortly after takeoff from Wiley Post Airport (PWA) at about 1515 CST March 4. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot and three passengers were killed in the accident. Southwest Orthopedic and Sport Medicine Clinic was operating the aircraft on a 549-nautical-mile flight to Mankato Regional Airport in Mankato, Minn.
VOLATILE FINANCIAL MARKETS and credit crunch concerns don’t seem to be making a dent in record demand for business jets. “The order environment for business jets continues to be robust,” said Jack Pelton, Cessna Aircraft’s chairman, president and CEO, during an appearance at last week’s JP Morgan Aviation and Transportation Conference in New York. “Based on strong order activity to date, we are expecting a very strong new order book in the first quarter and remain confident that we will record over 570 business jet orders this year,” Pelton told attendees.
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The U.S. Navy is considering whether to seek a new engine for the Bell/Boeing V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor transport, program manager Col. Matt Mulhern said last week. The existing Rolls-Royce AE 1107C Liberty engines are demonstrating an unacceptably short life, which has prevented the Navy and Rolls-Royce from reaching a deal on paying for engine support, overhaul and replacement.
SURGING ORDERS for both business jets and commercial airliners have resulted in dramatic revenue growth for aviation industry suppliers. Alcoa said this month that its aerospace revenues have grown from $1.5 billion in 2002 to more than $3.7 billion last year.
Embraer mated the wing and fuselage and installed the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW535E engines on the first Phenom 300 this month at the Brazilian airframe manufacturer’s plant in Gaviao Peixoto. In addition, the first electrical power-on test was successfully completed on the nine-place, swept-wing jet.
ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP Friends of the Earth (FOTE) urged the Environmental Protection Agency to act on the group’s petition calling for a study of the hazards of lead in aviation gasoline and to consider new emission standards for general aviation (BA, Nov. 19/231).
