Model Fan Jet Falcon, Falcon 20C, D, E, F and G; Falcon 200; and Falcon 20-C5, 20-D5, 20-E5 and 20-F5 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-0182; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-138-AD; Amendment 39-15401; AD 2008-05-07] - This AD requires operators to verify the correct assembly of the elevator bellcrank at Frame 26, as instructed in either Dassault Service Bulletin F20-768 or F200-122 (both dated May 23, 2006). If the bellcrank is found to be installed upside down, reinstall the part correctly prior to the next flight and label it as instructed in the relevant service bulletin.
Model ERJ-135BJ, -135ER, -135KE, -135KL, -135LR, -145, -145ER, -145MR, -145LR, -145XR, -145MP and -145EP airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-0338; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-139-AD; Amendment 39-15396; AD 2008-05-02] - This new AD supersedes an existing directive (AD 2005-25-04), retaining all its provisions, but requiring that the mandated repetitive inspections of the rudder system be done with new service information.
CESSNA won an order valued at $40 million from Lufthansa for four more Citation business jets - two CJ3 jets and two XLS+ aircraft. Cessna previously announced orders from Lufthansa for four Citation CJ1+ aircraft. Deliveries of the eight aircraft are scheduled through mid-2009. The newest aircraft on order will be operated in the Lufthansa Private Jet fleet, which provides point-to-point flights in Europe and Russia.
THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT continues to demonstrate its concern about the potential for charter brokers to engage in deceptive practices. The agency this month issued a consent order for the "unlawful holding out of air transportation" by the charter broker Jet One Jets (JOJ).
The National Transportation Safety Board plans to probe the safety of the growing use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in a three-day forum. The conference, to be held April 29-May 1 in the NTSB Board Room and Conference Center in Washington, will discuss the implications of the integration of a growing population of UAS into the National Airspace System (NAS). The forum will cover regulatory standards; integration with the NAS; perspectives of UAS operators and other NAS users; design, certification and airworthiness; human factors; and future UAS applications.
Component maker Ametek will open a 1,700 square meter (18,000 sq. ft.) maintenance facility in Singapore by the end of this month to cut turnaround times for Asian customers. The facility's initial work will include maintenance and repair of pneumatic and hydraulic parts.
Joined the Regional Airline Association in Washington, D.C. as manager of industry and regulatory affairs, including security, environmental and communications issues. Connolly began his career in Washington as a legislative assistant to Rep. Peter G. Torkildsen (R-Mass.), specializing in defense and aerospace issues. He later served as director of aerospace and defense government affairs for SmithBucklin Corp. Most recently Connolly was national accounts manager for Blackboard, Inc., which focuses on sales to the Department of Defense and other government agencies.
The continued introduction of Very Light Jets coupled with a strong market for business jets will drive general aviation growth over the next 18 years, the Federal Aviation Administration said last week. During the agency's annual Aviation Forecast Conference last week, FAA Administrator Robert Sturgell declared, "The pulse is strong and healthy" as commercial aviation is on track to carry one billion passengers by 2016.
Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0262; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-021-AD] - This proposed AD would require operators to revise the "Airworthiness Limitations" section of the "Instructions for Continued Airworthiness" to include Critical Design Configuration Control Limitations data in order to preserve critical fuel-tank system ignition source prevention features during maintenance, modification or repair.
Model GMBH 228-200, -201, -202 and -212 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0249; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-012-AD] - This proposed AD would require operators to replace certain rudder control cables, following the instructions of Dornier 228 Alert Service Bulletin No. ASB-228-269 (dated March 23, 2007). This proposal, which resulted from an MCAI originated by the aviation authority of Germany, is intended to remove from service cables whose mechanical properties may degrade. The FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 17 aircraft on the U.S.
AVIDYNE CORPORATION'S Envision integrated flight deck was awarded a Supplemental Type Certificate for installation on the Cessna 400 series of piston twin-engine airplanes. Southern Star Avionics, LLC in Mobile, Ala. worked with Avidyne on the retrofit, which initially was installed on a Cessna Model 414A. The STC also covers the Cessna 401(A, B), 402 (A, B, C), 414(A) and 421(A, B, C) twin-piston airplanes. Avidyne and Southern Star originally teamed on an STC for the installation of the Envision EXP5000 PFD on Cirrus SR20 and SR22 airplanes.
CESSNA AIRCRAFT conducted a successful one hour first flight of its SkyCatcher trainer March 8. The aircraft, the first of three airframes being built in Wichita, took off from Cessna's facility and landed at Mid-Continent Airport.
CLIFFORD DEVELOPMENT struck an agreement with Innovative Solutions & Support, Inc. (IS&S) to provide a certified Air Data Integration Unit (ADIU) that will meet new FAA safety and reliability certification requirements for all Williams International FJ44-3A engine installations. The ADIU system supplies critical temperature readings to the engine's Full Authority Digital Engine Control system for automatic engine power management, as well as other required airframe parameters.
AMETEK, Inc., acquired Tulsa, Okla. heat-transfer repair specialist Drake Air. Drake, which was privately held, has annual sales of approximately $15 million. Ametek said the purchase will provide it with maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities in the thermal management segment of the aerospace market and complement the company's line of Hughes-Treitler heat exchangers and thermal management.
Rockwell Collins' planned acquisition of tiny Athena Technologies, Inc. may turn out to be one of the most important in the company's history if its vision of the future of air navigation turns out to be right (BA, March 10/108).
A recently released report from the Transportation Department Inspector General provided the Air Transport Association ammunition in its quest to blame the nation's air traffic congestion woes on business jet use of the airspace and shift costs of the National Airspace System onto general aviation. Business and general aviation groups have long contested ATA's contentions, saying that non-airline users do not clog the nation's busiest airports, because business and general aviation operators prefer using smaller alternative airports.
Model Falcon 50 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-0369; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-258-AD; Amendment 39-15402; AD 2008-05-08] - Requires verification that onboard life rafts are stowed correctly (with deployment straps outboard) and that the overall dimensions of the life raft hard pack do not exceed nominal values, using the instructions of Dassault Service Bulletin F50-480 (dated Dec. 5, 2006). If a life raft is found incorrectly stowed or packed, before the next flight, reinstall it correctly.
THE TOTAL number of general aviation hours flown has declined slightly in the past eight years, but FAA expects that number to turnaround. FAA is predicting that GA operations overall will grow at an annual average of 2.8 percent in the next three years, but that business jets flight hours are set to jump at an average of 12.2 percent annually over the next three years.
Model GMBH 228-100, -101, -200, -201, -202 and -212 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0197; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-005-AD] - Conduct a detailed visual inspection on the inner structure of the rudder and elevator for signs of corrosion, de-bonded primer or any other deviation of surface protection, using Dornier 228 Service Bulletin No. SB-228-270 (dated Oct. 30, 2007).
Honda Aircraft Company is expanding its North American presence with a new retail sales and service representative in Mexico and plans for direct sales and service support for potential customers in Canada. Servicios Aéreos Estrella, S.A. de C.V. (SAE), a fixed-base operator based at Toluca International Airport (TLC) in Mexico City, will represent HondaJet in Mexico. SAE plans to establish a new HondaJet sales and service facility at TLC and is beginning to take customer orders immediately.
