GMBH EC135 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2008-0101; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-76-AD; Amendment 39-15357; AD 2007-26-51] - Requires inspection of the tail rotor control rod and adjoining ball pivot and replacement of any unairworthy parts before further flight following the instructions of Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. EC135-67A-017 (dated Dec. 13, 2007). This AD was prompted by a fatal accident involving the failure of a control rod. The FAA estimates that this AD will affect 163 helicopters on the U.S. Registry and could cost U.S.
BRISTOW GROUP, INC. announced a number of changes within its top management organization as a result of planned retirements by two key executives. The helicopter operator said Mike Suldo, senior vice president-Western Hemisphere and president of Air Logistics, LLC, plans to retire later this year. Bill Hopkins, vice president-global standards, plans to retire March 31. Mark Duncan, currently senior vice president-global business development for Bristow, will move into the role of senior vice president-Western Hemisphere.
BAA JET MANAGEMENT LTD. of Hong Kong is adding multiple business jets to its managed fleet. The company will acquire a third Airbus Corporate Jetliner (ACJ) Prestige in 2012, bringing the company's total complement of Airbus airplanes to four - three ACJs and an A318. BAA Jet Management also will add two Falcon 900EX aircraft, one in the fourth quarter of this year and another in the fourth quarter of 2009. A Gulfstream 200 will join the fleet this quarter. It will be operated by Asia United Business Aviation (AUBA) and based in Shenzhen, China near Hong Kong.
ARAB WINGS ordered a Global 5000 aircraft from Bombardier. Scheduled for delivery in 2011, the Global 5000 will be based in Amman, Jordan and available for charter.
EMB-120 series airplanes [Directorate Identifier 2000-NM-120-AD] - The FAA has withdrawn a proposed rule that would have required repetitive calibration testing of potentiometers to detect noisy signals, replacement of units with noisy signals, and submission of potentiometer test results and the readouts of the flight data recorder to the airplane manufacturer.
THE SENATE WEDNESDAY passed a bill extending FAA's authorization and existing aviation taxes through June 30. Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) had pushed for extending the authorization package through the end of the fiscal year (Sept. 30), but he voted for the bill containing the June 30 date, citing an urgent need to ensure that aviation taxes continue to be collected. But Rockefeller added that he is "becoming convinced that Congress cannot pass S.1300," which is the senator's multi-year version of the FAA reauthorization bill.
The decade-long effort to develop a successful aircraft manufacturing program in the Denver suburbs crashed and burned last week as Adam Aircraft shut its doors and laid off the last of its 800 employees.
Ross Aviation purchased an ownership stake in Miami Executive Aviation (MEA), based at Opa-Locka Executive Airport (OPF) in Miami, Fla. The facility will continue to operate as Miami Executive Aviation.
Was named managing director of Grob Aerospace GmbH of Germany. Gehling previously worked for Pilatus Aircraft in Switzerland where he held a number of positions, including heading the PC-21 program. Most recently, Gehling was in charge of development for the Pilatus PC-12 Next Generation program. Grob said Andreas Strohmayer remains in his post as joint managing director.
172R and 172S airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-29138; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-073-AD; Amendment 39-15351; AD 2008-03-02] - Requires inspection of the fuel return-line assembly for chafing, and replacement of the assembly if chafing is found. Also, requires inspection of the clearance between the fuel return-line assembly and both the right steering tube assembly and the airplane structure, adjusting the clearance, as necessary.
March 10-11 - Federal Aviation Administration, 33rd Annual Aviation Forecast Conference, Washington, D.C. Contact Linda Baranovics at (202) 267-5370; or e-mail [email protected] March 10-12 - Flight Safety Foundation 20th European Aviation Safety Seminar - EASS, Bucharest, Romania; Contact FSF at (703) 739-6700 March 13-15 - Aeronautical Repair Station Association, Annual Repair Symposium, Washington, D.C.; Contact ARSA at (703) 739-9543
F.27 Mark 050 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0153; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-243-AD; Amendment 39-15372; AD 2008-03-21] - Conduct a detailed visual inspection and an eddy-current inspection of the fuselage bottom skin for cracks, per the instructions of Fokker Services Service Bulletin SBF50-53-058 (dated June 30, 2006) and SBF50-53-059 (dated Aug. 24, 2006). Repair any cracks found and report the results to Fokker.
ROCKWELL COLLINS received FAA supplemental type certification for installation of its Pro Line 21 Integrated Display System on a King Air 200 aircraft with SPZ 200 autopilot. Superior Aircraft Maintenance in Medford, Ore. completed the installation. Rockwell Collins, which also has earned Pro Line 21 IDS STCs for the Falcon 50, Piaggio P-180 and Hawker 800A, is working toward approval of the system on the King Air C90 and Falcon 20. The King Air installation integrated the Pro Line 21 IDS with the aircraft's autopilot and sensors.
BUSINESS-CLASS CARRIER EOS plans to begin daily service between London Stansted and Dubai, and also is launching flights between Newark, N.J. and Stansted. The Dubai flights will to begin July 6, while the first Newark flights are set for May 5. Eos flies 48-seat Boeing 757s, and currently operates up to 44 weekly flights between New York Kennedy and Stansted.
HAWKER BEECHCRAFT is planning to invest $14 million in its Indianapolis Hawker Beechcraft services maintenance facility at Indianapolis International Airport. The investment will include construction of a 6,500-square-foot terminal and a 40,000-square-foot service hangar with 20,000 square feet of back shops and administrative offices. The facility will be a factory service center for the entire Hawker Beechcraft aircraft line. Hawker Beechcraft expects to add up to 50 jobs at the new center in the next five years.
Was promoted to director of sales and marketing for Jet Source in Carlsbad, Calif. Carlston formerly was marketing manager for the aviation services company. In her new role, Carlston will develop and implement strategies to increase sales and direct and manage all advertising and marketing efforts for the company's base at McClellan-Palomar Airport as well as for the new location planned to open next year in Henderson, Nev.
Model 700 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-0349 Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-094-AD; Amendment 39-15366; AD 2008-03-15] - Requires inspecting the pilot-door locking stop fittings for correct length and replacing any incorrect length fittings found, as specified in EADS SOCATA TBM Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 70-131 (dated July 2005) or SB 70-131, Amendment 1 (dated June 2007). This AD, which resulted from an MCAI issued by an aviation authority of another country, is intended to prevent damage to the stop fitting and possible depressurization of the airplane.
THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION estimates it will cost operators of some Honeywell TFE731 engines more than $13 million to remove nearly 600 high-pressure turbine discs from the engines on a number of different business jet models, but Honeywell says that dollar figure is way too high because it is based on the full retail price of parts and labor.
A former Delta Airlines pilot, was named chief operating officer for Midwest Airlines. Kolshak spent 20 years with Delta serving as a line pilot, general manager of flight operations, director of investor relations and most recently as executive vice president of operations. In his new role, Kolshak will have responsibility for directing all aspects of Midwest's operations functions, including flight operations, flight standards and training, inflight services, customer service, system operations control, safety and regulatory compliance and maintenance and engineering.
BR700-715A1-30, BR700-715B1-30 and BR700-715C1-30 engines [Docket No. FAA-2007-0169; Directorate Identifier 2007-NE-45-AD] - For aircraft operated to the Hawaiian Flight Mission profile, this proposed AD, which resulted from an MCAI issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency, would require reducing the maximum approved life for the low-pressure (LP) compressor fan disc assembly from 33,000 flight cycles to 25,000 flight cycles. The proposal also would require removing from service any assemblies that exceed the new maximum life limit.
The Bush Administration's fiscal 2009 transportation budget drew criticism last week as "just more of the same" from the Bush Administration. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters Monday unveiled the DOT fiscal 2009 budget request that calls for $14.6 billion for the Federal Aviation Administration. The budget, which would be $320 million below the fiscal 2008 appropriation, assumes the continuation of the current aviation excise taxes. But DOT budget documents assume a shift to user fees and higher fuel taxes beginning in 2010.
