SENATE STAFF MEMBERS are beginning to draft a bill to extend aviation excise taxes and FAA authorization for another 12 to 15 months. Staffers from the Senate Commerce and Finance Committees had resumed negotiations over the comprehensive FAA reauthorization bill, and some senators had hoped to move a bill in the Senate before Valentine's Day.
BALLISTIC RECOVERY SYSTEMS said one of its whole aircraft parachute systems saved another life this month, the 208th documented instance of a BRS parachute saving a life, the South St. Paul, Minn. company said. The accident involved a Slipstream Genesis, a fabric and fiberglass homebuilt that was flying near Laurel, Md. when a control surface apparently failed, officials said. "The aircraft rolled over on its back and headed straight down," said pilot Patrick Dean, who deployed the BRS parachute just a few hundred feet above the ground.
Model EA500 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-29316; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-078-AD; Amendment 39-15334; AD 2008-02-04] - This directive supersedes AD 2007-13-11, which imposed operational limitations on the aircraft because of reports of loss of primary airspeed indication due to freezing condensation within the pitot system. This new AD requires modification of the angle-of-attack (AOA) system to eliminate the possibility of freezing condensation collecting within the system.
The decision by Textron's board of directors to give Cessna Aircraft the green light to proceed with development of its Large Cabin Concept (LCC) aircraft was hardly a surprise, but it does signal the beginning of a new era for the Wichita plane maker. Cessna has delivered more than 5,000 business jets over the past four decades since the original Citation 500s went into service in the 1970s.
CATHY GEDVILAS is rejoining the Honeywell Aerospace media relations team this week, focusing on the company's Defense and Space business. Gedvilas spent a number of years with Honeywell before accepting a job three years ago doing internal and external media relations for what is now Landmark Aviation/Standard Aero in Tempe, Ariz.
Adam Aircraft senior executives last week were working with potential investors to secure financing as the company is facing two deadlines - one at the end of this month and the other at the end of May - to satisfy debt requirements with key lenders. Adam CEO John Wolf told company stockholders that the company would be forced to liquidate if it did not meet the deadlines, and stockholders would have "little possibility of a recovery" of their investments, according to a letter obtained by The Wichita Eagle.
object debris inside the assembly. The FAA issued this AD to detect and correct defective servo gearbox units, which could jam, requiring pilots to apply substantial control force to override the servo gearbox slip clutch in order to control the airplane. The FAA estimates that this AD affects 900 Cessna, Columbia, Diamond, Hawker Beechcraft and Mooney airplanes on the U.S. Registry and will cost U.S. operators $560 per airplane to perform the inspection. The agency also estimates that replacing the servo gearbox would cost $40 per airplane.
Model 206A, 206B, 206L, 206L-1, 206L-3 and 206L-4 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2008-0040; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-13-AD] - This proposed AD, which resulted from an MCAI originated by Transport Canada, is intended to ensure that the tailboom attachment bolt is installed correctly. If not, operators must take remedial actions. This AD was prompted by reports that some helicopters have been fitted with a CRES steel fitting that has resulted in the tailboom attachment bolt not being installed properly.
Model 222, 222B, 222U, 230 and 430 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2008-0039; Directorate Identifier 2006-SW-13-AD] - This proposed AD, which resulted from a Transport Canada AD, would require rewiring and testing the fuel valve switch on each engine, as well as testing the ignitor system. This proposal was prompted by an inflight incident in which a fuel valve switch failed, causing the fuel valve to inadvertently close.
General aviation groups are wary of a new proposal to allow congested airports to increase charges to operators during busier times of the day. The peak-hour pricing concept was included in an airport rates and charges policy proposal the Department of Transportation released this month. DOT also proposed to clarify that airport authorities can impose two-part landing fees combining per-operation and weight-based charges and to allow airport authorities to distribute landing fees among the different facilities that they operate.
Promoted to vice president of engineering for Kelly Aerospace in Montgomery, Ala. Quave joined Kelly in 2001 after 11 years with Teledyne Continental Motors in Mobile, Ala. During the past year, Quave was responsible for combining the company's engineering resources and recruiting new engineering talent.
CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-0185; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-246-AD; Amendment 39-15337; AD 2008-02-07] - This AD, which resulted from an MCAI issued by Transport Canada, requires a detailed visual inspection of the fuel boost pump to determine if the reducer couplings have become anodized. All anodized couplings are to be replaced with couplings having an ion vapor deposition coating, per the instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 601R-28-057 (dated Dec. 4, 2003).
Model CF34-1A, -3A, -3A1, -3A2, -3B and -3B1 turbofan engines [Docket No. FAA-2007-27687; Directorate Identifier 2000-NE-42-AD] - The FAA proposes to supersede an existing directive (AD 2007-07-07R1, Amendment 39-15179) that requires a one-time inspection of certain fan disks for electrical arc-out indications, replacing fan disks with electrical arc-out indications and reducing the life limit of certain fan disks. This proposed AD would require the same actions, but would require inspection of certain business jet engines that already have had a shop-level inspection.
DESPITE WIDESPREAD CONCERNS about the state of the U.S. economy and volatile stock market prices, two of the country's largest business jet manufacturers say they have seen no evidence the bad economic news is causing cancellation of business jet orders. In fact, both Gulfstream Aerospace and Cessna Aircraft saw significant increases in new orders in 2007 and both firms are planning to boost production this year. The combined production of just those two manufacturers is expected to exceed 600 new business jets in 2008.
AS 355N helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2008-0041; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-16-AD] - This proposed AD, which resulted from an MCAI originated by the European Aviation Safety Agency, would require installation of a placard on the overhead instrument panel, immediately below the ammeter, indicating the new load limitation for the starter generator. This proposal was prompted by reports that the power drawn by the starter generators from the engines is above the consumption capacity at altitudes above 3,000 meters.
EMBRAER received a contract from LOT Polish Airlines for 12 Embraer 175 jets. The contract includes options for two more aircraft and purchase rights for another 10. Embraer valued the agreement at $372 million for the firm orders and $744 million, including options and purchase rights. LOT is one of the launch customers for Embraer's E-Jet family of large transport aircraft, beginning with the El70 in 2004. The order will make LOT the largest E-Jets operator in Europe, with a current fleet of 10 E170s and six E175s.
LANDMARK AVIATION/STANDARD AERO this week is launching a new Mobile Service Team (MST) call center to increase accessibility to the company's network of MRO field-service specialists. The MST network provides on-site consultation, line and on-wing troubleshooting and repair services for business aircraft. The MST teams are based in Phoenix, West Palm Beach, Chicago Houston, Denver, Van Nuys and Islip (Long Island). The company said it plans to add more MST locations over time.
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY'S proposal to establish a security program for large private aircraft took a big step backward after the Transportation Security Administration withdrew the proposal from Office of Management and Budget consideration. OMB had been reviewing the proposal for months, and DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff discussed the proposal in November - apparently in an attempt to spur action by OMB and get the rulemaking formally published in the Federal Register (BA, Nov. 12/218).
Cessna Aircraft selected authorized service stations in Wichita, Kan., Las Vegas, Nev. and West Columbia, S.C. to reassemble the company's light-sport SkyCatcher Model 162, the company announced last week during the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo. Eagle Aviation in West Columbia, Yingling Aviation in Wichita, and Southwest Platinum Aviation in North Las Vegas will reassemble SkyCatchers built in China.
RAM AIRCRAFT LP, a Waco, Texas-based aircraft engine overhaul and general aviation support center, was awarded Designated Alteration Station (DAS) status. Founded in 1976, RAM has secured approval for more than 100 Supplemental Type Certificates for engine, airframe and propeller upgrades and more than 800 Parts Manufacturer Approvals. The DAS award enables RAM to implement an efficient system for certifying STCs.
GE AVIATION selected Missouri University of Science and Technology (formerly the University of Missouri-Rolla) for a new University Development Center (UDC) to be located in Rolla. "The engineering curriculum and academics at Missouri S&T are complementary to the skill set and requirements within our aerospace programs," said Stuart Mullan, president of the digital systems business of GE Aviation. The new UDC "will create a strong pool of emerging engineers to provide design and development work for our aerospace programs," Mullan said.
EMBRAER received a contract from the Ecuadorian company Petroecuador, Empresa Estatal Petroleos del Ecuador, for one ERJ 145. The contract includes a logistical package for replacement parts, technical support and crew training. Petroecuador will operate the aircraft from Quito to transport about 50,000 employees each year to the company's branches. Petroecuador will take delivery of the 50-seat jet in the second half of 2008.
MOMENTUM of Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) programs continues to grow at Cessna Aircraft and Cirrus Design. Cessna now has agreements with three independent service facilities to reassemble the SkyCatcher 162 in the U.S. following initial assembly in China. The Wichita manufacturer also is expected to announce selection of additional vendors for the SkyCatcher this month.
