ECLIPSE AVIATION plans to hold a press conference today (Jan. 14) to provide information on "an important financing development and discuss an exciting new opportunity to grow the Eclipse 500 market." The manufacturer said last month it had received "a very good response" from customers to an offer to freeze the total price of the Eclipse 500 Very Light Jet they have on order in return for an immediate $625,000 payment to Eclipse to help get the company through a cash flow bind (BA, Dec. 17/273).
MEDAIRE, INC., which provides worldwide crewmember medical training, medical advisory services and medical kits for aviation and maritime operators, designated Remote Diagnostic Technologies Ltd. as a "preferred provider" for remote vital sign monitoring devices. The vital sign monitoring units transmit data on pulse rates, blood pressure, video images and EKG results directly to physicians at MedAire's 24/7 MedLink Global Response Center in Phoenix, Ariz.
At the behest of the Small Business Administration, the Federal Aviation Administration last month clarified that its Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast proposal would have a "significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities." FAA in October proposed requiring installation of ADS-B compatible equipment on all aircraft that fly above 10,000 feet mean sea level or in certain terminal airspace by 2020 (BA, Oct. 8/158).
THE CONTROLLERS UNION ratcheted up the rhetoric last week, claiming that it is "unsafe to fly" into some large U.S. airports at certain times of the day because the continuing exodus of veteran controllers has left key FAA ATC facilities woefully short of fully trained controllers. See article on Page 14.
CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0413; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-341-AD] - This proposed AD would require operators to revise the "Airworthiness Limitations" section of the "Instructions for Continued Airworthiness" to incorporate new limitations for fuel tank systems. This proposed AD, which resulted from an MCAI originated by Transport Canada Civil Aviation, is designed to prevent potential ignition sources inside the fuel system, which could result in a fuel tank explosion.
ERA HELICOPTERS is building a new flight training facility in Lake Charles, La. The new building is expected to be operational by the end of the first quarter and will include two Frasca International flight training devices for the Eurocopter AS350B2 and EC135 helicopters, built by Frasca International.
The Federal Aviation Administration plans to expand improved taxiway centerline marking requirements to all certificated airports as part of an effort to reduce runway incursions, the agency announced last week. FAA also is recommending regular recurrent driver training for people with access to the movement and ramp areas at certificated airports.
CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-0335; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-292-AD] - Requires replacement of certain fuel tube couplings with redesigned couplings. For certain couplings, the replacement includes a detailed inspection for wear of the sleeve and coupling and applicable corrective actions, including installing new O-rings and sleeves.
CLAYTON M. JONES, chairman, president and chief executive of Rockwell Collins, was elected chairman of the board of governors for the Aerospace Industries Association for 2008. Robert J. Stevens, chairman, president and chief executive of Lockheed Martin Corp., was named vice chairman. Marion Blakey, former FAA Administrator, took over late last year as president and CEO of AIA.
The Air Transport Association predicts an industry-wide profit of $3.5 billion to $4.5 billion this year, the first time the U.S. airline industry has reported three consecutive profitable years in eight years. The industry will be profitable despite rising fuel and non-fuel expenses and a softening economy, ATA chief economist John Heimlich noted in the 2008 Economic Outlook. Passenger and cargo revenue strength will continue to sustain the industry this year, the report said.
Gulfstream Aerospace won approval from FAA for four of the company's business jet models to fly special Required Navigation Performance Special Aircraft and Aircrew Authorized Required (RNP SAAAR) airport approaches. The approval follows a year-long effort by Gulfstream, fractional operator NetJets and Honeywell International to gain approval for the companies' Gulfstream Planeview-equipped aircraft to fly the specialized approaches.
Very Light Jet air taxi start-up DayJet is continuing its expansion with the addition of two new "DayPort" locations that will be staffed with ground infrastructure to support the company's per-seat on-demand service. DayJet added Naples, Fla. and Savannah, Ga., increasing the total number of DayPorts to seven. Other DayPorts are in Boca Raton, Gainesville, Lakeland, Pensacola and Tallahassee.
Adam Aircraft continued to make progress toward certification of its A700 Very Light Jet completing a series of environmental tests last month at the McKinley Climatic Laboratory at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. The aircraft's Williams FJ-33 engines underwent testing in freezing fog, freezing rain and blowing snow to evaluate the ground performance of the inlet anti-ice systems. The aircraft also was exposed to temperatures as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit to evaluate the impact of the cold on the flight controls, avionics, ECS, engine starters and other systems.
Was named chair of the Legal Committee for Airports Council International. A managing partner in the Pittsburgh, Pa. office of Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis, Letwin has extensive experience in airport and aviation issues and currently serves as solicitor for the Allegheny County Airport Authority.
Was named chairman emeritus of Texas Aviation Services (TAS), a helicopter completion and MRO firm based at Meacham Field in Fort Worth, Texas. Woodard, 76, founded an aviation maintenance and avionics company 36 years ago that ultimately became TAS. He formally retired from TAS at the end of the year, but remains a substantial shareholder in the new venture that owns the company "and will remain active with the company in a consulting role" TAS said in a statement.
Model 430 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2007-28688; Directorate Identifier 2005-SW-21-AD; Amendment 39-15312; AD 2007-26-10] - Requires replacement of certain servo actuator-to-actuator support attachment bolt with an airworthy bolt. Also, establishes a retirement life for certain bolts, and requires recording the retirement life on a component history card or equivalent record. This AD was prompted by an evaluation of certain fatigue-critical parts, which led to the conclusion that a life limit of 5,000 hours for the affected bolts would be appropriate.
CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701, & 702), CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705) and CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0414; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-340-AD] - This proposed AD would require operators to revise the "Airworthiness Limitations" section of the "Instructions for Continued Airworthiness" to incorporate new limitations for fuel tank systems.
A fund-raising specialist, was named director of development for aviation at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Fla. The school said Davis will work closely with Tim Brady, dean of the College of Aviation, to strengthen relationships with alumni and donors. Davis, who holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Indiana University, previously held fund-raising posts with the University of Central Florida and Lake Highland Preparatory School in Orlando, Fla.
Model S-61A, S-61D, S-61E and S-61V helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2007-0284; Directorate Identifier 2004-SW-06-AD] - This proposed AD would require installing an electric chip detector on each GE CT58 engine, as well as an on-board chip detector annunciation system. The proposal also would require revising the Rotorcraft Flight Manual to add procedures for crew response to the illumination of an on-board chip detector warning light and require testing of the engine chip-detector system at specified intervals.
ROCKWELL COLLINS will be supplying more components for the Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ). The two manufacturers previously announced that Collins would supply its Pro Line Fusion avionics for the new RJ, but the latest agreement calls for Collins to also provide the primary flight control computers, pilot controls and the horizontal stabilizer trim system. The flight control computers will be an integral part of the MRJ's fly-by-wire system. The pilot controls system includes the control wheels, columns, pedals, associated feel systems and pedestal controls.
JOSEPH M. GULLION was named vice president and general manager of MRO and Business Development for M7 Aerospace in San Antonio, Texas. Gullion will have responsibility for the company's maintenance, repair and overhaul unit, one of six lines of business at M7. Gullion has more than 30 years of aircraft maintenance and operations management experience and previously held posts with AlliedSignal, Dalfort Aviation, AAR Corp. and The Boeing Company. A former Navy pilot, Gullion holds degrees in marketing and communications and a master's degree in management.
Was hired to represent Mooney Airplane Company in the Upper Midwest. His sales territory will include the Dakotas, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. A veteran aircraft salesman, Vasey previously held sales posts at Elliott Aviation in Moline, Ill., and Galvin Flying Service in Seattle, Wash.
Model F406 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-0115 Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-080-AD; Amendment 39-15310; AD 2007-26-08] - Requires removal of the emergency blowdown bottle and installation of a new one following the instructions of Reims Aviation Service Bulletin No. F406-66 (dated May 7, 2007).
THE BUSINESS TRAVEL COALITION and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters are partnering on an Aircraft Maintenance Outsourcing Summit next month in Washington, D.C. The Feb. 11 meeting is designed "to elevate a national discussion over the efficacy of current U.S. airline industry outsourcing practices with respect to maintenance firms in the U.S.
