The recently formed Air Taxi Association (ATXA) in the U.S. launched a European counterpart with the election of a slate of officers to steer the new organization. ATXA, founded by eight fleet operators last spring to unify and raise the visibility of the emerging air taxi industry, most of which will use new-generation Very Light Jets (VLJs) (BA, June 25/282), announced plans last year to form ATXA Europe, and 15 existing and emerging operators already have joined the new organization.
The president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association issued a stern warning last week that retirements of experienced air traffic controllers and required overtime shifts for those that remain on the job are resulting in increasing numbers of operational errors in the National Airspace System.
AIRNET SYSTEMS of Columbus, Ohio won two new contracts from the Federal Reserve System's transportation group and has commenced service. The contracts run through Dec. 31, 2009 and are expected to generate approximately $3 million in total revenue over the two-year period. The primary contract covers weekend transportation of shipments between Federal Reserve check processing sites.
The chairman of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), last week expressed concern that the Bush Administration has not taken steps to curb greenhouse gas emissions and questioned whether the Environmental Protection Agency would support regulating greenhouse gases from aircraft. Combustion of aviation fuels was responsible for about three percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2005, Markey said in a Jan. 8 letter to EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson.
Tay 611-8 and -8C, 620-15, 650-15 and 651-54 engines [Docket No. FAA-2007-27811; Directorate Identifier 2004-NE-11-AD; Amendment 39-15321; AD 2007-26-19] - This AD supersedes an existing directive that requires repetitive visual inspections of all ice-impact panels and fillers in the low-pressure compressor case and replacement of those panels, as needed. The new AD requires the same actions, but it provides the terminating action to repetitive inspections--installation of newly designed LP compressor case ice-impact panels.
SF340A and B airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-0333; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-236-AD] - Requires installation of Modification 3162, which involves stowing the existing wiring to the Fuel Quantity Indication System (FQIS), installing new wires with shields to the FQIS, and conducting operational and functional tests of the rewired system, following the instructions of Saab Service Bulletin 340-28-024, Revision 01 (dated May 21, 2007).
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.
