ARINC ENGINEERING SERVICES LLC entered into a business relationship with Cessna Aircraft Company under which ARINC will perform design, engineering and modification work to equip Cessna-built airplanes for special mission operations. A Cessna spokesman described the agreement as "an approved vendor contract," adding that while Cessna expects to win special-mission aircraft orders, there is no guarantee that such orders will be forthcoming. Any modification work performed would be done at ARINC's new Aircraft Modification Operations Center in Oklahoma City, Okla.
Was named avionics systems integrator for Western Aircraft. Blanton will create and update avionics structural drawings for aircraft modifications and repairs. He has more than 18 years experience working with avionics on commercial, corporate and general aviation aircraft. Blanton has been with Western Aircraft for eight years as an avionics technician and team lead. He previously served as an avionics lead and quality assurance inspector for the U.S. Air Force.
FAA is offering a new pay proposal to its controllers in an attempt to resolve a long-running contract dispute, but it appears unlikely that the controllers' union will accept the deal.
EADS SOCATA has sold 150 TBM 850s since launching the aircraft in late December 2005, and the French plane-maker said that 2008 is shaping up as a record year. EADS Socata began accepting orders for 2008 deliveries in September and since has taken orders for 60 aircraft to be built this year. "Never in the TBM program's history has a year's order capacity been filled up so fast," said Nicolas Chabbert, vice president, sales and marketing for EADS Socata. "This is a spectacular achievement by our sales team and distributors." U.S.
AVFUEL added the Aviation Center at Page Field General Aviation Airport (FMY) in Fort Myers, Fla. to its network of branded dealers. The Aviation Center will participate in Avfuel's Contract Fuel and AVTRIP programs. Owned an operated by the Lee County Port Authority, the Aviation Center provides a range of amenities and offers onsite car rental. Catering also is available. FMY has an ILS-equipped, 6,406-foot runway.
Despite an engine failure in mountainous terrain shortly after takeoff, the pilot of a Piper PA-46-310P Malibu single-engine aircraft made a successful emergency landing at the Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (ASE) in Aspen, Colo. the day after Christmas.
ATR received a contract from Philippines-based Cebu Pacific for four ATR 72-500s. The order converts four of eight options that Cebu placed in early 2007 into firm orders. Cebu has placed a total of 10 firm orders for the ATR 72-500. The aircraft will be delivered in 2008 and 2009.
Model HC-E5N-3( ), HC-E5N-3( )(L) and HC-E5B-5( ) propellers [Docket No. FAA-2007-28656; Directorate Identifier 2007-NE-31-AD; Amendment 39-15280; AD 2007-24-14] - Using Hartzell Service Bulletin HC-SB-61-295, Revision 2 (dated Aug. 1, 2007), this AD requires operators to conduct a one time eddy-current inspection of the propeller hub mounting bolt holes, replace the propeller hub if cracked and conduct periodic inspections thereafter.
Falcon 50 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-0369; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-258-AD] - This proposed AD would require operators to verify that all life rafts are stowed correctly (with deployment straps outboard) and that they have been repacked to specified dimensions, using the instructions of Dassault Service Bulletin F50-480 (dated Dec. 5, 2006).
NORDAM named Meredith Siegfried vice president, global sales and North American operations. Siegfried will lead Nordam's repair facility in Tulsa as well as continue to direct aftermarket sales and corporate marketing. The daughter of the late Nordam Chairman Ray Siegfried, Meredith Siegfried has served with Nordam for nine years. Nordam also promoted Steve McLarty and Dave Whitten to vice presidents within the sales and marketing group. McLarty is vice president of sales for North America and Latin America and will add the military sales group to his responsibilities.
The aviation community has become increasingly concerned that the FAA could be without a permanent leader for an extended period following the indefinite postponement last month of a confirmation hearing for Bobby Sturgell before the Senate Commerce Committee. President Bush formally nominated Sturgell to a five-year term as administrator in October. Sturgell, the deputy administrator, has been serving as acting administrator since Marion Blakey left the agency in September (BA, Sept. 17/115).
ERA delivered its AirScene.com Noise and Operations Management System (NOMS) to the Santa Barbara Municipal Airport in Southern California. The system includes Era's MSS multilateration flight tracking system, WebScene community Web portal and a digital voice recorder for monitoring pilot communications.
Boeing and Northrop Grumman submitted their final KC-X tanker proposals to the U.S. Air Force Jan. 3, marking the next milestone in what has become a war of words over which company is offering the most suitable replacement for the KC-135.
FLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL won FAA and United Kingdom approval for the training firm's second Sikorsky S-92 flight simulator, which is operating at FSI's London Farnborough Training Center. The FAA and JAR Level D certification followed an on-site evaluation at the Farnborough facility, which can accommodate up to 15 full-flight simulators and train nearly 4,000 pilots and maintenance professionals per month. FSI also operates an S-92 simulator at its West Palm Beach, Fla. facility.
Model F.28 Mark 0070 and 0100 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-29256; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-137-AD; Amendment 39-15293; AD 2007-25-11] - Requires modification of the nose landing gear door uplock bracket assembly in accordance with the instructions of Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-32-143 (dated Feb. 15, 2006). This AD, which resulted from an MCAI issued by the aviation authority of The Netherlands, was prompted by two cases in which Fokker 100 nose landing gear doors failed to open in the normal mode.
SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT won a $7.4 billion U.S. government contract last month to supply 537 H-60 HAWK helicopters in a variety of configurations to the U.S. Army and Navy through 2012. The contract includes options for an additional 263 aircraft, spares and kits, with the total contract value potentially reaching $11.6 billion. Actual production quantities will be determined "over the life of the program based on funding allocations set by Congress and Pentagon acquisition priorities," Sikorsky said in a statement.
AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION is offering a new online security course. Developed in concert with the Transportation Security Administration, the course is designed for flight schools, fixed-base operations, aircraft owners, renter pilots and flying clubs. The course provides guidelines and simple security tips and expands the association's Airport Watch Program, which is modeled after neighborhood watch programs.
CESSNA AIRCRAFT'S top executive Jack J. Pelton agreed to continue serving as chairman of the Experimental Aircraft Association's Gathering of Eagles Committee for two more years, EAA said last week. The Gathering of Eagles event, held during EAA's annual AirVenture fly-in convention, attracts a broad cross-section of general aviation industry enthusiasts to raise funds to support the association's missions. Cessna also will continue to serve as the hosting sponsor of the EAA Gathering of Eagles event through 2009.
FAA is testing a new system at Las Vegas Airport designed to improve the detection of dangerous "microburst" winds in dry climates. The system is called light detection and ranging, or LIDAR. According to an FAA employee newsletter, the latest phase of LIDAR tests finished Nov. 30, during which more than half of all possible types of windshear were detected. In the dry microburst category, LIDAR detected 91 percent of incidents.
The Federal Aviation Administration issued an advisory circular this month providing guidance for certification of electrical wiring interconnection systems (EWIS) on Part 25 transport category airplanes. AC No. 25.1701-1 provides detailed information for manufacturers, maintenance facilities and modification firms on complying with Part 25 Subpart H and Appendix H requirements.
ATLANTIC AVIATION added its 70th fixed-base operation with the completion of the acquisition of Rifle Air, LLC based at Garfield County Regional Airport in Rifle, Colo. Atlantic Aviation CEO Louis Pepper said the acquisition complements the company's FBO in Aspen to better serve customers in the Rocky Mountains. Atlantic Aviation expects the Rifle FBO will be integrated into its network this month. The existing Rifle management and staff will remain intact.
