Model F27 Mark 50 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-0268; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-129-AD; Amendment 39-15286; AD 2007-25-04] - Requires perform a one-time inspection of the engine mount tubing and end fittings for corrosion, reporting the inspection results to Fokker Services and taking corrective action, if necessary. This AD, which resulted from an MCAI issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Netherlands, is intended to prevent excessive corrosion of the engine mount frames, which, if not corrected, could lead to failure of the frames.
CESSNA AIRCRAFT COMPANY finalized its purchase of "select assets" of Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing Company Dec. 4, including the type certificate for the Columbia 350 and 400 low-wing, turbocharged, composite construction aircraft, which will now be known as the Cessna 350 and 400 (BA, Dec. 3/251).
Model DHC-8-102, -103, -106, -201, -202, -301, -311, -315 and -400 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-0213; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-233-AD] - This proposed AD would require operators to replace certain carbon-molded, resistive-element potentiometers used in the pilot, copilot and observer utility lights with wire-wound-type potentiometers, following the instructions contained in either Bombardier Service Bulletin 8-33-53, Revision A or 84-33-10, Revision A (both dated March 14, 2007).
EMIRATES-CAE FLIGHT TRAINING (ECFT) received a three-year contract to provide helicopter training for Global Vectra Helicorp, India's largest offshore helicopter operator. ECFT will provide initial and recurrent training to Global Vectra pilots using a Bell Helicopter 412 full flight simulator at ECFT's facility in Dubai. ECFT became an authorized Bell 412 training facility in 2006 for operators in the Middle East and Asia. Global Vectra provides air logistics services to the Indian oil and gas exploration and production market.
India's central cabinet has approved a flying and aviation training institute to be set up as a joint venture between the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and CAE, Canada.
Joined Midcoast Aviation as vice president, engineering. Reid formerly served as vice president, engineering, certification and interior design for Associated Air Center, where he was responsible for all interior completions, including Boeing BBJ and Airbus ACJ programs. He also served as the G200 final phase engineering manager for Gulfstream Aerospace in Dallas.
INNOTECH AVIATION began construction of a 41,000-square-foot, twin-bay aircraft paint facility at Montreal's Pierre Trudeau International Airport in Dorval, Quebec. The new facility, which is scheduled for completion by May, will be able to accommodate aircraft as large as the Bombardier Global XRS business jet.
Model 400A airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-28883; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-106-AD; Amendment 39-15267; AD 2007-24-01] - Requires inspecting the galley cabinets to determine if certain parts and a certain type of wire are installed, and, if they are, taking corrective actions, following the instructions of Raytheon Service Bulletin SB 25-3758 (dated June 2006). This directive, which resulted from reports of undersized wire in the galley cabinets, is designed to prevent overheating of wire insulation and consequent fire or smoke in the cabin.
Execaire, the aircraft management arm of the Innotech-Execaire Aviation Group, named George Nader to lead its senior sales and marketing management team. Nader will report to Glenn MacDonald, vice president and general manager of Execaire. Nader formerly worked for Air Canada Technical Services and Pratt & Whitney Canada, having responsibility for the aftermarket sales and customer service teams worldwide for the engine maker.
EMB-135ER, -135KE, -135KL -135LR, -145, -145ER, -145MR, -145LR, -145XR, -145MP and -145EP airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-28987; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-127-AD; Amendment 39-15269; AD 2007-24-03] - Requires the addition of two reinforcements to the forward fuselage skin on the left-hand and right-hand sides between Frames 9 to 10 and 10 to 11, and Stringers 12 to 15. Also, install supports to the reinforcements and stringers, as well as new fasteners to the reinforcements and supports, and reroute the electrical wiring in the affected area.
ARINC selected Columbus, Ohio-based MyAirplane.com to provide product support and marketing for ARINC's eFlyBook. MyAirplane.com will market and provide support services for the general aviation market. ARINC introduced eFlyBook in 2006 as an electronic flight bag that uses an "electronic paper" to display navigation charters and document. The units are sold with a subscription for navigation chart updates and flighty information. EDMO Distributors will continue to distribute eFlyBook.
The Federal Aviation Administration will form an Aviation Rulemaking Committee to develop recommended requirements for aircraft landing distance performance assessments prior to landing.
A CONFIRMATION HEARING for Bobby Sturgell could come next week, according to an information update distributed to FAA employees Friday. Sturgell, currently the agency's deputy administrator/acting administrator, was nominated by President Bush for a five-year term as administrator in late October (BA, Oct. 29/194). The FAA communiqué said the Senate Commerce Committee "is looking into the possibility of scheduling the hearing the week of Dec.
Hawker Beechcraft Corp., continuing to evolve its line of King Air twin turboprops, announced receipt of type certification for the new Beechcraft King Air B200GT. The standard B200 is powered by 850-shaft-horsepower Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-42 turboprops. The new GT model is powered by newly certificated PT6A-52 engines, which boost the speed of the aircraft by nearly 20 knots to 305 knots maximum cruise speed and provide faster climb to cruising altitudes.
In its first major expansion since launching per-seat, on-demand service with a fleet of Eclispe Very Light Jets this fall (BA, Oct. 8/157), DayJet today will announce 28 new destinations that will be added to its service area. The company will offer service to the 28 cities from one of the company's five original Florida "DayPorts" - Boca Raton, Gainesville, Lakeland, Pensacola or Tallahassee. The new locations are throughout Florida, Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi.
December 10 - American Association of Airport Executives, Seventh Annual Aviation Security Summit, Arlington, Va., Contact Carter Morris at (703) 824-0500 or e-mail [email protected] December 10-13 - National Agricultural Aviation Association, Annual Conference and Expo, Reno, Nev., Contact NAAA at (202) 546-5722 December 14 - Wright Memorial Dinner, Aero Club of Washington, Contact Nancy Hackett at (703) 327-7082; e-mail: [email protected]
Environmental groups, state and regional governments called on the Environmental Protection Agency last week to address greenhouse gas emissions from the country's aircraft fleet. Earthjustice filed the petition on behalf of environmental groups including Oceana, Friends of the Earth and the Center for Biological Diversity. The filing seeks to "require the EPA to evaluate the current impacts of aircraft emissions...and reduce aircraft emissions or explain why it will not act," the group said in a statement.
L.J. AVIATION, in Latrobe, Pa., became the first operator to win FAA clearance to offer the Cessna Citatiton Mustang for charter flights. L.J. Aviation operates a fleet of 28 aircraft for domestic and international charter. In addition to the Mustang, the fleet includes 10 other Citations - three Bravos, two Ultras, one Encore, one VII, two Excels and one Sovereign. L.J. Aviation soon will add a Citation CJ3 and a Citation XLS+.
Airspace issues, whether access to domestic skies or control over a combat arena, is the next big focus for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and needs to be worked out imminently, according to a panel of one-star U.S. military leaders.
Ruag Aerospace is relaunching the Dornier Do 228 regional and utility turboprop, which has been out of production since 1998, and plans to deliver the first Do 228 new generation aircraft in early 2010.
REGIONAL AIRLINE ASSOCIATION elected Republic Airways Chairman, President and CEO Bryan Bedford as chairman of the 2007-2008 Board of Directors. The association also elected Rich Leach of Trans States Holdings as vice chairman, Russ (Chip) Childs of SkyWest as treasurer and Cape Air's Dan Wolf as secretary.
THE GROWING NEED for air traffic controllers is helping spur enrollments in college programs designed to train future controllers. The University of North Dakota's (UND) Air Traffic Control Training (ATC) program currently has more than 300 students enrolled in the ATC degree program. UND is one of more than 30 colleges and universities nationwide offering ATC programs.
