AE 3007A and AE 3007C turbofan engines [Docket No. FAA-2007-26966; Directorate Identifier 99-NE-01-AD; Amendment 39-15271; AD 2007-24-05] - This new AD requires operators to remove certain seals from the accessory gearbox air-turbine starter mounting pad and install an improved seal. Also, operators need to remove certain drain caps, drain adapters and orifice inserts and install an open adapter on the starter pad drain.
Model SR22 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-0250; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-091-AD; Amendment 39-15279; AD 2007-24-13] - Requires installation of a drain hole in the left and right outboard wingtips, following the instructions contained in Cirrus Design Service Bulletin SB 2X-57-08 (dated November 2, 2007). This AD results from reports of pilots' inability to move the ailerons without using excessive force when flying in freezing conditions.
General aviation groups warned last week that proposed U.S. Customs and Border Protection manifest requirements could significantly hamper international flights and urged the agency to provide greater flexibility for private operators. The CBP in September proposed requiring Part 91 aircraft operators to electronically submit more detailed manifest information at least one hour before departing on a flight either to or from the U.S. The requirements also would require CBP authorization before the flight departs (BA, Sept. 17/115).
Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-0215; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-216-AD] -This proposed AD would require an inspection to determine if certain AC service and utility bus contactors have a terminal base plate made from non-G9 melamine material. If necessary, operators would have to take corrective actions described in Bombardier Service Bulletin 601R-24-123, Revision B (dated February 16, 2007).
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]
User fee proponents will lose a key ally when Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) retires at the end of the year, but general aviation industry leaders also believe that aviation as a whole will lose an advocate. Lott Monday announced his plans to step down after serving in Congress for 35 years. Lott, 66, was elected to his current six-year term in 2006, but said he felt it was time to spend more time with his family and "maybe do something else."
Model 206A and 206B helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2007-0176; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-14-AD; Amendment 39-15263; AD 2007-23-17] - This AD, which resulted from an MCAI originated by Transport Canada, requires removal of certain main-rotor latch bolts. An analysis of these bolts indicated that they could fail prematurely due to fatigue, which could cause a pilot to lose control of the helicopter. The FAA estimates this proposed directive would affect 1,463 aircraft on the U.S. Registry and cost U.S. operators a total of $2,770,992, or $1,894 per helicopter.
Ballistic Recovery Systems, Inc. (BRSI), which is known for making parachutes, broadened the scope of its business last month with the acquisition of Head Lites Corp., a manufacturer of high-visibility personal safety products.
Flight Options finalized an order valued at nearly $1 billion for 100 Embraer Phenom 300s and options for up to 50 more (BA, Oct. 29/191). The order was placed as the private equity investment firm H.I.G. Capital closed on the purchase of the Cleveland, Ohio-based fractional aircraft ownership provider from Raytheon Company. Raytheon announced the sale of Flight Options to H.I.G. in late October.
AOPA AIR SAFETY FOUNDATION is offering a series of free Web-based general aviation safety seminars recorded at AOPA Expo in October 2007. The ASF SafetyCast series provides 17 hours of Webcasts that cover a range of topics from presenters including aviation author and humorist Rod Machado, ASF Executive Director Bruce Landsberg, AOPA Medical Certification Services Director Gary Crump and AOPA General Counsel John Yodice. The Webcasts are available at www.asf.org.
Cobham plc is planning to expand its general aviation cockpit product offerings with the purchase of general aviation autopilot specialist S-TEC Corporation from Meggitt plc for $38 million. The sale, announced early last week, is expected to close by yearend. S-TEC designs and builds autopilots for aircraft ranging from small single-pistons to light commuter aircraft. The company employs 180 people at its facility in Mineral Wells, Texas.
Model 204B, 205A, 205A-1, 205B, 210, 212, 412, 412EP and 412CF helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2007-0180; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-37-AD; Amendment 39-15265; AD 2007-19-53] - Before further flight, replace certain rotor blades serviced by Rotor Blades, Inc. with airworthy ones. This directive was prompted by three incidents in which blade-tip weights were slung from blades during flight, causing significant vibration. An investigation indicated that the tip weights were missing the adhesive that should have been applied during the weight-and-balance process.
WING AVIATION signed a contract for Cosgrove Aircraft Service to store a rotable parts inventory to support Wing Aviation's Gulfstream fleet. Cosgrove specializes in business jet consumable products and rotable exchange sales, and has bases in Hauppauge and White Plains, N.Y., Teterboro, N.J. and Houston. Cosgrove will store parts for Wing at Houston Hobby Airport, which Wing said will reduce its aircraft-on-ground time. Wing valued the agreement at $1 million.
Canadian manufacturer Bombardier plans to boost aircraft production to meet rising demand for its business aircraft and regional jet products, but the company's net income figures are still well below levels achieved by other aerospace manufacturers.
ERA is working with the Czech Republic air navigation service provider, Czech ANS, to accelerate the integration of multilateration data into ARTAS, the multi-sensor surveillance tracker developed by Eurocontrol and supported by Comsoft GmbH of Germany. ARTAS already supports ADS-B data.
QUINTIQ, an advanced planning and scheduling software provider based in the Netherlands, won a contract from Nav Canada to supply operational staff scheduling software for air traffic controllers. Quintiq was selected from 30 suppliers who bid for the contract. Nav Canada will rely on the system for all staff planning and scheduling. Quintiq is slated to deliver the system by the end of the year.
Canadian aerospace and rail car manufacturer Bombardier said its board of directors approved the appointment of Pierre Beaudoin as president and chief executive, maintaining the Beaudoin family leadership of the company that has been controlled by the Bombardier family since its inception in the 1940s. Pierre Beaudoin will assume his new duties June 4, 2008, the date of the next annual general meeting of Bombardier shareholders. His father, Laurent Beaudoin, 69, will continue as chairman of the board.
LACK OF FUNDS has sharply decelerated development of the Javelin fighter-look-alike two-seat aircraft. Developer ATG laid off most of its employees while it continues to seek additional financing and says certification will not come until at least three years after funding is in hand. Former Cessna President Charlie Johnson, who had been serving as president of ATG, recently stepped down "to pursue retirement," the company said in a notice posted on its Web site. ATG officials did not return telephone calls last week.
THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR AVIATION RESEARCH (NIAR) at Wichita State University this month plans to open a new facility that will provide 14,000-square-feet of additional research space. The facility will house environmental testing equipment including an anechoic chamber, a reverberation chamber, two fluid susceptibility chambers, a temperature/humidity/altitude chamber, a rate of heat release chamber, an aircraft insulation tester and two shaker tables.
Cessna Aircraft added two new models to its single-engine line and found a Chinese partner to build Cessna's Light Sport Aircraft last week, as officials wrapped up two deals that promise to pay dividends for years to come.
FORMER FAA ADMINISTRATOR Jane Garvey quietly accepted seats on the boards of directors of a couple of prominent aviation companies in recent months. Garvey's "day job" is at the Washington, D.C. office of global communication consultancy APCO Worldwide, where she's a member of the International Advisory Council and executive vice president and chairman of the firm's transportation practice. She recently accepted a seat on the board of directors of Canadian aircraft manufacturer Bombardier, Inc.
SANTA MONICA CITY COUNCIL members are hoping to get help from Congress in their pursuit of business aircraft restrictions at Santa Monica Municipal Airport (SMO) in California. City officials are traveling to Washington, D.C. for a Dec. 5 meeting with Reps. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Jane Harman (D-Calif.), both of whom have expressed support for the city's efforts. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar (D-Minn.), ranking member John Mica (R-Fla.) and FAA officials are expected to attend as well.
JET AVIATION signed an agreement with Vnukovo Invest to provide maintenance services at Moscow Vnukovo International Airport, which company officials said makes Jet Aviation the first international business aviation maintenance company to provide services for business jets in Russia. Vnukovo handles 70 percent of all business aviation traffic in Russia. Jet Aviation will provide line maintenance and AOG services at a hangar located next to the Vnukovo 3 FBO building.
