The White House decision to nominate FAA acting Administrator Robert A. Sturgell to a full five-year term as FAA Administrator drew wide industry praise last week. But the fate of that nomination remained unclear since several Washington insiders believe the Senate is not inclined to move on the nomination.
Model EA500 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-29316; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-078-AD] - This proposal would lift restrictions on operation of the aircraft in IFR conditions once a manufacturer-developed modification is installed to eliminate the possibility of freezing condensation occurring within the pitot/angle-of-attack system. FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 64 airplanes on the U.S. Registry and would cost U.S. operators a total of $601,600, or $9,400 per aircraft. Comments on this proposal, which are due Dec.
One of the three NASA Gulfstream Shuttle Training Aircraft (STA) was grounded following an Oct. 19 incident in which the left wingtip of an STA flying a normal aircraft landing approach to the shuttle runway at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., struck the upper branches of a tree during its final approach.
Tapped to head the aviation insurance division for Kemmons Wilson Companies, parent company of Wilson Air Center. Buchanan joined the Kemmons Wilson Insurance Group in March with 20 years of aviation broker experience.
WHILE the National Transportation Safety Board frequently urges the Federal Aviation Administration to make various voluntary safety measures mandatory, NTSB Chairman Mark Rosenker last week noted, "Regulation is not the only way to improve safety." Rosenker, who was a speaker during the 2007 Bombardier Safety Standdown in Wichita, said, "Personal discipline, combined with skill and knowledge-based training, can make a stronger impact on safety than any written regulation." See article below.
LG INTERNATIONAL CORP., the South Korean conglomerate, recently took delivery of a Sikorsky S-76 C++ helicopter. The aircraft, which is being used for VIP transport, is the second S-76C++ helicopter purchased by LG, as well as the second delivered to Korea.
Promoted to manager of FlightSafety International's learning center in San Antonio, Texas. Viera joined FlightSafety in August 2002 as a C-12 King Air instructor at the Daleville/Dothan, Ala. center. Viera had a 22-year career with the U.S. Navy before joining FlightSafety.
October 28-November 1 - Aviation Distributors & Manufacturers Association Annual Meeting, Scottsdale, Ariz. Contact Michael J. Mitkus at (215) 364-3484 November 8 - National Business Aviation Association Regional Forum, Oakland, Calif. International Airport (OAK). For more information, contact NBAA at (202) 783-9000 November 28 - FAA 4th Annual International Aviation Safety Forum, Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Chantilly, Va. (202) 267-3883.
EUROCOPTER and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) have signed a memorandum of understanding to create a joint venture (JV) company to export the Korean Utility Helicopter (KUH), an eight-metric-ton class military and utility transport helicopter currently under development. The JV, which is to be established by 2010 and would be 51 percent owned by KAI and 49 percent owned by Eurocopter, would be responsible for marketing the KUH outside of Korea. Eurocopter and KAI officials believe that they may be able to sell up to 300 KUHs throughout the rest of the world.
Hawker Beechcraft last week formally opened a new plant in Chihuahua, Mexico for light sheet metal assembly. The facility is slated to employ 250 workers initially, but that number could grow to up to 650 within the next five years, the company said. The plane maker said the addition of a Chihuahua facility would "enhance its competitive position in the world market" and develop a reliable supply for its main manufacturing facility in Wichita, Kan. The facility also will help ease space constraints at Hawker Beechcraft's U.S. facility, the company said.
SIKORSKY is increasing its presence in Asia through a new customer support center that is being erected at Korea's Gimpo Aerospace industrial complex. In addition, the helicopter manufacturer recently recorded its first sale to the Royal Thai Air Force, which is slated to take delivery of three S-92 VIP aircraft in 2010. The 200,000-square-foot maintenance facility, which will be operated in association with Times Aerospace Korea, will provide technical support, spare parts, avionics and general maintenance for rotary wing aircraft.
EC130B4 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2007-0056; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-06-AD] - This proposal would require operators to inspect for cracks or loosened rivets in the tube-to-flange attachment of the tail-rotor drive center section shaft and inspect the perpendicularity of bearing No. 1 in accordance with Eurocopter Service Bulletin No. 65A002 (dated Nov. 16, 2005). If a crack or loosened rivet were found, operators would need to replace the tail-rotor drive center section shaft before further flight.
Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-0047; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-197-AD] - This proposed AD, which resulted from an MCAI originated by Transport Canada Civil Aviation, would mandate a series of actions designed to help operators deal with flap failures, which can cause a substantial increase in required landing distances and higher fuel consumption than planned during a diversion.
Promoted to general manager of Landmark Aviation's fixed-base operation in White Plains, N.Y. (HPN). Faulkner joined the HPN facility in 2004 as operations manager/client services manager when the FBO was known as Skyport. Landmark acquired Skyport in December 2005 and promoted Faulkner to director of operations. Before joining Landmark, he was a customer service representative and a line service technician with Signature Flight Support at LaGuardia International Airport in New York.
ERA CORPORATION established a new Air Traffic Management business unit that will concentrate on selling the company's ATM technologies worldwide. Russell Hulstrom, previously Era vice president of worldwide sales, will head the new ATM Solutions unit as vice president and general manager. Era also named Bernard Asare as sales director for ATM Solutions in the Americas.
TBM 700 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-28645; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-059-AD; Amendment 39-15228; AD 2007-21-10] - Before each flight, check the access door handle lock using the instructions of EADS SOCATA Mandatory TBM Aircraft Service Bulletin SB 70-150 (dated May 2007). If any discrepancy is found, before further flight install a placard that only allows flight with the pilot seats occupied.
Model 206A and 206B helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2007-0055; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-12-AD; Amendment 39-15237; AD 2007-22-01] - Requires replacing certain spindles with an airworthy spindle. This directive resulted from a Transportation Safety Board of Canada accident investigation, which revealed that a spindle repaired by Cadorath Aerospace Inc. failed during flight, resulting in loss of control of the helicopter. A similar repair was performed by H-S Tools & Parts Inc.
EAGLE COPTERS LTD. has won Transport Canada approval for installation of the Honeywell T5317BCV in the Bell 205A-1. The T5317BCV, which is the latest version of T53, features a four-year/2,000-hour factory warranty from the manufacturer. Calgary, Canada-based Eagle recently delivered its first Eagle Single, a single-engine application of the T5317BCV in the Bell 212.
Sentient Flight Group last week began hashing out an agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration on the transfer of nearly 75 aircraft to its operating certificate after the company reached an agreement in principle to buy the operations of TAG Aviation USA and its affiliate AMI Jet Charter. The announcement of the agreement with TAG/AMI JC came as Sentient completed the acquisition of Hawker Beechcraft's aircraft management and charter unit under a separate deal.
BOMBARDIER recently logged two more fleet orders for its Q400 turboprop. Qantas Airways is finalizing an agreement with Bombardier for acquisition of up to 36 of the 72-seat aircraft, which would be used in the QantasLink regional airline operation in Australia. The agreement is expected to include firm orders for 12 aircraft and options and purchase rights for an additional 24. The airline currently operates seven Q400s, and in January 2007 the carrier ordered another two aircraft that are to be delivered in January 2008.
A FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION proposal released last week would impose new limits on campaign travel using noncommercial aircraft. The FEC is seeking comments by Nov. 13 on the proposed changes, which stem from provisions of the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 (BA, Aug. 13/61). The proposal would restrict and, in some cases, prohibit federal candidates and their political committees from spending campaign funds for noncommercial air travel. The commission plans to hold a public hearing on the subject on Nov. 15 at 10 a.m.
FAA says the 75 largest U.S. airports responded well to its call to accelerate the introduction of improved taxiway markings to help reduce runway incursions, and in another effort to attack the same problem, FAA is speeding up deployment of new airport surveillance technology.
