Avcorp Industries, Inc. concluded an agreement to acquire the shares of Comtek Advanced Structures Ltd., which specializes in building and repairing advanced composite and bonded metallic structures for the aerospace and defense markets.
THE NORDAM GROUP secured FAA parts manufacturer approval (PMA) for the landing light lens and cabin window assembly on Bombardier's Canadair CRJ 700/900 aircraft. The transparencies, which use NORDAM's acrylic technology, were designed to address CRJ cracking and erosion issues, the company said. The landing light lens uses NORDAM's two-ply NORSTAR acrylic technology and an improved bushing design. The cabin window uses NORDAM's NORDEX 188 low-water absorption stretched acrylic.
BOMBARDIER AEROSPACE named Savannah Air Center a preferred completion center for Global 5000 and Global Express XRS jets. As part of the designation, Bombardier secured capacity for a minimum of 12 Global business jet completions over the next three years. Savannah Air Center has performed interior completions and modifications, avionics upgrades, maintenance and exterior paint on Challenger and Global aircraft since 2005. The company is adding a new 101,000-square-foot hangar for Global aircraft completions and maintenance.
Hawker 800XP airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-28810; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-104-AD; Amendment 39-15226; AD 2007-21-08] - Inspect panel DA wiring for clearance and signs of chafing or exposed conductors, following the instructions of Raytheon Service Bulletin SB 24-3772 (dated February 2006). If any wire is touching the panel, structure or equipment, or if evidence of chafing or exposed conductors exists, before further flight, repair or replace the wires and cable ties with new ones.
GENERAL AVIATION organizations including the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Experimental Aircraft Association and its Vintage Aircraft Association, are urging the FAA to provide an alternate means of compliance for an Aug. 13 airworthiness directive requiring nondestructive inspection of lift struts on Taylorcraft A, B and F models. The organizations sought different methods of testing and extended periods between tests.
The National Transportation Safety Board, concluding its investigation of last year's crash of a Predator B unmanned aircraft near the Arizona border, issued nearly two dozen safety recommendations last week calling for widespread safeguards and changes in the way unmanned aircraft are allowed to operate in domestic civil airspace.
October 22-25 - Bombardier Safety Standdown, Wichita, Kan. Contact Dawn Pepperd at Bombardier at (316) 946-2020; or [email protected] October 28-31 - 52nd Air Traffic Control Association Conference & Exposition, Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Washington, D.C.; (703) 299-2430 or e-mail [email protected] October 28-November 1 - Aviation Distributors & Manufacturers Association Annual Meeting, Scottsdale, Ariz. Contact Michael J. Mitkus at (215) 364-3484
The 2007 National Business Aviation Association Annual Meeting and Convention, held last month in Atlanta, Ga., proved to be among the most lucrative events for Cessna Aircraft, which walked away with orders for 178 new aircraft valued at more than $1 billion, the company said. Cessna said it received orders for 101 Citations, 59 Caravans, 13 single-engine pistons and five SkyCatchers during the three-day convention.
BBA AVIATION'S APPH Group has renamed the recently acquired Arnoni Aviation Services as APPH Houston, Inc., and Airight, Inc. as APPH Wichita, Inc. APPH Group said that as part of a long-term organizational plan, "these business units will retain their geographic indicators in order to be distinguished from APPH's sizable number of internationally located units.
The U.S. Coast Guard is eyeing a two-year effort to find and evaluate land-based unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and the bevy of ground-oriented military sensor systems that have emerged for ongoing Iraq and Afghanistan operations before settling on a UAV system for maritime patrolling, officers told Business Aviation affiliate Aerospace Daily.
PATS Aircraft and investment firm Tailwind Capital, LLC have joined forces to offer executive jet versions of used Bombardier CRJ-200 regional airliners for about $20 million apiece.
P-180 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-27532; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-021-AD] - This proposed supplemental rulemaking would require inspection of the fuselage drain holes and the passenger evaporator drain line for proper operation. Any necessary corrective actions would need to be done in accordance with the instructions of Piaggio's mandatory service bulletin SB-80-0220 (dated August 8, 2006). Also, the proposed AD would mandate revision of the relevant sections of the aircraft maintenance manual to include new maintenance procedures.
PROGRESS on an FAA reauthorization bill appears to have slowed since Congress provided a seven-week extension for the agency authorization and aviation taxes, which originally were due to expire Sept. 30 (BA, Oct. 8/162). Congress included the extension as part of a comprehensive continuing resolution that keeps the federal government operating under fiscal 2007 funding levels through Nov. 16. An FAA reauthorization and taxes package passed the House in September, but a similar bill is not yet ready for the Senate floor.
The number of accidents involving U.S.-registered, turbine-powered business aircraft through the end of the third quarter declined, compared with the first nine months of 2006, according to Robert E. Breiling Associates, Inc. of Boca Raton, Fla.
Appointed senior vice president, business development for Executive Jet Management (EJM). Gennari formerly spent six years as vice president for sales, responsible for EJM's charter sales in the New York metropolitan region. Before joining EJM, Gennari had 15 years of experience in sales and client relations positions with various charter organizations.
PREMIER/WEST STAR changed its name to West Star Aviation, Inc., a move the company said would "better represent the combined capability, talents and expertise that the company provides." Premier/West Star formed in late 2004 after Premier Air Center, a maintenance and repair facility based at St. Louis Regional Airport in East Alton, Ill., acquired West Star Aviation in Grand Junction, Colo. and its Surplus Avionics division in Hiawatha, Iowa. The company since added Jet Aviation's maintenance, repair and overhaul services at Dallas Love Field.
PLANECHARTERING LTD. is acquiring Avtech, an aircraft maintenance shop based at London Biggin Hill Airport in the United Kingdom, and private jet operator Club328, based at Southampton Airport in central southern U.K. As part of the deal, Club328 will move from its Southampton base to London Biggin Hill. Club328 CEO Elaine Young will continue in her current role. PlaneChartering owner Paul Crowther will become group CEO in charge of PlaneChartering's sales team and Avtech.
LOUISE MAILLETT, senior counsel to the FAA Administrator, is retiring Nov. 1 after nearly 20 years with the agency. Maillett has held a number of senior roles during her career with FAA, including deputy assistant administrator and then acting assistant administrator for policy, plans and international aviation. She also was director of FAA's Office of Environment and Energy and FAA assistant chief counsel for international affairs. The agency credited her for work involving complex domestic and international efforts.
To U.S. Customs and Border Protection: 1. Require GA-ASI to modify the UAS to ensure that inadvertent engine shutdowns do not occur. 2. Require GA-ASI to modify the UAS to provide adequate visual and aural indications of safety-critical faults, such as engine-out conditions and console lockups, and present them in order of priority, based on the urgency for pilot awareness and response.
EMB-135BJ airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-28909; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-135-AD; Amendment 39-15230; AD 2007-21-12] - Using the procedures found in Embraer Service Bulletin 145LEG-28-0016, Revision 01 (dated June 27, 2005), install heat-shrinkable sleeves on the inspection and refueling panel illumination lights wiring. Also, install nipples on the terminal lugs to protect the wire terminals. The FAA estimates that this AD will affect eight aircraft on the U.S. Registry and will cost U.S. operators a total of $4,096, or $512 per airplane.
PC-12, PC-12/45 and PC-12/47 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-29217; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-075-AD; Amendment 39-15229; AD 2007-21-11] - Requires a configuration check and inspection of the pipe/hose assemblies for chafing and distortion. If any damage to the assemblies is found, before further flight, replace them in accordance with the instructions of Pilatus PC-12 Service Bulletin No: 71-007 (dated August 21, 2007). Even if no damage is found, replace the hose/pipe assemblies within six months.
THE U.S. COAST GUARD is among a growing list of government and private sector organizations planning to use unmanned aerial vehicles, but the National Transportation Safety Board has some serious concerns about the use of UAVs in domestic U.S. airspace. See articles below.
