Model 750XL airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-27865 Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-039-AD; Amendment 39-15191; AD 2007-19-01] - Conduct an initial inspection of the windscreen and cockpit door windows for signs of disbonding of the adhesive between the transparency and the composite window frame. If disbonding is found, before further flight modify the windscreen and cockpit windows to incorporate mechanical fasteners in accordance with Pacific Aerospace's Mandatory Service Bulletin PACSB/XL/024 and PAC Drawing No. 11-03137 (both dated February 20, 2007).
China Array Plastics, a firm headquartered in the U.S., recently opened a state-of-the-art injection molding facility in Zhuankou Industrial Park in Wuhan, China. The firm claims to be among the first in China to specialize in custom molding high-performance thermoplastics, including polysulfone (PSU), polyetherimide (PEI) and polyetheretherketone (PEEK).
GE plans to work with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) on research to explore the potential of crop oils such as canola and soybean as alternative fuels for aircraft. The 18-month, $3 million program aims to develop technology to produce a cheaper alternative to petroleum-based jet fuel, GE says. Concerns from both civilian and military customers about rising fuel expense and emissions are at least two elements driving GE's overall research into alternative fuels.
P-180 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-27975 Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-041-AD; Amendment 39-15187; AD 2007-18-07] - Requires identifying the steering actuator and the steering manifold installed on the airplane using mandatory Piaggio Service Bulletin 80-0236 Rev. 1 (dated May 15, 2007). Also, requires inserting Temporary Change 3 (issued March 15, 2007) into the "Limitations" section of the Airplane Flight Manual and replacing the nose landing gear in accordance with mandatory Piaggio Service Bulletin 80-0236 Rev. 1 (dated May 15, 2007).
FAA DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR Robert A. (Bobby) Sturgell took over as acting administrator of the agency, following the completion of Marion Blakey's five-year term as administrator and her departure from FAA Thursday. Sturgell served as Blakey's senior policy adviser when she chaired the National Transportation Safety Board and he moved to FAA when she was named FAA Administrator in 2002. He has been deputy administrator since March 24, 2003. Sturgell is a U.S. Naval Academy graduate and former instructor at the Navy Fighter Weapons School (Topgun).
RAYTHEON TECHNCIAL SERVICES COMPANY (RTSC) teamed with Booz Allen Hamilton to pursue the Federal Aviation Administration's Air Traffic Control Optimum Training Solution (ATCOTS) program. The multiyear contract is expected to be valued at more than $100 million. FAA selection of the winning bidder is anticipated in 2008. RTSC has a background in training development, and Booz Allen will provide expertise in human capital development, human performance, learning management and operational and organization transformation.
THREE PILOTS were killed last week while competing in the Reno National Championship Air Races at the Reno/Stead Airport in Reno, Nev., including five-time defending champion Cary Hubler, 51, of Caldwell, Idaho, who was involved in a collision with another aircraft Friday. Separate collisions on Tuesday and Thursday claimed two other pilots, Steve Dari and Brad Morehouse. Organizers of the event cancelled races for the remainder of Friday after Hubler was killed, but said racing would resume on Saturday.
HEICO CORPORATION'S Electronic Technologies Group acquired all of the capital stock of EMD Technologies, Inc. of Montreal, Quebec. The Canadian firm produces a line of high-voltage energy generators for medical, baggage inspection and industrial imaging systems.
POGO Jet, the air charter venture of former American Airlines Chairman and CEO Robert Crandall, filed registration papers with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to make an initial public offering of common shares. POGO will sell the shares and W.R. Hambrecht + Co., LLC will act as the sole book-running manager for the offering. The number of shares and the price range have not been determined yet.
Recently joined Aon Risk Services to lead the insurance company's network of Aon Aviation offices in the U.S. A veteran of more than 22 years in the aviation insurance underwriting and brokerage business, Schmitz was formerly chief operating officer of Marsh's Aviation Practice where he spent 15 years.
HALCYON JETS HOLDINGS, INC., a New York-based aircraft charter broker, said its board of directors now includes Shelton (Spike) Lee, the movie writer, producer and director, and Mitchell Blatt, the president and chief operating officer of Coinmach Service Corp., which supplies laundry equipment services for multi-family housing properties. "We believe that our board of directors, and their relationships with key participants in the charter aviation industry will prove invaluable as we grow our business," said Jonathan Gilbert, CEO of Halcyon.
PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA opened a new parts distribution center (PDC) in Singapore to accelerate part deliveries to engine customers in the Pacific Rim region. The Singapore PDC will be staffed 24/7 and will stock "a large inventory of new parts and exchange accessories for all P&WC engine models," the manufacturer said. The Singapore facility has assumed responsibility for part orders previously processed through P&WC (SEA) Pte. Ltd. in Singapore and P&WC (A'Asia) Pty. Ltd.
F27 Mark 050, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 and 700 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-29172; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-285-AD] - This proposal would require revision of the "Airworthiness Limitations Section" of the "Instructions for Continued Airworthiness" to incorporate new limitations for fuel tank systems.
ERA CORP. of Reston, Va. said it was selected by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) to install a new Noise & Flight Track Monitoring System at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport.
Joined Petters Aviation as vice president. Geitzenauer will be responsible for steering the operational divisions of the Minnetonka, Minn.-based corporate aviation services company. She has 13 years of commercial aviation experience, managing and closing more than 400 commercial aircraft sales, lease and financing transactions. Most recently she was with the commercial aviation practice of the Eden Prairie, Minn. law firm of Fafinski Mark & Johnson. Before that she was a contract manager for International Lease Finance Corp.
FLEXJET took delivery of the first Learjet 60 XR aircraft it has on order with Bombardier. The Bombardier-owned fractional aircraft provider expects to take delivery of 22 of the newest Learjet model over the next five years. The 60 XR includes a number of enhancements over the Learjet 60, including new avionics, a reconfigured cabin and new passenger amenities. The seven-passenger Learjet 60 XR has a stand-up cabin with a seating configuration that provides a nearly six-foot wide cabin. The cabin has a wider aisle and more legroom than the Model 60.
BAE Systems and Northrop Grumman are seeking to win a new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) contract to test their laser-jamming technologies' ability to protect passenger aircraft from shoulder-fired, heat-seeking missile attacks, company officials confirmed last week. Both BAE and Northrop Grumman have been testing cargo aircraft on the feasibility of equipping scheduled commercial flights with protection against small missiles known as man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS).
JETSCAPE SERVICES has partnered with the Frost Group, LLC, a Miami, Fla.-based private investment firm, to expand the fixed-base operation at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (FLL). The partnership also includes future expansion and brand development of Jetscape Services, including possible FBO acquisitions in domestic and international markets, the company said. Jetscape recently celebrated its fifth anniversary of operation at FLL.
SENATE FINANCE and House Ways and Means Committees apparently are still hoping to take action this week on the taxes portion of an FAA reauthorization bill. Finance Committee members were said to be vetting various tax proposals and were leaning toward a fuel tax increase rather than user fees, according to sources who have been tracking deliberations. But observers warn that Sens. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) and Trent Lott (R-Miss.) are still pushing for their $25 per-flight user fee on turbine aircraft that was narrowly approved by the Senate Commerce Committee.
BOMBARDIER AEROSPACE is developing a Bombardier Enhanced Vision System (BEVS) package for the new Challenger 605 jet. Certification of the BEVS on the 605 is expected to be completed in the third quarter of fiscal 2009. BEVS is designed to improve situational awareness and the ability to see the runway environment in difficult operating conditions, such as low visibility and/or darkness. BEVS also helps identify runway incursions. Bombardier is working with Rockwell Collins, which is providing its Head-Up Guidance System and acting as system integrator on BEVS.
Operators of Bombardier Q400 turboprops were forced to cancel hundreds of flights and conduct landing gear inspections of their aircraft after two instances of landing gear failure that occurred three days apart. Both accidents involved aircraft operated by SAS. The first happened Sept. 9 after an SAS Q400 touched down at Aalborg, Denmark and the landing gear collapsed, resulting in injuries to five of the 73 people onboard. A similar event happened Sept.
DUNCAN AVIATION was selected by Honeywell to repair and overhaul KFC-400 autopilots, making the Lincoln, Neb. firm the only facility outside of Honeywell authorized to do such work. Duncan said it will "offer some of the fastest turntimes available for these units," which are installed in a number of aircraft including a large population of Learjets.
