MACQUARIE INFRASTRUCTURE'S Atlantic Aviation chain of fixed-base operations is laying claim to the title of largest FBO network in the country with 69 locations following completion of the latest acquisition. See article on Page 85.
GmbH DA 40 and DA 40F airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-27974 Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-040-AD; Amendment 39-15164; AD 2007-17-06]. - Repetitively inspect the nose landing gear leg for cracks, and replace the leg if cracks are found. This AD results from an MCAI issued by an aviation authority of another country. The FAA estimates that this AD will affect 476 aircraft on the U.S. Registry and will cost operators a total of $38,080, or $80 per aircraft. Any necessary follow-on actions could cost $2,355 per airplane. This directive becomes effective September 25.
FIRSTFLIGHT, INC., the Elmira, N.Y. charter management and aviation services company, reported a profit of $128,000 for the quarter ended June 30, "the first quarter that the company has reported net income." The results represented an improvement of $1 million and $1.5 million, respectively, when compared with the net loss and net loss applicable to common stockholders in the period last year. "We are very pleased to have made significant progress this quarter," said John Dow, president and CEO of FirstFlight.
Marion Blakey, heading into the final three weeks of her five-year term as FAA Administrator, will become president and chief executive officer of the Aerospace Industries Association effective Nov. 12, the organization announced last week.
Macquarie Infrastructure Co. (MIC), which has spent hundreds of millions of dollars over the past few years buying fixed-base operations in the U.S., said last week it had completed the acquisition of two FBOs operating as the San Jose Jet Center at the Norman Mineta San Jose, Calif. International Airport. Macquarie said those two FBOs will be combined with MIC's existing Atlantic Aviation sites.
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] - Install reinforcements on the forward fuselage skin on the left-hand and right-hand sides between Frames 9 and 10 and 10 and 11, and Stringers 12 to 15. Install supports to the reinforcements and stringers, as well as new fasteners to the reinforcements and supports. Also, reroute the electrical wiring in the affected areas.
AVFUEL CORPORATION added Falcon Executive Aviation, based at Falcon Field Airport in Mesa, Ariz., to its network of branded dealers. Falcon will honor the Avfuel Commercial Contract Fuel Program for intransit aircraft and the AVTRIP incentive program for pilots. In addition to selling fuel, the FBO also operates a flight school and a repair station and offers aircraft, charter, aircraft parts and avionics sales and services.
The Federal Aviation Administration has developed a new risk management tool for operators to assess potential hazards that could crop up during a flight and provide steps to mitigate those hazards. FAA released an Information for Operators (InFo) providing instructions on using the Flight Risk Assessment Tool. "These tools will provide ways for air operators to determine which flights have more risk and allow operators to intervene and reduce risk when possible," the agency said.
INSTITUTE OF AIRCRAFT EQUIPMENT (NIIAO) of Zhukovsky, Russia, developed an integrated flight and avionics system for Ka-226AG helicopters. NIIAO expects to win certification for the new system by the end of the year. NIIAO also is developing systems for other helicopters, including the Ka-32A and Mi-172.
THE TEXAS AIR NATIONAL GUARD issued a $5.7 million contract to build a Predator unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operations complex near Houston, Texas. The Texas ANG is one of the organizations that will remotely fly reconnaissance missions in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere from sites in the U.S. As the UAV mission expands, the ANG and Air Force Reserve will be called on to perform these combat missions regularly from their home bases. The construction contract for the facility went to Stewart-Matl Ltd. of Austin, Texas.
UNITED senior executive Henry (Hank) Krakowski has emerged as a strong candidate to become FAA's next chief operating officer and head of the agency's Air Traffic Organization, according to BA affiliate Aviation Daily. Like former COO Russell Chew, Krakowski is a well-known and respected airline figure who came up through the pilot and operational ranks. Krakowski is United's vice president-flight operations, and was previously the airline's vice president corporate safety, security and quality assurance.
GSM 85 servo gearbox units [Docket No. FAA-2007-28730; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-063-AD] - This proposal would require inspection of the GSM 85 servo gearbox for foreign object debris. If debris is found, operators would be required to return the unit to the manufacturer for replacement. This proposed AD, which resulted from reports of certain GSM 85 servo gearbox units having debris inside the assembly, is designed to prevent jamming of the gearbox, which could require the pilot to apply excessive manual force to control the airplane.
Who formerly oversaw customer support for Raytheon Aircraft Company, was named senior vice president, operations for Aviall Services, Inc. in Dallas, Texas. "We're very pleased to have someone of Ed's caliber join our company," said Dan Komnenovich, president and chief operating officer of Aviall Services.
A longtime veteran of Epps Aviation in Atlanta, Ga., was named by the Federal Aviation Administration as a Designated Airworthiness Representative (DAR). As a DAR, Lane is approved to perform various functions on behalf of FAA such as export of aircraft, engines, propellers and components. He also can issue recurrent standard airworthiness certificates and special flight (ferry) permits. Epps said Lane is one of only 15 DARs in the state of Georgia.
Was promoted to assistant center manager of FlightSafety International's London Farnborough training center. Van de Geest has served as product marketing manager at the London Farnborough center since 1994. Before that, he was manager for Africa operations for National Airways Corporation in Johannesburg, South Africa.
LUFTHANSA TECHNIK plans to open a customer service facility at Domodedovo Airport in Moscow, Russia that will stock a large pool of component parts for Western-built aircraft, an increasing number of which are operating in Russia and other regions of the former Soviet Union. The new Lufthansa Technik Vostok unit at Domodedovo is expected to employ about 50 workers when it is fully operational by the end of 2008. The facility is expected to open late this year.
CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS are continuing to pressure FAA to develop a plan to ensure that the agency has an adequate inspector work force. In the Senate fiscal 2008 transportation appropriations bill, senators said they were "gravely" concerned because FAA's inspector work force continues to shrink despite the fact that Congress has provided additional funding for aviation inspectors the past three years. The House version of the appropriations bill echoed those concerns. See article on Page 86.
Boeing is strengthening its relationship with Russian titanium giant VSMPO-AVISMA Corp. through the inking of a joint-venture deal for initial machining of titanium parts for the 787 program. The Russian joint venture will be managed by 27-year Boeing veteran Gary Baker, headquartered in Verkhnaya Salda - north of Yekaterinburg - where VSMPO-AVISMA has its major production site. An 8,900-square-meter production facility is being built for the joint venture.
Was named vice president and general manager of Technical Service Solutions for Rockwell Collins. He will manage Rockwell Collins' global service and support operations, including the service center network, parts management and logistics. He formerly was vice president of global customer management with Smiths Aerospace (now GE Aviation) in Grand Rapids, Mich.
ELLIOTT AVIATION opened a new design center at its headquarters in Moline, Ill. The center previously was housed in Elliott's Completion Center. Elliott moved the center into the main lobby to provide additional space for the company's growing completions business. The new center includes a showroom that will display selections for seating, cabinets, sidewalls, flooring, countertops, plating and other amenities.
A Bombardier Challenger, N336FX, and a Learjet 45, N145AP, missed colliding at Teterboro Airport (TEB) in Teterboro, N.J. earlier this month while air traffic controllers were engaged in developmental training, the National Transportation Safety Board reported.
GENERAL AVIATION MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION promoted Jens Henning to vice president, operations. Henning will be responsible for flight operations, safety and training issues, including air traffic control system modernization policy. Henning has been with GAMA since 2003 as manager of operations.
House and Senate appropriators plan to boost the Federal Aviation Administration's inspector work force budget to help reverse the decline in the number of the agency's safety and certification inspectors. The Senate fiscal 2008 transportation appropriations bill recommended an Aviation Safety budget of $1.092 billion, some $36 million more than the Bush Administration requested and $89 million more than approved for fiscal 2007. The House appropriations bill would provide $1.076 billion.
Was appointed director of engineering for International Communications Group, the Newport News, Va.-based producer of aeronautical communications systems for general aviation and air transport customers. Andregg will be responsible for monitoring and improving development processes along with managing the engineering department. He has 23 years of experience in software and hardware development, most recently as director of firmware development at Axxcelera Broadband Wireless.
