HOUSE AND SENATE lawmakers recently cleared measures to boost the Federal Aviation Administration's funding in fiscal 2008. The full House late last month approved a $14.9 billion budget for FAA in fiscal 2008, up from the fiscal 2007 level of $14.5 billion and from the White House proposal for $14.1 billion. The Senate Appropriations Committee, meanwhile, approved its version of the fiscal 2008 appropriations bill, which provides $14.8 billion.
Model F-28, F-28A, F-28C, F-28C-2, F-28C-2R, F-28F, F-28F-R, 280, 280C, 280F, 280FX, TH-28, 480 and 480B Helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2007-28813; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-09-AD; Amendment 39-15140; AD 2007-16-01] - Before further flight, visually check to determine if a certain serial-numbered main rotor blade retention pin is installed, and replace that affected retention pin with an airworthy one.
JETCRAFT AVIATION, a Brisbane, Australia charter, freight and regional operator, added the first of two ATR 42-300s to its fleet. The ATR aircraft will be used for freight operations in the South Pacific region on a network that links Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. The sale of the ATR comes as ATR has expanded its presence in the South Pacific, recently opening a regional sales office in Sydney and a regional spare parts center in Auckland, New Zealand.
CHELTON FLIGHT SYSTEMS secured FAA technical standard order and supplemental type certificate approvals for a new combined digital air data and strap-down solid-state attitude/heading reference system (ADAHRS). The new unit is one-tenth the size and one-eighth the weight of the two separate units that the ADAHRS replaces. The ADAHRS is designed for both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. The STC covers more than 500 aircraft models, and Chelton said more certifications are in process.
House transportation leaders last week urged their colleagues on the House Ways and Means Committee to keep aviation excise taxes in place, saying the current funding system will cover the needs of the next generation air traffic control system. Four senior members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee made that appeal Wednesday during a hearing on aviation taxes before the Ways and Means subcommittee on select revenue measures. Rep.
Model PC-6 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-28157 Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-046-AD; Amendment 39-15138; AD 2007-15-09] - Conduct a one-time inspection of the wing-strut fittings and replace damaged wing-strut fittings with new ones. Also, examine the spherical bearings installed in the wing strut fittings and replace bearings that do not pass the examination criteria.
JET AVIATION in Dusseldorf, Germany was appointed an authorized service center for Hawker 800-series aircraft by Beechcraft Hawker Corp. The German facility was previously approved to work on King Air, Beechjet and Premier aircraft.
Hooper Harris, who headed the Commuter, On-Demand and Training (CODT) Center Branch in FAA's Flight Services division, will become manager of the agency's Accident Investigation Division, effective today (Aug. 6). In his former post, Harris oversaw supervision and enforcement of Part 135 operators and the implementation of A008, the new operations specifications requirements for Part 135 operators (BA, June 11/261).
Officials of Landmark Aviation's network of 33 North American fixed-base operations are in the final stages of fine-tuning the sales process for that network, an opportunity that has generated intense interest from prospective buyers.
DANTA, the ground handling arm of Dubai's Emirates Group, signed a joint venture agreement with China West Airport Group (CWAG) to provide airport ground handling services in Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (XXIA). Danta will hold a 45 percent stake in Xi'an Dnata Aviation Services Co. Ltd., while the remaining 55 percent will be owned by CWAG. The airport currently has about 117,000 flights carrying nearly 11 million passengers annually. Those totals are expected to grow significantly in coming years.
Named vice president, aerospace products for PPG Industries. Gillespie formerly served as president, actuation systems for Smiths Aerospace until it was acquired by General Electric. Before that he was vice president and general manager for various Eaton Corp. aerospace businesses, including electro-mechanical systems, actuator and controls and hydraulics. Gillespie also previously worked for AlliedSignal.
AMETEK B&S AIRCRAFT PARTS & ACCESSORIES, in Overland Park, Kan., achieved International Organization for Standardization ISO AS9110 registration, the quality standard for aerospace repair stations. Ametek B&S partnered with Mid-America Manufacturing Center (MAMTC), a nonprofit organization also in Overland Park, to apply for the ISO registration. MAMTC provides expertise in Lean Enterprise, product development and testing, quality management/ISO, and Six Sigma.
BOMBARDIER AEROSPACE delivered the first Learjet 60 XR business jet to Cloud Nine Aviation of Los Angeles, Calif. The new model, which has a typically equipped price of $13.3 million, features a Pro Line 21 avionics system and restyled passenger cabin.
RUNWAY 16 at Westchester County Airport (HPN) in White Plains, N.Y. was shut down for nearly three hours Friday morning after the crew of an Avantair Piaggio P180 turboprop was forced to make a gear-up landing after experiencing difficulty getting the landing gear to properly deploy. The two-member crew was positioning the aircraft from the Teterboro, N.J. Airport (TEB) to HPN when the incident occurred about 0820 Aug. 3. There was very minimal damage to the aircraft according to Airport Manager Steve Ferguson, who said the pilot "did a real good job."
Named assistant vice president for communications and marketing at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Fla. Minor will head up the communication and marketing efforts for ERAU's Daytona Beach and Prescott, Ariz. campuses. Minor comes from Penn State University, where he was senior director for that school's outreach activities, particularly continuing and distance education programs. Minor also has more than 20 years of experience in the advertising business, having worked for a number of the country's largest advertising agencies.
Model Hawker 800XP airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-28810; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-104-AD] - This proposed AD would require inspection of panel DA wiring for clearance and signs of chafing or exposed conductors. Wires and cable ties would need to be repaired or replaced as necessary. This proposed AD results from reports of wire bundle interference in the DA panel, chafed wire bundles and exposed conductors, all of which could cause an electrical short and consequent loss of several functions essential for safe flight.
Appointed vice president, aerospace coatings and sealants for PPG Aerospace, a supplier of paints, coatings, chemicals, optical products, specialty materials, glass and fiber glass. Morris previously was vice president, aerospace for PPG.
Highlighting their strong ties to both business aviation and the state of Georgia, industry veterans Bryan Moss and Pat Epps will receive two of the National Business Aviation Association's most prestigious honors during the association's 2007 convention. NBAA has selected Moss, president emeritus of Gulfstream Aerospace, as the recipient of its 2007 Award for Meritorious Service to Aviation, and Epps, pilot and founder of the Atlanta FBO Epps Aviation, as the recipient of the 2007 John P. "Jack" Doswell Award. The honors will be bestowed at a luncheon on Tuesday, Sept.
The Carlyle Group completed the sale of Landmark Aviation and Standard Aero to Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) last week, and DAE announced it plans to spin off the fixed-base network that has been part of Landmark.
Problems with the Kelly Aerospace turbochargers on Teledyne Continental engines that power Cirrus Design SR22 airplanes have resulted in at least three forced landings in recent months after the engines lost power in flight. Both the engine and turbocharger manufacturers have issued service bulletins addressing the problem, which they say is expected to be the subject of an FAA airworthiness directive in the very near future.
Joining Adam Aircraft as vice president of sales, marketing and customer support. Crowley has 25 years of aviation industry experience, holding executive positions in sales, marketing, finance and program management. He most recently served with Bombardier Aerospace, where he held positions including vice president Asia/Pacific sales for Bombardier Regional Aircraft and vice president sales and marketing for the Bombardier C-Series program.
THREE small aircraft management companies have partnered to launch a new Professionally Managed Aircraft Association (PMAA). The companies - AirShares Elite, iFly and PlaneSmart! - said the new association will establish a code of professional standards and conduct and promote the benefits of the personal aircraft management market. PMAA will promote best practices, encourage collaboration and promote the industry to the general public and aviation community. AirShares Elite President David Lee will serve as the founding president of PMAA. PlaneSmart!
GE AVIATION opened a new 31,300-square-foot distribution center in Singapore. GE Aviation retained DHL Exel Supply Chain to operate and manage the center, which is located near Changi Airport. GE Aviation said it selected the site based on the strength of the maintenance, repair and overhaul market in Singapore, which the company valued at about $3.6 billion (U.S.) in 2006. GE Aviation also operates a component repair facility in Singapore and said revenue from Southeast Asia has grown an average of 20 percent for the past four years.
