Models SR20 and SR22 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-27976; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-042-AD; Amendment 39-15125; AD 2007-14-03] - Replace the pick-up collar support and nylon screws of the airplane parachute system with a newly designed pick-up collar support and custom tension screws. This AD results from a report of an inflight parachute system activation in which the parachute failed to deploy properly. The FAA issued this AD to prevent the possible premature separation of the collar, which could result in the parachute failing to deploy successfully.
Model F33, G33, V35B, A36, A36TC, B36TC, 95-B55, D55, E55, A56TC, 58, and G58 airplanes and Raytheon Aircraft Company Model 58P, 58TC and 77 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-28434; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-053-AD] - This proposed AD would require operators to replace certain circuit-breaker toggle switches with improved switches. This proposed directive, which resulted from reports that some switches have overheated, is designed to prevent switch failure, which could result in smoke in the cockpit and the inability to turn off the switch.
Promoted to worldwide director of sales for the Universal Avionics product line for DAC International. For the past 10 years Hernandez was responsible for all Latin American sales for DAC, including Universal products.
Appointed senior vice president, U.S. sales for Dassault Falcon. Habib most recently was vice president, Western U.S. sales for the French plane-maker. He joined Dassault Falcon in 1993 as a demonstration pilot after serving as a naval aviator for eight years. He was named district sales manager, Far East in 1995 and then was promoted to director of sales, North Asia in 1997. In 1999, Habib became vice president, international sales and was named to his most recent post in 2004.
The House aviation subcommittee is scheduled to hold a hearing July 24 to examine the need to improve worker conditions in FAA's older ATC facilities. This issue gained traction earlier this year after a couple of incidents at FAA facilities when controllers became ill after noxious fumes entered work areas. Carbon monoxide affected controllers at the New York terminal radar approach control (TRACON) in April, and the same problem occurred at the Washington Dulles tower in May.
SUN 'N FUN's board of directors decided to shorten the 2008 Fly-In by one day to April 8-13. The event in recent years had ended with a half-day on Monday that culminated with an airshow. "From a financial standpoint," said Chairman Bill Eickhoff, "Sun 'n Fun was financially responsible for services that were being underutilized during that final half-day period."
Model CL-600, -601, -601-3A, -601-3R and CL-604 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-26353; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-189-AD; Amendment 39-15124; AD 2007-14-02] - Identify the part number and serial number of the selector valves of the nose landing gear and the nose gear door, and perform related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This AD results from reports of uncommanded partial retractions of the nose landing gear. This directive affects 502 airplanes on the U.S. Registry and will cost operators a total of $40,160, or $80 per aircraft.
SHADIN AVIONICS recently completed renovation of its 22,000-square-foot headquarters and manufacturing facility in St. Louis Park, Minn. The new layout is designed to promote efficient communication, handle the workflow for Shadin processes and permit future growth, the company said.
PRECISION CASTPARTS CORP. is proceeding with the acquisition of Caledonian Alloys Group Ltd., which was announced last month. Precision Castparts, a diversified manufacturer of complex metal components and products, said Caledonian is "the market leader in providing nickel superalloy and titanium revert management solutions for the aerospace and industrial turbine industries." Revert includes metal chips, casting gating, bar ends, forging flash and other byproducts from casting, forging and fastener manufacturing processes that can be remelted and reused.
METALCRAFT TECHNOLOGIES INC. cut the first metal for the fuselage of Utilicraft Aerospace Industries prototype FF-1080 aircraft. The FF-1080 Freight Feeder twin-engine utility airplane is designed to carry standard aviation industry containers on short- to medium-range flights.
NATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION'S Lindsey McFarren was tapped to serve as the director of the newly formed Air Charter Safety Foundation, which was established to improve air charter safety and security (BA, June 4/249). The nonprofit foundation will be involved in research, education and collaborative initiatives that promote charter industry standards, best practices and safety management systems. McFarren joined NATA in September 2005 as manager, research and special projects.
The Defense Department is crafting new regulations to waive domestic sourcing restrictions over specialty metals for acquisitions of commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) items. The move, outlined July 2 in the Federal Register, follows a Senate-backed specialty metals effort a year ago - heavily favored by industry - after a battle with conservative Buy American advocates in the House when both chambers were controlled by Republicans. The battle played out last summer in the 2007 defense authorization act, which was signed into law last October.
Models AT-602, AT-802 and AT-802A airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-27212; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-011-AD; Amendment 39-15121; AD 2007-13-17] - Following the instructions of Snow Engineering Company's Service Letter 253 (dated December 12, 2005 and revised January 22, 2007), inspect the engine mounts for cracks, repair or replace any cracked mount, and report any cracks found to the FAA. This AD is being issued in response to reports that engine mounts have cracked before the initial compliance time stipulated in a previous AD (2006-22-08).
CAE, the Canadian aircraft simulator manufacturer and training company, is expanding its presence in India with an agreement to acquire Macmet Technologies Ltd. for approximately $5 million. Macmet, based in Bangalore, is the leading simulation company in India, with experience designing simulators for air, land and naval forces.
Model 750XL airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-28436; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-055-AD] - To prevent cracks from developing in the aileron spar adjacent to the inboard hinge attachment, this proposed AD would require the removal of both ailerons and inspection and modification of the aileron spar at the inboard hinge attachment point in accordance with Pacific Aerospace Limited's Mandatory Service Bulletin PACSB/XL/027 (dated March 27, 2007). This proposed AD results from an MCAI originated by the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand.
CORPORATE ANGEL NETWORK added the top executives of two more business jet manufacturers to its board of directors, Jack J. Pelton, chairman, president and CEO of Cessna Aircraft Co. and John G. Rosanvallon, president and CEO of Dassault Falcon Jet Corp. Jim Schuster, chairman and CEO of Hawker Beechcraft Corp., joined the CAN board earlier.
Was promoted to director of powerplant and environmental control systems engineering for Gulfstream Aerospace. He will be responsible for technical development, certification and engineering support of aircraft engines, auxiliary power units, fuel, fire protection, water/waste and environmental control systems. Felipe joined Gulfstream seven years ago as an FAA Designated Engineering Representative (DER) and technical specialist.
National Transportation Safety Board investigators are attempting to determine what led to the inflight breakup of a nearly new Piper PA-46-500TP Meridian last month as the aircraft was flying over Missouri. The pilot and both passengers were killed.
SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER (D-N.Y.) went after FAA on the issues of airspace congestion and delays Thursday during a Senate Finance Committee hearing on FAA reauthorization legislation (See article below). Schumer complained that FAA is not dealing with the congestion and delays that have plagued New York City airports and surrounding airspace. Saying that the situation has reached a crisis point, Schumer asserted, "The FAA seems to be in denial." The senior senator from the Empire State observed that in his 27 years of traveling between Washington, D.C.
BOMBARDIER'S 11th annual Safety Standdown will be held Oct. 22-25 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Wichita, Kan. Speakers will include Nick Sabatini, FAA's associate administrator for aviation safety, Ed Bolen, president and CEO of the National Business Aviation Association and Mark Rosenker, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board.
COLUMBIA AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURING CO., which announced layoffs of 185 of its workers less than four months ago, is now trying to hire additional employees. Columbia, based in Bend, Ore., laid off about one-third of its work force in March in conjunction with management changes that included the appointment of Malaysia native Wan Abd Majid as chief executive (BA, March 26/143). The company began recalling workers in May after upgrading tooling and implementing Lean Enterprise manufacturing practices.
President of Spanish parachute manufacturer CIMSA, was named to the board of directors of Ballistic Recovery Systems, Inc., the South St. Paul, Minn. maker of parachutes for general aviation aircraft. Caralt heads Barcelona-based CIMSA, which manufactures parachutes for a wide variety of civil and military applications. CIMSA recently won a U.S. patent for a parachute steering mechanism. "Caralt brings more than 10 years of extensive operating management, product development and parachute experience to the BRS board," said Robert L. Nelson, BRS board chairman.
NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD investigators were continuing their investigation last week into the crash of a Cessna 310 twin-engine aircraft into a Sanford, Fla. housing development. The aircraft was flying from Daytona to Lakeland when the pilot told controllers there was smoke in the cockpit. He was attempting to land at the Orlando Sanford International Airport when the crash occurred, killing both men in the aircraft and occupants of the houses.
THE NATIONAL AERONAUTIC ASSOCIATION selected Col. Mary S. Feik as the recipient of the Frank G. Brewer Trophy. Feik got her first airplane ride as a 7-year-old in a barnstormer's Curtiss Jenny. After working as a teenager in an aircraft maintenance shop, Feik joined the U.S. Army Air Forces at Wright Field in Dayton, Ohio. She is credited with becoming the first woman engineer in research and development in the Air Technical Service Command Division. Much later, in 1996, she also became the first woman to earn the Charles Taylor Master Mechanics Award.
