CIRRUS ROLLS OUT 'PERSONAL JET' MOCKUP - Cirrus Design Corp., which has produced thousands of single-engine piston-powered aircraft, unveiled a mockup of a new single-engine jet last week, debuting the new design at a ceremony for customers who had placed $100,000 deposits for the new aircraft. The mockup features a single turbofan engine situated along the centerline at the top rear of the fuselage and a low-wing design that incorporates winglets.
ASK AROUND: First, U.S. Air Force Gen. Ronald Keys, commander of Air Combat Command, says the military often misuses unmanned aerial vehicles in finding improvised explosive devices (DAILY, June 21). Now, Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the Pentagon has found a successful low-tech response to the threat: ask the locals. U.S. forces have had greater success in finding IEDs by developing strong relationships with people in nearby neighborhoods, Gates says.
AN AMERICAN EAGLE Embraer ERJ-135 made a bumpy landing at Boston's Logan International Airport (BOS) last month. The crew told National Transportation Safety Board investigators they had an indication that the gear was down and locked, but right before touchdown they noticed a "landing gear lever disagree." The airplane scraped the surface of the runway, but the pilots executed a go-around and then mechanically lowered the landing ear and confirmed it was locked in position.
SHEFFIELD ACQUIRES TWO OTHER CALIFORNIA METALS SUPPLIERS - Sheffield Manufacturing, Inc., of Sun Valley, Calif., a provider of precision machining products for the aerospace industry, acquired two other metals manufacturers with long ties to the aerospace industry.
SPECIAL CONDITIONS for the Adam A700 business jet were proposed by FAA for the fire extinguishing system of the airplane's aft-mounted engines. The applicable airworthiness regulation (FAR Part 23) does not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature, the agency said. Comments, which are due by July 25, should be sent to: FAA Regional Counsel, ACE-7, 901 Locust, Room 506, Kansas City, Mo. 64106. For further information, contact Leslie B.
NTSB RECOMMENDS CHANGES IN FAA POLICIES ON SUBSTANCE ABUSE - The National Transportation Safety Board is concerned over how FAA handles pilots with a history of substance abuse and is recommending changes in the Administration's policies regarding pilots in those situations. NTSB cited a number of aircraft incidents in which FAA should have been aware of - or had information that indicated - a pilot's substance abuse history.
CF34-10E series turbofan engines [Docket No. FAA-2006-25896; Directorate Identifier 2006-NE-33-AD; Amendment 39-15093; AD 2007-12-15] - This AD supersedes an existing directive that requires removing the fuel inlet strainer from the main fuel pump, installing a certain replacement flange as an interim repair, and performing initial and repetitive visual inspections of the main fuel filter. The new AD requires removing the old main fuel pump from service and installing an improved one.
Named vice president, environmental affairs for the Air Transport Association. Young joined ATA in 2000 as assistant general counsel and became associate general counsel, environment and international programs, for the association in 2004. She joined ATA with a background in environmental law in litigation as a shareholder/partner of the law firm of Beveridge & Diamond, P.C. She served on working groups including the International Civil Aviation Organization's environment committee and was co-chair of Beveridge & Diamond's climate change practice.
FAA reauthorization took another step forward last week after the House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee cleared a comprehensive aviation bill that would set FAA funding levels through fiscal 2011 and maintain the current aviation excise tax funding system. The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2007, H.R.2881, was approved by voice vote, but not before the T&I Committee approved a labor-related amendment that Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.) warned would draw a presidential veto.
GIV-X, GV and GV-SP airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-28373; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-110-AD; Amendment 39-15104; AD 2007-12-25] - Revise the Airplane Flight Manual, perform repetitive functional checks of the forward water drain/supply valves and take applicable corrective actions. This AD is being issued in response to reports of failed forward water drain/supply valves on numerous airplanes and reports of ice striking the wing-to-body fairings and engine nose cowls of several airplanes.
AOPA INITIATIVE FOCUSES ON PILOT CAREERS - Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association rolled out a new effort to generate interest in learning to fly among would-be pilots, but this time the initiative is focusing on professional pilot careers. The program, AOPA Career Pilot, uses a range of print and Web-based resources to serve as a guide for anyone contemplating a career as a pilot.
Promoted to chief of staff for the Air Transport Association. Higginbotham joined ATA in 1997 as assistant general counsel and was later named associate general counsel, litigation and regulatory affairs. She was promoted to vice president, policy in June 2006. She formerly was a senior attorney at Federal Express and a senior district attorney in Dekalb County, Ga. She earned a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Arkansas, and a law degree from Emory University of Atlanta.
Headed by Defense Minister A.K Antony, India's Defense Acquisition Council has given the final go-ahead for the much-awaited procurement of 126 Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft for the Indian air force. Issues holding up the release of the Request for Proposal (RFP) - including transfer of technology, licensed production and lifetime maintenance support - are said to have been resolved. The RFP, according to a government statement "is planned to be issued in the near future."
ATR received an order from Malaysia Airlines for 10 ATR 72-500s. The order, valued at $183 million, includes options for 10 more aircraft. Malaysia Airlines will use the new aircraft to expand its Firefly subsidiary and establish hubs in Penang, Subang, Yohoar Baharau, and Kota Kinabalu. The ATR aircraft also will replace the carrier's Fokker 50 aircraft fleet. The Malaysia Airlines sale boosts the ATR order book to the 900-aircraft milestone (416 ATR 42s and 484 ATR 72s). Since the beginning of the year, ATR has sold 63 new aircraft.
CESSNA SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH GERMAN DIESEL ENGINE MAKER - Cessna Aircraft signed an agreement Wednesday with German engine maker Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH "to collaborate on future programs centered on the Thielert diesel engine." The brief announcement said details of the program would be released later.
SR20 and SR22 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-28246; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-048-AD] - This proposed AD would require inspection and, as necessary, adjustment of the aileron and rudder rigging. Also, the proposed directive would mandate inspection, and, as necessary, adjustment or modifications of the rudder-aileron interconnect system. This proposal was made in response to the on-the-ground jamming of the aileron and rudder controls of an SR20. The FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 2,387 airplanes on the U.S.
HONDA AIRCRAFT COMPANY broke ground Wednesday for its 369,000-square-foot headquarters and manufacturing center at Piedmont Triad International (PTI) Airport in Greensboro, N.C. where research and development, sales, marketing and manufacturing of the HondaJet will be housed. The first phase of construction, which will include more than 200,000 square feet of space, is scheduled to be completed next spring. Honda Aircraft said it will spend about $100 million on the new headquarters and production facility, including equipment.
Alexander Strekalov, director of RSC Energia's Experimental Engineering Plant, will take over as acting president of Energia after Nicolai Sevastiyanov was tentatively ousted as president and general designer of the Russian human spaceflight concern. The Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), which controls 38 percent of Energia's stock, and the company's board of directors dismissed Sevastiyanov on grounds he failed to coordinate with them on "realization of manned spaceflight programs and international projects," Roscosmos says.
Appointed vice president, product development for the Hawker product line for Hawker Beechcraft Corp. He will be responsible for new product development, legacy research and development and change management. Hinderberger previously spent nine years with Gulfstream, most recently as chief engineer, advanced aircraft. He also served with Rolls-Royce Deutschland, where he was Global Express certification, powerplant, flight test team leader and engine development manager.
Lawmakers are intent on ending Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman's joint position as lead systems integrator (LSI) for the U.S. Coast Guard's Deepwater modernization program, although not as fast as House authorizers originally outlined. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's recent Deepwater reform bill would require the Coast Guard to take over LSI duties from the Lockheed-Northrop joint venture Integrated Coast Guard Systems (ICGS), and bar any private sector entity from managing Deepwater by the fall of 2011.
ERJ 170 and ERJ 190 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-28377; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-063-AD] - Perform an operational check of the firewall hydraulic shutoff valve in accordance with Embraer Service Bulletin 170-29-0013 or 190-29-0008 (both dated Dec. 13, 2006). If the valve does not operate properly, before further flight, replace the faulty valve with another one. This proposed AD results from an MCAI originated by the aviation authority of Brazil. The FAA estimates that the proposed directive would affect 126 aircraft on the U.S.
MEANWHILE, quality supplemental charter lift is becoming harder to find for fractional providers and established charter operators because of rising calls for on-demand flights from customers trying to avoid airline travel and higher aircraft utilization by owners who have their airplanes on a management company's certificate.
NAVY UAVs: As the Air Force continues to make a grab for oversight of all the Defense Dept.'s high-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) programs, the Navy is restructuring management of its own UAV offices at NAS Patuxent River, Md. The office responsible for all Navy/Marine Corps UAVs, headed by a single captain, is being restructured into three separate management offices, each headed by its own captain.
