GENERAL DYNAMICS won a $10 million order from FAA for additional CM-300 Ultra-High Frequency radio equipment to upgrade communication capabilities between air traffic controllers and military aircraft in the National Airspace System. The latest order is part of a $102 million UHF Replacement Radio contract originally awarded to GD in 2002.
PETER WRIGHT, SR., founder and chairman emeritus of Keystone Helicopter, died June 1 at age 90. Wright, a decorated World War II combat airman who flew with the Flying Tigers, founded Keystone Helicopter in 1953 in Philadelphia and created the American Helicopter Museum and Education Center in West Chester, Pa.
KEY AIR is hosting its second annual Business Aircraft and Jet Preview Thursday June 21 at the company's facilities at the Waterbury-Oxford, Conn. Airport (OXC). The event will feature dozens of exhibitors, including aircraft on display from most of the major business jet manufacturers. The catered event is by invitation only, but members of the aviation community interested in attending should contact Chris Little at [email protected].
Model 500, 501, 550, 551, S550, 560, 560XL, and 750 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-27258; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-213-AD; Amendment 39-15074; AD 2007-11-17] - Supersedes an existing AD that requires installing identification sleeves on the wires for the positive and negative terminal studs of the engine and/or auxiliary power unit (APU) fire extinguishing bottles, as applicable, and reconnecting the wires to the correct terminal studs.
The pilot of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB) helicopter was killed and the observer onboard was seriously injured last month when the pilot appeared to lose control of the aircraft during a routine border patrol mission and it crashed into a parked pickup truck.
Was named regional director for the Asia Pacific region for Era Corp., a developer of surveillance and flight tracking technology for the air traffic control, military, homeland security, and airport markets. Bensch will be responsible for expanding Era's reach and establishing a customer-focused team in the Asia Pacific region. He has 20 years of experience in the aviation industry, holding senior roles with Sabre Airline Solutions, Lochard, Lufthansa Systems, Rosenbluth International, Amadeus and Galileo.
(Beech) Model 400, 400A, and 400T series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-28308; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-016-AD] - Proposes to require modifying the attachment fasteners on the engine cowling panels. This proposed AD results from several reports of loose attachment fasteners found on the engine cowling panels, and subsequently the panels either peeling back or separating from the airplane during flight.
Rotorcraft Leasing Co. LLC of Lafayette, La. has acquired Go Helitrans, a provider of transportation services to offshore oil and gas production platform and drilling rigs in the western Gulf of Mexico. "This acquisition further strengthens Rotorcraft's position as the largest privately-held helicopter transportation company in the Gulf of Mexico," said Lloyd Marks, president of Rotorcraft. The combined entity will have a fleet of approximately 100 helicopters whose missions will be coordinated from Rotorcraft's flight operations center in Broussard, La.
Model S-76A, B, and C helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2007-28241; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-07-AD; Amendment 39-15062; AD 2007-11-05] - Requires a one-time ultrasonic inspection of the main rotor shaft assembly (M/R shaft) for cracking. This amendment is prompted by the discovery of cracking that occurred during the manufacturing of certain M/R shafts. The actions specified in this AD are intended to detect cracking in the M/R shaft, which could result in separation of the main rotor and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
The International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Associations (IFALPA) last week denounced the decision to indict four air traffic controllers and two pilots involved in a September midair collision in Brazil as "a crime against air safety." Judge Murilo Mendes of the Brazilian Federal Court in Sinop earlier this month indicted the air traffic controllers and Joseph Lepore and Jan Paladino, the pilots of an ExcelAir Embraer Legacy that collided with a Gol Airlines 737, under Brazilian Penal Code for placing a vessel or aircraft in jeopardy. (BA, June 4/255).
The crew of a Cessna Citation on a mission to deliver human organs to a transplant patient told air traffic controllers they had a "runaway trim" problem shortly before the aircraft crashed into Lake Michigan last Monday.
Model DHC-8-100, DHC-8-200, and DHC-8-300 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-27713; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-240-AD; Amendment 39-15079; AD 2007-12-01] - Requires, for certain airplanes, modification of the upper bearing of the main landing gear (MLG) shock strut. This AD also requires, for certain airplanes, revising the de Havilland DHC-8 Maintenance Program Manual to include the MLG shock strut servicing task. This AD results from reports of overextension of the MLG shock strut piston, which allows the torque links to go over-center and rest on the piston.
Model PC-6 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-28157; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-046-AD] - Proposes to require a one-time inspection of the wing strut fittings and replacement of damaged wing strut fittings with new ones. This AD also requires examination of the spherical bearings installed in the wing strut fittings and replacement of those bearings that do not pass the examination criteria. This AD stems from MCAI from the aviation authority of Switzerland. The MCAI was prompted by the discovery of cracks in the upper wing strut fittings of some PC-6 aircraft.
GUGGENHEIM PARTNERS, LLC and UBS AG formed Guggenheim aero Finance Co. LLC (GaFCo), a corporate jet financing business. The new enterprise will be headed by Claude Franco and Bob Peart.
GENERAL DYNAMICS, the parent company of Gulfstream Aerospace, ensured continuity of leadership last week by announcing that Chairman and CEO Nicholas Chabraja, 64, extended his employment contract with GD through June 30, 2009 "at the board of directors' request." Chabraja's previous agreement would have ended April 30, 2008.
AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION'S 17th annual Fly-In and Open House drew more than 5,000 pilots, aviation enthusiasts and members of the local community to AOPA headquarters at Frederick Municipal Airport in Frederick, Md., earlier this month. The June 2 event coincided with Frederick Airport Appreciation Day. More than 300 aircraft flew in for the event. During the fly-in, AOPA gathered signatures for a petition against aviation user fees and increased taxes, boosting the total number of signatures opposing the FAA's funding plan to more than 22,000.
CANADIAN SIMULATOR MANUFACTURER CAE won certification of the world's first full-flight simulator for the Dassault Falcon 7X business jet from FAA. The simulator is located at CAE's North East Training Center near Morristown, N.J. The simulator was jointly qualified to the Interim Level C standard by FAA and Europe's Joint Aviation Authorities.
A veteran of The Boeing Co., is joining Hawker Beechcraft Corp. (HBC) in the newly created post of vice president, new product development. Noting that "the development and delivery of innovative designs is vital" in the highly competitive general aviation market, HBC said Petkus will lead four directors managing key engineering areas of the company.
Has joined AirCell as vice president, brand and member marketing. Maxwell will be responsible for marketing and business development of the company's new broadband service. He has a background in telecommunications and marketing, most recently as chief marketing officer for European telecom services company Telegate. He previously worked at Kraft General Foods, Ameritech and Motorola.
Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-27755; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-289-AD; Amendment 39-15081; AD 2007-12-03] - requires revising the Limitations section of the Airplane Flight Manual to include procedures for pulling the "HYD PWR XFER" circuit breaker in the event of the loss of all hydraulic fluid in the No. 1 or No. 2 hydraulic system. This AD results from reports of fluid loss in the No. 2 hydraulic system, causing the power transfer unit to overspeed, increasing the fluid flow within the No. 1 hydraulic system.
NATIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION will hold its 12th annual Flight Attendant Conference June 29-30 at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina - West Tower. Registration cost is $350 for employees of NBAA member companies and $475 for nonmembers. For registration information, contact Dina Green at [email protected].
Was appointed vice president of aviation services for Comdata Corp., which provides electronic payment technology for the transportation and retail industries. Sickles is responsible for building the Comdata Card aviation network, ongoing product development, and sales and marketing initiatives for the general aviation market. He joined the company in 1993 and has since held various sales, IT and product development roles. Most recently he was vice president of business development.
