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.
Ametek Inc. increased its reach in the business and regional aircraft systems and maintenance market with the acquisition of two privately held businesses based in Wichita. Ametek acquired Advanced Industries, which produces starter-generators, brush and brushless motors, vane-axial and centrifugal blowers for cabin ventilation and linear actuators for business jets, light jets and helicopters. Ametek said the products will complement its own AMPHION product line of power management products.
Model EC130 B4 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2007-28229; Directorate Identifier 2006-SW-23-AD] - Proposes to require inspecting the pilot and co-pilot collective levers for proper bonding between the twist grip drive tubes and the control pinions and if debonding is present, replacing the collective levers before further flight. This proposal is prompted by one incident in which the engine remained at idle speed although the twist grip had been turned to the flight position.
Model EC130 B4 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2007-28228; Directorate Identifier 2006-SW-08-AD] - Proposes to require, within 100 hours time-in-service (TIS), modifying and testing the wiring of the battery overheat sensing circuit. This proposal is prompted by a malfunction in the battery overheat sensing circuit found during a scheduled inspection.
HAWKER BEECHCRAFT named TAG Farnborough an authorized service facility for the Hawker 800 series aircraft. TAG Farnborough, a subsidiary of TAG Aviation Holding, is the second authorized facility for the Hawker in the United Kingdom and joins a worldwide network of more than 100 authorized facilities.
Canadian manufacturer Bombardier reported a strong surge in orders for new aircraft in the quarter ended April 30, although profits and operating margins continued to lag behind those of other aerospace original equipment manufacturers.
EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY last month launched a new interactive, collaborative virtual classroom and Web center, EagleVision, under an agreement with Saba Software. EagleVision incorporates Saba's Centra technology, which combines voice, video, data and graphics in an online tool that is tailored to Embry-Riddle. The university began its first classes with EagleVision with six instructors at 18 locations. Plans call for a wider deployment across the university this summer.
EADS SOCATA received an order from European fractional aircraft ownership provider JETFLY for four TBM 850 single-turboprop aircraft. The aircraft will supplement JETFLY's existing fleet of three TBM 700s. EADS Socata valued the contract at $11.4 million (U.S.).
Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-27016; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-176-AD; Amendment 39-15066; AD 2007-11-09] - Supersedes an existing AD that currently requires inspecting the electrical connectors of the fire bottles for the forward and aft baggage compartments and for the auxiliary power unit (APU) and engine nacelles to determine if they are connected correctly, and performing related investigative and corrective actions if necessary.
The so-called "radar crisis" in Argentina is escalating, with new warnings and charges from international aviation bodies as well as local pilots, airspace controllers and media. All parties claim safety in the air has "deteriorated" in many high-traffic areas, such as over metropolitan Buenos Aires. Most recently, the government was sharply criticized for "hiding the problem" and "stonewalling" while it completes the thorny and lengthy transfer of airspace control from military to civilian authorities.
JET AVIATION'S charter partnership program in Europe, Skylliance, added German operator Homac Aviation and Athens, Greece-based GainJet to the program. With Homac and GainJet the Skylliance program has increased to six operators and more than 20 aircraft. Homac, headquartered in Friedrichshafen, Germany, was founded in 1995 and operates a Cessna Citation Bravo. GainJet flies two Gulfstream G200 aircraft. Other members of the program include Executive Airlines in Spain, Silver Cloud Air in Germany, VIP Avia in Latvia and Jet Aviation.
NATIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION alerted pilots Friday to a potentially dangerous situation at Dulles International Airport (IAD). The association said the Dulles control tower has reported at least two incidents in the past week involving general aviation aircraft where the pilots have "lined up for what will be the new Runway 1R after being cleared for the visual approach to the existing Runway 1R." A substance used to seal the surface soil under the new runway has been applied and from the air "this substance highly resembles poured concrete," NBAA said.
Noise restriction measures that have been voluntary at Westchester County Airport (HPN) in White Plains, N.Y. since 1983 would become mandatory under a bill that four U.S. congressmen introduced last month. Reps. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.), Christopher Shays (R-Conn.), Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) and John Hall (D-N.Y.) introduced the bill, H.R.2328, which would allow Westchester County to require compliance with various voluntary programs, including a nighttime flight restriction. The airport currently has a Voluntary Restraint From Flying period from midnight to 6:30 a.m.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation (H.R.1615) in May that would make it illegal to aim a laser pointer at the cockpit of an airplane. The bill recommends five years in prison for persons convicted of such an offense. Rep. Ric Keller (R-Fla.), who sponsored the bill, said FAA has reported more than 500 incidents of pilots being blinded or somehow disoriented by a laser beam. Currently, there is no federal law that prohibits shining a laser beam into a cockpit.
Cost estimates for the initial phase of the VH-71 presidential helicopter program have increased by $700 million, more than 40 percent, since the program began two and one-half years ago, officials told BA affiliate Aerospace Daily and Defense Report.
