Jetstream Model 3201 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-26284; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-68-AD; Amendment 39-15057; AD 2007-10-16] - Requires incorporation of new life limitations in the Airworthiness Limitations Section of the Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM). This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority. The MCAI stems from the revision of airworthiness limitations in the AMM. Some life limits have been amended and some new life limits have been introduced.
June 4-6 - American Helicopter Society's/IHST Latin American Regional International Helicopter Safety Symposium, Renaissance Hotel, Sao Paulo, Brazil, (703) 684-6777, fax (703) 739-9279, www.vtol.org June 11-15 - Bombardier Aerospace CRJ World Wide Operators' Conference & Trade Show, Montreal. Contact Laurence Villion at (416) 375-4208, [email protected] June 18-24 - Paris Air Show, Le Bourget Airport, Paris, http://www. paris-air-show.com/en/
FLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL plans to build a second Gulfstream G150 aircraft flight simulator to be installed at FSI's Dallas/Fort Worth learning center. The simulator is scheduled to enter service in the first quarter of 2009.
Arrius 2F turboshaft engines [Docket No. FAA-2005-22430; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-34-AD; Amendment 39-15063; AD 2007-11-06] - Supersedes an existing AD that currently requires removing from service certain serial number fuel control units (FCUs) or replacing the constant delta pressure (delta P) diaphragm in those FCUs. This AD requires replacing all FCUs not incorporating modification Tf 55 with FCUs that incorporate modification Tf 55.
Named manager of Duncan Aviation's satellite shop in Denver, Colo. Hazy, a 21-year military veteran who held aviation maintenance posts in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force, joined Duncan in 2000 in the company's satellite shop in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. He moved to the Denver facility in 2004.
HONEYWELL secured FAA technical standard order approval for its new Primus Epic Control Display System/ Retrofit (CDS/R). The clearance will allow Honeywell to retrofit the latest system on dozens of aircraft. The newest system will display electronic charts and maps and satellite-based weather through an advanced file graphics server line replaceable unit that will be available in the third quarter of 2007. The system also incorporates features such as independent pan and zoom control and scalable architecture for two-, three- or four-display configurations.
Model 1329 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-28255; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-023-AD] - Proposes to require determining the part number on the steering cylinder assembly for the nose landing gear (NLG), determining the total flight cycles accumulated on the NLG steering cylinder assembly, repetitive replacement of the assembly, inspecting for missing tow turning limit markings, and performing corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD results from reports of numerous failures of the NLG steering cylinder.
Model 750XL [Docket No. FAA-2007-27863; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-037-AD] - Requires inspection of the rudder trim tab upper pivot for any lateral movement of the bushing and modification, if necessary. This proposed AD results from MCAI issued by the airworthiness authority of New Zealand. The MCAI was intended to prevent the rudder trim tab upper pivot hole in the rudder rib flogging out, which may lead to aerodynamic flutter and possible loss of aircraft control. FAA estimates the AD would cover seven aircraft on the U.S.
The National Transportation Safety Board last week cited faulty maintenance and lack of oversight in the Dec. 19, 2005 crash of a Chalk's Ocean Airways Grumman Turbo Mallard seaplane in Miami. The aircraft was on a scheduled passenger flight to Bimini, Bahamas when the right wing separated from the fuselage shortly after takeoff. The aircraft crashed into the shipping channel next to the Port of Miami. "This accident tragically illustrates a gap in the safety net with regard to older airplanes," said NTSB Chairman Mark Rosenker.
MILLION AIR recently celebrated the grand opening of two fixed-base operation facilities on the West Coast. Million Air Los Angeles, based at Hawthorne Municipal Airport, recently opened after more than $1 million in renovations. Million Air added the facility to its network last fall. Century Aviation Holdings owns the Hawthorne base. Million Air also dedicated a new facility at Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport. The Medford FBO, owned by Superior Air Charter, joined the Million Air network this year.
LIBERTY AEROSPACE was granted instrument flight rules certification for the Liberty XL2 single-piston aircraft from the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC). The approval allows Liberty owners to register their XL2 aircraft on the Chinese B-registration. The CAAC also approved use of Chinese grade fuel in the XL2.
ROCKWELL COLLINS was selected to provide its Head-up Guidance System (HGS) for installation on Lynx Aviation's Bombardier Q400 fleet and for Nav Canada's two flight inspection aircraft. Installation on the first Lynx aircraft is slated to be completed by July. Lynx, a wholly owned subsidiary of Frontier Holdings, selected the HGS-4100. The system displays flight symbology on a glass combiner in the pilot's forward field of view.
Fractional aircraft operator NetJets, already Hawker Beechcraft's (HBC) largest business jet customer, now accounts for an even larger share of the Wichita aircraft manufacturer's orderbook after agreeing to purchase 32 Hawker 4000 aircraft for the NetJets Europe fleet. Hawker Beechcraft said the deal, which includes a maintenance agreement, is valued at more than $700 million. Deliveries are slated to begin in 2008 and continue through 2016.
CAE and Embraer will establish a training base for the Phenom 100 Very Light Jet and Phenom 300 light jet at CAE's training center in Burgess Hill, near London's Gatwick airport. Training at Burgess Hill is expected to begin in early 2009, when the first Phenom 100 is delivered in Europe. Embraer signed an agreement with CAE in October 2006 to jointly develop a global training venture for Phenom pilots and ground crew. The initial training program will be offered at CAE SimuFlite in Dallas in 2008, when the Phenom 100 goes into service.
BOOMING DEMAND for new business jets is causing a capacity crunch at completion centers, particularly those that cater to larger aircraft. The growing backlog of orders at original equipment manufacturers has resulted in a wave of expansion projects at both OEM-affiliated and independent completion providers.
FIELD AVIATION based in Toronto won a contract to supply the Icelandic Coast Guard with a maritime surveillance aircraft (MSA) using the Bombardier Dash 8 Q300 platform. The aircraft will replace an aging maritime surveillance Fokker F-27. The Dash 8 MSA will be designed to accommodate a number of missions, including patrol, interdiction, search and rescue, medical transportation and other first-response activities.
KEVIN BEITZEL was promoted to vice president of maintenance for Avantair. Beitzel joined the company in 2005 and previously was director of maintenance. In his new position, he will be responsible for quality assurance, quality control, maintenance operations, the Reliability Department, third-party maintenance and maintenance baseline operations. He formerly served as director of vendor maintenance for US Airways.
EASTERN EUROPE continues to be a hot market for business jet sales. Eclipse and Cessna announced orders and options last week for more than 200 aircraft from their distributors serving that region.
A BRAZILIAN PROSECUTOR said he planned to seek indictments Friday against the pilots of an ExcelAire Legacy aircraft that was involved in a collision with a Gol Airlines 737 last fall. Pilot organizations and aviation safety groups have been highly critical of Brazilian authorities for filing criminal charges against the pilots, particularly since the accident investigation is not complete and there are strong indications that serious problems are rampant in Brazil's air traffic control system, which is run by that country's military (BA, May 14/2007).
Model DA 40 and DA 40F airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-27974; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-040-AD] - Requires repetitively inspecting the nose landing gear leg for cracks and replacing the nose landing gear leg if cracks are found. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the aviation authority for Austria. The MCAI stems from a report that a nose landing gear leg failed in the area of the nose gear leg pivot axle. This airplane was mostly operated on grass runways and training operations.
Hawker Beechcraft is upgrading the Beechcraft King Air C90 to include the Pro Line 21 avionics system. The new King Air C90GTi, which will replace the current King C90GT, will incorporate the same systems found on the King Air B200 and Hawker 900XP.
Dassault Aviation last week unveiled the newest member of the Falcon 2000 line, the 2000LX, which will sport winglets designed through a collaboration with Aviation Partners, Inc. (API). The 2000LX will have a range of 4,000 nautical miles at Mach .80 and climb to 41,000 feet in 18 minutes. The new wing aerodynamics will reduce drag by up to 5 percent, Dassault said. The aircraft will be powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PW308C engines, which also power the 2000EX and 2000EX EASy, and will have the same interior as the 2000EX.
AN UPDATED Airworthiness Directive on Cessna C-208 Caravan aircraft requires a number of steps to prevent ice buildup when the single-engine turboprops encounter icing conditions. FAA estimates implementing the AD will cost $8,200 per aircraft, but Cessna is offering credit for parts and labor when the work is performed at an authorized service facility. See AD on Page 245.
ARINC was awarded a wide-area network contract to support NASA's Ames Distributed National Flight Operational Quality Assurance (FOQA) and Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) Archive Program. ARINC's Network Solution Division is working with Battelle, the primary contractor on the program. The program archives, stores and retrieves selected FOQA data from commercial flights along with ASAP reports submitted by pilots, air traffic controllers and other aviation practitioners who are involved in or become aware of particular safety incidents or problems.
