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.
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), is calling for FAA to install carbon monoxide detectors in air traffic control towers. The move followed evacuations at the Washington Dulles control tower and New York terminal radar approach control center this month due to carbon monoxide leaks that debilitated several controllers on duty. Central carbon monoxide alarm systems are not installed at the 29 TRACON or 314 FAA tower facilities, and coverage by individual detectors is "spotty and undocumented," according to the National Air Traffic Controllers Association.
AUSTIN SHONTZ was appointed vice president of Savannah, Ga. operations and final phase engineering for Gulfstream Aerospace. He will manage initial phase manufacturing, final phase manufacturing and final phase engineering at Gulfstream's Savannah facilities. He joined Gulfstream in 1997 as director of manufacturing operations at the Savannah facility, and in 1999 was named director of completions operations for the company's Long Beach, Calif. base.
The National Business Aviation Association recognized the contributions of four key staff members with promotions. Mike Nichols was promoted to vice president, operations, education and economics. Nichols formerly was director, tax, economics and operational services for the association. In his new role, he will direct NBAA programs, policy positions and educational efforts related to tax, regulation, finance and risk management.
EMORY (BUCK) KILGOREwas named vice president of aerostructures for M7 Aerospace. Gilgore has 35 years of aircraft manufacturing experience, having spent most of his career with Kaman Aerospace. At Kaman, he held positions of increasing responsibility in industrial engineering, program management, business development and manufacturing. Most recently he was director of Kaman's Jacksonville, Fla. fabrication and assembly facility.
DAN WATTS was appointed director of final phase operations at Gulfstream Aerospace's Long Beach, Calif. completions and service facility. Watts will manage all work performed during the final phase, including paint hangar operations and delivery. He has more than 20 years of aviation experience, and most recently was senior Lean Manufacturing manager at Gulfstream's Long beach site. He joined the company in 1998 as an industrial engineering group head.
Models 208 and 208B airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-26498; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-83-AD; Amendment 39-15056; AD 2007-10-15] - Supersedes AD 2006-06-06, which requires incorporating information into the applicable section of the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) and Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) and requires installing placards. Since FAA issued AD 2006-06-06, Cessna issued new S1 Known Icing Equipment AFM supplements and developed a low airspeed awareness system.
JOSEPH DRAKE joined Gulfstream Aerospace as director of real estate. Drake will be responsible for the manufacturer's commercial real estate development and leasing activities. He has 26 years of real estate experience and has been involved in the development, design, construction and management of commercial office buildings, mixed-use office parks and residential dwellings. His clients have included America Online, AT&T, Boeing, Booz-Allen, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., George Mason University and Prince William Hospital.
(Type Certificate No. 1A16 formerly held by Schweizer Aircraft Corp.) G-164 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-27860; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-034-AD] - Proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 82-07-04, which requires modification of the fuel shut-off valve control by installation of a new stop-plate. Since issuing AD 82-07-04, FAA determined the need to add airplane models and serial numbers that were not previously included in the applicability.
AIRPORT and air carrier groups plan to work with the Transportation Security Administration over the next 60 days to revise standards and specifications for employee screening. The heads of nine associations wrote members of Congress detailing their efforts to address airport worker screening, which include behavioral recognition, employee training, targeted physical inspection, enhanced access control, increased employee vetting and technology deployment. The letter comes as members of Congress continue to evaluate potential bills mandating increased aviation security.
Gulfstream Aerospace officials, who have been researching a supersonic business jet (SSBJ) for a number of years, are considering launching an SSBJ demonstrator in time to help convince regulators - who are scheduled to meet in 2013 - that overland operations of such an aircraft would not have adverse environmental consequences. Company officials insist a decision on proceeding with the program has not been made. But their comments at last week's EBACE exhibition in Geneva, Switzerland indicate they are getting closer to going forward.
River Hawk Aviation, Inc., an aviation parts and components supplier, said Friday it had executed an agreement to merge with Profile Aviation Services, a fixed-base operation based in Hickory, N.C. River Hawk, which is headquartered in Traverse City, Mich. with an inventory warehouse in San Antonio, Texas, specializes in providing parts for Saab-built airplanes and other commuter and regional aircraft. The company also provides consulting and appraisal services. Profile operates two businesses, Profile Aviation Center, Inc.
PRESTOSIM secured FAA approval for a Beechcraft King Air simulator at its Grapevine, Texas center. The simulator has a 180-degree wraparound visual system to provide realistic training scenarios. In addition to King Air training, PrestoSIM offers initial/type, recurrent, single-pilot and differences training on Citation Bravo, Ultra and Encore models. Established in 2004, the company operates a 30,000-square-foot facility.
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE OFFICIALS, sounding more serious about proceeding with development of a supersonic business jet, have identified a key date before which they hope to have an aircraft flying in order to achieve critical regulatory approvals. See article on Page 241.
Eclipse Aviation said its distributor for Eastern Europe has signed an agreement for nearly 200 of the manufacturer's Eclipse 500 Very Light Jets. ETIRC Aviation Europe placed a firm order for 120 aircraft and took options for 60 more. ETIRC was founded by Roel Pieper, an executive with a background in high-technology companies. The latest order pushes the total Eclipse 500 order book to just under 2,700 units, including both firm orders and options, the manufacturer said.
Model SR20 and SR22 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-27976; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-042-AD] - Proposes to require replacing the pick-up collar support and nylon screws of the Cirrus Airplane Parachute System (CAPS) with a new design pick-up collar support and custom tension screws. This proposed AD results from a Cirrus Design Corp. report of an in-flight CAPS activation in which the parachute failed to successfully deploy. FAA is proposing this AD to correct pick-up collar support fasteners of the CAPS, which could result in the premature separation of the collar.
BOMBARDIER AEROSPACE secured FAA supplemental type certification to install the AirCell Axxess EZ satellite communications system on Challenger 600, 601 and 604 business jets. The Bombardier Service Center in Hartford, Conn. completed the first installation on a Challenger 604. The Axxess EZ system will replace the MagnaStar airborne telephone system that is scheduled to go out of service at the end of December 2008. The installation uses existing MagnaStar wiring and component locations, eliminating the need to modify the aircraft interior and reducing downtime.
AVFUEL teamed with Signature Flight Support to jointly offer Avfuel Commercial Contract Fuel along with the pilot incentive program, AVTRIP, at Signature's fixed-base operations in Europe. The agreement will implement the Avfuel programs at 19 bases in Europe. Under the contract fuel program, customers use a centralized purchasing system and receive a single bill for fuel purchased in a given time period. The AVTRIP program allows customers to accrue points that are credited toward U.S. savings bonds or international equivalents.
PERUVIAN AUTHORITIES said Friday there were five survivors of the crash of a government-operated Twin Otter that went down in a remote area some 360 miles northeast of Lima. The airplane was believed to be carrying a total of 20 passengers and crewmembers. Helicopters searching for the missing aircraft spotted a fire set by some of the survivors to attract attention. The government operates flights to a number of isolated towns and villages that do not have commercial air service.
Model P68 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-27208 Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-010-AD; Amendment 39-15040; AD 2007-09-08] - Requires inspections and modification of the backrest recline of the pilot and copilot seats. This AD stems from MCAI from the airworthiness authority of Italy. The MCAI notes that the backrest recline of pilot and co-pilot seats requires the removal of a "quick release pin" that is not correctly indicated in the AFM and not readily detectable by the passengers. The MCAI added the removal the device is difficult.
Airbus and Boeing used the annual European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition to highlight recent sales successes for the corporate jet versions of their airline offerings, including a significant new U.S. order for Airbus. Minnesota-based Petters Group ordered five A318 Elite corporate jets, and the company also plans to establish A318 marketing and outfitting centers in the U.S. Meanwhile, Boeing said it has received nine corporate jet orders this year, including two for modified 787s.
Vienna, Austria-based charter operator JetAlliance ordered 25 Citation business jets in a deal valued at $280 million. The order includes one CJ1+, six CJ2+, five CJ3, three XLS+, one Sovereign, two Citation X and seven Citation Mustang aircraft. The Mustang recently earned certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency. Deliveries of the 25 aircraft are scheduled for 2009 and 2010. JetAlliance is the third largest charter operator in Europe and is an authorized Cessna sales representative.
JET AVIATION BASEL will soon begin construction on a 377,000-square-foot hangar large enough to accommodate wide-body aircraft such as the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787-8. The CHF 35 million ($28 million U.S.) hangar is expected to open on the south end of EuroAirport in spring 2008. The new facilities also will include shops and ramp space. The hangar will help Jet Aviation accommodate its growing maintenance business at Basel. The hangar will house sheet metal, composite, avionics and component repair shops.
