Rockwell Collins plans to announce by the end of the year whether it will enter the commercial side of the aircraft simulation and training market, a move that would enable the avionics powerhouse to capitalize on booming demand for new commercial aircraft.
TETERBORO AIRPORT (TEB) in New Jersey would have the ability to impose more stringent weight restrictions without recourse from FAA under a provision included in the Senate version of the FAA reauthorization bill that cleared the Senate Commerce Committee this month (BA, May 21/227). The provision prohibits FAA from "taking action designed to challenge or influence weight restrictions or prior permission rules" at TEB. The measure raises fears that it could establish a precedent for allowing local politicians to usurp federal authority on aviation matters.
The U.S. Army's Pentagon-based aviation director, Brig. Gen. Stephen Mundt, picked up the long-simmering fight between the service and NASA over the agency's aeronautics investments. During the annual Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA) conference in Atlanta this month, Mundt said that less than one-half of one percent of NASA's aeronautics budget is dedicated to advancements in rotorcraft technology. "They are killing us," he told the audience. "Unless all of us stand together on the funding, we will ultimately lose this battle."
CAE completed the acquisition of MultiGen-Paradigm, a supplier of real-time, commercial-off-the-shelf software for creating and visualizing simulation products, following recent receipt of U.S. government approval for the transaction. The deal with Parallax Capital Partners, LLC and others to acquire MultiGen-Paradigm for $16 million (U.S.) was originally announced on April 20.
National Air Transportation Association Friday expressed "deep concerns" with how the Transportation Security Administration has handled the Twelve-Five Standard Security Program (TFSSP) for Part 135 operators.
Model AT-602 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-26775; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-01-AD; Amendment 39-15042; AD 2007-10-01] - Requires installing access holes to do repetitive detailed visual inspections for cracks in the horizontal stabilizer brace tube assembly, and if any cracks are found as a result of a visual inspection, to replace the horizontal stabilizer brace tube assembly with a new design horizontal stabilizer brace tube assembly.
SA226 and SA227 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-25927; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-52-AD] - Proposes to supersede AD 98-19-15 R1 and AD 2000-03-17, which apply to M7 Aerospace LP SA226 and SA227 series airplanes equipped with certain pitch trim actuators. AD 98-19-15 R1 currently requires incorporating changes into the Limitations Section of the FAA-approved Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) if certain part number (P/N) pitch trim actuators are installed. AD 2000-03-17 requires repetitive inspections and repetitive replacements of the pitch trim actuator.
The European Commission expects to implement a new fees and charges schedule June 1 that would establish flat fees for certification and other European Aviation Safety Agency activities and could dramatically increase costs. The proposal, developed by EASA and set to be implemented by the European Commission, would drop the current combination of fixed and variable fees in favor of flat fees.
Barco won a contract from AERO Vodochody in the Czech Republic to provide cockpit head down displays for integration into the L-159 trainer fleet of the Czech air force. The contract is part of a conversion program that will rebuild four single-seat L159s into two-seat trainers. The modified L-159s will be equipped with two Barco displays that will be used as a repeater of the front position's primary flight display and head up display. The system will include a video cross-link communication path for redundancy.
Jet Aviation brought in two former senior Bombardier executives to fill key posts on the company's leadership team. Peter Edwards, a 28-year industry veteran who previously was president of Bombardier Business Aircraft Division, was named group chief executive officer, responsible for all of Jet Aviation's global activities. Edwards succeeds Carl W. Hirschmann, who had been serving as interim CEO since Heinz Kohli stepped down in March (BA, March 12/123).
Duncan Aviation hosted an open house at the company's Michigan facility this month to give the public its first glimpse at the recently expanded and renovated 345,000-square-foot complex. The event included a job fair at which some of Duncan's 615 employees at Battle Creek, along with representatives from several Michigan aviation schools, talked to visitors about local aviation educational options.
FAA Reauthorization cleared the first hurdle last week with Senate Commerce Committee approval, but aviation taxes have yet to be addressed in the Senate. The Senate Finance Committee is handling the aviation taxes portion of reauthorization and is expected to consider its own bill in June. The Finance Committee has been rumored to be considering dropping the 4.3-cent-per-gallon commercial fuel tax and boosting the jet fuel tax for business aircraft to 49 cents per gallon (BA, May 7/205).
Joined the business aviation consulting firm Waypoint Partners, LLC. Mamelson previously spent eight years with LMM, the operations division of Northwestern Aircraft Capital, most recently as director of operations. During his tenure with LMM, the company grew into a large Part 135 operation with more than 100 pilots and 40 aircraft.
Named vice president of business development for commercial programs for IAI International, based in Arlington, Va. Gaber previously was director of business development for IAI. He has served with the company since 1978, holding positions including director of marketing and sales at IAI's Bedek Aviation Group, and director of marketing and business development, Europe for Bedek. He moved to IAI International in 1999.
Promoted to manager of FlightSafety International's Cessna learning center in Wichita, Kan. High joined FlightSafety in 2005 as an instructor and later was named manager of the Cessna facility. Before joining FlightSafety, High served as commanding officer of the University of Kansas NROTC unit and spent 35 years in the Navy, accruing 8,000 hours in the P-3 Orion.
Cessna Aircraft is offering a new maintenance program for the Citation Mustang. Under the ProTech program, customers pay a monthly fee that will cover labor costs for regular maintenance. The program is divided into tiers that are based on projected use of the aircraft. The maintenance would be conducted at either one of the 10 Cessna Citation Service Centers or other participating authorized facilities. The ProTech program works in conjunction with Cessna's ProParts program.
National Air Transportation Association urged the Federal Aviation Administration to convene an Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) for six months to address Part 135 maintenance and inspection programs.
Named vice president of finance and controller for M7 Aerospace. Ricketson has more than 35 years of financial management experience. He previously was vice president of finance for Turbomachinery Products Division of Goodrich in Chandler, Ariz. He also held financial posts with General Electric, UNC Corporation, and United Technologies, among others.
May 21-24 - Regional Airline Association Annual Convention, Memphis Convention Center, Memphis, Tenn., Contact Joe Gordon at (202) 367-1170. May 22-24 - European Business Aviation Association Convention and Exposition EBACE2007, Geneva, Switzerland, (202) 783-9000. June 18-24 - Paris AirShow, Le Bourget Airport, Paris, http://www. paris-air-show.com/en/ July 23-29 - Experimental Aircraft Association AirVenture Oshkosh 2007, Oshkosh, Wis., (920) 426-4800
BLR Aerospace won European Aviation Safety Agency approval for winglet systems on the King Air 200 and 300. BLR introduced the system for the King Air 200 in 2005 and since has installed 65 systems on King Air 200s and 300s. The latest approval will allow BLR to tap into the market of some 150 King Air 200s and 300s operating under EASA registry. The winglets increase cruise speed by three to six knots, reduce fuel consumption and increased vertical rate of climb. Other improvements include reduced drag and better handling qualities.
Aviation Manufacturers are facing a fee increase of almost 20 times the current rates, in some cases, under a European proposal that is set to take effect June 1. The fee increase is part of an overall rewrite of the European Aviation Safety Administration rates and charges for certification services that is designed to lower the administrative burden for the agency and raise revenue. See article below.
Appointed director of business development, Cessna for FlightSafety International. Croitoru, a 20-year FlightSafety veteran, most recently was manager of the company's Cessna learning center in Wichita, Kan. He joined FlightSafety in 1985 as marketing service representative, and also has served as product marketing manager in St. Louis, regional marketing manager for the upper Midwest and Canada and assistant center manager in Wichita. In his new role, Croitoru will be responsible for marketing new training programs and improving FlightSafety's existing programs.
Model CL-600-1A11 (CL-600), CL-600-2A12 (CL-601), CL-600-2B16 (CL-601-3A, CL-601-3R, and CL-604) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-26353; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-189-AD] - Revises an earlier proposal that would have required inspecting to identify the part number and serial number of the selector valves of the nose landing gear (NLG) and the nose gear door; and doing related investigative and corrective actions, if necessary. The original proposal resulted from reports of uncommanded partial retractions of the NLG.
