The Joint Planning and Development Office needs fundamental changes if it is going to be successful in moving forward on the next-generation air traffic control system, Pete Bunce, president and chief executive of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, told a congressional panel last week. Testifying before the House aviation subcommittee, Bunce said the government partnership formed to run JPDO has "failed to adequately mature," as key members such as NASA focus on other priorities.
Was named president of PATS Aircraft LLC, the Georgetown, Del. enterprise owned by DeCrane Aerospace that designs and installs long-range fuel tanks for Boeing Business Jets and also performs completions and modifications for business, VIP and head-of-state aircraft customers around the world. Weaver has been with DeCrane since 1997 and will continue his present duties as president of Hollingsead International, Inc., the Ventura, Calif. avionics systems integrator.
COLUMBIA AIRCRAFT last week began recalling employees furloughed in late March so the Bend, Ore. plane-maker can begin accelerating its aircraft production rates. Columbia furloughed the employees while it upgraded tooling, improved its production line and implemented Lean Enterprise practices (BA, March 26/143). The company held two Lean Enterprise training sessions with furloughed employees in anticipation of their return to work. Assembly, upholstery and subassembly workers were among the first to be recalled, with remaining workers to be recalled as needed.
VIKING AIR LIMITED, the Victoria, B.C. firm that plans to put an updated version of the Twin Otter utility aircraft back into production, named Dominique Spragg vice president of manufacturing. Spragg's appointment signals the beginning of an effort to strengthen and add depth to the company's management team as Viking transitions from a builder of spare parts to a full-scale manufacturer of new aircraft, according to Dave Curtis, president and CEO, who recently announced the launch of the Series 400 Twin Otter program (BA, April 16/175).
METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON AIRPORTS AUTHORITY hopes to have a registered traveler (RT) program in place at Dulles and National airports by early fall, according to Rochelle Cameron, manager of MWAA's administration department, who was speaking at an American Association of Airport Executives' RT conference last week. The authority is preparing a request for proposals for an RT service provider.
May 15-17 - Regional Air Cargo Carriers Association Spring Conference, Scottsdale Doubletree Paradise Valley Resort, Scottsdale, Ariz. Registration and conference information available at www.raccaonline.org 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.
Model TB 9, TB 10, and TB 200 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-27432; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-017-AD] - Proposes new life limits for engine and nose landing gear mounts installed on the affected airplanes and to require the addition of updated information in the Airworthiness Limitation Sections of the Aircraft Maintenance Manual. The proposal stems from MCAI from the European Aviation Safety Agency. FAA estimates the proposal would cover 146 aircraft on the U.S. Registry at a cost of $5,840, or $40 per aircraft. Comments on the proposal are due May 24.
Jim May, the president of the Air Transport Association, expressed some satisfaction last week that Congress is actively considering new user fees on those who fly in the National Airspace System, and confidence that Congress will adopt some form of FAA reauthorization legislation by the end of the year.
Statements from witnesses who knew the pilot of a Beech Baron that broke up over Georgia last month suggest that the aircraft's structural failure probably resulted from the pilot's obsession with performing aerobatics in the aircraft. The April 22 crash killed the pilot and all four passengers.
Acknowledging the growing importance of environmental issues in aerospace businesses, Boeing said May 4 it has established a company-wide Environment, Health and Safety organization and named a 23-year company veteran, Mary Armstrong, to be its vice president. Citing Boeing's concern with "environmental performance of our products and services" and compliance with environmental regulations, CEO Jim McNerney said the new organization will develop an integrated strategic plan for the company, also encompassing its work with suppliers and customers.
Model P-180 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-27723; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-029-AD] - Proposes to require replacement of the outboard flap track forward bushing and the outboard flap track forward support. The proposal also would require repetitive inspections of the outboard flap track forward support for traces of corrosion or other damage, and repair, if necessary. The proposal stems from MCAI from the European Aviation Safety Agency, which cited a report of failure of the forward support of the main wing outboard flap.
SANDEL AVIONICS won FAA Technical Standard Order (TSO) approval of its SA4550 primary attitude display. The modular, LED-backlit SA4550 is designed for retrofit installations in Cessna Citations, Series 20 Learjets and other business jets and turboprops with 4-ATI or 5-ATI panel displays. The introductory price of the SA4550 is $20,500.
Was appointed manager of product sales for International Communications Group, Newport News, Va., which specializes in sophisticated communications integration projects. Lange will work with ICG dealers, service and completion centers. He has 16 years of aviation industry experience, formerly as a senior design engineer for Gulfstream/GDAS. He also has served as a design/certification engineer for Avhar Services, which worked under contract with Raytheon Aircraft. Lange has a background in business jets, including Hawker, Challenger and Embraer Legacy.
Model 31, 31A, 35, 35A (C-21A), 36, 36A, 55, 55B, and 55C airplanes, and Model 45 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-28016; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-227-AD] - Proposes to require inspecting for unsealed gaps on the pylon side of the engine firewall and cleaning/sealing any unsealed gap; and, for certain airplanes, inspecting for unsealed gaps of the pylon trailing edge and cleaning/sealing any gap. This proposed AD results from a report that unsealed gaps of the engine firewall were discovered during production.
WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY has developed some new test facilities that should be of special interest to airframe and component manufacturers. The National Institute for Aviation Research at WSU recently opened a Susceptibility Test Lab, one of several environmental test labs scheduled to open at NIAR over the next nine months. The labs are designed to perform a series of tests required to obtain RTCA DO-160 certification.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION issued a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) this month on Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.-manufactured UH-1H surplus military helicopters. There have been failures of the quick connect system involving the engine and transmission flexible hose lines, FAA said, adding that it is believed the quick-connect fittings may become worn over time due to vibration and fatigue, allowing either an internal mechanism failure or inadvertent disconnection.
Bell/Agusta Aerospace Co. (BAAC) officials expect to achieve FAA and European Aviation Safety Agency certification of the BA609 civil tiltrotor in 2010, followed by first customer deliveries in 2011. BAAC reports signing purchase agreements for 70 of the combination helicopter/airplane aircraft from 40 customers. If the program remains on track, Michael Cuppernull, managing director of BAAC, expects FAA and EASA pilots would begin flying the BA609 in 2010.
Was promoted to vice president, service facilities for Cessna Aircraft. Younger will manage Cessna's 10 Citation service centers and a network of about two dozen authorized service centers worldwide. A 28-year Cessna veteran, Younger began his career as an airframe and powerplant mechanic in Wichita and has since held positions of increasing responsibility at Cessna centers in Wichita and San Antonio, Texas. Most recently, he was director, Citation service facilities.
The Senate Commerce Committee decided against moving forward with the Federal Aviation Administration's proposal to impose a host of aviation user fees to cover a range of services, but did propose a lone $25 "per flight" user fee for air traffic control services. The Commerce Committee proposal was part of a comprehensive bill introduced Thursday that would reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration's programs and address a number of other aviation issues.
CHC Helicopter Corp. completed the sale of its Survival-One unit, which manufactures, repairs and distributes cold-water survival suits and other safety equipment, to Montagu Private Equity Ltd. for gross proceeds of approximately $33 million. The eventual net proceeds and gain on sale will be reduced by taxes payable, transaction fees and other post-closing adjustments. CHC is one of the world's largest providers of helicopter services to the offshore oil and gas industry, operating aircraft in more than 30 countries.
Named vice president of engineering for Mooney Airplane Company. McCoury has 24 years experience working with aircraft development programs for a number of companies, including Eclipse and Aviation Technology Group. He also has held engineering roles with Northrop, LTV Aircraft Products, Raytheon Systems Company (now L-3 Communications) and the Universities Space Research Association. He is an FAA Designated Engineering Representative in Structures.
