SHADIN AVIONICS received an order from EADS Socata for 800 Shadin 8800-T altitude encoders. The encoder is designed to provide gray code directly through the aircraft transponder and onboard Garmin or Trimble Global Positioning Systems through the RS-232 serial data port.
DALLAS AIRMOTIVE said its Portsmouth, England Regional Turbine Center is now performing hot section inspections and repairs on the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW500 series of engines that power a number of Cessna Citation business jets, including the Bravo, Encore, Excel and XLS. Situated to provide service to customers in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, the Portsmouth facility also will do gearbox repair and modification, fan repair, borescope inspection and related services on PW500 series turbofans.
Model Gulfstream 200 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-27737; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-029-AD; Amendment 39-15008; AD 2007-07-11] - Requires replacement of certain wiring, according to Gulfstream Alert Service Bulletin 200-28A-315, dated Feb. 5, 2007, inspection for overheating damage and replacement of damaged components. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information from the Civil Aviation Authority of Israel.
MARATHON FLIGHT SERVICES is celebrating its 40th year at the Kissimmee, Fla. Gateway Airport (ISM), and is owned by the family of the founder, Capt. Ernie Pretsch, who started Marathon Flight School in 1967 after 32 years as a pilot with Transcontinental and Western Airlines (TWA). The $2.6 million facility features a 7,000-square-foot aircraft canopy. Marathon Flight Services opened a new 16,500-foot corporate hangar last year, and plans call for the addition of an 8,000-square-foot hangar and an upgraded fuel farm.
NAVERUS of Seattle, Wash. was selected by the Federal Aviation Administration as an authorized RNP (Required Navigation Performance) Procedure Developer. Under the authorization, Naverus will provide airlines, other aircraft operators and airports with a design for RNP procedures as well as integration, quality assurance, flight validation and maintenance services. Naverus also was recently qualified as an RNP operations approval consultant.
NATIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION released a new interactive 90-minute training aid designed to improve safety during approach and landing. Developed in partnership with the Flight Safety Foundation (FSF), the NBAA Approach-and-Landing Accident Reduction (ALAR) training aid tailors the FSF ALAR Tool Kit for business aircraft operators. The NBAA ALAR incorporates publications and presentations from the FSF Tool Kit and adds new visual aids and a discussion leader's guide.
Business jet manufacturer Gulfstream Aerospace, which just installed its former chief operating officer as president, named three other men to new positions with the company this month. Joseph T. Lombardo, who had been chief operating officer since 2001, officially took over as president last week (BA, April 9/170).
Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-27755; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-289-AD] - Proposes to require 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 proposed 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.
Joined Clifford Development as FJ44 engine retrofit sales manager. Formed in August 2006 to engineer new engine technologies for existing corporate jets, Clifford Development is certifying the Williams FJ44-3 engines for the Cessna Citation II. Andre formerly was a sales manager for Sierra Industries and also has served as the Citation modifications sales manager for Landmark Aviation organizations and U.S. sales manager for Innotech-Execaire.
All U.S. airport workers would be screened under a bill being prepared by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). Unlike H.R. 1413, introduced by Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.), the Schumer bill would require all airports to create and implement a screening plan by 2010. Lowey's bill only calls for a pilot program for a few airports around the country, said Schumer spokeswoman Risa Heller. "As shown in Orlando, this is a gaping hole in aviation security that can and must be filled," said Heller. A bill will be introduced "in the next few weeks," she added.
Was promoted to vice president of sales for Executive Jet Management (EJM). Krueger joined EJM in 2005 and previously was charter sales manager. In her new role, Krueger will be responsible for EJM aircraft management sales in the western U.S. Before joining EJM she was a charter sales representative for an on-demand charter operator in San Jose, Calif.
LANDMARK AVIATION is now accepting the UATP charge card, an airline-owned global travel payment program. Landmark claims to be the first charter operator to offer customers the option of paying for purchases with the UATP card, which is accepted by thousands of travel agencies and 13 airlines.
THE NEW Alliance for Aviation Across America formally launched Tuesday with some 200 members onboard. Within 48 hours of the announcement the number of members had jumped to more than 1,400 individuals, companies and organizations who wanted to join the battle against aviation user fees, organizers told BA Friday, adding that many of the newcomers are signing up on the AAAA Web site. The membership now includes representatives from every state as well as Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. See article below.
SEVERAL CANADIAN DEFENSE COMPANIES, the Canadian government and academia have formed a national trade organization to promote advancement and use of Canadian expertise in unmanned vehicle systems. The new organization, known as AUVSI-Canada, is affiliated with the Association for Unmanned Vehicle System International (AUVSI) and will be headquartered in Ottawa. The organization also will attempt to establish regional chapters.
DAYJET, which recently took delivery of its first three Eclipse 500 Very Light Jets (BA, April 9/165), is planning to conduct proving runs next month in preparation for starting service in June, DayJet founder, President and CEO Edward Iacobucci said. Iacobucci told Aviation Week editors Friday that DayJet has found the quality of the aircraft received so far to be "very good for the first three out of the manufacturing line." He added that that the "squawk list" has been reasonable and the airworthiness squawks minimal.
(previously new Lancair) Models LC40-550FG, LC41-550FG, and LC42-550FG airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-27628; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-025-AD; Amendment 39-15011; AD 2007-07-06] - Requires the addition of information to the Limitations section of AD the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM). This AD also requires repetitively inspecting the aileron and the elevator linear bearings and control rods for foreign object debris, scarring, or damage and taking all necessary corrective actions.
MIDCOAST AVIATION installed a Honeywell XMD 157-01 data link weather receiver on a Bombardier Global Express aircraft, marking the first such installation in an aftermarket aircraft. Midcoast's St. Louis Downtown facility worked with a Honeywell team on the installation. The receiver adds textual and three-dimensional graphical weather to the electronic flight bag. The XMD 157-01 provides Weather Information Network (WINN) service at any altitude throughout the continental U.S. The WINN service also can use a direct Internet connection to expand coverage.
IACOBUCCI added that the latest issues with the Eclipse 500s, involving heaters inside the pitot and angle-of-attack systems, should not affect DayJet's plans since the first three aircraft right now are being used for training. Eclipse released a Customer Technical Communication informing customers of three in-flight incidents in which airspeed indication was lost after pitot pressure was lost from both left and right primary air data sources. Eclipse believes the problem stems from internal condensation that collects and freezes in the pitot tubing.
The Department of Transportation last week released the final requirements for Washington, D.C.-area businesses to seek reimbursement for lost income stemming from the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. DOT, which proposed the requirements in October (BA, Oct. 9/164), agreed to provide more time for businesses to submit an application and made other changes to the application process at the request of aviation groups.
Viking Air Ltd., the Victoria, British Columbia firm that provides spare parts support for a wide range of de Havilland-built piston and turboprop aircraft, said last week it will proceed with a program to put the twin-engine Twin Otter aircraft back into production.
Was named senior engineer-certification for Chelton Flight Systems. Brodegard joins Chelton from Avidyne Corporation, where he was director of technical services. He has more than 30 years of experience in avionics development, manufacturing, installation, flight test, certification, customer support and international business. He has served as a Designated Engineering Representative and Designated Manufacturing Inspection Representative.
The budget for Aeronautics, long the poor stepchild at NASA, would be increased by $187.4 million under NASA'S new Fiscal 2007 operating plan, bringing its share of the $16.3 billion agency budget to $890.4 million.
