The Federal Communications Commission last week shelved a 2004 notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that examined existing rules requiring cell phones be turned off once an aircraft leaves the ground. FAA regulations also restrict the use of cell phones and other portable electronic devices (PEDs) onboard aircraft to prevent possible interference with aircraft navigation and communication systems. Comments on the NPRM provided insufficient technical information on whether the use of cell phones in flight may cause harmful interference to terrestrial networks, FCC said.
The Greater Washington Aviation Open (GWAO) golf tournament will be held May 7 at the Lansdowne Resort in Leesburg, Va. For more information, contact [email protected].
Appointed vice president of marketing for Pilatus Business Aircraft. Haenggi has 12 years of aerospace marketing, research and publishing experience. He spent the past five years as a marketing research analyst and marketing manager for the company. Before that, he was a senior aviation editor at a publishing company and oversaw the publications of more than 100 aviation history books. He has a master's of business administration degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and is an FAA licensed pilot with commercial and flight instructor certificates.
Multi Service Aviation, an aviation credit card provider and payment processor, signed an agreement with Travel Safety Group, commonly known as GEOS, to offer current and future Multi Service card holders and their employees free GEOS Traveler basic service, along with discounts on other service packages. The Overland Park, Kan. company said the GEOS Traveler package, which includes global security and intelligence updates and mobile communications services, would otherwise cost $71.40 per year.
Air Carriers serving Washington Dulles International Airport are now using aircraft with the same seat-level capacity as when Independence Air was operating there in 2005. Jim Bennett, chairman of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, told the Aero Club of Washington recently that cargo traffic at the airport is up 460 percent since 1986. This summer the airport will be served by 26 foreign carriers flying to 43 destinations. United Airlines just began nonstop service from Dulles to Beijing, China and Rome, Italy.
National Air Transportation Association has encouraged the Department of Transportation to work with FAA to develop a "consumer-friendly" database of licensed on-demand charter operators. NATA envisions a database that would allow a user to enter an operator name and be able to review the operator's certificate number, location and certain other details. The association believes the database will help educate consumers as well as help satisfy charter disclosure concerns. "Existing databases are almost impossible for the average consumer to locate," NATA said.
JETTECH, which specializes in developing Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) packages for aircraft, won FAA Supplemental Type Certificate approval for an RVSM installation for Cessna Citation 500 business jets. Installation of the STC package will bring the aircraft into compliance with 1,000-foot vertical separation requirements between FL 290 and FL 410, JETTECH said. The Littleton, Colo. company said its RVSM package is the only STC-approved solution for Citations with pre-275 serial numbers and equipped with factory-installed Bendix autopilots.
AE 3007A and AE 3007C series turbofan engines [Docket No. FAA-2007-26966; Directorate Identifier 99-NE-01-AD] - Proposes to supersede an existing AD that currently prohibits any flight following a ground engine start where the engine oil temperature is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, unless certain preflight operational procedures are followed. This proposed AD also would require those actions, but add a required terminating action. This proposed AD results from design improvements to components in the accessory gearbox air turbine starter mounting pad.
(Type Certificate No. A36EU formerly held by AVIONS MUDRY et CIE) Model CAP 10B airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-27531; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-020-AD] - Proposes to require inspections of the spades supports for cracks and replacement if cracks are found. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) from the aviation authority of France. The MCAI stems from the discovery of cracks on aileron spades of an in-service CAP 10B aircraft. These cracks could lead to loss of roll control.
Named vice president of production for Pilatus Business Aircraft. Wiesner joined Pilatus Aircraft in Stans, Switzerland in 1996 as an engineer. He moved to Pilatus Business Aircraft five years ago and held the positions of business service/IT manager and quality manager. Before joining Pilatus, he served as a design engineer for a Swiss manufacturing company.
ARINC Engineering Services opened a new 81,000-square-foot aircraft modification and operations center at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City, Okla. The facility, four times the size of ARINC's previous center, is large enough to hold four C-130 aircraft and eight more on the ramp. ARINC executives said the new hangar will provide room for growth. In addition, the new center includes 30,000 square feet of offices and back shops to provide in-house fabrication, testing and inspection capabilities.
Williams International's new FJ44-4A engine flew for the first time last week on a Citation test bed. The engine was selected to power Cessna's Citation CJ4. The business jet is scheduled to begin flying in the first half of 2008 and enter service in the first half of 2010. "The first flight of the new engine went very well and exceeded our expectations during the 50-minute flight," said CJ4 Program Manager Norm Baker.
Aurora Jet Center added 82,000 square feet of hangar space to its facility at Southend Airpark in Aurora, Ore. Aurora also added 10,800 square feet of office space and upgraded the lobby and pilot lounge. An Avfuel dealer, Aurora Jet Center is a full-service fixed-base operation located 20 minutes south of Portland.
The core demonstrator for Snecma's Silvercrest turbofan - a new 9,500- to 12,000-pound-thrust engine designed for super mid-size and large business jets with gross weights of between 45,000 and 60,000 pounds - is scheduled to begin ground testing later this year at a facility in Villaroche, France. Although no applications for the new engine have been publicly announced yet, the Silvercrest could enter service as early as 2012, according to Snecma.
Liberty Aerospace appointed Keith Markley president and chief executive. Markley formerly was chief operating officer for the company, and before that, vice president of sales and marketing. In his new role, Markley succeeds Anthony Tiarks, who will remain on the company's board of directors. "Liberty Aerospace has grown significantly over the last two years, moving to a full-production Part 23 aircraft manufacturer," Tiarks said. "During this time, Keith has demonstrated his ability to lead and grow the company to meet increasing worldwide demand.
Brazilian manufacturer Embraer continues to work hard on defining new aircraft to round out its offering of executive jets, but officials are not saying exactly when they will be ready to announce any new products. The first is expected to be an aircraft in the mid-light to mid-size segment of the market.
American Legend Aircraft Company, the Sulphur Springs, Texas-based manufacturer of the Legend Cub, formed a new division, American Legend Aircraft Services, to provide restoration services on vintage tube-and-fabric aircraft. The unit will provide repair, overhaul and upgrade services ranging from annual inspections to complete restorations.
The Federal Aviation Administration last week sought comments on a new revision to the interpretation of "known icing" that came in response to an Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association appeal. AOPA urged the agency to repeal a previous determination that "high relative humidity" was a condition of known icing, saying the determination was overreaching. FAA's Eastern Region counsel in June made the determination that high relative humidity constitutes known icing conditions after a pilot sought to clarify when "known ice" exists for purposes of enforcement action.
The Joint Planning and Development Office (JPDO) has generated an impressive number of ATM concepts and blueprints in its three-year existence, but Director Charles Leader believes a new approach is needed to help JPDO bring some of these grand plans to fruition.
GARY JET CENTER is planning to more than double its hangar space with a new 38,000-square-foot hangar at its facilities at the Gary/Chicago International Airport. The $5 million project is expected to be completed this spring. Gary Jet Center, 30 minutes from downtown Chicago, has been an Avfuel branded dealer since 1995, and participates in the AVTRIP fuel incentive program.
Was appointed vice president of programs and new business for Mooney Airplane Company. Washburn formerly spent 19 years with Gulfstream Aerospace, most recently as program director for multi-mission aircraft. Washburn graduated from Southwest Missouri State University (now called Missouri State) with a bachelor of science in applied mathematics and a minor in industrial engineering. He has a dual master's degree from the University of Texas in mathematics and in management and administrative science.
MILLENNIUM CONCEPTS, based in Wichita, Kan., won a contract from Gore Design Completions to provide structural design and certification work for the interior of a Boeing Business Jet. The project will be the first time Millennium has teamed with San Antonio, Texas-based Gore. Millennium has a background in designing and certifying VIP interiors on a range of business aircraft, from Cessna Caravans to Boeing 747s.
A booming business jet market helped make up for slow regional airline aircraft sales for Bombardier Aerospace, which last week reported revenues of $8.2 billion for fiscal 2007. Bombardier Aerospace revenues for the year ended Jan. 31, 2007 were up slightly from the fiscal 2006 revenues of $8.1 billion.
AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION has begun to offer the Air Safety Foundation Pinch Hitter course on-line. The course is designed to familiarize non-pilots with a basic cockpit layout to make them more comfortable flying as a passenger. The course will provide virtual flying practice and simulates control of the ailerons, rudder and landing. The course is not intended to be used as flight training, but it does provide tips for passengers in case of pilot incapacitation. The course is at www.asf.org/pinchhitter.
Model AS350B, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350BA, AS350C, AS350D, and AS350D1 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2006-25085; Directorate Identifier 2006-SW-02-AD; Amendment 39-14996; AD 2007-06-15] - Requires replacing a certain hydraulic drive belt. Also required is reducing the lubrication time interval for a certain hydraulic pump drive shaft. This amendment is prompted by in-flight failures of the drive belt and the drive shaft.
