SIGNATURE FLIGHT SUPPORT'S traditional business was flat during 2006, according to parent company BBA Aviation. But fuel sales to fractional operators were up nearly 10 percent. See related article on Page 132.
AVIDYNE CORP. and S-TEC earned FAA supplemental type certification for the Alliant Integrated Flight Deck on Beechcraft King Air E90- and C90-series turboprop aircraft. Avidyne and S-TEC previously won FAA STC approval for the Alliant system on King Air 200 aircraft. The Alliant Integrated Flight Deck was tested on a 1976 E90 owned and operated by Standridge Color Corp. Standridge operates two E90s and a King Air 350. The equipment was installed at the S-TEC facility in Mineral Wells, Texas. Future installations can be performed at authorized Alliant dealers.
DONALDSON COMPANY, which specializes in air and liquid filtration systems and replacement parts, acquired Aerospace Filtration Systems from the Westar Aerospace and Defense Group. AFS will continue to operate in St. Louis, Mo. as a wholly owned subsidiary of Donaldson.
Was appointed chief scientist for Flight Explorer, a global flight tracking and IT solutions provider to the aviation community. An Air Force Academy graduate, Wambsganss has more than 30 years experience in military and civil aviation, including a strong background in conceptualizing and implementing collaborative decision making (CDM). At Flight Explorer he will be responsible for integration of FAA's CDM tools into the Flight Explorer Professional Aircraft Situational Display.
Model ERJ 170-100 LR, -100 STD, -100 SE, -100 SU, -200 LR, -200 STD, and -200 SU airplanes and Model ERJ 190 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-26462; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-221-AD; Amendment 39-14952; AD 2007-04-20] - Requires inspections to determine the part number and serial number of the deployment actuator of the ram air turbine (RAT) and related investigative and corrective actions, if necessary. This AD results from reports that the RAT may not fully deploy due to galling between the piston rod and gland housing of the RAT deployment actuator.
AIR T, INC., an overnight air freight carrier and ground service equipment provider, won a $13.8 million contract from the U.S. Air Force for 43 mobile de-icing trucks. The order, which includes the trucks and specialized equipment, shipment and training, was pursuant to an existing multi-year contract with the service. The Air Force contract is being handled by Air T subsidiary Global Ground Support.
Models 172R, 172S, 182S, 182T, T182T, 206H, and T206H airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-25261; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-38-AD; Amendment 39-14971; AD 2007-05-10] - Requires installation of Modification Kit MK172-25-10C or a steel lock rod/bar on both crew seat back cylinder lock assemblies. If a steel lock rod/bar already has been installed on the crew seat back cylinder lock assembly, no further action is required. If Modification Kit MK172-25-10A or MK172-25-10B is installed, this AD requires an installation inspection and correction of any discrepancies found.
The Federal Aviation Administration hopes to select a national personnel search firm within the next couple of weeks as part of the process of finding a replacement for Russell Chew as chief operating officer of the agency's Air Traffic Organization. FAA Administrator Marion Blakey told Aviation Week editors Friday that she hopes a replacement for Chew will be in place "in the summer time frame."
Raytheon Aircraft Company is moving its international sales headquarters from Geneva, Switzerland to the manufacturer's production and service facilities in Chester, England, the birthplace of the successful Hawker business jet line. The Chester location is a major heavy maintenance service facility for NetJets Europe, one of RAC's largest business jet customers (BA, Jan. 29/46). Sean McGeough, who was just named vice president of international sales for RAC, will move to the Chester facility immediately (BA, March 5/107).
Sdn. Bhd. (formerly Eagle Aircraft (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.) Model Eagle 150B airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-23786; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-11-AD; Amendment 39-14933; AD 2007-04-02] - supersedes an AD that currently requires inspection of certain canard inboard flap hinge support brackets (initially before further flight and repetitively before the first flight of each day) and performance of any necessary follow-up action.
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) will close Runway 9L-27R from 0001-0530 each night from March 12-March 17 for routine runway maintenance and repairs. Runway 13-31, the diagonal runway at FLL, will be used for arrivals and departures during the designated hours.
Richard J. Millman, Bell Helicopter Textron's new president and CEO, says he's confident that when the correct "management processes and talent are put in place," the company will overcome existing commercial and military program issues. Millman replaced Michael Redenbaugh in January (BA, Jan. 29/49).
Model EMB-135BJ, -135ER, -135KE, -135KL, and -135LR airplanes; and Model EMB-145, -145ER, -145MR, -145LR, -145XR, -145MP, and -145EP airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-25892; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-120-AD; Amendment 39-14941; AD 2007-04-09] - Requires inspecting to determine the part number of the left- and right-hand windshield temperature controllers.
Model ERJ 170 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-27269; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-207-AD] - Proposes to require installing updated software revisions and, as applicable, performing concurrent actions. This proposed AD results from a report of an error in the implementation procedure of the Primus Epic digital software platform, which could result in improper functioning of certain flight systems. Further, current revisions of the Primus Epic software may cause blinking of all cockpit flight displays. FAA estimates the AD would affect about 68 airplanes on the U.S.
Named named vice president of marketing in CIT Aerospace's Commercial Airlines Group. Greene will be based in Dublin, Ireland and be responsible for marketing in France, Italy, Malta, and Africa. Before joining CIT, Greene was a regional sales director with Airbus and director of marketing with BAE Systems.
Brazilian Manufacturer Embraer shuffled the senior ranks of its airline marketing staff, a move the company said is associated with its ongoing CEO succession process. James Bruce Peddle was named vice president, marketing and sales, U.S., Canada and Carribbean. He will replace Mark Paul Hale, who will take over as managing director and chief operating officer of Embraer Aircraft Maintenance Services (EAMS) in Nashville, Tenn. Orlando Jose Ferreira Neto was appointed managing director, Embraer Asia and Pacific, replacing Peddle.
The Government Accountability Office expressed concern that the Federal Aviation Administration does not have enough information on the air ambulance industry to understand safety trends and adequately address them. In a recent report to Congress, GAO recommended that FAA develop a systematic approach to gathering air ambulance data and use the data to evaluate the industry's safety record. GAO also recommended FAA more fully monitor air ambulances' safety operational practices.
Cessna Aircraft will ramp up production of its speediest business jet, the Citation X, over the next five years because of increasing demand from customers, company officials said last week. "Orders for the Citation X have been increasing and, as a result, we will be increasing production more than 65 percent from 2006 to 2010 to meet the growing demand," said Roger Whyte, senior vice president of sales and marketing.
Model DHC-8-102, -103, and -106 airplanes; and Model DHC-8-200 and DHC-8-300 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-26558; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-206-AD; Amendment 39-14954; AD 2007-04-22] - Requires a one-time inspection for damage of the electrical cable harness assembly located on the left and right wing root-to-fuselage aft seal, and repair if necessary; and rework of the fuselage aft seal assembly (left and right) to create a clearance between the electrical cable assemblies and the edge of the fairing panel.
Who formerly served as chairman and CEO of Raytheon Aircraft Company and Raytheon International, was named a non-executive director of BBA Aviation Plc. Michael Harper, executive chairman of BBA, said Tookes' "extensive aviation and OEM experience will be a great asset to BBA Aviation as we continue to implement our strategy for growth through intragroup opportunities and market consolidation." Tookes was a U.S. Naval Aviator and a pilot for United Airlines earlier in his career.
Gulfstream Aerospace completed the previously announced acquisition of WECO Aerospace Systems, Inc., a privately held aviation component overhaul company specializing in electrical, electronic accessories and flight instrument services. WECO has about 75 employees and operates facilities in Lincoln and Burbank, Calif. (BA, Jan. 29/47).
FAA officials have been working closely with their counterparts in China for some time and will continue to do so, Blakey said, crediting China for a "very significant improvement" in reducing the aviation accident rates in that country. FAA is offering technical assistance as China prepares for the expected surge in air traffic connected with the 2008 Olympics there. Blakey said FAA Deputy Administrator Bobby Sturgell led a technical team that returned from a visit to China within the past two weeks.
