FAA Administrator Marion Blakey last week disputed claims that the FAA's proposal to triple fuel taxes and create a new slate of user fees would harm general aviation operators and said the proposal is part of a drive to create fairness in the aviation taxes. Blakey returned to a House aviation subcommittee Wednesday for the second time in four weeks to try to build support for the agency's new financing vision. But, the Administrator instead faced a skeptical subcommittee that was particularly concerned about the ramifications on general aviation.
Cessna Aircraft, which has delivered more than 260 of its high-speed Citation X business jets over the past decade, signed an agreement with Winglet Technology, LLC to collaborate on development of winglets for retrofit on Citation X aircraft.
SIKORSKY sold two more S-76C++ helicopters to Lider Aviacao, part of a series of recent transactions with its long-time customer in Brazil. Signing of the new order follows delivery of six S-76C++ aircraft to Lider Aviacao in late 2006. The two helicopters just ordered are expected to be delivered in early 2008 to support Lider's offshore oil support operations in Brazil. In addition, the two companies executed a delivery position agreement for four S-76D aircraft, with an option for six additional aircraft.
Model ERJ 170 and ERJ 190 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-26356; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-166-AD; Amendment 39-14963; AD 2007-05-02] - Requires repetitive detailed inspections for blockage of the pitot drain holes of certain air data smart probes (ADSPs), removing accumulated moisture from the pneumatic passages of the ADSPs, related investigative actions, and corrective actions, if necessary. This AD results from reports of erroneous air speed indications caused by blockage of the pitot sensors due to freezing of accumulated moisture in the ADSP pneumatic passages.
FRASCA INTERNATIONAL received a contract to provide a Bell 429 Level 6 flight training device (FTD) to Bell Helicopter. Bell expects to begin customer deliveries of its new 429 light-twin helicopter in 2008. The FTD will include the Bell cockpit, controls and data package, simulated Rogerson Kratos panel display, Frasca's TruVision 220 visual display platform and vibration platform. Bell will install the FTD in its Bell Helicopter Customer Academy for pilot training.
The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) and seven other trade and business groups have teamed up to push the Bush administration to make regulatory and other administrative changes to "improve" the U.S. export control system. "We strongly believe that export control modernization is needed and that the opportunity is now," the coalition member associations said in a March 6 letter to President Bush. The changes could be made within current law, they said.
SOUTHWEST JET AVIATION added a Gulfstream III to its charter fleet. The aircraft is based at the Deer Valley Airport in Phoenix, Ariz. and is the second G-III to join the company's fleet. The Scottsdale, Ariz.-headquartered charter and management company has 11 aircraft in its charter fleet.
Model F406 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-26691; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-88-AD] - Requires repetitive inspections of the ribs and repair before further flight, if cracks are found. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the French aviation authority. The MCAI cited reports that during maintenance, cracks have been discovered near the left and right rib at the connection of the center wing and the fuselage localized at Fuselage Station FS160.80. Cracks spread in the rib could result in structural failure.
THE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION recently met with industry groups to solicit feedback on possible new security rules for operators of large general aviation aircraft and indicated that a proposal could be ready for release by the end of June. TSA Director Kip Hawley told the Senate Commerce Committee in January that the agency was working on a "more robust" plan to ensure increased security for large general aviation aircraft (BA, Jan. 22/35).
Teams of Federal Aviation Administration inspectors are visiting air taxi operators to conduct detailed inspections to assure that Part 135 certificate holders are in compliance with new requirements contained in OpSpec A008 aimed at clarifying the issue of operational control of aircraft (BA, Jan. 15/23).
Model F406 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-26692; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-89-AD] - Proposes to require inspection of the rudder brackets-hinge and bearings for corrosion and lubrication of the rudder bearings in accordance with the accomplishment instructions of REIMS Service Bulletin No. F406-57, dated April 25, 2005. If corrosion is found, the AD would requirement replacement before further flight. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the French aviation authority.
THE NORTHEAST Schedulers and Dispatchers organization will hold its spring lunch and networking meeting April 4 at Republic Airport in Farmingdale, N.Y. The agenda includes a FlightSafety International presentation on U.S. airspace and route planning and severe weather operation. The event begins at 11:30 in Room 201 of the Main Terminal. For more information, contact Dianne Tarantino at [email protected].
JETDIRECT, the Philadelphia, Pa.-based charter services firm, continues to pursue expansion of its portfolio of businesses. The company recently acquired Presidential Aviation, a charter, management and maintenance company with bases in Fort Lauderdale, New York and Los Angeles (BA, Feb. 19/89). Company executives said they are looking at other possibilities, but declined to discuss specifics.
Bombardier secured a contract from Pinnacle Airlines for up to 45 Q400 75-seat turboprops, a deal that carries a potential value of $1.2 billion if all conditional orders and options are exercised. The contract includes firm orders for 15 Q400s valued at $381 million and conditional orders for 10 more. The contract also includes options for a further 20. Pinnacle subsidiary Colgan Air will fly the 15 airplanes on firm order as part of its Continental Connection operation from the Continental Airlines hub at Newark Liberty International Airport.
The National Transportation Safety Board said accidents in nearly all segments of aviation declined during 2006, with "general aviation recording the lowest number of accidents and fatal accidents in the 40 years of NTSB record keeping."
CESSNA AIRCRAFT, which just announced plans to significantly boost production of its Citation X business jet over the next four years, is partnering with an outside vendor to explore a winglet retrofit program on the existing Citation X fleet. See article on Page 131.
Is the new chief operating officer at Jet Aviation for Europe, the Middle East, Asia and South America. He will be based at company headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland. Wall previously held posts at Rolls-Royce and Toyota Motorsports. Since 2004 he had been president and chief executive officer at MTU Maintenance in Berlin, Germany.
Models SC-7 Series 2 and Series 3 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-25926; Directorate Identifier 2000-CE-17-AD; Amendment 39-14946; AD 2003-17-05R1] - Revises an existing AD that establishes a technical service life for these airplanes and allows incorporation of modifications, inspections, and replacements of certain life limited items to extend the life limits of these airplanes.
Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-26647; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-194-AD; Amendment 39-14957; AD 2007-04-24] - Requires repetitive inspections of the bolts that attach the exhaust nozzle to the aft engine flange to determine if any bolts are missing or fractured, and replacement of the existing bolts with new, improved bolts. This AD results from reports of the engine exhaust nozzle and fairing departing from the airplane in flight due to missing attachment bolts.
EXECUTIVE JET MANAGEMENT opened a charter services and sales office offering bilingual capability at Ft. Lauderdale Executive Airport to serve South Florida, the Caribbean and Central and South America. The new office, which will be headed by Margarita (Kuky) Salazar, will support a growing fleet of EJM aircraft based in the area including two Falcon 2000s, a Challenger 601, a Hawker 800A and a Citation III.
Joined Bank of America to oversee the company's helicopter financing business. McGuire has 30 years of helicopter industry experience, including 15 years with Textron's Aerospace Finance Division and 10 years with Bell Helicopter.
PILATUS BUSINESS AIRCRAFT, the U.S. subsidiary of Swiss-based Pilatus Aircraft, secured FAA approval as an organizational designated airworthiness representative (ODAR) to support the PC-12 program. ODAR designation allows Pilatus Business Aircraft to determine the conformity of the inspection, certification and issuance of recurrent Standard Airworthiness Certification for U.S.-registered Pilatus aircraft, engines and parts.
A veteran manufacturing manager at Ford Motor Company, joined Eclipse Aviation as vice president of manufacturing, the third person to hold that post in the past six months. Fierro spent 18 years at Ford, rising through the ranks to become plant manager of the car maker's 3.5 million square-foot facility in Sterling Heights, Mich. where he oversaw production activities by 2,500 hourly employees. "A central element of our strategy is to bring modern automotive manufacturing technologies and processes to aviation," said Peg Billson, chief operating officer at Eclipse.
Less than six weeks after announcing an agreement to buy CMC Electronics of Montreal, Esterline Corp. said Thursday it had completed the deal (BA, Feb. 5/59).
