Thomas E. Haueter, a long-time accident investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board, was named director of the agency's Office of Aviation Safety last week by Chairman Mark Rosenker.
Honda Aircraft Company selected Garmin International to provide the avionics suite for the company's new 6/7-place HondaJet. Garmin was one of three suppliers the Greensboro, N.C.-based start-up named last week for the HondaJet program. GKN of Tallassee, Ala., signed an agreement to provide the fuselage subassembly, and Avcorp, of Delta, British Columbia, Canada, will produce the wing structural subassembly.
Was named vice president for properties and line service at KaiserAir, Inc., in Oakland, Calif. "Beth brings a wealth of aviation background to KaiserAir," said President Ronald Guerra. "She served as general manager of the Oakland-based maintenance facility for United Airlines and as vice president of plans and programs for AAR Aircraft Services in Indianapolis." Medlen earned a bachelor's degree in aeronautical operations from San Jose State University, a private pilot license and an airframe and powerplant mechanic certificate.
SKYTRAC Systems was selected to supply its Satcom system for the Los Angeles County Fire Department's Air Operations Section as well as Canadian Helicopters Limited's fleet of aircraft. The SkyTrac system provides automatic flight following, two-way text messaging, data transfer and SatPhone voice capabilities via the Iridium satellite system. The L.A. Air Operations Section provides aerial fire suppression, EMS transportation and search and rescue operations over a 4,000-square-mile territory in Los Angeles County.
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.
