Avidyne and S-Tec Corporation delivered the first customer-bound King Air 200 retrofitted with an Alliant Integrated Flight Deck. Work on the aircraft, N5PX, a 1979 model based in Huntsville, Ala., was completed 90 days after the FAA granted supplemental type certification for the retrofit. The flightdeck combines Avidyne's Envision retrofit integrated flight deck with S-Tec's IntelliFlight 2100 digital flight control system.
Bombardier SkyJet International unveiled a new Jet Member program for customers in the Asia-Pacific region. The program includes flat-fee pricing that enables customers to select the number of hours with no minimums. The program also will enable customers to choose between one- and three-year contract periods. Other facets of the program include a 20 percent discount on same-day return trips and the elimination of additional costs for fuel surcharges and holding fees at busy airports.
Models EA-300, EA-300S, EA-300L, and EA-300/200 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-26134; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-56-AD; Amendment 39-14898; AD 2007-02-11] - Supersedes AD 2002-21-11, which requires fluorescent dye check penetrant inspections of the upper longeron at the horizontal stabilizer attachment for cracks, repair of any cracks found, and modification of the horizontal stabilizer. That AD also limits operations to the Normal category until the initial inspection and modification on airplanes with less than 200 hours time-in-service is done.
As part of the transition in European aviation governance from the Joint Aviation Authorities to the European Aviation Safety Agency, the European Commission published a 34-page discussion paper about "General Aviation in the European Community." The aim of the paper, the authors said, "is to identify certain issues for the sole purpose of discussion with the interested stakeholders. It does not prejudge on any decision that the European Commission may take in the future."
Bombardier Aerospace's CRJ900 program received a boost with an order from Delta Air Lines for 30 of the aircraft and options for 30 more. Bombardier valued the firm orders at $1.1 billion, but said the contract value could reach $2.3 billion if all options are exercised. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of New York, approved the contract. "The acquisition of these aircraft will help Delta meet its network and operational needs for 2007 and 2008," said Shawn Anderson, vice president of Delta Connection.
Owners of Britten Norman Islander and Trislander aircraft could be facing an expensive maintenance item. FAA last week issued a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) warning that "FHL landing gears and components installed in subject airplanes have finite fatigue lives that had not previously been published.
Model ERJ 170 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-25889; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-168-AD; Amendment 39-14902; AD 2007-02-15] - Requires replacement of certain electrical bonding clamps and attaching hardware with new or serviceable parts, as applicable, and other specified action. This AD results from failure of an electrical bonding clamp, used to attach the electrical bonding straps to the fuel system lines.
Named regional program director, Florida and Alabama, for CJ Systems Aviation Group. Spears will serve as a local liaison for the company's Critical Care Transport community-based programs in Florida and Alabama. He has served as a paramedic and an air medical dispatcher and recently became an attorney.
A Connecticut state legislator has authored a bill that would attempt to stem the loss of any more privately owned, public-use airports to suburban residential development in the Constitution State.
Appointed executive vice president for Airlines Americas for Rolls-Royce. Cyr formerly was senior vice president of sales for the Rolls-Royce European Business unit. He joined Rolls-Royce in 2002 after holding senior positions with Goodrich and Pratt & Whitney. In his new position Cyr is responsible for sales, customer service and commercial activities in North, South and Central America.
Model ERJ 170 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-25419; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-055-AD] - Revises an earlier proposal for an AD that would have required replacing the mini-latches on certain lavatory waste compartment doors with new, stronger latches, and other specified actions. The original proposal resulted from reports of certain lavatory waste compartment doors opening during flight due to movement of the waste compartment during takeoff, because the mini-latches installed on the doors of those compartments lose their strength over time.
Named assistant general manager of Wilson Air Center's Charlotte, N.C. location. He has more than 30 years of aviation experience and previously served as general manager for Southern Jet in Raleigh, N.C.
F406 Airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-26694; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-91-AD; Amendment 39-14899; AD 2007-02-12] - Requires repetitive inspections and installation of a modified pulley bracket. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the aviation authority of France that cited reports of cracks found in the rudder pulley bracket, P/N 6015511-1. About seven U.S.-registered aircraft are affected, at an estimated cost for the inspection of $80 per airplane, or $560 for the fleet.
Industry Observers expressed differing views last week about the pending departure of Russ Chew as chief operating officer of FAA's Air Traffic Organization. One man said the loss of Chew will be a "disaster" for the effort to develop a next-generation air traffic control system, while another predicted that the organization and industry working groups established under his watch will continue their work without significant disruption.
February 15-17 - Women in Aviation International Conference, Orlando, Fla. Contact Connie Lawrence, WAI, (937) 839-4647. March 1-3 - Helicopter Association International, Heli-Expo 2007 Conference & Exhibition, Orlando, Fla. Contact Marilyn McKinnis at (703) 683-4646, fax: (703) 683-0341. March 7 - Coping With Crisis 101-Managing an Aviation Disaster, Hilton Garden Inn, Nashville Metro Airport, Nashville, Tenn. Register at www.thecommunicationsworkshop.com
Named accessory technical representative for Duncan Aviation in Lincoln, Neb. A Duncan employee since April 1997, Cable began his career there as a technician on the hydraulic team. Since then Cable has cross-trained on five teams within the accessory shop, served as a crew and team leader and is both a master technician and a qualified inspector. In his new post he will provide customer technical support and troubleshooting, as well as training production and customer service employees.
Model Mystere-Falcon 50 and 900, and Falcon 900EX airplanes; and Model Falcon 2000 and Falcon 2000EX airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-25988; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-113-AD; Amendment 39-14884; AD 2007-01-12] - Requires an inspection of the identification plates of the outboard slats to determine the type of identification plates and the part numbers.
FAA Chief Operating Officer Russell Chew believes now is as good a time as any for him to leave the agency, since the Air Traffic Organization he heads is about to enter a new phase that will require long-term leadership continuity. Chew told FAA senior officials that he will resign at monthend to take a job in the aviation industry. Chew told BA affiliate Aviation Daily that when he took the COO job in 2003, he promised FAA Administrator Marion Blakey he would stay for at least three years, and he has more than fulfilled that pledge.
The Kestrel, a new single-turboprop business aircraft, made its debut at the Middle East Business Aviation (MEBA) exhibition at Dubai, U.A.E. at the end of January. Developers have targeted 2009 to achieve Part 23 certification of the $2.5 million aircraft. The prototype's appearance at MEBA was sponsored by the Gulf Aircraft Partnership, formed by the Gulf Aircraft Maintenance Company (GAMCO) of Abu Dhabi and Farnborough Aircraft Corp. Ltd. (FACL) of the U.K.
The Federal Aviation Administration Tuesday is slated to publish long-anticipated rules that will toughen the standards for air tour and sightseeing operators. The rules were written in part at the urging of the National Transportation Safety Board, which had undertaken a special investigation of air tour safety after a series of accidents. NTSB had released six recommendations for improving air tour safety, and FAA officials believe the new rules will meet or exceed all of them except one - to implement national standards by the end of 1995.
Commercial air tours and sightseeing operators will have to meet new requirements under a series of rules the Federal Aviation Administration released last week that culminated a 17-year effort to strengthen air tour standards. The original air tour proposal was among the agency's most controversial rulemakings in recent years, generating more than 2,300 comments. FAA twice extended the comment period, held two public hearings and a two-week virtual public meeting on the Internet.
The Bush Administration wants to recover "most of the costs of air traffic services though user fees," but budget documents released last week contained few details because FAA and DOT officials still were trying to reach agreement with Office of Management and Budget executives on what those fees will include.
Bryan T. Moss, who has spent nearly 40 years selling high-end business jets and overseeing companies that make them, will be succeeded in April as the top executive at Gulfstream Aerospace by Joseph T. Lombardo.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) managed, without too much trouble, to push through a ban on members of Congress traveling on corporate aircraft, but she encountered a lot of turbulence last week about her own travel arrangements. Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Speaker of the House, who is second in the line of succession for the presidency, has been authorized to travel on Air Force aircraft to ensure the speaker's safety and security.
Appointed regional program director, Kentucky for CJ Systems Aviation Group. Walter will oversee the company's community-based programs in Kentucky, including STATCARE in Louisville, MedFlight in Ashland and MedFlight in Pikeville. He was paramedic for 30 years and a flight paramedic for 17 years. He also is past president of the International Association of Flight Paramedics.
