Summary: This notice contains a summary of certain petitions seeking relief from specified requirements of 14 CFR, dispositions of certain petitions previously received, and corrections. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities.
Was named vice president of operations and program management for Associated Air Center (AAC), a Landmark Aviation company based at Dallas Love Field. Moore, who joined AAC last year as program management leader, will be responsible for operations in all aspects of the business, including quality, cost and aircraft delivery schedules as well as program management. Before joining AAC, Moore served as vice president and general manager for TIMCO, and director of operations, director of inspection and inspection manager for Northwest Airlines.
ATR won a contract from Canary Islands airline NAYSA for two ATR 72-500s valued at $36 million. The contract is a follow-on to an agreement signed in September for four ATR 72-500s. NAYSA currently operates Beech 1900 aircraft. The new fleet of ATRs will enable NAYSA to expand its agreement with Binter Canarias on inter-island connections.
"THE BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITIES across the country that rely on general aviation should be very concerned about the latest comments from the FAA," said National Business Aviation Association President Ed Bolen in a statement responding to Blakey's remarks. NBAA and other GA groups have been warning for more than a year that FAA was considering a series of new user fees on general and business aviation operators that could dramatically increase their cost of flying.
House and Senate leaders agreed to increase the Federal Aviation Administration's operations budget in fiscal 2007 despite an overall government-wide spending freeze that holds spending for most agencies to fiscal 2006 levels (BA, Jan. 22/35). The Democratic leadership unveiled a joint House/Senate funding resolution Monday for fiscal 2007 that would generally hold spending to fiscal 2006 levels, but would provide additional funds for budgets at some agencies that have high personnel costs.
Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-26217; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-209-AD; Amendment 39-14886; AD 2007-01-14] - Requires revising the Airworthiness Limitations Items (ALI) of the maintenance requirements manual to require additional inspection requirements of the maintenance requirements manual for certain principal structural elements (PSEs) related to fuselage cutouts and to reduce an inspection threshold for an existing ALI task on the aft entry door. This AD results from data obtained from the manufacturer's fatigue testing.
Fractional operators hired 674 pilots in 2006, down from the 750 hired the previous year, Aviation Information Resources, Inc. (AIR, Inc.) reported last week. AIR, Inc. projected fractional aircraft pilot hiring to increase slightly, to 700, in 2007. Overall, pilot hiring dropped from 10,405 in 2005 to 8,256 in 2006. AIR, Inc. forecast pilot hiring to increase to 8,510 this year.
CF34-10E series turbofan engines [Docket No. FAA-2006-26585; Directorate Identifier 2006-NE-44-AD] - Proposes to require revising the combustor case published life limit and removing combustor cases from service before reaching a reduced life limit. This proposed AD results from GE's evaluation of the effects on the combustor case due to installing version 5.10 software in the full-authority digital electronic control (FADEC), and revising the combustor case published life limit.
Nicholas Chabraja, the chairman of Gulfstream Aerospace parent General Dynamics, is not known for casually tossing out compliments about the performance of GD's business units, but he made it clear last week that he's well pleased with Gulfstream's 2006 performance. During a conference call with financial analysts, Chabraja said the Savannah, Ga. business-jet builder is "performing at optimal levels in almost all respects." Gulfstream's revenues averaged $1 billion per quarter last year, up nearly 20 percent over a very good 2005.
National Business Aviation Association last week recognized 18 people who completed a core curriculum in the NBAA Schedulers Professional Development Program (SPDP). The individuals completed six or more SPDP courses, which are tailored for business aviation schedulers and dispatchers.
Gulfstream Aerospace acquired WECO Aerospace Systems, Inc., a privately held aviation component overhaul company that specializes in providing electrical, electronic accessory and flight instrument repairs. The business will retain the WECO name and be operated as part of Gulfstream's Product Support business unit. Financial details of the purchase, which is expected to close by the end of the first quarter, were not disclosed.
Model F2000EX airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-26855; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-264-AD; Amendment 39-14888; AD 2007-02-01] - Requires, within 35 days after the effective date of this AD, performing an engine fire detection integrity check in accordance with Dassault Service Bulletin F2000EX-137, Revision 1, dated Dec. 7, 2006. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The effective date is Feb.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's board of commissioners authorized the purchase of the remaining 93-year lease on Newburgh, N.Y.'s Stewart Airport for $78.5 million. The U.K.'s National Express Corp. ran Stewart under a 99-year lease but sold its stake, saying it wanted to exit the airport business.
Yingling Aviation in Wichita, Kan. began a new on-line service, CessnaDirect.com, which enables customers to order parts on-line. The site can be accessed directly or through Yingling's Web site. The service will let customers check availability and order parts 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Yingling, a full-service fixed-base operation at Mid-Continent Airport, has been a Cessna Authorized Service Center for nearly 60 years.
FirstFlight added three Hawker 1000s to its charter fleet. The aircraft will be based in the New York City metropolitan area and available for charter beginning in February. In the next few months the Hawkers will be repainted and get upgraded entertainment and communication systems.
ARRIUS 2 F turboshaft engines [Docket No. FAA-2005-22430; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-34-AD] - Proposes to supersede an existing AD that currently requires removing from service certain serial number (S/N) fuel control units (FCUs) or replacing the constant delta pressure diaphragm in those FCUs. This proposed AD would require replacing all FCUs not incorporating modification Tf 55 with FCUs that incorporate modification Tf 55.
The National Transportation Safety Board appears to be making headway on recommendations calling for more transparency in the aircraft charter and charter-broker business. The Department of Transportation Friday solicited comments on NTSB recommendations to require advising aircraft charter customers of the name of the company with operational control of the aircraft, any "doing business as" names in the operations specifications and the names of the aircraft owner and any broker involved. See article below.
Garmin hopes to raise its visibility nationally with the company's first Super Bowl commercial. Garmin bought a 30-second spot to promote its GPS products during Super Bowl XLI on the evening of Feb. 4. The commercial is expected to air midway through the second quarter of the football game. "The Super Bowl showcases some of the world's most recognizable brands, and our participation demonstrates Garmin's desire to be counted among them," said Jon Cassat, Garmin's director of marketing communications.
Named chief financial officer for First Aviation Services, Inc., and its wholly owned subsidiary, Aerospace Products International, Inc. He will report to Aaron Hollander, chairman and CEO. Reznicek most recently was vice president of finance and information technology for the Lancaster Colony Automotive Products Division of the Rubber Queen Corp., which manufactures and distributes automotive products.
Promoted to vice president of aircraft service at Duncan Aviation's Battle Creek, Mich. service facility. In the newly created position designed to strengthen the facility's leadership team, Biever will oversee operations involving airframe, engine, accessory and paint production work. Biever joined Duncan in 1985 as an airframe team leader in Lincoln, Neb. He has spent the past 10 years as manager of airframe services in Lincoln.
CF34-10E series turbofan engines [Docket No. FAA-2006-25896; Directorate Identifier 2006-NE-33-AD] - Proposes to supersede an existing AD that currently requires removing the fuel inlet strainer from main fuel pump (MFP) part number (P/N) 2043M12P03, installing a certain replacement flange as an interim repair, re-marking the MFP to P/N 2043M12P04, and performing initial and repetitive visual inspections of the main fuel filter. This proposed AD would require removing MFPs, P/N 2043M12P03 and 2043M12P04 from service and installing an improved MFP with a different P/N.
A preliminary report by German accident investigators confirmed last week that the tail of a Grob Aerospace G180 SPn separated before the No. 2 prototype crashed Nov. 29 during a demonstration flight from the factory.
TB 20 and TB 21 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-26236 Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-66-AD; Amendment 39-14891; AD 2007-02-04] - Requires an inspection of the wing spar lower boom and repair as necessary. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency. The AD will affect an estimated 270 aircraft on the U.S. Registry. The estimated cost of the AD to U.S. is $4.37 million, or $16,200 per aircraft. Effective date is Feb. 26.
Eric Hinson, a 25-year veteran of the U.S. Navy and aerospace industry, was named last week to succeed Tom Appleton as president of Piaggio America, of West Palm Beach, Fla., the U.S. sales and service arm for the P.180 Avanti pusher prop aircraft. The Italian parent company, Piaggio Aero Industries, also announced a change at the top of its management structure, naming Ugo Anatra as general manager. Anatra has spent five years as the company's chief financial officer and director of information systems. Anatra holds an engineering degree.
