Model 390 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-25745; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-47-AD; Amendment 39-14866; AD 2006-26-08] - Supersedes AD 2006-02-51, which requires inspecting the left engine hydraulic pump outlet tube and the clamp; replacing the clamp at each inspection; replacing the hydraulic pump outlet tube immediately if any problem is found; and reporting the results of each inspection or replacement to the FAA. This AD is the result of several hydraulic pump outlet tube failures after issuance of AD 2006-02-51, including failures on the right engine.
Boeing Business Jets struck an agreement with Rockwell Collins to offer the Rockwell Collins enhanced vision system on the BBJ. The EVS provides a Head-up Guidance System (HGS) and head-down displays for increased situational awareness of terrain and the airport environment. Rockwell Collins is working with Max-Viz on certification of the system. The system will incorporate a Max-Viz multi-wavelength infrared sensor in the Rockwell Collins HGS. The EVS will be available through Boeing and Rockwell Collins service bulletins.
Ocean Air Aviation is opening a new location at Roseburg Regional Airport (RBG) in Roseburg, Ore. The facility will be the sole fixed-base operation at RBG and will base an emergency airlift air ambulance there. Ocean Air, a long-time Avfuel-branded dealer, provides fueling, charter, storage and maintenance. The Ocean Air fleet includes a Westwind II and a Metroliner. Ocean Air's primary FBO is at Southwestern Oregon Regional Airport, formerly known as the North Bend Municipal Airport (OTH).
Two pilots on a repositioning flight for Sun Quest Executive Air Charter were killed Friday when the Cessna CitationJet Model 525 business jet crashed and burned just after takeoff from the Van Nuys, Calif. Airport (VNY). One of the fire department officials who responded to the scene told reporters the aircraft had taken on the maximum fuel load of 3,400 pounds. He also said one of the pilots told the tower he was experiencing "some difficulty" during the takeoff.
The National Transportation Safety Board believes crew members piloting the Pinnacle Airlines CRJ-200 that crashed in October 2004 deviated widely from standard operating procedures, leaving them unable to restart the plane's engines after they induced a stall at 41,000 feet, the upper end of the aircraft's flight envelope.
A week after the House passed a ban on private travel, the Senate began considering changes in its own rules regarding private aircraft travel as part of the debate on an ethics reform bill, S.1. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) offered an amendment calling for members to pay fair market value for use of the aircraft - or the full cost of charter. The Reid provision drew support from a number of senators, some of whom have questioned the use of private aircraft altogether.
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. has agreed to buy PZL Mielec, the largest fixed-wing airframe manufacturer in Poland, from the Polish government. President Jeff Pino says the acquisition will help the Stratford, Conn.-based company become "a leading member of the European aerospace community" and will allow the two companies to "build on each other's strengths."
January 7-11 - American Association of Airport Executives, 21st Annual Aviation Issues Conference, Kauai, Hawaii. Contact AAAE at (703) 824-0500. January 25 - Coping With Crisis-Managing an Aviation Disaster, Alexis Park Resort, Las Vegas, Nev. Register at www.thecommunicationsworkshop.com February 6-7 - NBAA: Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (ABACE) 2007, Hong Kong. Contact Linda Peters at (202) 783-9000, email: [email protected], www.abace.aero.
Gales Industries, Inc., a Bay Shore, N.Y. holding company that is assembling a portfolio of providers to the aerospace and defense industry, signed an agreement to buy Sigma Metals, Inc., a metals distributor based in Deer Park, Long Island, N.Y. Gales agreed to pay about $5 million for Sigma, plus an amount equal to Sigma's earnings from Jan. 1 until the deal closes. Gales also is assuming about $1.2 million of Sigma's debt.
Model TBM 700 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-26231; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-61-AD] - Requires, (1) Within the next 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective date of this AD, inspecting all flap inboard carriage roller pins for proper torque values and correcting as necessary before further flight. (2) Repeating these inspections thereafter at intervals not to exceed 100 hours TIS and correcting as necessary before further flight after any inspection in which a discrepancy is found.
NATIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION continued to expand its Professional Development Program, approving 12 new courses offered by three different providers. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is offering 10 of the new courses, covering corporate aviation analysis, finance, communications, professional development, human factors, recordkeeping and regulatory compliance, employee training, maintenance management, customer service and aviation safety programs and emergency preparedness.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION named D. Kirk Shaffer associate administrator for airports, succeeding Woodie Woodward, who retired last year. Shaffer formerly was special counsel to the managing director of the Federal Communications Commission. He also has served as executive assistant to the president and general counsel for the Metropolitan Nashville, Tenn. Airport Authority.
Eclipse Aviation delivered its first customer Eclipse 500 Very Light Jet at the end of December, and the second customer aircraft is expected to be handed over this week, but CEO Vern Raburn told BA Friday that production will ramp up slowly during the first half of the year.
Was named chief operating officer for MD Helicopters. Gee formerly was vice president-operational excellence/lean promotion officer for Ingersoll Rand, Inc. He also was president and general manager of Pulte Home Sciences and spent nine years with Harley-Davidson Motor Company. In his new role, Gee will be responsible for operations of MD Helicopters, Heritage Aviation and MD Monterrey.
The Federal Aviation Administration last week proposed to clarify a proposed Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) that would mandate specific training and operating experience requirements for MU-2B pilots. FAA proposed the SFAR in September after conducting another in-depth analysis on the safety of the airplane (BA, Oct. 2/148). The agency said it received comments in response to the proposed SFAR seeking clarification of the agency's expectations for operating experience and requalification training.
The National Business Aviation Association, which has taken the lead in organizing business aviation conferences and exhibitions in Europe, South America and Asia, will now take a secondary role in the Latin American Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition (LABACE).
CJ SYSTEMS AVIATION GROUP acquired Pikeville, Ky.-based MedFlight of East Kentucky. CJ Systems already provides the pilots and maintenance staff for the air ambulance component of MedFlight. With the acquisition, CJ Systems will also provide the medical crews and billing operations for MedFlight, which operates one helicopter and a fleet of ambulances. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pa., CJ Systems operates a fleet of about 120 helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft from more than 85 bases throughout the U.S.
Model EMB-135BJ airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-26685; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-200-AD] - Proposes to require modifying the forward and aft auxiliary fuel tanks. This proposed AD results from a report of sparks due to chafing between the harnesses of the forward and aft auxiliary fuel tanks, between certain harnesses attached to the aircraft structure, or between certain harnesses attached to certain mechanical components.
Was appointed general manager for Landmark Aviation's fixed-base operation in Wichita Falls, Texas. Trosper has more than 25 years of experience, most recently as line service manager at Kerrville Aviation. He also was sales and marketing manager at Fjord Aviation Fueling Products and served as technical sales leader/product line manager at Hammonds Fuel Additives. Trosper is a member of the Houston Aviation Advisory Council and the Kerrville Chamber of Commerce Aviation and Transportation Committee.
Joined MD Helicopters as director of manufacturing. He formerly was plant manager for Pulte Home Sciences in Manassas, Va. He also held manufacturing, supply chain and logistics leadership positions with Harley-Davidson. He was a logistics professional for the U.S. Navy Supply Corps.
REGULATION of charter activity has intensified recently - last month the agency released a new Operation Specification governing operational control (see article below) as well as another notice requiring FAA headquarters approval before a Part 135 operator may add an airplane to its certificate. The notice, which revised an earlier action (BA, Dec. 18/272), exempts new aircraft, but requires headquarters clearance for all other turbine-powered or air ambulance aircraft that are added to a Part 135 certificate.
FAA this week also is expected to release a rule governing extended operations (ETOPS) of multi-engine airplanes. FAA in November 2003 proposed to require that Part 121 and Part 135 flights remain within 180 minutes of an acceptable airport unless the operators comply with certain equipment and training standards (BA, Nov. 17, 2003/217). That proposal was based on recommendations developed by the industry-based Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee, which began deliberating ETOPS standards in 2000.
Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-26647; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-194-AD] - Proposes to require 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 proposed AD results from reports of the engine exhaust nozzle and fairing departing from the airplane in flight due to missing attachment bolts.
