FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION officials were slated to meet with National Air Transportation Association officials late Friday to discuss lingering concerns about the new Operations Specification, OpSpec A008, on Part 135 operational control. The OpSpec generally has been well received within industry, but the final document raised a handful of issues, including those dealing with pilot compensation and employment (BA, Jan. 15/23).
THE SENATE late Thursday passed an ethics bill that includes changes to the rules regarding compensation for private aircraft travel (BA, Jan. 15/25). Senators formerly could pay roughly the cost of a first-class plane ticket for travel on a private plane, but new rules require them to pay the equivalent of the cost of a charter. Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) originally objected to the measure because he believed it would hamper the ability of senators from rural states to travel, particularly with tight travel budgets.
Model S-61L, N, R, and NM Helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2006-25824; Directorate Identifier 2004-SW-23-AD; Amendment 39-14876; AD 2007-01-05] -- Requires, within a specified time, creating a component history card or equivalent record. The AD also requires recording the hours time-in-service (TIS) and the external lift cycles for each main gearbox input left and right freewheel unit (IFWU) assembly. Also, the AD requires calculating a moving average of lift cycles per hour TIS at specified intervals on each IFWU assembly.
Model ERJ 170 and ERJ 190 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-26797; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-195-AD; Amendment 39-14878; AD 2006-20-14] - Publishes an amendment adopting an AD sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of certain Model ERJ 170 and ERJ 190 airplanes by individual notices. This AD requires modification of certain flight deck door electronic equipment. This AD is prompted by a report indicating that this equipment is defective. FAA is issuing this AD to prevent failure of this equipment, which could jeopardize flight safety.
The Transportation Security Administration is working on a "more robust" plan to ensure increased security for large general aviation aircraft, TSA Director Kip Hawley told Congress last week. Appearing before the Senate Commerce Committee Wednesday during a hearing on the 9/11 Commission recommendations, Hawley said that general aviation security "is something we take very seriously," and that Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff "made it an unmistakable priority for me and my colleagues at other [Department of Homeland Security] entities.
ANNABELLE VULTEE was appointed regional sales manager for South Florida for AirShares Elite. Vultee will be responsible for AirShares Elite's Cirrus shared ownership program in South Florida. She has a background of professional sales, marketing entrepreneurial experience, most recently as founder of Vultee Universal Investments, a hospitality industry consultancy. She also was product marketing manager at Burger King Brands and held a number of sales and marketing positions at the Coca Cola Company.
Model 206A, B, L, L-1, L-3, and L-4 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2005-22696; Directorate Identifier 2005-SW-22-AD; Amendment 39-14877; AD 2007-01-06] - Supersedes an existing AD that currently requires certain inspections and checks of the tail rotor blade for a deformation, a crack, and a bent or deformed tail rotor weight. Also, that AD requires, before further flight, replacing each blade with an airworthy blade if a deformation, a crack, or a bent or deformed weight is found.
TIM WILLIAMS was appointed vice president for Textron Six Sigma at Cessna Aircraft. Williams will be responsible for the acceleration of the continuous process improvement within Cessna using Textron Six Sigma and Lean Methodology. He joined the company in 2004 after spending nine years with General Electric in inventory/delivery management, Six Sigma and engineering. He also has worked for a first-tier supplier and manufacturer in the automotive industry.
HILLSBORO AVIATION delivered a retrofitted Bell 206L-4 helicopter to the City of Chicago. The helicopter was acquired from the Chicago Fire Department and will be operated as part of the Chicago Police Department/Cook County Sheriff's Department joint Helicopter Task Force. Hillsboro equipped the helicopter with an Avalex Moving Map, two 12.1-inch LCD monitors, a digital video recorder and FLIR pointing system in combination with a FLIR Ultra 8500XR thermal imager/camera.
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee leaders last week organized the committee's structure, naming Rep. Jerry Costello (D-Ill.) chairman of the aviation subcommittee. Rep. Thomas Petri (R-Wis.) is the ranking Republican on the committee. The aviation subcommittee, which will be crafting a major FAA reauthorization bill in the next several months, is the largest of the T&I subcommittees with 48 members. Costello, an 11-term congressman, formerly served as the ranking Democrat on the committee and was expected to take the chairmanship.
ELLIOTT AVIATION was selected by Garmin International to perform aftermarket installations of the G1000 integrated avionics suite in King Air C90 aircraft. The retrofit package is expected to win certification on the C90 in the second half of 2007. The G1000 system uses 10-inch primary flight displays, a 15-inch multi-function display and dual integrated radio modules that provide IFR-approved WAAS GPS, VHF navigation with ILS and VHF communication.
HILLSBORO AVIATION delivered a retrofitted Bell 206L-4 helicopter to the City of Chicago. The helicopter was acquired from the Chicago Fire Department and will be operated as part of the Chicago Police Department/Cook County Sheriff's Department joint Helicopter Task Force. Hillsboro equipped the helicopter with an Avalex Moving Map, two 12.1-inch LCD monitors, a digital video recorder and FLIR pointing system in combination with a FLIR Ultra 8500XR thermal imager/camera.
Avitat Westchester officials have completed their move into the company's remodeled and expanded facilities at Westchester County Airport (HPN) in White Plains, N.Y. following a $9 million renovation and expansion program by the longtime fixed-base operator.
A FATAL CESSNA CITATION 560 crash nearly two years ago in Pueblo, Colo. will be the subject of a public meeting before the members of the National Transportation Safety Board tomorrow (Jan. 23). The Feb. 16, 2005 crash claimed both pilots and all six passengers. The aircraft was one of two Citations owned by Circuit City Stores that were attempting to land in Pueblo for fuel. The pilots of the second Citation, which landed safely, reported light to moderate icing in the area (BA, Feb. 21, 2005/86).
BOMBARDIER'S Bob Agostino will be the opening speaker at the Greater Washington Business Aviation Association's Safety Standdown March 8 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Agostino has been the driving force behind the successful safety standdown hosted each year by Bombardier/Learjet in Wichita, Kan. The DCA event also will feature presentations by government and industry experts on fatigue training, flight attendant training, accident prevention and security regulations. For more information, contact GWBAA President Bob Blouin at [email protected].
Model BAe 146 and Avro 146-RJ airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-25851; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-133-AD; Amendment 39-14872; AD 2007-01-01] - Requires determining the part number of the lift spoiler actuators/jacks. The AD requires determining the date of manufacture of certain lift spoiler jacks, repetitively inspecting the eye-end assembly of the affected lift spoiler jacks to detect discrepancies of the assembly or associated parts, and performing corrective actions if necessary.
BRAZILIAN AUTHORITIES continue to adopt contingency measures to keep the nation's troubled air traffic control system together. The government plans to recycle emergency ATC plans implemented over the Christmas and New Year's holidays to avoid cancellations and flight delays during the Carnival holiday next month. Carnival Week, Feb. 15-20, traditionally generates the heaviest air traffic of the year in Brazil.
(Aviation subcommittee members noted with asterisk) Democrats * James Oberstar (Minn.), chairman of com- mittee, ex officio member of aviation sub- committee * Jerry Costello (Ill.), chairman of aviation subcommittee * Nick Rahall (W.Va.) * Peter DeFazio (Ore.) * Eleanor Holmes Norton (D.C.) * Corrine Brown (Fla.) * Bob Filner (Calif.) * Eddie Bernice Johnson (Texas) * Juanita Millender-McDonald (Calif.)
TIM WILLIAMS was appointed vice president for Textron Six Sigma at Cessna Aircraft. Williams will be responsible for the acceleration of the continuous process improvement within Cessna using Textron Six Sigma and Lean Methodology. He joined the company in 2004 after spending nine years with General Electric in inventory/delivery management, Six Sigma and engineering. He also has worked for a first-tier supplier and manufacturer in the automotive industry.
January 25 - Coping With Crisis 101 - 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. February 15-17 - Women in Aviation International Conference, Orlando, Fla. Contact Connie Lawrence, WAI, (937) 839-4647.
Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-22559; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-076-AD; Amendment 39-14879; AD 2007-01-07] - Supersedes an existing AD that currently requires repetitive inspections for cracks, sealant damage, and corrosion of the main fittings of the main landing gear (MLG), and corrective actions if necessary. This new AD reduces the compliance times for inspecting certain low-utilization airplanes, and provides a terminating action for the repetitive inspections.
