The National Transportation Safety Board sent a team to investigate the crash of a PA-46 Malibu Mirage that apparently clipped a truck on approach to Concord Buchanan Field in California, killing the pilot and three passengers. The aircraft, N1AM, was operating on an instrument flight rules flight plan on a flight from San Diego to Buchanan Field Dec. 21. It was raining at the time of the accident, and visibility was 2.5 miles.
Aircraft Owners And Pilots Association launched an advertising campaign on The Weather Channel to help educate the public about how FAA is funded and the growing debate about what, if any, changes should be made in the funding formula. The AOPA campaign is just one of a number of initiatives the business and general aviation community is taking to fend off a push for user fees led by FAA and the large scheduled airlines.
Cessna Aircraft won certification last week for the company's new Citation Encore+ business jet, which features a number of improvements over the standard Encore.
Comlux, a charter operator based in Zurich, Switzerland, took delivery last month of the first of three Airbus A318 Elite aircraft it has ordered from the manufacturer. The aircraft will be outfitted with a VIP cabin seating up to 18 passengers by Lufthansa Technik in Hamburg, Germany. The completed aircraft is expected to be delivered in the spring. The A318 is powered by CFM International CFM56-5 engines.
Raytheon Company, which has been trying to sell its Raytheon Aircraft Company unit off and on for more than seven years, got an early Christmas present last week when Onex Corp. and investment banking firm Goldman Sachs agreed to buy the aircraft manufacturer for $3.3 billion (BA, Dec. 11/261).
Named vice president, Industry and Aerostructures business, for EADS Socata. Malleville joins EADS Socata from Matra Automobile, where he was director of the Alstrom-Traction factory in Tarbes, France. Before that he directed Matra's Romorantin production plant. He also had a 10-year career with Thomson.
Pratt & Whitney Canada is investing $1.5 billion in research and development over the next five years to develop the next generation of engine technologies, the company said. The company called the investment the "most important commitment made by P&WC in its history." The investment includes a royalty-based $350 million reimbursable contribution from the Canadian government. P&WC will focus on developing technologies to exceed international noise and emission standards.
Precision Conversions received Brazilian supplemental type certification for the company's 15-pallet-position 757-200PCF Freighter conversion. The STC covers 757-200 models with either Rolls-Royce or Pratt & Whitney engines. Precision Conversions received an order from VarigLog for seven conversions. Work on the conversions is under way at FlightStar Aircraft Services in Jacksonville, Fla. Precision Conversions also recently won European Aviation Safety Agency STC approval for the conversions.
Banyan Air Services is planning a grand opening/open house celebration March 2-3 for its new 26,000-square-foot fixed-base operation terminal, which opened for business last month at The Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE). The new two-story Key West style FBO offers a much larger ramp, a 2,800-squarefoot customer lobby featuring an 800-gallon saltwater aquarium, 30-foot palm trees, a waterfall and oversized windows for viewing incoming aircraft.
The aviation industry is gearing up for a momentous year on Capitol Hill in 2007 as work begins in earnest to renew FAA programs and the aviation excise taxes that support them. Those programs and taxes are authorized through the end of fiscal 2007, which ends Sept. 30, and the agency, the airlines and general aviation advocates have spent the past couple of years staking out their positions on how those programs should be modified.
Gulfstream's Savannah Service Center received approval from the Hong King Civil Aviation Department to maintain aircraft registered in Hong Kong. The HKAR-145 certificate authorizes the Savannah facility to provide maintenance for G200, G450 and G550 business jets registered in Hong Kong. Currently six Gulfstream business jets are based in Hong Kong.
Named head of improvement and performance, Center of Excellence Nose and Central Fuselage, for Airbus France. Cornille formerly was vice president, Industry and Aerostructures business, for EADS Socata. He served with EADS Socata for six years.
AE 2100D3 turboprop engines [Docket No. FAA-2006-26414; Directorate Identifier 2006-NE-42-AD; Amendment 39-14854; AD 2006-25-13] - Requires removing certain part number (P/N) compressor cone shaft assemblies at a new reduced cyclic life limit of 5,000 engine cycles. This AD results from low-cycle-fatigue testing and analysis of certain P/N compressor cone shaft assemblies, by the manufacturer. FAA is issuing this AD to prevent uncontained failure of the compressor cone shaft assembly, leading to engine shutdown and damage to the airplane. Effective date is Dec.
A former Transportation Department attorney, joined the Business Division of the law firm of Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott LLC as an associate. She will be based in the firm's Washington, D.C. office and focus on aviation and aerospace law. Ovalle was formerly an associate counsel in the Office of the DOT Inspector General. She earned her law degree from the Columbus School of Law at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
PC-12 and PC-12/45 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-26371; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-70-AD] - Proposes, within 30 days after the effective date of this AD: Performing an inspection to identify the VPN of the pedestal legs and the S/N of the executive seat following the accomplishment instructions in Pilatus PC-12 Service Bulletin No.: 25-032, dated Oct.
The National Transportation Safety Board will enter 2007 with a full complement of board members after the Senate last month confirmed Steven Chealander to fill the final slot on the five-member board. President Bush in September announced the nomination of Chealander to fill the post vacated by Ellen Engleman Connors, who resigned earlier in 2006 (BA, Oct. 2/150). Chealander will serve out the remainder of Connors' term, which expires at the end of 2007, but he could be nominated for another term.
Platinum jet center BMI opened a new facility at the Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington-Normal, Ill. The 34,000-square-foot facility will be able to accommodate aircraft as large as a Boeing Business Jet.
Raytheon finally found a buyer for its Raytheon Aircraft unit, ending a lengthy search by the defense and electronics contractor to find a new corporate home for the Wichita airplane manufacturer. See article below.
Eurocopter recently received Russian government approval for three helicopters, the EC120 Colibri, the AS350 Ecureuil and the EC130 B4. With the most recent approvals, Eurocopter has certified 10 helicopter models in Russia over the past 15 years. Eurocopter recently sold an EC135 and EC145 in VIP configuration to private Russian customers. Those helicopters are slated for delivery in spring 2007. Eurocopter said the sales reflect growth in the Russian VIP/corporate market for new aircraft.
RONALD SILVERMAN was promoted to senior vice president of client services for Executive Jet Management. Silverman will direct the aircraft management sales team and be responsible for growing charter revenue. He will work out of both the Teterboro, N.J. sales office and the Cincinnati, Ohio headquarters. A 20-year business aviation veteran, he formerly served as vice president of client relations for the Northeast region for EJM. He also has been regional vice president for client services for TAG Aviation USA, Inc.
Model EMB-135ER and -135KE airplanes; and Model EMB-145, -145ER, -145MR, -145MP, and -145EP airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-25422; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-095-AD; Amendment 39-14848; AD 2006-25-07] - Requires inspecting the fuel quantity indication system (FQIS) wire harness and the direct current (DC) fuel pump wire harness to determine if the harnesses are properly attached at their respective attachment points and properly separated from one another, and performing corrective actions if necessary.
Model F27 Mark 500 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-25086; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-019-AD; Amendment 39-14847; AD 2006-25-06] - Requires an inspection to determine whether certain main landing gear (MLG) drag stay units (DSUs) are installed. This AD also requires an ultrasonic inspection to determine if certain tubes are installed in the affected DSUs of the MLG, and related investigative/corrective actions if necessary.
THALES, Airservices Australia and SITA jointly launched an ADS-B trial in Indonesia. ADS-B traffic data will be displayed in the Jakarta and Makassar air traffic control centers, improving surveillance for air traffic controllers along several key routes. Aircraft equipped with ADS-B equipment will transmit digital signals every one-half second providing position, speed and course information. As part of the trial, Thales deployed three ADS-B ground receivers in Denpasar in Bali, Kupang in Nusa Tenggara Timur and Natuna Island in the South China Sea.
PLANS BY DEMOCRATIC LEADERS in Congress to hold funding for most government agencies during the current fiscal year at the same level as fiscal 2006 are causing consternation among leaders and employees of government agencies and the industry segments those agencies deal with. The 109th Congress, which was controlled by the Republicans, passed only two of the 13 appropriations bills necessary to fund government agencies in the fiscal year that began Oct. 1.
