Appointed senior vice president, engineering and program management, for Englewood, Colo.-based Adam Aircraft. Bisges previously was senior vice president of engineering for Sino Swearingen Aircraft, where he led the SJ30-2 twin jet to certification. He also spent 12 years with Bombardier Aerospace, overseeing engineering for the Global Express, Challenger 604, RJ 200 Learjet 60 and Learjet 40. Bisges has 20 years of aviation engineering experience.
Aircraft Owners And Pilots Association and the Regional Air Cargo Carriers Association (RACCA) are upset with FAA about what they say is a significant and unwarranted policy change regarding flight into known icing. Regional Air Cargo Carriers Association representatives were meeting with FAA late last week in Washington in an attempt to persuade agency officials to overturn a recent ruling by an FAA attorney. RACCA says the new interpretation significantly expands the definition of "known icing conditions." See article below.
Two newly elected senators, Claire McCaskill of Missouri and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, will join the Senate Commerce Committee in January, when Democrats take control of Congress. McCaskill and Klobuchar are among 10 newly elected senators - eight Democrats, one Republican and one independent - who will be sworn in next year as members of the 110th Congress. Incoming Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.)announced committee membership and the incoming committee chairs.
Westchester County Airport (HPN) in White Plains, N.Y. recently presented its 12th annual "Spirit of Noise Abatement Awards" to based corporate operators that had achieved 100 percent compliance with the airport's voluntary noise-abatement programs during 2005. The New York City-area corporate airport has a voluntary nighttime curfew in effect from midnight until 6:30 a.m., as well as a high-range noise event limit of 93 dBA.
Landmark Aviation added a Gulfstream G450 and G200 to its management fleet. Landmark has 40 aircraft under management, 31 of which are available for charter. The latest additions will be based in the eastern U.S.
December 15 - Aero Club of Washington, 2006 Wright Memorial Dinner, honoring Norman Mineta, former Member of Congress and Transportation Secretary. Contact Nancy Hackett, Executive Director, Aero Club of Washington, (703) 327-7082. January 7-11, 2007 - American Association of Airport Executives, 21st Annual Aviation Issues Conference, Kauai, Hawaii. Contact AAAE at (703) 824-0500.
Federal Aviation Administration recently sent a revised funding proposal to the Office of Management of Budget for review that is said to contain a host of new fees on aviation users as well as substantial increases in taxes. The proposal is believed to call for more than tripling the jet fuel and aviation gasoline taxes as well as establishing new fees for operating in large hub terminal airspace. FAA further is believed to be seeking peak-hour pricing ability for fees in the hub terminal airspace.
Propellers and McCAULEY controllable propellers [Docket No. FAA-2005-20141; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-01-AD; Amendment 39-14836; AD 2006-24-07] - Requires, for certain Hartzell Propeller Inc. HC, BHC, and PHC series propellers, and McCauley Propeller Systems controllable propellers serviced by Oxford Aviation Services Limited, doing business as CSE Aviation, in the United Kingdom between September 1998 and October 2003, inspecting the propeller blades and other critical propeller parts for wear and mechanical damage.
Brazilian manufacturer Embraer is in the final stages of producing the assembly rigs in preparation to begin manufacturing the Phenom 100 Very Light Jet early next year. Embraer said both the 100 and the larger Phenom 300 "have advanced significantly, making steady progress toward first flight, certification, production and entry into service." The company has released more than 50 percent of the total drawings for the Phenom 100, covering spars, ribs, frames, skin, systems installation and other areas.
ASI Group, a provider of global risk management services, formally inaugurated a new suite of offices in its Houston, Texas headquarters building Tuesday. The 10,000-square-foot facility will house the company's 24/7 Intelligence and Operations Center, along with all administrative, accounting and sales divisions. ASI Group remains in the same building at 2925 Briarpark Dr., but now is on the 11th floor.
Arriel 1 series turboshaft engines [Docket No. FAA-2006-26091; Directorate Identifier 2006-NE-28-AD] - Proposes to require, within 90 days after the effective date of this AD, unless already done: (1) Checking the condition of the three fuel unions and the ignition solenoid valve/start drain valve assembly, and checking for their proper assembly; (2) Correcting the installations if necessary; (3) Using Turbomeca Alert Service Bulletin No. A292 73 0251, Update No. 2, dated Feb. 5, 2001, to do the checks and corrections.
Brazilian authorities finally permitted ExcelAire pilots Joseph Lepore and Jan Paladino to leave Brazil Friday, but not before federal police officials charged the two men with endangering air safety because of the Sept. 29 midair collision between their Embraer Legacy and a Gol Airlines 737.
BBA Group plc, the British holding company that owns the Signature Flight Support chain of fixed-base operations and engine overhauler Dallas Airmotive, has disposed of the last of its non-aviation holdings, changed its name and says it is now completely focused on the aviation business.
Associated Air Center completed a custom interior for an Airbus Corporate Jet, the seventh ACJ that Associated Air Center has completed. Based at Dallas Love Field, Associated - part of Landmark Aviation - became an Airbus ACJ authorized completion center in 2003 and has received contracts for at least 10 of the jets. The most recent aircraft, destined for a customer in India, was designed with a business office and cabin management system for games, music, satellite television and wireless communication.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority of Australia recently issued an airworthiness directive warning of possible wing failures on CASA 212 series airplanes.
Garmin Ltd. acquired Dynastream Innovations, Inc. for $36 million in cash. Dynastream, which is based in Cochrane, Alberta, Canada, is a leader in the field of personal monitoring technology such as foot pods and heart-rate monitors for sports and fitness products. Dynastream, which will continue operations as a wholly owned subsidiary of Garmin, also provides ultra low power and low-cost wireless connectivity products for a wide range of applications.
The Timken Company, which makes bearings for the aerospace and other industries, has acquired the assets of Turbo Engines, Inc., an aviation engine overhaul facility in Tucson, Ariz. that specializes in work on Pratt & Whitney and Honeywell propulsion systems. Timken said the acquisition is part of a long-term plan to provide a wider range of services to its customers.
House aviation subcommittee Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.) was selected to become the ranking Republican on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (T&I) beginning in the 110th Congress. Mica has chaired the aviation subcommittee since 2001 and served on T&I since 1993. He also has participated on T&I railroad and highways and transit subcommittees. "As the ranking member, John will be in an extremely powerful position to influence all transportation issues working in conjunction with the Administration," said Rep.
Models 1900, 1900C, and 1900D airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-26258; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-67-AD; Amendment 39-14840; AD 2006-24-11] - Requires repetitive inspections of the forward, vertical, and aft flanges of both the left and right wing rear spar lower caps for cracks, repairing any cracks found, and reporting the inspection results to RAC. This AD results from additional fatigue cracks found in this area since inspections were performed to comply with Emergency AD 2006-18-51, which required immediate visual inspections of this area.
Named quality control manager at Flight Display Systems, Alpharetta, Ga. Adams has a manufacturing background in computer server technology. He previously was with Vitel Technologies and before that he worked for NCR.
Models AT-501, AT-502, AT-502A, AT-502B, and AT-503A airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2004-19961; Directorate Identifier 2004-CE-48-AD; Amendment 39-14839; AD 2006-24-10] - Supersedes AD 2002-26-05 and AD 2002-11-05 R1. Since FAA issued AD 2002-26-05 and AD 2002-11-05 R1, it determined that additional airplanes should be added to the applicability section and determined the safe life for new production airplanes and replacement spar caps should be extended. FAA also developed an alternative method of compliance (AMOC) to the requirements of this AD.
US Helicopter Corp. and Continental Airlines announced a partnership to provide eight-minute helicopter shuttle flights between Manhattan and Continental's hub at the Newark, N.J. Liberty International Airport (EWR), beginning Dec. 18. Under the agreement, US Helicopter customers traveling on Continental flights will be able to check in, receive boarding passes for both the helicopter and Continental flights and complete security screening at the Downtown Manhattan Heliport near Wall St.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and the Regional Air Cargo Carriers Association are trying to get officials at FAA headquarters in Washington, D.C. to overturn a rules interpretation by an attorney in the agency's Eastern Region.
J.E. (SANDY) MURDOCK, the senior vice president of administration and general counsel for the National Business Aviation Association for the past two years, plans to leave those posts Feb. 1. Murdock, a former FAA general counsel and a former partner in the Washington, D.C. law firm of Shaw Pittman, is expected to return to practicing law full time. Murdock was the second person Ed Bolen hired after taking over as president of NBAA in September 2004 (Oct. 4, 2004/147).
