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).
Named chief executive officer of the Visual Intelligence business unit of M7 Aerospace. The unit, known as M7 VI, is based in Houston, Texas and specializes in the design, development and integration of remote sensing surveillance and recognition of ultra-high-resolution imaging digital technology. M7 described Guevara as "an entrepreneurial and pioneering authority in the design, development and implementation of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology." He spent 10 years at the Environmental Systems Research Institute of Redlands, Calif.
PW535A Turbofan Engines [Docket No. FAA-2006-26112; Directorate Identifier 2006-NE-35-AD; Amendment 39-14837; AD 2006-24-08] - Requires accomplishing the following, in accordance with the instructions of P&WC Alert Service Bulletin PW500-72-A30314, dated September 27, 2006. 1) For engines with fuel manifold, Part Number 3052627-01, that has a total time since new (TTSN) of 1,500 flight hours or higher: Within 50 flight hours or 60 days after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first, replacing fuel manifold, P/N 3052627-01, with a serviceable part.
Bombardier Flexjet is expanding its "secondary service area" to include all of Mexico. The fractional business jet ownership provider in 2005 established the secondary service area, waiving ferry fees for trips to and from the Caribbean region and Bermuda. The most recent expansion comes in response to a jump in travel to and from Mexico by Flexjet customers, Bombardier said, noting that the number of Flexjet's Mexico trips has increased by double digits each year since 2003. Nearly 20 percent of Flexjet owners travel to or from Mexico.
The 109th Congress Friday was working to finish up business before adjourning for the year, including consideration of tax extensions and a continuing resolution that would fund government operations through February. The 110th Congress will be tasked with completing appropriations legislation for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1, 2006 for many government agencies, including the Department of Transportation.
Continued strong demand for new business jets in Eastern Europe is illustrated by Cessna sales representative JetAlliance, which is headquartered near Vienna, Austria. Jack Pelton, Cessna chairman, president and CEO, said the Austrian firm has sold about 50 Citation business jets over the past two years. Many of those aircraft are going to customers in Russia, although a substantial number of those planes end up being registered in other European nations.
Joined the avionics installation sales team at Duncan Aviation in Lincoln, Neb. Biller, who has held a wide range of positions in the aviation industry during his 28-year career, will be involved in sales and marketing of Duncan's new Glass Box Project initiative, a cockpit LCD retrofit for select business aircraft. Duncan launched the Glass Box Project "to help bring new cockpit technologies to the marketplace by working closely with customers, major avionics manufacturers and the FAA," Duncan said.
CMC Electronics and the Government of Quebec announced a joint program that will enable the manufacturer to significantly increase and train its work force. CMC, based in Montreal, is investing $2.8 million (Canadian) in an employee training program. That total includes $745,000 (C) from Emploi-Quebec, which is overseen by the Quebec minister of employment and social solidarity. The training will include 215 specialized jobs, of which 140 are new positions.
