The National Transportation Safety Board is concerned about the ability of pilots to restart high-bypass turbine engines in flight, and last week urged the Federal Aviation Administration to mandate a series of certification requirements to ensure restart capability. The recommendation stems from the Oct. 14, 2004 crash of a Pinnacle Airlines Bombardier CRJ-200 regional jet that was on a repositioning flight from Little Rock National Airport in Arkansas to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
Model TBM 700 Airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-26234; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-64-AD] - Proposes to require, within the next 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) or 12 months, whichever occurs later after the effective date of this AD, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 100 hours TIS, a detailed inspection of the area of Frames C18 BIS and C19 and application of corrective actions as necessary by doing all the applicable actions in accordance with the accomplishment instructions of the EADS SOCATA TBM Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 70-129, ATA No.
The chairmen and ranking members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees sent a letter to the director of the Office of Management and Budget this month urging that the fiscal 2008 budget documents now being prepared "not include proposals - whether they are fee increases, changes to mandatory programs, or similar authorization proposals that are not within the jurisdiction of the Appropriations Committee - that have the effect of lowering the discretionary spending top line while having little or no chance of being enacted into law." The letter does not specif
The Department of Transportation inspector general believes that finding consensus on funding the national airspace system is among the top management challenges the Federal Aviation Administration faces this year, but said the agency must reconcile the varying views to move forward with reauthorization. FAA also must better define its funding needs and more tightly control its costs, the IG said.
Named senior vice president of operations for AirSure Limited, a division of Van Gilder Insurance Corporation. Carr has more than 17 years of claims, underwriting, regulatory, marketing and operations management experience in the property and casualty insurance industry.
Model TBM 700 Airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-26191; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-60-AD] - Proposes to require, within the next 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) or 12 months, whichever occurs first, after the effective date of this AD, verifying that there is no lateral play for both elevator trim tabs and correct, as necessary, by installing a setting washer as instructed in the EADS SOCATA TBM Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 70-135, ATA No. 55, dated December 2005.
Model BAe 146 and Avro 146-RJ Airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-25437; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-136-AD; Amendment 39-14828; AD 2006-23-16] - Requires modifying the nose landing gear. This AD results from reports of loss of the nose wheel assembly. FAA is issuing this AD to prevent the nose wheel nut from loosening, and consequently, the nose wheel assembly detaching from the airplane; and to prevent the nose wheel clamping loads from applying to the machined radius at the root of the stub axle, which could result in damage to the nose landing gear.
Regional Turboprop manufacturer ATR selected Servigistics, a leading strategic service management solutions provider, to manage ATR's global and worldwide service parts inventory. The addition of Servigistics is part of the aircraft manufacturer's (ASTRE) project - ATR Spares Total Re-Engineering.
Appointed vice president of sales at Piper Aircraft. Kromer, who has 30 years of engineering and sales experience, will be responsible for the sales effort for the company's new PiperJet. Kromer joined Piper from Sino Swearingen, where he was vice president of sales and marketing. He also has served as executive vice president and general manager of Mooney Aircraft, executive director of the Mooney Aircraft Pilots Association, executive vice president of the Aviation Division of Boyd/Kleypas and Associates Advertising Agency and president of Aero Designs.
New World Jet Corp. (NWJC) this month unveiled its 91Plus program, an effort to help individuals and corporations cope with the often confusing and costly issues dealing with personal use/entertainment flights on corporate aircraft.
Models AT-502, AT-502A, AT-502B, AT-602, AT-802, and AT-802A Airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-25260; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-37-AD; Amendment 39-14826; AD 2006-23-14] - Requires repetitive visual inspections of the rudder and vertical fin hinge attaching structure (vertical fin skins, spars, hinges, and brackets) for loose fasteners, cracks, and/or corrosion. This AD also requires replacing any damaged parts found as a result of the inspection and installing an external doubler at the upper rudder hinge.
Model EMB-135 Airplanes and Model EMB-145, -145ER, -145MR, -145LR, -145XR, -145MP, and -145EP airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-26354; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-196-AD] - Proposes to require replacing the metallic tubes enclosing the vent and pilot valve wires in the left- and right-hand wing fuel tanks with non-conductive hoses. This proposed AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. FAA is proposing this AD to prevent an ignition source inside the fuel tank that could ignite fuel vapor and cause a fuel tank explosion and loss of the airplane.
Flight Display Systems of Alpharetta, Ga. named Ron Hainsworth to open a Wichita, Kan. office for the company. Hainsworth, a 25-year aviation industry veteran, was formerly avionics sales manager at Bizjet International. Before Bizjet, he was a product specialist for Universal Avionics. As regional sales manager for Flight Display Systems, Hainsworth will sell the company's line of cabin entertainment products to avionics shops for retrofit into customer airplanes.
An update by the National Transportation Safety Board Wednesday suggests that the inability of pilots and air traffic controllers to maintain radio contact and possible lack of radar coverage were key elements in the chain of events leading to the Sept. 29 midair collision between a GOL Airlines Boeing 737 and an Embraer Legacy operated by ExcelAire. See articles below.
Model CL-600-1A11 (CL-600), CL-600-2A12 (CL-601), CL-600-2B16 (CL-601-3A, CL-601-3R, and CL-604) Airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-26353; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-189-AD] - Proposes to require inspecting to identify the part number and serial number of the selector valves of the nose landing gear (NLG) and the nose gear door; and performing related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD results from reports of uncommanded partial retractions of the NLG.
Model TBM 700 Airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-26166; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-58-AD] - Proposes to require 1) Within the next 600 hours time-in-service (TIS) or at the next annual inspection, whichever occurs first after the effective date of this AD, inspecting vertical stabilizer attachment fittings and bolts for cracks or corrosion and if necessary repairing or replacing the damaged part and then applying a corrosion protection reinforcement, following EADS SOCATA TBM Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 70-104, Amendment 1, ATA No.
The Legacy 600 business jet that collided with a GOL Airlines 737 on Sept. 29 over the Brazilian jungle had been flying straight and level at 37,000 feet on a published airway for more than an hour before the crash occurred, the National Transportation Safety Board said Wednesday in an update on the accident.
Ioimage, an Israeli firm that specializes in intelligent video appliances, was added to the team that is developing improved perimeter security systems for the airports operated by The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The PANYNJ previously selected Raytheon as the prime contractor for the Perimeter Intrusion Detection System (PIDS) project. Another firm, 4D Security Solutions, Inc., was selected to design, integrate, test and install the technology required to implement PIDS at the four airports.
Appointed senior vice president of airline solutions for AirCell. Phillips will be responsible for airline sales and program management for AirCell's new broadband service. She will be based at AirCell's new Chicago facility. She formerly held positions in sales programs, revenue management and in-flight products and entertainment for American Airlines and also developed a new business unit for Sony. Phillips also has served as an independent consultant, advising clients that included in-flight entertainment providers Rockwell Collins, Sony and Thales.
Thermal Systems Division of Kelly Aerospace reached an agreement with RDD Enterprises of Redmond, Ore. to help expand the use of the Kelly unit's de-icing system on experimental aircraft. RDD will develop, distribute and support Kelly's experimental aircraft program, which is centered around the "Thermawing" de-icing system. Kelly said Thermawing, which was cited among "The Top Technologies Influencing Aviation Today" in an article in AOPA Pilot magazine, uses electrically generated wing and tail heating elements for de-icing.
Landmark Aviation earned FAA approval to increase rudder control authority for Dassault Falcon 50 aircraft. The upgrade, available for Falcon 50s with Collins APS-85 autopilot or Pro Line 21 avionics, will enhance lateral maneuverability to provide greater control in crosswinds. The modification will provide the aircraft with the same rudder control as the Falcon 50EX. Landmark's facility in Springfield, Ill., will perform the work.
Merrill Lynch analysts revised an earlier forecast on aircraft deliveries by Gulfstream Aerospace. A report by the financial firm said the revision is "consistent with our thesis on the business jet cycle and the delivery peak likely occurring in the 2009/2010 time frame versus our prior forecast calling for the peak in 2008/2009." Merrill Lynch maintained its prediction that Gulfstream will deliver 127 business jets in 2007 and 130 in 2008. But the projection for 2009 jumped from 111 to 135 and from 104 to 120 in 2010.
Embraer is forecasting a market for 11,115 business jets and 3,050 30- to 120-seat commercial aircraft over the next 10 years. The Brazilian manufacturer, releasing its long-term market outlook during a two-day "Embraer Day" event Nov. 16-17, predicted business jets sales could reach $169 billion in the next 10 years. Embraer also forecast that the air taxi market could add demand for 2,500 to 3,000 more Very Light Jets.
Promoted to vice president of congressional affairs for the Air Transport Association. Gonzales joined ATA in January 2004 as a director of government affairs. Before that, he spent 10 years on Capitol Hill, most recently as chief of staff to Rep. Gene Green (D-Texas). He also served with the Texas Office of State-Federal Relations under then-Gov. Ann Richards and a number of Texas state representatives. He will continue to report to Sharon Pinkerton, vice president of government affairs.
December 4-6 - National Agricultural Aviation Association Convention, Orlando, Fla. Contact: Peggy Knizer (202) 546-5726. 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.
