THE DEBATE about the impact Very Light Jets will have on the National Airspace System got testy last week. The National Business Aviation Association took umbrage at comments by an Air Transport Association official in an interview with Bloomberg that VLJs would be a "significant burden" on the aviation system and would interfere with the operations of commercial airlines.
Was named president of Fairchild Controls, a subsidiary of EADS North America that produces power conversion and control electronics, environmental control systems and turbo-machinery. Selle formerly was director of component aftermarket services for Honeywell Aerospace. Before that, Selle was general manager of Honeywell's heat transfer and electronic power aftermarket business in Tulsa, Okla.
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS GROUP (ICG), the Newport News, Va.-based provider of aeronautical and mobile satellite communications products, developed an authorized dealer program to improve the company's relationship with avionics modification centers and provide more support and training. Authorized dealers will receive preferred dealer pricing, a demo suite for tradeshows, marketing collateral, training and technical support and space on the ICG Web site.
Operators at Teterboro Airport are calling for a voluntary ban on Stage II aircraft and a nighttime flight curfew as part of a series of initiatives unveiled last week to improve safety and community relations at the busy New Jersey general aviation airport. The Teterboro Airport Industry Working Group detailed the recommendations for the first time Wednesday in a press conference that also included Rep. Steve Rothman (D-N.J.), a persistent airport critic.
THE HOUSE AND SENATE approved the fiscal 2007 Department of Homeland Security funding late last month. The bill provides $46.3 billion for the Transportation Security Administration and Federal Air Marshall Service, including $55 million for air cargo security, $524 million for explosives detection systems and $2.6 billion for passenger and baggage screening. The bill also provides $275,000 to promote the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Airport Watch program and continued funding for the Loran-C navigation system.
A major spike in wind farm projects this year is causing headaches for FAA, which must examine the proposals to make sure that wind turbines don't interfere with signals from radars and navigation aids.
THE U.S. COURT OF APPEALS last week ordered FAA to delay the compliance deadline for the agency's new drug and alcohol testing mandate for 10 days while the court considers a filing by the Aeronautical Repair Station Association seeking a nine-month delay. The deadline was Oct. 10 and the Appeals Court motion extends the compliance date to Oct. 20. ARSA on Tuesday filed for the delay after the FAA denied the association's request for a nine-month delay (BA, Oct. 2/151).
A SERIES OF voluntary restrictions at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey is drawing strong support from local operators, who view them as necessary to ensure a long-term partnership with the surrounding community, said National Air Transportation Association President James Coyne, who co-chaired the Teterboro Airport Industry Working Group that recommended the restrictions.
NORTHWEST AIRLINES split a major order for large regional jets between Canadian manufacturer Bombardier and Brazilian manufacturer Embraer. Bombardier said Northwest ordered 36 CRJ900s and took options on an additional 96 aircraft. The firm orders are valued at $1.35 billion (U.S.) and the total could rise to more than $5 billion if all options are exercised. Embraer said Northwest placed a firm order for 36 Embraer 175s and took options on an additional 36 airplanes "and up to 100 rolling purchase rights".
Executive vice president of CAE, Inc., was elected chairman of the board of the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada. Campbell said the job of the association "is to demonstrate leadership in advocating public policy that makes sense for Canada and its aerospace industry."
MARY PETERS, who won Senate confirmation as secretary of transportation late Sept. 30 (BA, Oct. 2/147), already has begun to reach out to the aviation community in her new role. Peters, a former federal highway administrator, has invited aviation industry leaders in for a "meet and greet" Wednesday. FAA Administrator Marion Blakey is expected to be on hand.
THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD Friday released a safety alert urging pilots to "actively maintain awareness of severe weather" along the entire route of flight. The alert stems from recent accident investigations that "appear to be wholly or partly attributable to in-flight encounters with severe weather," the safety board said. The accidents all involved aircraft operating under IFR and in contact with air traffic controllers. The investigations showed that pilots either were not advised about severe weather ahead or given incomplete information, NTSB said.
SOME SOUTHWEST AIRLINES PASSENGERS soon will be traveling in a former corporate airplane that had carried top-level automotive executives. As part of a Southwest effort to pick up some used 737-700s, the carrier recently acquired an airplane that was part of the Ford Motor Company corporate fleet and which was used mostly in Europe.
Joins the sales team of VISTAGY, a Waltham, Mass. developer of specialized engineering software for the aerospace and automotive industries. Doheny has more than 20 years of marketing and sales experience. He has served with Artisoft/Vertical Communications, Technology Associates, Cisco Systems and Siemens. He will be based in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and be responsible for customers in the South Central region of North America and in South America.
Joins AirCell as senior vice president, wireless services. Weigman will oversee service design, marketing programs and customer care for the company's new broadband service. He formerly was chief marketing officer for Sprint and president of the company's Consumer Long Distance Division.
THE NORDAM GROUP broke ground for a new maintenance, repair and overhaul facility in Singapore. The project will more than triple Nordam's space in Singapore from 60,000 to 185,000 square feet. The new facility will enable Nordam to continue to expand its business and pursue new manufacturing capabilities, company executives said. Nordam, which first opened a Singapore base 13 years ago, has grown its business from thrust reverser repair and overhaul to include nacelles, airframe components and flight control surfaces.
(L)O-360, (L)IO-360, AEIO-360, O-540, IO-540, AEIO-540, (L)TIO-540, IO-580, and IO-720 Series Reciprocating Engines [Docket No. FAA-2006-24785; Directorate Identifier 2006-NE-20-AD; Amendment 39-14778; AD 2006-20-09] - Requires replacing certain crankshafts. This AD results from reports of 23 confirmed failures of similar crankshafts in Lycoming Engines 360 and 540 series reciprocating engines. FAA is issuing this AD to prevent failure of the crankshaft, which will result in total engine power loss, inflight engine failure, and possible loss of the airplanes.
San Francisco International Airport (SFO), long a crossroads for corporate aviation operators, is seeking bids from companies interested in running the fixed-base operation at the airport.
Eclipse Aviation, the Albuquerque, N.M. startup company that inspired a new generation of Very Light Jets with its Eclipse 500 aircraft, won FAA type certification approval Sept. 30. The TC was presented to Eclipse officials during a weekend customer celebration at company headquarters.
AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION OF CANADA elected CAE Executive Vice President Don Campbell chairman for the 2006-2007 term. Campbell succeeds Rolls-Royce Canada President Pierre Racine.
THE LOS ANGELES TIMES reported Friday that the crew of a SkyWest Airlines regional jet narrowly avoided a collision on the ground at Los Angeles International Airport Sept. 30 when a Gulfstream business jet pulled onto the runway while the RJ was accelerating for takeoff. The Skywest aircraft had reached a speed of more than 115 miles per hour when the foreign-registered Gulfstream pulled onto the runway. The Skywest crew aborted their takeoff and managed to stop their aircraft less than 100 feet from the Gulfstream, according to the report.
Model BAe 146 and Avro 146-RJ airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-25851; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-133-AD] - Proposes to require determining the part number of the lift spoiler actuators/jacks. For affected lift spoiler jacks, this proposed AD would require determining the date of manufacture of the lift spoiler jacks, repetitively inspecting the eye-end assembly of the lift spoiler jacks to detect discrepancies of the assembly or associated parts, and performing corrective actions if necessary.
