FA-200 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-25259; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-36-AD; Amendment 39-14783; AD 2006-20-13] - Requires creation of inspection holes, corrosion inspection of the flange of the wing spar, repair of corrosion if necessary, and removal of the sealing compound. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the aviation authority of Japan. FAA is issuing this AD to require actions that are intended to address the unsafe condition described in the MCAI.
Several New York-area political leaders called on the Federal Aviation Administration and Transportation Security Administration to review airspace restrictions over New York City, and metropolitan areas in general, in the aftermath of Wednesday's crash of New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle's Cirrus SR20 into a Manhattan skyscraper.
A STRIKE against the Bombardier Aerospace facility in Wichita, Kan. by members of Local 639 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers is heading into its third week with no new negotiations scheduled. Union leaders had approved a new contract proposal from the company at the end of September, but workers rejected the package by a wide margin.
Model BAe 146 and Avro 146-RJ airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-25920; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-137-AD] - Proposes to require calculating the current life of each lift spoiler jack, and eventually replacing each lift spoiler jack. This proposed AD results from a review of all system components as part of the life-extension program for the affected airplanes that indicated the fatigue life limit of certain lift spoiler jacks cannot be extended from the current life limit.
IVIATION, Memphis, Tenn., is releasing a series of interactive computer-based learning courses for corporate, charter and commercial operations. The first two courses will cover human factors/crew resource management and aircraft icing. "These are critical areas of safety that flight operations need," said CEO David Perdue. "There's a tremendous demand for human-factors/CRM and aircraft icing training as well as the other courses." Perdue said the courses will fit any sized flight department or charter operation.
DFW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT has a new source of revenue, an oil and gas lease with Chesapeake Energy Corp., which will be drilling for oil and gas under airport property. Under terms of the agreement finalized this month, the airport received $185 million in an "initial bonus," which is equivalent to more than 30 percent of the airport's current annual budget. DFW also will receive an annual royalty of 25 percent of the value of natural gas produced on the airport's 18,000 acres.
Fractional aircraft operator NetJets named company veteran John Colucci executive vice president-sales. Colucci joined NetJets in 1993 in the early days of the fractional aircraft program. In mid-1993, the company had 25 Cessna Citation business jets and 111 customers. Today the company is operating more than 645 airplanes in its worldwide fleet for more than 3,400 fractional-share customers.
SAFE FLIGHT INSTRUMENT CORPORATION last week celebrated the company's 60th anniversary. Leonard Greene, who in the spring of 1944 witnessed an airplane crash involving a friend, founded Safe Flight in October 1946 to develop lift instrumentation that would warn a pilot that he is nearing a stall. Greene patented the wing-mounted lift detector, which became the first stall warning device. Since then, manufacturers have installed some form of stall warning on every aircraft produced.
(Beech) Model 400, 400A, and 400T series airplanes; and Raytheon (Mitsubishi) Model MU-300 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-26004; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-212-AD; Amendment 39-14785; AD 2006-21-02] - Requires revising the Airplane Flight Manual to modify the Operating Limitations, Abnormal Procedures, and Normal Procedures, as applicable, for flight in icing conditions. This AD results from multiple reports of high-altitude, dual-engine flameouts on airplanes operating in certain meteorological conditions (BA, Aug. 28/91).
Viking Air Ltd. began accepting deposits from customers last month for new production models of an updated Twin Otter utility aircraft - an airplane company officials hope to be delivering within a little more than two years (BA, July 17/23).
JET SOURCE CHARTER added a King Air 350 to its fleet of managed and charter aircraft. The aircraft, which will be available for charter by the end of the month, will be based at McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad, Calif.
New World Jet Corp. (NWJC) signed a new long-term strategic operations agreement with Jet Aviation, NWJC said last week. "Since 1996, New World Jet has maintained an excellent strategic relationship with Jet Aviation," said Bruce McNeely, CEO of NWJC. The company changed hands about a year ago when Gold Jets LLC bought NWJC (BA, Feb. 20/79). NWJC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Gold Jets and is a Part 135 air carrier with a fleet of more than 30 aircraft.
CHC Helicopter Corp. founder Craig L. Dobbin, died Oct. 7, but it appears the company will continue to be controlled by the Dobbin family and operations will continue as normal under the details of a carefully scripted succession plan (BA, Oct. 9/167).
The number of fatal accidents involving U.S. business jet and turboprop operators was up in the first nine months of 2006, but the total number of accidents declined slightly.
NATIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION selected Cessna Aircraft Company as the first recipient of the association's Albert Ueltschi Humanitarian Award. Cessna will be recognized for its "leadership and spirit of service demonstrated by the Cessna Citation Special Olympics Airlift." The airlift provides roundtrip transportation for about 1,500 Special Olympics athletes and their coaches when the event is held every four years. Operators of 235 Cessna Citation aircraft participated in the 2006 airlift this summer in Des Moines, Iowa.
LINDA TARDIF recently joined simulator training provider CAE as senior manager of marketing communications, simulation products and military training and services. Tardif had been a long-time public affairs official at Pratt & Whitney Canada. Based at CAE headquarter in St. Laurent, Quebec, she is responsible for managing trade media relations, including both advertising and editorial.
RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT hopes to boost sales of its Beechcraft Baron G58 and Bonanza G36 models by offering a five-year extended warranty for aircraft sold this year. The warranty comes in addition to a 1-2-3 promotion that includes 5.99 percent financing for one year, two years of free fuel and three free training options. The warranty covers Beechcraft parts as well as supplier systems and components. The warranty on paint, interiors, avionics and engines remains the same.
Jet Aviation is expanding its use of the Midcoast brand and is selling its maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) business in Dallas as part of a restructuring of the Swiss-based company's U.S. operations. Jet Aviation, which acquired Midcoast Aviation from Sabreliner Corp. earlier this year (BA, March 27/141), is rebranding its MRO divisions in Bedford, Mass., Palm Beach, Fla., Teterboro, N.J. and Chicago to the Midcoast name. Jet Aviation also is shifting heavy maintenance from the Palm Beach facility to the original Midcoast base in St. Louis.
AIR CRUISERS COMPANY won Canadian supplemental type certification for installation of its emergency flotation system on Eurocopter AS350 and 355 helicopters. The pneumatically activated system also is FAA-approved for the AS350B, B1, B2, BA and B3 models and AS355F1, F2 and N models. Air Cruisers estimates installation time at six to eight hours, noting that the system does not require cable adjustments or electrical connections. The system inflates in less than 2.5 seconds and can deploy in flight at speeds up to 135 knots and altitudes up to 6,600 feet.
TIMKEN is adding a new $12 million technology center in Mesa, Ariz., that will more than double the company's aftermarket operations in the region. Timken will vacate the Gilbert, Ariz. facility over the next several months as it settles into the new 85,000-square-foot manufacturing and technology center. The new facility will enable Timken to integrate its specialized engineering, manufacturing, reconditioning and service functions. The center will provide parts overhaul and repair, parts distribution and sales, and customer service.
RAY GORMAN was named to manage accounts in the western U.S. and Canada for VISTAGY, a Waltham, Mass. developer of specialized engineering software for the aerospace and automotive industries. Gorman joined VISTAGY in 2002, and before that held sales and product development positions with SolidWorks, Spatial Technology and AT&T.
