The Federal Aviation Administration will publish a new rule this week calling for slots, or "arrival authorizations," for scheduled commercial operations at Chicago O'Hare International Airport. The rule is the latest in a series of rules intended to curb congestion at the busy Chicago airport. The action does not address non-scheduled operations, which are limited to historical levels under a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR 105). In March the agency extended SFAR 105 through Oct. 28.
Sierra Industries, Ltd. of Uvalde, Texas said Friday it won FAA Supplemental Type Certificate approval of a Williams-powered Citation 500. The approval, which Sierra said came just nine weeks after the aircraft's June 14 first flight, authorizes the company to install Williams FJ44-2A turbofan engines on Citation Model 500/501SP business jets. The re-engined Sierra Stallion is the latest in a series of aircraft product improvement programs undertaken by the company.
Appointed to the board of directors of SimCom, Inc. Brannon is senior vice president and managing director of SimCom Training Centers, which provides training for general aviation, business and regional pilots. He is responsible for identifying new business opportunities, developing strategic business goals and objectives and directing daily operations. He joined SimCom in 1992 and has served as an instructor, assistant training center manager, training center manager and vice president of operations.
Raytheon Aircraft Company, which had to seek an extension from FAA because its attempts to certificate the Hawker 4000 business jet threatened to exceed the five-year limit, got another break this month when the agency agreed to give the manufacturer additional time to meet stricter certification standards.
Columbia Aircraft will host a series of TRAIN ME (Training, Information and Maintenance Expertise) seminars at major general aviation air shows to provide in-depth operational and maintenance information about the Columbia 300, 350 and 400. "The all-composite Columbia line is quite different from the aluminum aircraft that a lot of people in personal aviation are accustomed to working with," said Dave McRae, vice president of customer care.
Ameriflight, the Burbank, Calif. Part 135 scheduled cargo carrier, honored one of its senior Learjet pilots last week with a renumbering ceremony for one of its aircraft. Bill Stollberg, a 30-year veteran of the company and No. 3 on Ameriflight's pilot seniority list, is leaving to take a new job with jet charter and aircraft management operator SP Aviation in Hayward, Calif. As a going-away present, Ameriflight re-registered Lear 35A, N754GL - which the company has operated for 25 years - as N754WS, Stollberg's initials.
General Electric announced the departure of David L. Calhoun, who had been president and CEO of GE Infrastructure, which includes the company's Aviation, Rail, Energy, Oil and Gas and Water units. He will be succeeded by John G. Rice, a 28-year GE veteran who has been heading its Industrial business. Rice has been a GE vice chairman for the past five years while heading the Industrial unit. GE said the Infrastructure business has annual revenues of $47 billion and is on track to grow earnings about 15 percent in 2006.
Robert L. Sumwalt was sworn in as a member of the National Transportation Safety Board Monday, bringing to four the number of members on the board and adding a rich background of aviation and accident-investigation experience.
Bill Griffiths, a long-time corporate helicopter pilot, died Aug. 21. The Helicopter Association International said Griffiths was chief pilot of Portland General Electric Co. for 24 years. He was an active member of HAI and was instrumental in the creation of the association's Utilities, Patrol and Construction (UPAC) Committee, on which he served as chairman in 1990 and as a member for many years. He received HAI's Pilot Safety Award in May 2005 and had been selected to receive the association's Distinguished Service Award before his death.
Gulfstream Aerospace officially added the G150 business jet to its product line and put it into service with a ceremony Aug. 14 at the company's facilities at Dallas Love Field. The G150 is a larger-cabin replacement for the G100, formerly known as the Astra 1125. The airframe is still built by Israel Aircraft Industries in Israel, and the aircraft are then flown to Gulfstream's Dallas base for the final phase of manufacturing and outfitting.
Model 23, 24, 24A, 24B, 24B-A, 24C, 24D, 24D-A, 24E, 24F, 24F-A, 25, 25A, 25B, 25C, 25D, 25F, 28, 29, 31, 31A, 35, 35A (C-21A), 36, 36A, 55, 55B, and 55C airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-25563; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-083-AD] -- Proposes to require modifying the left- and right-hand standby fuel pump switches. This proposed AD also would require revising the Emergency and Abnormal Procedures sections of the Airplane Flight Manual to advise the flightcrew of the proper procedures to follow in the event of failure of the standby fuel pump to shut off.
The Federal Aviation Administration, following the lead of Italian aviation officials, issued an emergency airworthiness directive last week requiring inspections of the tailpipe assemblies on Agusta S.p.A Model AB139 helicopters to detect cracks that could possibly cause fires.
September 25 - Greater Washington Business Aviation Association Golf Tournament, Herndon, Va., Centennial Golf Course, email: [email protected] October 17-19 - National Business Aviation Association 59th Annual Meeting & Convention, Orlando, Fla., (202) 783-9000 October 27 - 64th annual Wings Club Dinner-Dance honoring Al Ueltschi, Chairman FlightSafety International, Inc. with its Distinguished Achievement Award; Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York, 212-867-1770, email: [email protected].
FAA expects to release a new Operations Specification addressing operational control issues at the end of September, about a month later than the agency's original target date, officials said last week. FAA has held a number of meetings over the past several months to explain the intent behind the new OpsSpec A008, which is designed to clearly define what constitutes lawful and unlawful leasing and commercial activity.
Joined Flight Design Germany as technical director. Reinhardt will oversee the design and production of the Echterdingen, Germany-based company's line of light CT aircraft. He holds an aerospace engineering degree with an emphasis in aerodynamics and lightweight design at the University of Stuttgart. A licensed pilot, Reinhardt has most recently been involved in structural design work on automobiles for Daimler-Chrysler's Mercedes Benz division.
THE SPIKE in demand for transatlantic charter flights following the imposition of more stringent airline security measures in the wake of an alleged terrorist plot in England has receded, but it hasn't disappeared. In the first few days after the heightened security procedures went into effect Aug. 10, charter operators were swamped with calls from potential customers, with some companies reporting increases of well over 100 percent in the number of inquiries.
250-B and 250-C series turboshaft and turboprop engines [Docket No. 2004-NE-10-AD; Amendment 39-14704; AD 2006-16-04] -- Supersedes an existing AD for RRC 250-B and 250-C series turboshaft and turboprop engines that currently requires a one-time inspection of the fuel nozzle screen for contamination, and if contamination is found, inspection and cleaning of the entire aircraft fuel system before further flight. That AD also requires replacing the fuel nozzle with a new design fuel nozzle, at the next fuel nozzle overhaul or by June 30, 2006, whichever occurs first.
Model TBM 700 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-25332; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-40-AD] -- Proposes to require actions that are intended to address an unsafe condition described in mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority of France, the Direction Generale de L'Aviation Civile (DGAC).
Was appointed executive director and chief executive of the Massachusetts Port Authority, which operates three airports -- Boston Logan, Hanscom Field and Worcester Regional -- plus a variety of other transportation assets. Kinton is a 30-year Massport veteran who had served as the organization's aviation director since 1993.
BAE SYSTEMS received a contract to enter Phase III of the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) program to protect commercial airliners from shoulder-fired heat-seeking missiles, also known as Man Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS) (BA, Aug. 14/72). The contract, including options, is valued at more than $50 million. In Phase III, BAE will continue to refine its military-derived JetEye airliner protection system, which uses a low-power laser to blind the seekers of incoming missiles. JetEye flew on an American Airlines Boeing 767 in late 2005.
Models PC-12 and PC-12/45 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-24954; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-30-AD; Amendment 39-14713; AD 2006-16-13] -- Requires a one-time inspection of the Frame 21 (FR21) adjacent to the wing upper-attachment lugs, left and right, and a repair if necessary. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by an airworthiness authority of another country. FAA is issuing this AD to require actions to correct the unsafe condition on these products. The AD will affect about 394 aircraft on the U.S. Registry.
Cessna Aircraft veteran Mark Paolucci will take over leadership of the company's Customer Service organization after Senior Vice President Ron Chapman retires later this year, Cessna announced Friday. Paolucci, currently vice president of Citation Sales, will begin his new duties this week. Based at company headquarters in Wichita, Kan., he also will assume Chapman's position on Cessna's senior leadership team.
Was named president and chief operating officer of Helinet Aviation Services LLC, headquartered in Van Nuys, Calif. Miles previously served as a vice president and managing director for Symantec Corporation's European, Middle East and African operations. At Helinet he will concentrate on integrating the group's member companies, international markets and the continued success of the company's Cineflex gyro-stabilized high-definition camera systems.
