A laptop computer stolen recently from a DOT Office of Inspector General staff member contained records from more than 40,000 airman certificates and 80,000 drivers' licenses, the IG office said. The IG is notifying affected people and working with authorities to find the laptop.
Model EMB-145XR airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-24440; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-058-AD] - Revises an earlier proposed AD that would have required replacement of certain segments of the passenger seat tracks with new, improved seat tracks. The original NPRM resulted from instances where the shear plungers of the passenger seat legs were not adequately fastened. This action revises the original NPRM by requiring new service information.
National Air Transportation Association last week urged its members to weigh in on proposed changes to the Twelve-Five Standard Security Program (TFSSP), saying the Transportation Security Administration has agreed to accept comments even though the comment period has closed. NATA noted that many of the changes to the TFSSP are geared toward all-cargo carriers, but said some changes will still cover passenger carriers. The association also expressed concern that the changes, which are available only to TFSSP carriers, are not appropriate for Twelve-Five carriers.
Gulfstream's Aerospace Service Center at London-Luton Airport received European Aviation Safety Agency approval to maintain the Gulfstream G450 business jet. The service center also was approved by the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department (HKCAD) to maintain Hong Kong-registered Gulfstream G550 business jets. The HKCAD is expected to approve G450 maintenance later this year. The approvals enable European and Hong Kong-registered operators to use the center for regular scheduled maintenance, inspections and warranty work.
Joined Acrohelipro as regional sales manager, Latin America and Florida. Ochoa has more than 20 years of sales and technical experience in the aviation repair and overhaul industry in North America and Latin America.
A meeting between air carriers and FAA officials last week on landing distance assessment requirements left many issues unresolved and prompted one association, the National Air Transportation Association, to formally ask FAA to put the requirements on hold (BA, Aug. 7/55). The meeting primarily concentrated on issues involving Part 121 carriers, but FAA has yet to release the Operation Specification that details the requirements. The requirements are to take effect Oct. 1, but carriers will need to submit their plans for compliance by Sept. 1. See article below.
Appointed marketing and communications manager for Acrohelipro, a subsidiary of Vector Aerospace Corp. that provides maintenance, logistics, engineering and other support services for a variety of helicopters. McGrath will be responsible for trade shows, conferences and special events and will assist in sales planning and forecasting.
Gulfstream Aerospace promoted Brad Kraft to director of completion engineering at its Dallas facility. Kraft will oversee all engineering in the final phase for the G150 and G200 programs. He has more than 18 years of aviation experience, and most recently was senior manager for final phase. Before joining Gulfstream Dallas in 2001, he held several positions with The Boeing Company.
The Transportation Security Administration last week implemented another clearance step for operations between the United States and United Kingdom and renewed its call for security vigilance after U.K authorities arrested several suspects allegedly planning to smuggle liquid explosives aboard U.S.-bound aircraft. The terrorist plot was believed to involve 10 flights operated by major air carriers. Discovery of the plot led to major disruptions in air travel Thursday as U.K.
Appointed vice president of purchasing for EADS Barfield. Astic will oversee purchasing, inventory management and OEM contracts. He has more than 15 years of aerospace experience, beginning as an avionics computer production engineer with Sextant France. He most recently was vice president of operations for Thales Avionics.
The Department Of Homeland Security last week awarded Northrop Grumman $55.4 million for the third and final phase of the government's program to assess the feasibility of installing infrared missile countermeasures on commercial airliners. BAE Systems also is expected to receive its own Phase III contract shortly.
Cessna began function and reliability flight testing on the Citation Mustang, the last round of tests necessary for type certification later this year, the company said last week. "We have essentially completed the majority of our certification issues and expect to wrap things up with the F&R program, keeping us on schedule for TC as predicted four years ago when we launched the program," said Jon Carr, Citation project engineer. The Mustang program has accrued more than 1,600 flight hours.
ATR sold six regional turboprops to Tanzanian carrier Precision Air Services under a contract valued at $97 million. The contract calls for delivery of three ATR 42-500s and three ATR 72-500s between 2008 and 2010. Precision Air Services already operates six ATR aircraft - four ATR 42-320s and two ATR 72-210s. The new turboprops will modernize the Precision fleet and allow the carrier to expand its regional routes across Africa. ATR and Precision Air Services also have a memorandum of understanding for a training program in France.
The Federal Aviation Administration released guidance for fostering a safety culture in Part 135. The advisory circular, AC 120-92, Introduction to Safety Management Systems (SMS) for Air Charter, discusses the importance of incorporating SMS programs into various types of Part 135 operations and provides guidance on how to implement such programs.
Model ATR 42 and ATR 72 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-25537; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-160-AD; Amendment 39-14708; AD 2006-16-08] - Requires an inspection of the locking bolt of the upper attachment pin of the shock absorber on both main landing gears (MLGs) for the correct installation of the locking bolt and for any missing locking bolt, washer, nut, cotter pin, or compound, and applicable corrective action if necessary. This AD results from a report of migration and subsequent rupture of the attachment pin of the shock absorber of a MLG.
Bombardier launched a new freighter conversion program for its CRJ200 regional jet after securing a contract from West Air Europe of Gothenburg, Sweden for two used CRJ200 regional jets that will be converted to an all-cargo configuration. The CRJ200 PF (Package Freighter) aircraft will have a cargo volume of about 1,700 cubic feet and 14,000 pounds. Maximum takeoff weight will be 53,000 pounds, the same as the high-gross-weight version of the CRJ200 aircraft.
Mark Rosenker last week was sworn in as the 11th chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board. The Senate earlier this month confirmed the nomination of Rosenker to fill the seat formerly held by Ellen Engleman Conners (Aug. 7/55). Rosenker, who joined the board as a member in March 2003, had been acting chairman.
Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-25536; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-158-AD; Amendment 39-14707; AD 2006-16-07] - Requires inspecting contactors 1K4XD, 2K4XD, and K4XA to determine the type of terminal base plate, and applying sealant on the terminal base plates, if necessary. This AD results from incidents of short circuit failures of certain alternating current (AC) contactors located in the avionics bay.
Bombardier Aerospace received an order from Tassili Airlines of Algeria for four Q400 regional turboprops. The contract, valued at $103 million (U.S.), calls for deliveries to begin in the third quarter of 2007. Tassili will be the second carrier in Africa, and the first in Algeria, to operate the 74-seat airliner. Tassili, a subsidiary of the Sonatrach State Energy Group, initially plans to use the aircraft to transport workers to oil fields in Algeria.
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] - Proposes to require repetitively inspecting visually the rudder and vertical fin hinge attaching structure for loose fasteners, any cracks in the rudder or vertical fin skins, spars, hinges or brackets, or corrosion. The AD also would require replacing any damaged parts found as a result of the inspection and installing an external doubler at the upper rudder hinge.
The Experimental Aircraft Association's Young Eagles Program hit a milestone last month, when the 1.25 millionth Young Eagle took flight. Young Eagles Chairman Harrison Ford and Executive Director Steve Buss announced the milestone during EAA's AirVenture in Oshkosh. Larry Durst, a pilot from Roseburg, Ore., flew 14-year-old Tucker Morey in a Cessna 182. Beginning in 1992, the Young Eagles program has led to flights in more than 90 countries by more than 40,000 volunteer pilots.
Embraer received a contract from Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Gold Aviation Services for five Phenom 100 jets. The contract includes options for 10 more Phenom 100 or 300 jets. Gold Aviation will manage, maintain and charter the aircraft under a program for the Legacy 600 and Phenom jets.
AirCell secured European Aviation Safety Agency certification for its ST3100 satcom system aboard a Cessna Citation 550. The ST3100 is standard or optional equipment on nearly two dozen aircraft programs. It operates on the Iridium Satellite System with telephone and other communications capabilities, including graphical weather, messaging and ATC information through the Universal Avionics UniLink. AirCell also links to MedLink's 24-hour medical service and Rockwell Collins' Airshow Network.
Model AT-602 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2004-20007; Directorate Identifier 2004-CE-50-AD] - Proposes to revise an earlier proposed AD that would have required repetitively inspecting (using the eddy current method) the wing center splice joint two outboard fastener holes on both of the wing main spar lower caps for fatigue cracking; repairing or replacing any wing main spar lower cap where fatigue cracking is found; and reporting any fatigue cracking found.
