ECLIPSE AVIATION won FAA approval of new aluminum tip tanks for the Eclipse 500 and now hopes to achieve full type certification approval from the agency sometime this month. The biggest hurdle remaining appears to be getting approval for the Avidyne avionics system on the aircraft.
SAE International - the engineering organization that has developed standards for various industries, including aerospace - has developed a new aircraft-design standard that addresses the human-factors issues that need to be considered when designing a flight deck.
The National Transportation Safety Board called on the Federal Aviation Administration to require inspections of elevators and control wheels on thousands of older Cessna airplanes. The safety board said mandatory inspections are necessary because previously issued safety bulletins, which merely recommended inspecting the suspect parts, have not proved effective in getting owners to find and correct problems with those components.
AVION PRIVATE JET CLUB, a Los Angeles-based company that in 2005 launched a membership program providing per-seat, scheduled service on executive jets, has begun to market a new Avion Private Jet Deposit Card program. The Private Jet Deposit Card can be used for Avion's scheduled service between Los Angeles and New York or for worldwide charter service. The Deposit Card, sold in increments of $100,000 or $200,000, provides automatic enrollment in Avion's Per Seat Program without a membership fee along with access to charter, with a guaranteed eight-hour response time.
B/E Aerospace continued its rapid expansion with the acquisition of New York Fasteners (NYF) Corp. for $66.5 million in cash. The acquisition will increase B/E's penetration in the defense market and strengthen its vendor-managed inventory and third-party logistics capabilities, B/E said. NYF, which distributes a variety of aerospace fasteners and hardware, posted revenues of $56 million for the most recent fiscal year ended June 30, 2006. More than 70 percent of NYF's business is in defense and military markets.
NATIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION has nearly sold out exhibit space for its 59th Annual Meeting and Convention Oct. 17-19 in Orlando, Fla. By late August, 1,010 exhibiting companies had contracted for 5,127 10-foot by 10-foot indoor booth spaces, which the association said positions the event to be the largest yet in terms of floor space. Indoor booths will occupy nearly one million square feet. In addition, more than 100 aircraft are expected to be on static display at Orlando Executive Airport.
Joines Million Air as director of the customer service program where she will coordinate sales and oversee customer service standards throughout the Million Air chain. Highsmith, who has 10 years of aviation industry experience, most recently was manager of education and risk management for the National Air Transportation Association.
Model EMB-145XR airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-24439; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-039-AD; Amendment 39-14741; AD 2006-18-03] - Requires modification of the flap system interface wiring. This AD results from a finding that the aural and visual warnings, which should be activated when the flaps are set to 22 degrees during takeoff, were not enabled during the manufacture of certain Model EMB-145XR airplanes. FAA is issuing this AD to prevent the aircraft from overrunning the runway during takeoff. This AD affects about 97 airplanes on the U.S. Registry.
Address: Comments may be submitted via the Web: http://dms.dot.gov; by fax: (202) 493-2251; or by mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street S.W., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, Washington, D.C. 20590. Identify docket number. Petitions for Exemption Docket No.: 2004-19881 Petitioner: Edward J. Tarver Section of 14 CFR Affected: 91.109(a).
FLIGHT OPTIONS, the Raytheon-owned fractional aircraft ownership company, has developed a new "purchase and use program" to provide more access and lower cost on long-haul trips. Under the Fractional First program, customers pay for taxi time, but the time is not deducted from share hours, hourly rates are based on distance flown, and fuel costs are based on the cost to Flight Options, rather than a base price plus a surcharge.
Magnum Jet, a new Houston-based aircraft-management company, has ordered 50 Embraer Phenom 100 business jets and placed an option with the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer for 50 more of the eight-seat airplanes. The contract, valued at $137.5 million based on the light jet's list price, could be worth as much as $275 million if all options are converted into firm orders. The agreement also allows Magnum Jet to convert its Phenom 100 options into orders for the larger, nine-passenger Phenom 300.
Was appointed vice president, human resources for the North American operations of FKI Logistex. Fedrigon has more than 22 years of corporate human resources experience, most recently as director, human resources for Cabot Corporation, a multinational specialty chemical manufacturing company. Fedrigon will be based at FKI Logistex North American headquarters.
Was named Mooney team representative for California. A former F/A-18 pilot for the U.S. Marine Corps, Kovac most recently was a sales representative for Northern California and the Pacific Northwest for Woodland Aviation. Kovac holds a bachelor's degree in aviation business from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. In his new role he will sell the Mooney product line and be based in Camarillo, Calif.
EASA APPROVAL OF A LEARJET 35/36 PERFORMANCE PACKAGE was issued to Raisbeck Engineering. Orders for the so-called ZR LITE Performance System in Europe are now being taken by Aero-Dienst, the newest member of Raisbeck Engineering's network of authorized ZR LITE installation centers. The modification is designed to increase allowable maximum takeoff weight under "limiting conditions," such as higher-altitude airports and shorter sea-level runways.
The Helicopter Association International is advising members with interests in California to send letters to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, asking him to veto recently passed legislation that would provide 75 percent of punitive damage awards to the state and 25 percent to the plaintiff.
AVIATION PERFORMANCE SOLUTIONS (APS) developed a Cirrus-specific upset recovery training program. The program is designed for owners and operators of Cirrus SR-20/22 single-engine airplanes. APS incorporates standardized Cirrus training programs in the Emergency Maneuver Training course to customize the upset recovery training. The program augments APS's Professional Pilot Upset Recovery Training program.
British holding company BBA Group said its fixed-base operation and engine overhaul businesses had a good first half, but the company's overall performance suffered because of continuing problems with its Fiberweb unit, which BBA plans to spin off.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association vowed to fight a recently enacted law in New York calling for criminal background checks of prospective flight training students. New York Gov. George Pataki (R) signed the requirement into law last month over the objections of AOPA and other industry groups. The law calls for flight schools to require flight training applicants to provide criminal history information to the New York Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), and the DCJS may approve or deny applications.
It required at least one working parachute, but all six people aboard a NetJets Hawker 800XP and the pilot of a glider escaped serious injury when the two aircraft collided at 16,000 feet about 42 miles southeast of Reno, Nev. on Aug. 28.
THE ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE has decided to eliminate the exemption from APHIS inspection requirements and fees for commercial aircraft flying from Canada to the U.S. APHIS issued a rule late last month calling for inspection of fruits and vegetables imported from Canada into the U.S. and assessing a $70.25 user fee for aircraft crossing the U.S./Canada border and a $5 per-passenger fee. The fees are the same as those in place for entrants into the U.S. from other countries.
Model DHC-8-100, DHC-8-200, DHC-8-300, and DHC-8-400 Series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-24979; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-014-AD; Amendment 39-14738; AD 2006-17-17] - Requires inspecting the left and right control column torque tube assemblies to determine the type of rivets installed and replacing incorrect or indeterminate type rivets with the correct type rivets. This AD results from a report that incorrect rivets having lower than required strength were installed on the control column torque tube during production.
CORRECTION: Good news for aircraft operators seeking replacements for their MagnaStar systems that rely on Verizon Airfone service - deliveries of an Aircell replacement unit are scheduled to begin at the end of next month. BA incorrectly stated that Aircell would begin delivery of its Axxess EZ systems in February (BA, Aug 28/96), but the manufacturer says it is actually planning to begin shipping the Axxess EZ units Oct. 31.
