A Dassault Falcon 900 escaped damage in Greenville, S.C. last month in what would have been a potentially dangerous overrun accident at most airports. The aircraft, N699BG, was registered to and operated by Erg Aviation II Inc. under Part 91 of the FARs. The pilot was making a visual approach to Runway 1 at the Greenville Downtown Airport. He told investigators that during the approach, the anti-skid system test required a second test to receive the correct indication.
The competition to supply the Turkish military with a basic aircraft trainer is down to two companies, Embraer and Korea Aerospace Industries. Turkey earlier this year issued a solicitation for the trainer program, saying it plans to buy 36 aircraft, with another 19 options. To elicit more interest, the response date was extended from early May to mid-July.
Air Carrier representatives are slated to meet this week with senior FAA officials to hash out concerns they have with the agency's notice calling for a 15 percent safety margin in landing distance calculations for aircraft operated under Parts 121, 135, and 91(K). The industry representatives were particularly concerned that FAA bypassed the rulemaking process when it released the requirement for the runway distance restrictions (BA, Jun 19/271).
The Internal Revenue Service has agreed to try to ease the registration process for fuel tax rebates after industry groups expressed concern that the IRS was taking much too long to approve vendors. A National Air Transportation Association-sponsored survey of fixed-base operators revealed that the IRS has been taking an average of 75 days to respond to their requests to become approved vendors. FBOs must be recognized as an approved "ultimate registered vendor" before they can seek a rebate on taxes that are paid on jet fuel, but at the diesel fuel rate.
An international coalition of helicopter operators, manufacturers and industry groups has joined forces with the FAA and other air traffic regulators from around the world to spearhead a new safety push aimed at cutting the helicopter accident rate by 80 percent over the next decade.
National Business Aviation Association formed an alliance with Bombardier Aerospace and FAA to support the Canadian aircraft manufacturer's annual Safety Standdown, a multi-day event focused on improving business aviation safety. This year's gathering, which is expected to attract hundreds of corporate pilots, is scheduled for Oct. 2-5 in Wichita, Kan. The opening session will feature Nick Sabatini, FAA's associate administrator for aviation safety; Bob Agostino, director of flight operations for Bombardier Business Aircraft; and NBAA President Ed Bolen.
Thales received an order from the Air Navigation Services of the Czech Republic for air navigation systems that include complete sets of navigational aids, training services and test equipment. The systems will be installed at Prague Ruzyne International and other airports throughout the Czech Republic. Thales expects to complete installation of the systems in 2007. The systems include an ILS 420 that will enable Category III precision landings.
Former flying publisher Nathan Barry (Jay) Durfee, Jr., 73, died July 27 at his home in Vero Beach, Fla. of complications from Parkinson's disease. Durfee, a native of Fall River, Mass. who spent his early years in Providence and Compton, R.I., was a graduate of Yale University. He then spent three years in the U.S. Air Force, where he was an F-100 pilot. After leaving the service, Durfee joined Ziff-Davis Publishing Co. in New York, eventually becoming publisher of Flying magazine.
Beech Models 45 (YT-34), A45 (T-34A, B-45), and D45 (T-34B) Airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-25105; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-33-AD] - Proposes to supersede AD 62-24-01, which currently requires repetitive inspections, using the dye penetrant method, of the front and rear horizontal stabilizer spars for cracks and replacement of any cracked stabilizer. Since FAA issued AD 62-24-01, the agency determined that using the dye penetrant inspection method may not detect cracks before failure of the horizontal stabilizer spars.
EADS Socata said orders for its new TBM 850 have exceeded expectations with a backlog of more than 50 aircraft. The company has received orders for 32 aircraft that will be delivered in 2007. Socata valued those orders at $91 million. Introduced in December, the TBM 850 is a higher-speed follow-on to the single turboprop TBM 700.
The Environmental Protection Agency hopes to release a final rule in October that is designed to clear up some ambiguity and ease some concerns with the agency's Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) requirements. National Air Transportation Association President James Coyne wrote EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson in June that the agency's slow progress in releasing the rule "is disappointing, at best" (BA, June 26/286). NATA has been particularly concerned by SPCC requirements calling for sized secondary containment of refueling trucks.
Joined Mayo Aviation as director of charter sales and managed aircraft. He has more than 10 years of on-demand experience, previously serving with Active Aero, AirNet Systems, JetRide and JetSelect. Cumberland started out as an operations scheduler and has held positions of increasing responsibility. Most recently, he helped start and develop two separate charter companies.
FBO operator Business Jet Center, based at Oakland International Airport (OAK), added a 42,000-square-foot hangar at its facility. Formerly used as a commercial airline maintenance facility, the hangar has 50-foot-tall automatic doors and can accommodate the largest business jets, including the Boeing BBJ, Gulfstream 550 and Global Express. The structure also has office and shop space and is equipped with a high-capacity foam fire suppression system and an electronic security system. Business Jet Center is an ExxonMobil Avitat fuel dealer.
Model S-92A helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2006-25444; Directorate Identifier 2006-SW-18-AD; Amendment 39-14700; AD 2006-15-19] - Requires, before further flight, replacing a certain main gearbox (MGB) upper main housing assembly that has 2,700 or more hours time-in-service (TIS) with an airworthy part. This action also requires, before further flight, revising the Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) of the maintenance manual by establishing a new retirement life for the MGB housing assembly of 2,700 hours TIS.
Swiss has retired its last Embraer 145 after only six years of service; the aircraft made a scheduled flight from Zurich to Venice before being pulled out of revenue service. Swiss predecessor Crossair ordered 25 Embraer 145s in 1998 as part of a larger fleet overhaul in which it also launched the Embraer 170/190 family. Crossair took delivery of the 145s between 2000 and 2002, but following its revamp as a mainline carrier Swiss found the 50-seaters no longer suitable for its strategy.
John Carr's defeat in the National Air Traffic Controllers Association election did not cause any tears at FAA. Carr had engaged in vociferous attacks on FAA and its leaders during the recent contract negotiations, and the rhetoric on both sides was acrimonious, even by labor negotiation standards. FAA congratulated Pat Forrey for being elected NATCA president. "We look forward to working with Mr.
Experimental Aircraft Association estimated that attendance for the AirVenture 2006 was 625,000, down about 10 percent from the 2005 show. The show attracted attendees from 65 different countries. More than 10,000 aircraft flew in for the event, which featured 2,310 show planes and 812 exhibitors. EAA President Tom Poberezny said the decline in attendance was anticipated, in part because of the sharp increase in fuel prices. The 2005 show also had some unique attractions that helped draw a larger attendance, he said.
Model 14RF-19 propellers [Docket No. FAA-2005-21691; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-13-AD; Amendment 39-14701; AD 2006-16-01] - Supersedes an existing AD that currently requires replacing certain actuator yokes with improved actuator yokes. This AD requires the same actions. This AD results from the discovery of a part number (P/N) error in the applicability paragraph of AD 2006-12-19. FAA is issuing this AD to prevent actuator yoke arms from breaking during flight, which could cause high propeller vibration and contribute to reduced controllability of the airplane.
Model F.28 Mark 0070 and 0100 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-24868; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-103-AD; Amendment 39-14698; AD 2006-15-17] - Requires modification of the wiring distribution of the alternating current bus transfer power system and the right-hand and left-hand windshield anti-icing system, as necessary. This AD results from a report of electrical sparks coming out of the flight deck from a panel behind the left seat.
Global Jet Services, Inc. (GJS) was selected by Eclipse Aviation Corp. to provide initial, recurrent and CBT aircraft maintenance training. Founded in 1992, GJS offers aviation maintenance training to companies that own, operate or maintain corporate jet aircraft.
Model 400 and 400A series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-24694; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-018-AD; Amendment 39-14697; AD 2006-15-16] - Requires, among other actions, reviewing the airplane logbook to determine whether certain generator control unit (GCU) installation kits are installed, and replacing any incorrect GCU. This AD results from reports of over-voltage conditions of the direct current (DC) starter generator.
