Federal Aviation Administration named Dan Elwell of American Airlines as the agency's new assistant administrator for policy, planning and environment. He replaces Sharon Pinkerton, who left FAA earlier this year to join the Air Transport Association (BA, April 3/149). Elwell was director of international and government affairs for American. Separately, FAA's Air Traffic Organization will lose its vice president-safety next month. Bill Davis, who holds that job, has been posted to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy for a year.
Model ERJ 170 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-25419; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-055-AD] - Proposes to require replacing the mini-latches on certain lavatory waste compartment doors with new, stronger latches, and other specified actions. This proposed AD results from reports of certain lavatory waste compartment doors opening during flight due to movement of the waste compartment during takeoff because the mini-latches installed on the doors of those compartments lose their strength over time.
The Reason Foundation believes business jet operators should drop their opposition to a user fee-funded air traffic control system, saying that its latest study on the topic shows that some user fee schemes could reduce costs for many operators. "Up to this point, all the general aviation trade groups have stood together against any shift toward user fees," the Reason Foundation noted, while claiming its new report "finds that business jet operators should seriously rethink their opposition to user fees because of potential cost-savings and network improvements."
August 29-31 - SAE's General Aviation Technology Conference & Exhibition, Wichita (Kan.) Hyatt. Call 724-776-4841, fax 724-776-0790, www.aerospace.sae.org September 14 - RBS Greenwich Capital Markets 1st Annual Aviation Symposium "Investing in Airlines and Airplanes," Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Columbus Circle, New York City, email: [email protected] October 17-19 - National Business Aviation Association 59th Annual Meeting & Convention, Orlando, Fla., (202) 783-9000
The National Transportation Safety Board moved closer to its full complement of board members after the Senate Thursday confirmed Robert Sumwalt to be a board member. Sumwalt, a veteran airline pilot who most recently headed a corporate flight department, was nominated by President Bush in June to fill the seat vacated by Richard Healing last year (BA, June 12/263). The Senate also confirmed Mark Rosenker as chairman. Rosenker was nominated in April shortly after former NTSB Chair Ellen Engleman Conners announced her resignation (BA, April 24/186).
Northstar Aerospace was selected to manufacture rotor hub and tail rotor assemblies for the Bell Helicopter 429 light twin-engine. Northstar will produce the assemblies at its Milton, Ontario factory.
A CHC Helicopter subsidiary is planning to develop a major helicopter maintenance and repair base in western Canada. Heli-One will establish a 235,000-square-foot facility including aircraft hangar, workshops and office space, with completion anticipated in October 2007. The base will be located in Delta, British Columbia, about 12 miles southeast of Vancouver.
Archie Trammell, a veteran pilot, radar specialist, aviation journalist and safety advocate, was named the recipient of the 2006 National Business Aviation Association Award for Meritorious Service to Aviation. James S. Waugh, Jr. was selected to receive NBAA's John P. (Jack) Doswell Award.
Guardian LP Services, a California charter operator that provides services for Sentient Jet customers, placed an order for up to nine Premier IA business jets from Raytheon Aircraft Company.
Model BO 105 LS A-3 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2006-24632; Directorate Identifier 2005-SW-31-AD; Amendment 39-14695; AD 2006-15-14] - Requires replacing certain fixed bolts and nuts, re-identifying certain main rotor nuts, and revising the Airworthiness Limitations - Time Change Items (TCI) list to reflect the new life limits and new part numbers.
Models C90A, B200, B200C, B300, and B300C airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-25157; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-34-AD] - Proposes to require inspecting the flight controls for improper assembly or damage, and if any improperly assembled or damaged flight controls are found, taking corrective action. This proposed AD results from a report of inspections of several affected airplanes with improperly assembled or damaged flight controls.
The Senate Appropriations Committee called for a boost in FAA's certification safety inspector funding. The committee recommended giving the agency $16 million more than the Administration requested to allow the agency to hire new inspectors.
Sacramento International Jet Center was awarded a lease and development agreement to manage a fixed-base operation at Sacramento International Airport (SMF). Sacramento International Jet Center's affiliate Patterson Aviation, doing business as SACjet, took over FBO operations from the Sacramento County Airport System Aug. 1. SACjet also provides FBO services at Executive Airport in Sacramento County. SACjet plans to build a new GA terminal and hangar as well as improve the GA public ramp to accommodate aircraft as large as the Boeing 757.
A maintenance error that inadvertently reversed the roll control system of the Spectrum 33 prototype resulted in the aircraft's fatal crash July 25 during an attempted takeoff from the Spanish Fork-Springville, Utah airport, according to a preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board.
Pratt & Whitney Canada received Transport Canada certification for the PW610F engine, which powers the Eclipse 500 very light jet. The engine, rated at 900 pounds of thrust, is one of three models in the PW600 family powering very light jets. P&WC is supplying the PW615F for the Cessna Mustang. The Canadian engine-maker secured Transport Canada certification for that engine at the end of 2005. The PW617F was selected for the Embraer Phenom and is slated for certification later this year.
Named general manager of TAC Air's Chattanooga fixed-base operation. Black joins TAC Air with more than 40 years of aviation experience, most recently as president and co-owner of Stuart Jet Center in Stuart, Fla. Before that, he was an aviation manager for Post Properties in Atlanta, Executive Flight in Chattanooga and the Gillett Group in Nashville. He also was president and co-founder of Vail/Beaver Creek Jet Center in Eagle, Colo. He is the recipient of the National Business Aviation Association's 20,000-Hour Pilot Safety Award.
Model AS-365N2, AS 365 N3, EC 155B, EC155B1, SA-365N, N1, and SA-366G1 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2004-18850; Directorate Identifier 2004-SW-19-AD; Amendment 39-14694; AD 2004-16-15 R1] - Revises an existing AD that currently requires inspecting the main gearbox (MGB) base plate for a crack and replacing the MGB if a crack is found. This amendment increases the time intervals for inspecting the MGB base plate and includes minor editorial changes throughout the AD.
The Joint Planning and Development Office will finally have a new chief when Marine Corps veteran Charles Leader steps in today (Aug. 7) as the new director. Robert Pearce, who had been acting director since Charles Keegan left JPDO at the end of January to join Raytheon Company (BA, Jan. 2/5), will continue as deputy director. Leader, who has a master's degree in business administration from Harvard University, has a background in aviation and aerospace research management, technology development and systems integration.
General aviation manufacturers reported a record $8.8 billion in billings for new aircraft in the first half of 2006, a nearly 35 percent jump from billings in the first six months of last year, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association said Friday. First- half GA deliveries increased 19.1 percent to 1,843 aircraft. The upward trend crossed all aircraft segments - piston shipments jumped 17.4 percent to 1,270; turboprop deliveries increased 12.1 percent to 158; and business jet deliveries swelled 27.7 percent to 415 in the first half of the year.
Models MU-2B series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-23645; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-04-AD; Amendment 39-14687; AD 2006-15-07] - Requires incorporating text from the service information into the Limitations Section of the FAA-approved Airplane Flight Manual (AFM). This AD results from a recent safety evaluation that used a data-driven approach to analyze the design, operation, and maintenance of the MU-2B series airplanes in order to determine their safety and define what steps, if any, are necessary for their safe operation.
Models B5JFR36C1101/ 114GCA-0, C5JFR36C1102/L114GCA-0, B5JFR36C1103/114HCA-0, and C5JFR36C1104/L114HCA-0 [Docket No. FAA-2006-25173; Directorate Identifier 2006-NE-24-AD; Amendment 39-14693; AD 2006-15-13] - Requires a one-time fluorescent penetrant inspection (FPI) and eddy current inspection (ECI) of propeller blades for cracks, and if any crack indications are found, removing the blade from service. This AD results from a report of two propeller blades on the same propeller assembly, found cracked during propeller overhaul.
Appointed vice president of human resources for Flight Options. She will be responsible for human resources, labor relations, corporate communications and safety and security. She formerly was vice president of human resources and labor relations for America West Airlines, where she was chief negotiator on a number of labor contracts. She also served as senior director of legal affairs for America West and was a partner at Brown and Bain law firm in Phoenix.
Models 690, 690A, and 690B airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-23785; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-10-AD; Amendment 39-14681; AD 2006-15-01] - Requires inspecting, visually and using fluorescent dye penetrant, the support structures for the inboard and center aileron hinge fittings on both wings for cracks and replacing any cracked support structure. This AD requires reinforcing the support structures for the inboard and center aileron hinge fittings on both wings.
Japanese manufacturer Honda, which has spent two decades researching the business aviation market and developing a new business jet while publicly saying little about its intentions, announced plans Tuesday to seek type and production certificates from FAA to build the HondaJet aircraft in the U.S. Honda and Piper Aircraft (formerly New Piper Aircraft) officials also announced formation of a business alliance under which Piper's existing sales and support network will facilitate Honda's entry into the business jet market.
