Legendary test pilot Scott Crossfield was in communication with air traffic controllers at the Atlanta Air Route Traffic Control Center who were overseeing traffic in four sectors during his final flight, but he did not get specific warnings about severe thunderstorms in his path, according to a preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board.
Model B300 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-22103; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-42-AD] - Proposes to require modification of the cabin passenger seats by installing a modification kit on each passenger seat, removing the existing technical standard order (TSO) label, and re-identifying each modified passenger seat assembly with a new part number. This proposed AD results from the seats not meeting the ultimate load requirements of 14 CFR Part 23 during structural testing of the seat with design changes.
FAA last week released a notice calling for all aircraft operators to add a 15 percent margin into the landing distance calculations of their aircraft. The notice said it was a clarification of policy and that the agency would issue a new Operations Specification/Management Specification this month implementing the new requirements. The notice drew fire last week from National Air Transportation Association officials, who said this could particularly affect business aircraft that fly into airports with shorter runways.
Cessna Aircraft is developing a small airplane for the Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) arena and plans to decide early next year on whether to jump into that segment of the aviation market. In a statement last week, Cessna said it is "studying the feasibility of developing and producing an LSA, adding that it plans to display a full-scale proof-of-concept aircraft at the Experimental Aircraft Association's annual AirVenture convention next month in Oshkosh, Wis.
Aircraft Owners And Pilots Association's 16th annual Fly-In and Open House, held June 3 at the Frederick, Md. Municipal Airport, drew more than 3,000 attendees. More than 100 aircraft flew in for the event and 44 aircraft were on display. The event also included 12 hours of seminars and 100 vendor exhibits.
Models PC-6, PC-6-H1, PC-6-H2, PC-6/350, PC-6/350-H1, PC-6/350-H2, PC-6/A, PC-6/A-H1, PC-6/A-H2, PC-6/B-H2, PC-6/B1-H2, PC-6/B2-H2, PC-6/B2-H4, PC-6/C-H2, and PC-6/C1-H2 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-24093; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-19-AD] - Proposes to supersede AD 2003-13-04, which applies to Model PC-6 airplanes up to and including Serial Numbers 939.
Mooney Airplane Company is expanding its model line with the addition of another Ovation, the Ovation3, which will have improved climb and cruise performance over the Ovation2 GX. The new Ovation is powered by a 310-horsepower Teledyne Continental Motors 550-G/AP engine, which will boost cruise speed by nine knots over the 280-hp Ovation2 GX. The aircraft will have a maximum cruise speed of 197 knots and a takeoff distance of 1,515 feet - more than 100 feet shorter than the Ovation2 GX.
BOMBARDIER AEROSPACE said revenues remained flat in the three months ended April 30, 2006 at $1.9 billion, the same for the three months ended in April 30, 2005. Earnings before financing income, expenses and special item grew from $52 million in first quarter of fiscal 2006 to $55 million in the most recent quarter. A 23 percent increase in business aircraft deliveries helped offset a drop in the regional sector. Business jet orders, however, softened in the first quarter.
ALF502L series and ALF502R series turbofan engines [Docket No. 92-ANE-34-AD; Amendment 39-14584; AD 2006-09-13] - Supersedes an existing AD that currently establishes stress rupture retirement life limits for certain third stage turbine discs used in conjunction with certain third stage turbine nozzles.
A LEARJET 35 Friday afternoon crashed into the Long Island Sound about one-half mile short of the runway at Groton-New London Airport. It was unclear how many people were aboard the aircraft late Friday, but three people were rescued.
NxAERO LLC, a Beverly, Mass.-based management and charter company, bought Groton, Conn.-based air taxi Columbia Air LLC. The acquisition follows a partnership in which the two companies operated the TBM-700 for on-demand services. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
The House Appropriations Committee this week is expected to consider a $15.2 billion budget for the Federal Aviation Administration in fiscal 2007 in a bill that would provide $2.4 billion more for the agency than the Bush Administration requested and ignore the Administration's plans to slash airport funding. The budget was part of a $67.8 billion fiscal transportation, treasury, housing and urban development bill that passed out of subcommittee late last month.
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. 20590-001. Identify docket number. Petitions for Exemption Docket No.: 2006-24848 Petitioner: Roger Stundahl Section of 14 CFR Affected: 21.190(b)(2) Description of Relief Sought: To allow the transfer of one airplane to the Special Light Sport Aircraft category.
GENERAL AVIATION MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION commissioned a study to show the economic benefits that general aviation brings to states and communities across the country. The association is expected to provide details of the project and findings later this month.
The Customs and Border Protection's unmanned Predator B aircraft that crashed April 25 was downed by an apparent combination of pilot error and technical glitches, according to a National Transportation Safety Board preliminary report.
Appointed airport manager for Ontario International Airport in California. Romo has worked for the City of Los Angeles for 17 years, and spent eight of those years as property manager at Los Angeles International, Ontario and Van Nuys Airport.
Appointed international territorial sales director for Dallas Airmotive. Holloway will be responsible for the company's sales team covering much of Europe and North Africa. He spent 14 years with Dallas Airmotive affiliate H+S Aviation, most recently as program manager for the Rolls-Royce Model 250.
AIRSERVICES AUSTRALIA completed commissioning an enhanced version of The Australian Advanced Air Traffic System (TAATS) that includes a fully integrated Automatic Dependant Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system. Thales delivered the software enhancements to provide the ADS-B capability. AirServices Australia has deployed an ADS-B ground station in Bundaberg and soon will add four new sites - Longreach, Bourke, Woomera and Esperance. Plans call for a total of 28 stations to be integrated in the next year.
Avionics manufacturer Rockwell Collins completed the acquisition of the simulation assets of Evans & Sutherland, a leading providers of visual simulation products for military and commercial airlines. The purchase, for $71.5 million in cash, includes Evans & Sutherland facilities in Salt Lake City, Utah, Orlando, Fla. and the United Kingdom. Approximately 200 former Evans & Sutherland employees have joined Collins.
RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT COMPANY, already years behind schedule in getting the Hawker 4000 certificated and to market, now faces new requirements from FAA because the process has taken so long. See article on Page 253.
Model EMB-135 and EMB-145, -145ER, -145MR, -145LR, -145XR, -145MP, and -145EP airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-23673; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-233-AD] - Withdraws a proposed AD that would have required inspections to determine the part number of the ailerons. For airplanes with affected aileron part numbers, the proposed AD would have required reworking the aileron damper fitting, and for certain airplanes, replacing the rod end of the aileron damper assembly with an improved rod end.
MU-2B series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-23884; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-13-AD] - Proposes to require flight checks of the rigging of the engine and propeller systems. This proposed AD results from a recent safety evaluation that used a data-driven approach to evaluate 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.
THE TETERBORO AIRPORT working group has been developing a timeline for implementing many of the recommendations it crafted to improve safety, security and community relations at the New Jersey airport (BA, April 24/185). The working group still has not publicly rolled out those recommendations, and members have continued to meet with officials from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey as well as local politicians to discuss the proposals. While the PANYNJ has appeared upbeat about the recommendations, local politicians have given them a lukewarm reception.
