Joined Privatair as a charter sales executive. Before coming to the Geneva, Switzerland-based international business aviation group, she spent 15 years in various sales and marketing positions in the industry. Most recently she served with one of Europe's largest business jet manufacturers.
Pilots, flight crew, cabin crew, ground refuelers, baggage handlers, security screeners, air traffic controllers and other personnel with airside access at airports in Australia will become subject to drug and alcohol testing, according to Australia's minister for transport and regional services, Warren Truss. "Testing could involve screening applicants prior to them taking on safety-sensitive roles, random on-the-job testing and monitoring the effectiveness of rehabilitation as an employee prepares to return to work," Truss said.
Model 14RF-9 Propellers [Docket No. FAA-2006-24517; Directorate Identifier 2006-NE-18-AD; Amendment 39-14591; AD 2006-10-07] - Requires visual, feeler gage, and tap test inspections of certain serial number (SN) propeller blades of the "+E" repair configuration for blade delamination, and removing the blade from service if the blade fails inspection. This AD also requires removing those serial-numbered propeller blades from service by March 1, 2007.
Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 and 440) Airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-23936; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-215-AD; Amendment 39-14590; AD 2006-10-06] - Requires an inspection of the manufacturer's date code on certain electrical relays to identify defective Leach TDH-series electrical relays and replacement of identified relays. This AD results from a report of defective electrical relays affecting emergency equipment.
Dassault has confirmed an increase in range to 5,950 nm, as well as an increase in payload with full fuel, for the new Falcon 7X. The French aircraft manufacturer says the extended range will enable the three-engine, fly-by-wire business jet to fly nonstop between cities such as New York and Riyadh, Paris and Singapore, and Los Angeles and Rome. Range-increasing features that have been added to the 7X include winglets and more fuel tanks in the forward section. In addition, the secondary rudder and lower fin have been redesigned.
An operational control briefing is scheduled to be held Tuesday, May 23 at the Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Airport in Dania Beach, Fla. The one-day meeting is designed to provide charter operators, aircraft owners and FAA inspectors with a look at new guidance relating to wet leases and operational control issues for Part 135 on-demand air charter operators. The session, which is sponsored by NATA and NBAA, is free of charge.
Cessna is developing a proprietary, interactive, 3-D aircraft specification software system that combines engineering data with customer configuration options to provide lifelike real-time visualization to the customer, as well as present cost and weight changes to the aircraft. The manufacturer claims the features of its new system will go beyond the standard interactive spec tools currently used or being planned by other OEMs, making the Cessna system the industry standard.
The first Challenger 605 sold in Japan will go to Global Wings, Inc., an Osaka-based company that provides business aircraft charter, aircraft management and ground handling services. Deliveries of the Challenger 605, which first flew in January, are scheduled to begin during the third quarter of 2007.
Thirty-year industry veteran Bob Blouin has formed a new aviation consulting company based at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Sky Group Associates, Inc. (SkyGroup) specializes in a variety of aviation management services, including OEM support and representation; marketing support; Part 91, 135 and 121 certifications and start-ups; personnel searches; safety and security audits; creation of flight operations and maintenance manuals; development and presentation of training programs; and technical and operations performance reviews.
Rockwell Collins is offering Piaggio 180 operators an upgrade to liquid crystal displays (LCDs), as well as the latest attitude heading reference system (AHRS) with its Pro Line 21 IDS Integrated Display System and AHS-3000 AHRS. This upgrade is available through an agreement with Jet Works in Denton, Texas Certifications for both the Pro Line 21 IDS and the AHS-3000 are expected in September.
May 22-25 - Regional Airline Association Annual Convention, Wyndham Anatole Hotel, Dallas, Texas, (202) 367-1170 June 3 - Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Fly-In and Open House, Frederick Municipal Airport, Frederick, Md., (301) 695-2000, www.aopa.org/fly-in June 5-7 - Regional Air Cargo Carriers Association, 2006 Spring Conference, Wichita, Kan., Hyatt Regency Hotel, www.raccaonline.org
Eurocopter has established a new training subsidiary called Eurocopter Training Services, which plans to offer helicopter operators a broader range of courses and more support personnel. The number of Eurocopter people dedicated to training has risen from 45 to 70, with a target of employing 100 in that role over the next three years.
The Homeland Security Department has issued a congressionally mandated solicitation for alternative technologies to counter the threat of man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) to commercial airliners.
Dassault Falcon now offers hard-mounted Electronic Flight Bags (EFB) on all new Falcon 2000DX, 2000EX, 900DX and 900EX aircraft. The CMC Electronics PilotView system will offer airport, departure and approach charts, along with graphical, real-time weather information. The Class II unit is side-mounted on the pilot or copilot side and certified for all phases of flight.
A new GA airport security system is to be unveiled at a trade show in Washington, D.C. in mid-June. ADT Security Services' Federal Systems Division plans to announce the availability of Aviation PASS, a security system that uses radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. The system works by placing an RFID tag in an airplane that communicates with another tag held by the owner, pilot or other person authorized to move the airplane. If anyone else tries to move the aircraft, an alarm sounds at the local airport and at an ADT monitoring station.
Innovative Solutions & Support, Inc. has begun shipments of its Cockpit Information Portal (CIP) flat-panel display to its authorized distributors/installers for the Pilatus PC-12 cockpit upgrade. The company says that the TSO-certified product is a cost-effective way to upgrade the single-turboprop's avionics while equipping the aircraft with RVSM-capable air-data computers.
THe next level in commercial aviation safety will only be reached through better sharing of safety data, contends Nicholas Sabatini, the FAA's associate administrator for aviation safety. In a recent address to the International Society of Air Safety Investigators, he said, "Today, we don't even know how much safety information is out there, be it with operators, manufacturers, repair stations, suppliers and more across the aviation community. How much of this safety information do you think FAA can access? I'd say about 5 percent.
Promoted to vice president of Raytheon Aircraft Services. He is responsible for all 10 of the company's FBOs in the U.S. and Mexico. Brantner has spent 14 years with Raytheon, 11 of those as vice president of finance for Raytheon Aircraft Services.
The Grob SP made its air show flying debut last week during the ILA 2006 exhibition in Berlin. The light, twin-engine jet recently completed a series of flight tests that validated the key performance specifications that were announced during the airplane's unveiling at the 2005 Paris Air Show. (See article below.)
Model BD-100-1A10 Airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-24118; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-034-AD; Amendment 39-14594; AD 2006-10-10] - Requires an inspection for signs of arcing or heat damage of the electrical connections of the terminal blocks, ground studs, and the end of the wires and surrounding insulation for the windshield and side window anti-ice systems; and repairing any arced or damaged electrical connection. This AD also requires re-torquing electrical connections of the terminal blocks and ground studs for the windshield and side window anti-ice systems.
Joined Midcoast Aviation as avionics sales manager. An avionics industry veteran with more than three decades of experience, he is a licensed A&P mechanic, commercial pilot and chairman of the board for the Aircraft Electronics Association, which he has served since 1996. He also has served on dealer advisory boards for a number of manufacturers, including AirCell, Honeywell Aerospace Electronic Systems and Rockwell Collins. Before joining Midcoast, O'Leary was avionics sales manager for JetCorp.
King Air 200 winglets designed by Everett, Wash.-based BLR Aerospace now can be installed by Landmark Aviation and Elliott Aviation. The BLR System is an aluminum wing extension, carbon fiber winglet and integrated position, recognition and strobe lighting system that increases the overall wingspan by three feet, five inches.
