Makila 1 A2 turboshaft engines [Docket No. FAA-2006-24239; Directorate Identifier 2006-NE-09-AD; Amendment 39-14547; AD 2006-07-20] - requires upgrading the software version of the digital electronic control. This AD results from Turbomeca determining that Makila 1 A2 turboshaft engines with Software Version 9 installed in the digital electronic control unit (DECU), under certain conditions, could experience a free turbine overspeed and uncontained failure.
Model B-2, B-2A, and B-2B helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2006-24447; Directorate Identifier 2005-SW-35-AD; Amendment 39-14562; AD 2006-08-07] - requires certain inspections and measurements of the upper tail rotor vertical gearbox, vertical shaft and shaft housing and their associated parts; and of the intermediate gear box bushing. This amendment is prompted by an accident and an incident report of fatigue cracking of a shaft.
Model GIV-X and GV-SP series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-24438; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-061-AD; Amendment 39-14560; AD 2006-04-13 R1] - revises an existing AD that currently requires revising the Limitations section of the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) by incorporating new procedures to follow in the event that the cockpit displays go blank or malfunction (BA, March 6/104). This AD allows for the use of alternative AFM revisions for a certain subset of the existing applicability.
Tay 650-15 series turbofan engines [Docket No. FAA-2004-19157; Directorate Identifier 2004-NE-30-AD] - withdraws a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that would would have required initial and repetitive inspections of the high-pressure compressor (HPC) shaft and high-pressure turbine (HPT) shaft for spline flank wear.
JET AVIATION'S IPO Road Show specialty program has experienced a 40 percent increase in demand, the company reported last week. The program, operated by Jet Aviation's U.S. charter division, has attracted 12 major financial service companies. The program, launched last year to meet the unique needs of an IPO road show, includes multi-city itinerary coordination, customized 24-hour flight following reports, ground transportation and catering.
Appointed vice president of manufacturing for Adam Aircraft. Penrod formerly was director of operations for Bell Helicopter, where he led a business unit with more than 400 employees and annual sales of $600 million. He led the transition of the V-22 Osprey from the developmental stage into full-rate production. Before joining Bell, he spent 19 years with Aerostructures Corp. of Nashville, Tenn.
Model BAe 146 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-22974; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-180-AD] - revises an earlier proposal that would have required repetitive inspections to measure the depth of chafing or scoring in the skin along the full length of the wing-to-fuselage fairing from forward to aft ends at the contact between the seal and fuselage, and related investigative/corrective actions if necessary. The original proposal resulted from a report of chafing in this area.
SAVANNAH AIR CENTER broke ground for a new 19,000-square-foot facility that will house an expanded interior fabrication shop. The new shop is slated for completion by September and will incorporate upholstery, interior fabrication, carpet layout, engineering and support offices. Erection of the interior fabrication center follows construction of a 12,500-square-foot cabinet shop that houses woodworking equipment, a curing area and a full finishing booth.
AVIATION PIONEER AND TEST PILOT Scott A. Crossfield, 84, died April 19 when his Cessna 210A crashed during heavy thunderstorms near Ludville, Ga., in the mountains near the Chattahoochee National Forest. Flying alone, he was en route to his home near Manassas, Va., when Atlanta Center lost radar and radio contact. FAA wasn't able to confirm if Crossfield had declared an emergency or advised controllers about a problem. The aerospace legend and X-15 test pilot was the first man to fly twice and three times the speed of sound.
WHITE HOUSE NOMINATES ROSENKER FOR NTSB POST; CONNERS RESIGNS - The White House faces the prospect of a National Transportation Safety Board headed by an acting chairman and with two of its five seats vacant, after it was announced last week that one of the current members plans to resign at the end of May.
New Piper is offering the Avidyne Entegra flight deck on the Seminole twin-piston trainer aircraft. With the addition of the Seminole, New Piper now offers the Entegra system on its entire product line of 11 aircraft. "With the debut of the Entegra system in the Piper Seminole, Piper shows its commitment to providing our customers with the advanced technologies that are taking aviation to new heights and ever-improving levels of sophistication and capability," New Piper President and CEO James Bass said.
Mooney Airplane Company is claiming its Ovation2 GX set a speed record over a recognized course. The aircraft flew from Wichita, Kan. to Lakeland, Fla. in four hours and 32 minutes. The aircraft departed from Wichita at 8:40 a.m., climbed to 17,000 feet and averaged 222 knots for the 964-nautical-mile flight. The aircraft was piloted by David Copeland, vice president of sales and marketing for Mooney, and Mooney demonstration pilot Justin Milam.
DIAMOND FLIES D-JET - Diamond Aircraft last week completed the inaugural flight of its D-JET five-place single-engine jet from its facilities at London International Airport in Ontario, Canada. S/N001 departed at 1708 Tuesday and flew for one hour and six minutes. The aircraft climbed to 12,000 feet for stability and control tests with the landing gear extended and the gear was later cycled. "We are absolutely delighted with this flight," said Diamond CEO Christian Dries. "The test flight went exactly as planned."
Model DHC-8-400 aeries airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-23798; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-162-AD; Amendment 39-14543; AD 2006-07-16] - requires replacing all domed anchor nuts at all attachment locations of the upper fuel access panels of the center wing in the wet bay location with new nuts. This AD results from reported cases of corroded dome anchor nuts at the attachment locations of the upper surface of the fuel access panel of the center wing.
Elliott Aviation received FAA supplemental type certification for its King Air reduced vertical separation minimum program. The group STC approval covers all King Air B200, 300 and B300/350 series aircraft with Collins APS-65/H/J, Honeywell/Sperry SPZ-4000 and Bendix/King KFC-400 autopilots. Elliott Aviation is using the Revue Thommen AD-32 RVSM altimeter for the RVSM package. The fixed-base operation chain provides services at facilities in Moline, Ill., Des Moines, Iowa, Minneapolis, Minn. and Omaha, Neb. The chain is celebrating its 70th anniversary.
Aviation Charter Services added a Hawker 800A and King Air C90 to its charter fleet. Based at Indianapolis International Airport, Aviation Charter Services provides aircraft charter and management. It operates a fleet of Hawkers, Learjets and King Airs.
Named general manager of Landmark Aviation's Raleigh-Durham fixed-base operation. Anderson will manage all activities at the FBO, including day-to-day operations, employee relations and financial reporting. She previously was FBO general manager for Aero Sport Inc., at St. Augustine, Fla., and before that was with Craig Air Center in Jacksonville, Fla. She also was general manager at various Signature Flight Support locations, including New York LaGuardia, Ronald Reagan Washington National and West Palm Beach.
Model AT-501 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-23647; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-06-AD; Amendment 39-14564; AD 2002-11-05 R1] - revises AD 2002-11-05, which establishes a safe life for the wing lower spar cap on certain Air Tractor AT-400 series and Models AT-501, AT-802, and AT-802A airplanes. Since FAA issued AD 2002-11-05, it has received reports of cracks found before the established safe life on AT-400 series airplanes and on Model AT-802A airplanes.
Model EMB-120, -120ER, -120FC, -120QC, and -120RT airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-23674; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-234-AD; Amendment 39-14545; AD 2006-07-18] - requires a one-time inspection of the interior of the internal elevator torque tube of each elevator control surface for oxidation and corrosion, and corrective actions. This AD results from corrosion in torque tubes of the elevators found during scheduled maintenance.
FlightSafety International expanded its Sikorsky training program with the addition of one S-92 simulator and two S-76C+/C++ convertible simulators. The simulators are scheduled to enter service in 2007. FSI will base the S-92 simulator at the company's new London Farnborough Airport facility. One of the S-76C+/++ simulators will be installed at FlightSafety's West Palm Beach, Fla. center. FSI has not yet decided where the second S-76 simulator will be stationed.
Named vice president of operations at Associated Air Center. Soret, a 20-year industry veteran, will spearhead operational improvements through all aspects of the Associated Air Center business. He most recently was vice president of quality at Associated Air Center, ensuring the center remained in compliance with FAA quality requirements. Soret holds a bachelor of science degree in aviation maintenance management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE is doing research on a number of new or evolved aircraft programs, according to Nick Chabraja, chairman of Gulfstream parent company General Dynamics. "There is significant work apace," Chabraja told financial analysts during a conference call on GD's first-quarter financial results. "We're funding it and they're doing very well," Chabraja said. "It involves several products, not just one."
Macquarie Infrastructure Co. (MIC) will become the second largest owner of fixed-base operations in the U.S. -- behind only Signature Flight Support -- when it completes the planned acquisition of 23 FBOs from Bryan, Texas-based Trajen Holdings later this year.
TEXTRON SAYS CESSNA HAD HIGHER EARNINGS - Cessna Aircraft posted higher sales and earnings during the first quarter, parent company Textron said Thursday.
