Named vice president, marketing, contracts and administration for Bombardier Flexjet. Levesque will develop marketing strategies and steer the administrative process for the company. He formerly was vice president, strategy and business development for Bombardier Aerospace. Before joining Bombardier in 1999, Levesque served with McKinsey & Company.
Model ATR 42-200, -300, and -320 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-20220; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-152-AD; Amendment 39-14504; AD 2006-05-07] - requires repetitive inspections of the upper arms of the main landing gear (MLG) side braces for missing or inadequately bonded identification plates; an ultrasonic inspection of the upper arm of the MLG side brace for any defects and related investigative/corrective actions, if necessary; and replacing the side brace assembly with a modified part.
The U.S. aviation manufacturing industry continues to outpace national averages for industry wages, according to Janet Harrah, director of the center for Economic Development and Business Research at Wichita State University. The average wage for the industry in 2004 was $73,000, 86 percent more than the average of $39,000 for all private-sector jobs. Aviation manufacturers employ 600,000 workers and have payrolls of $45 billion annually. The industry also is slightly ahead of the national average in terms of workers covered under union contracts.
Model SA-365N, SA-365N1, AS-365N2, and SA-366G1 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2005-23159; Directorate Identifier 2005-SW-10-AD; Amendment 39-14510; AD 2006-06-02] - supersedes an existing AD that currently requires inspecting the main gearbox (MGB) suspension diagonal cross-member for cracks and replacing it with an airworthy part if any crack is found. This amendment requires more frequent inspections of the diagonal cross-member and adding the Model SA-366G1 helicopters to the applicability.
Appointed regional engine manager for the western U.S. for Dallas Airmotive. Hubble will be responsible for sales of the company's TFE731 and PW300 engine services as well as services for Honeywell auxiliary power units. He has 20 years of aviation maintenance experience, having held positions with Raytheon and Bombardier Aerospace. He also spent four years with Garrett Aviation Los Angeles.
The Czech Republic ordered two Airbus A319 corporate jets (ACJs), which it will use for military and government flights. The two ACJs, which will be powered by CFM 56-5 engines, will replace Tupolev Tu-154s in the government fleet. The aircraft will have "quick-change" kits enabling easy interior configuration conversion from transporting troops to carrying government officials. Lufthansa Technik will outfit the cabins in Hamburg, Germany.
750XL airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-23579; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-02-AD] [Docket No. FAA-2006-23579; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-02-AD] - proposes to supersede AD 2005-26-53, which currently requires incorporation of text into the Limitations Section of the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) reducing the maximum takeoff weight from 7,500 pounds to 7,125 pounds. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for New Zealand and the FAA's decision that the actions correct an unsafe condition.
FAA's certification shortages have become a development risk to manufacturers and threaten business plans, Cessna Chairman, President and CEO Jack Pelton told a congressional panel in Wichita, Kan. Wednesday. House aviation subcommittee Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.), who hosted the hearing with aviation subcommittee members Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), and Vernon Ehlers (R-Mich.) and transportation appropriations subcommittee member Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.), asked about concerns that cuts in FAA's certification services could jeopardize U.S. competitiveness.
Jet Aviation has completed its acquisition of Midcoast Aviation, the St. Louis, Mo.-based business aviation maintenance and modification facility that also provides fixed-base operator services. Jet Aviation, which is attempting to broaden its presence in the U.S. aviation market, announced plans in January to buy Midcoast (BA, Jan. 30/41). Midcoast is a well-respected name in business-jet circles, providing a full array of services for aircraft operators and specializing in executive aircraft made by Dassault Falcon, Raytheon Aircraft and Bombardier.
Executive Jet Management claims it is generating lots of revenues for its aircraft management clients who put their aircraft on EJM's charter certificate. Cincinnati, Ohio-based EJM said 32 client aircraft in its charter fleet each generated more than $1 million in charter revenue last year, compared with 25 aircraft that reached the $1 million mark in 2004. "All of these management clients exhibit similar traits," said Albert C. Pod, president and CEO of EJM.
Model BAe 146 and Model Avro 146-RJ airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-23477; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-181-AD; Amendment 39-14507; AD 2006-05-10] - requires a one-time detailed inspection for corrosion of the hinge bracket assembly of the left and right main landing gear (MLG) doors, and corrective action, if necessary. This AD results from in-service reports of hinge bracket failures on the MLG doors.
Raytheon Aircraft is handing over two Beechcraft King Air B200Cs to Gama Aviation Limited at Farnborough Airport. The aircraft will be used for the Scottish Ambulance Service. The B200C is a cargo variant of the King Air with a wide cargo door. The aircraft are equipped with Lifeport Pneumatically Assisted Loading and Dual Patient stretcher systems.
Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-N.Y.), a 12-term congressman who is chairman of the House Science Committee, announced he will not run for re-election this fall. Boehlert has served on the Science Committee since 1983 and became chairman in 2001. The committee oversees aviation research, NASA, the National Science Foundation and a host of other activities. He also is a founding member of the House Homeland Security Committee.
FAA agreed to extend by 45 days its March 23 deadline for comments on its proposed rule to reduce fuel tank flammability in transport category aircraft. The agency released its preliminary rulemaking last November. Air Canada, KLM, Thomsonfly and Virgin Atlantic all asked for an extension, followed by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines, the Air Transport Association and the Association of European Airlines.
Hundreds of airline pilots have unsuccessfully sought exemptions from FAA to permit them to continue flying for Part 121 carriers past the mandatory retirement age of 60, but few have been as persuasive as US Airways pilot John R. Ham of Aurora, Colo. Ham, who will turn 60 on May 15, told FAA this month that he has more than 21,000 hours of accident/incident-free flying. "To replace me would entail hiring a much less qualified pilot, thus marginally decreasing aviation safety," Ham said in his request for an exemption.
March 28-30 - National Air Transportation Association/Professional Aviation Maintenance Association, GSE Aviation Services and Suppliers AS3 Supershow, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nev., (703) 845-9000 April 4-10 - Experimental Aircraft Association Sun 'n' Fun Fly-In, Lakeland Linder Regional Airport, Lakeland, Fla., (920) 426-4800 May 3-5 - European Business Aviation Association Convention and Exposition EBACE2006, Geneva, Switzerland, (202) 783-9000
The Federal Aviation Administration is planning a series of briefings for inspectors, charter operators and aircraft owners to clear up confusion about the agency's policy on wet leasing aircraft and operational control. The agency released guidance in October on wet leasing that raised a number of questions on crew employment and how to determine who has operational control of which flight (BA, Oct. 31/196). Under a wet lease, the aircraft owner provides the aircraft and at least one crew member.
American Legend Aircraft Company signed a cooperative agreement with Lincoln Electric Company. Lincoln Electric provides welding equipment for Legend Cub manufacture, including TIG welders that are used to build the tubular chromoly airframe. The Legend Cub is a two-place, single-engine piston-powered aircraft designed to meet light-sport aircraft certification requirements.
The Federal Aviation Administration this month reopened the comment period on a proposed exemption to the Part 135 cargo weight threshold after the Air Line Pilots Association expressed concern about the "potential safety implications" of such a change. FAA in February proposed granting an exemption to cargo carrier Ameriflight from a requirement that cargo aircraft with a payload capacity of more than 7,500 pounds be operated under Part 121.
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.: FAA-2006-24241 Petitioner: Aero Sports Connection Section of 14 CFR Affected: 21.190(c)(2) and 21.191(i)(1)
Joined Landmark Aviation as vice president and general manager of the Los Angeles International Airport facility. Lamb has 20 years of industry experience, most recently as director of product support for Gulfstream Aerospace in Dallas. He also was director of engineering quality at Gulfstream, where he served as chief inspector for the repair station and managed completions and service engineering. He also served with Pilkington Aerospace and McDonnell Douglas.
Artouste III B, Artouste III B1, and Artouste III D turboshaft engines [Docket No. FAA-2006-23594; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-54-AD; Amendment 39-14497; AD 2006-04-15] - requires removing certain fuel pumps from service and installing serviceable fuel pumps. This AD results from a report that an acceptance test facility used test equipment that was out of calibration, on certain fuel pumps, and those fuel pumps might have been accepted with a limitation in the maximum available fuel flow.
Model SAAB-Fairchild SF340A and SAAB 340B airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-24075; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-235-AD] - proposes to require a one-time inspection to see if a faulty uplock axle for the shock strut of the main landing gear (MLG) is installed and replacing the uplock axle with a new uplock axle, if necessary. This proposed AD results from a report of a cracked uplock axle caused by hydrogen embrittlement during the manufacturing process.
Cessna Wednesday completed a one hour and nine minute first flight of the newest iteration of the Cessna Encore business jet - the Encore+. The first production Encore+ completed its initial flight from Rockwell Collins' facility in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The aircraft underwent testing for basic stability, flap and landing gear extension and retraction, controllability, trim actuation, engine operating characteristics and basic autopilot operation.
