Bombardier Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-23841; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-214-AD] - proposes to require revising the Airworthiness Limitations section of the Instructions for Continuing Airworthiness of the Maintenance Requirements Manual to include revised threshold and repeat inspection intervals for the cargo door skin cut-out. This proposed AD results from a report that a crack was discovered at the lower forward corner of a cargo door skin cut-out during fatigue testing.
Aircraft Electronics Association has sold nearly 85 percent of available booth space for the association's 49th annual International Convention & Trade Show April 19-22 at the Palm Springs Convention Center in California. More than 150 exhibitors have reserved space at the show.
Hillsboro Aviation is working with Chelton Flight Systems to obtain U.S. FAA supplemental type certification of the Chelton FlightLogic synthetic vision electronic flight instrument system aboard the Eurocopter EC-120B. The system will be installed in a Hillsboro U.S-registered EC-120B. The system, however, also will be installed in six EC-120Bs operated by the Republic of Singapore Air Force. Hillsboro is seeking STC approval for use of the system in a standard two-screen system as well as an optional three-screen system used for pilot training.
James Gilbert, an accomplished pilot and well-known British aviation editor, died Feb. 14 of cancer. James Campion Gilbert was born April 28, 1935 in Croydon, England, near what was then London's major airport. His father was a prosperous insurance broker at Lloyds of London.
Private U.K. airport operator BAA is trying to strengthen support from its shareholders and bond buyers after Spanish giant Grupo Ferrovial revealed it is contemplating making a cash offer for BAA.
Hamburger Flugzeugbau Model HFB 320 HANSA airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-22401; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-93-AD; Amendment 39-14480; AD 2006-03-16] - requires revising the Limitations section of the HFB 320 Hansa Airplane Flight Manual to prohibit operation of the airplane past its designed life limit for the primary structure, which is 15,000 flight hours or 15,000 fight cycles, whichever occurs first; and to require contacting the FAA for approval of analysis that the airplane is safe to continue operation beyond the designed life limit.
Federal Aviation Administration is warning owners and operators of HFB 320 Hansa jets that their aircraft probably should be parked because the first-generation business jets have exceeded their life limits of 15,000 flight hours or 15,000 flight cycles. See item below.
FlightSafety International named Greteman Group of Wichita, Kan., to provide full advertising, marketing, interactive and trade show support. "We look forward to working with the Greteman Group," said Steve Phillips, director of communications for FSI. "The agency's deep aviation expertise and branding knowledge will be invaluable in helping to communicate FlightSafety's commitment to the continuing advancement of safety." The agency is headed by Sonia Greteman, president and creative director.
Julie Destefano joined the Tampa International Jet Center (TIJC) as customer service manager. DeStefano had been marketing program manager at New Piper Aircraft. She has also held marketing and customer service roles with Bay Air Flying Service, Jet Executive Center and Seven Eagles, all of which are in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area.
Sikorsky Aircraft won a $97.5 million contact for the repair and overhaul of 10 components of H-53 helicopters, the Defense Department said. If all options are exercised, the contract could be worth $219.2 million. The work will be done in Cherry Point, N.C. and Stratford, Conn., and is expected to be completed by 2010.
Kenneth Mead, who announced his resignation last month as the longest-serving inspector general of the Department of Transportation, joined the Washington, D.C. law firm of Baker Botts L.L.P. Mead, who took over as DOT IG in May 1997, was named a special counsel at Baker Botts.
Fractional aircraft operator NetJets presented its first Annual Performance Award to Gulfstream Aerospace for maintenance excellence. The award, developed by NetJets to "foster a competitive spirit among business-jet manufacturers that supply aircraft to NetJets," was presented to the 25-person maintenance team and supporting personnel in Dallas, Texas charged with ensuring the performance of the 18 Gulfstream 200s in the NetJets fleet.
Recaro Model 3410 seats [Docket No. FAA-2005-22876; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-39-AD] - proposes to require replacing the existing attachment bolts for the seat belts with longer attachment bolts. This proposed AD results from a report of short attachment bolts that don't allow enough thread to properly secure the locknuts. FAA is proposing this AD to prevent a seat belt from detaching due to a loose locknut and attachment bolt, which could result in injury to an occupant during emergency conditions. An estimated 3,101 seats installed in airplanes on the U.S.
Pilatus Models PC-12 and PC-12/45 Airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2004-19220; Directorate Identifier 2004-CE-27-AD] - proposes, for PC-12 and PC-12/45 airplanes equipped with certain crew seat bucket assemblies with and without a backrest recline system, to require replacing the backrest tubes on these crew seat bucket assemblies at a specified time and adds a life limit for these backrest tubes. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for Switzerland.
Premier West Star, Grand Junction, Colo., said its Cessna Citation service center agreement has been expanded. Premier had been approved last year to work on Cessna 500 Series airplanes. The expanded agreement covers work on the 650 Series and the new Model 680 Sovereign.
Ballistic Recovery Systems posted a $33,735 loss for the quarter ended Dec. 31, compared with net income of $51,855 for the same period a year earlier. BRS attributed the decline in income to costs associated with starting operations in Mexico. Revenues for the quarter rose 2.2 percent to $1.9 million, BRS reported.
Leaders of key general and business aviation organizations are preparing for a lobbying and public relations battle with the scheduled airlines over Bush Administration and airline proposals to impose billions of dollars in new user fees on private aircraft operators. That fight is expected to be costly and acrimonious, so top executives of the trade associations also are trying to find some common ground with the top brass at the airlines through the auspices of veteran leaders on both sides.
Robert B. Hotz, 91, who cut a wide swath in aerospace and defense circles during nearly 25 years as editor of Aviation Week and Space Technology magazine, died Feb. 9 at the Frederick, Md. Memorial Hospital. Hotz, who lived on a farm near Myersville, Md., had Parkinson's disease.
Bombardier DHC-8-400 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-23798; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-162-AD] - proposes to require 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 proposed 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.
Mitsubishi MU-2B series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-23644; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-03-AD] - proposes to require changing the flight idle blade angle. This proposed AD results from a recent safety evaluation that used a data-driven approach to analyze the design, operation, and maintenance of MU-2B series airplanes to determine their safety and define what steps, if any, are necessary for their safe operation. Part of that evaluation was the identification of unsafe conditions that exist or could develop on the affected type design airplanes.
Associated Air Center won contracts from a customer in Eastern Europe and another in the Far East to complete two Boeing Business Jets. The European-bound BBJ will be completed later this year for delivery in December. The Far East customer is scheduled to accept delivery in March 2007. AAC, a Landmark Aviation subsidiary, is a designated completion center and factory authorized service center for the BBJ. The latest contracts will boost the number of BBJs that AAC has completed to 16.
