CESSNA Model 500, 550, S550, 560, 560XL, and 750 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-22558; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-107-AD; Amendment 39-14491; AD 2006-04-10] - requires installing identification sleeves on the wires for the positive and negative terminal studs of the engine and/or auxiliary power unit (APU) fire extinguishing bottles, as applicable, and re-connecting the wires to the correct terminal studs. This AD results from a report of mis-wired fire extinguishing bottles.
Signature Flight Support bought the former Million Air fixed-base operation at Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport (TRM) in Thermal, Calif., giving the Signature FBO network a second location in the Palm Springs, Calif. area. Signature previously acquired an FBO at the Palm Springs International Airport (PSP). The TRM acquisition also represents Signature's third acquisition in the California market in the last four months.
JOHN MARINO was named vice president of Defense Training Systems for FlightSafety International. Marino, who most recently served as vice president of government relations for FlightSafety, will continue to support the company's government and military customers. He also will serve as president of FlightSafety Services Corporation, which has operations at 32 U.S. military bases and provides military crew training and training support. Marino joined FlightSafety in 1979 after serving as a U.S. Army officer and aviator for 10 years.
BOMBARDIER Model DHC-8-102, -103, and -106 airplanes; and Model DHC-8-200 and -300 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-23820; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-249-AD] - proposes to revise an existing AD that requires performing a one-time inspection to detect chafing of electrical wires in the cable trough below the cabin floor; repairing, if necessary; installing additional tie-mounts and tie-wraps; applying sealant to rivet heads; and modifying electrical wires in certain sections.
February 26-28 - Helicopter Association International Heli-Expo 2006 Annual Convention and Exposition, Dallas, Texas, (703) 683-4646 Feb. 28-March 1 - Federal Aviation Administration, 31st Annual Aviation Forecast Conference, "Survival and Growth in Today's World," Washington, D.C. Convention Center, (202) 267-7924 March 20-23 - National Business Aviation Association International Operators Conference, Tampa, Fla., (202) 783-9000
Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. signed an exclusive five-year agreement with ATR to maintain the engines on Air Deccan's fleet of ATR 42 and ATR 72 turboprop aircraft. The contract includes Air Deccan's 2005 order for 30 ATR 72-500s, some of which already have been delivered. The engine manufacturer plans to establish a Hot Section Inspection (HSI) facility in India by the end of 2006 to support Air Deccan's fleet and the growing number of commercial and corporate operators in that country.
Bombardier named Landmark Aviation's Los Angeles, Calif. facility as an authorized service facility for maintenance of Learjet and Challenger business jets. The agreement expands Landmark's existing authorization for service on Bombardier Global Express business jets to include Learjet and Challenger 600 Series airplanes in production, under warranty and under the Bombardier SmartParts extended warranty program. Landmark's Los Angeles facility has served the aviation community for more than 50 years.
Franco-Italian plane-maker ATR received a follow-on order from Indian carrier Kingfisher Airlines for 15 ATR 72-500 regional turboprops. The order represents a conversion of options that Kingfisher placed in November along with firm orders for 20 ATR 72-500s. ATR valued the latest contract at $270 million. Along with the new orders, Kingfisher added options for 20 more aircraft.
International sales accounted for nearly twice as much of Raytheon Aircraft Company's business in 2005 as in the previous year, the company said. RAC's international sales jumped from 16 percent of total worldwide sales in 2004 to 29 percent of total sales last year. Beechcraft and Hawker products "command a 51 percent share of the total business turbine market in Asia, with increasing market share in countries like China, India, Japan, the Philippines and Thailand," and boast a market share of about 40 percent in Australia, RAC said.
FOKKER Model F.28 Mark 0070 and 0100 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-22748; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-127-AD; Amendment 39-14471; AD 2006-03-07] - requires modifying the passenger door and installing new placards. This AD results from reports of the airstairs-type passenger door opening during flight. FAA is issuing this AD to prevent rapid decompression of the airplane, or ejection of a passenger or crew member out the door during flight. FAA estimates the AD would affect two aircraft on the U.S. Registry at a cost of between $3,750 and $3,815 per aircraft.
An industry working group tasked with addressing noise and safety concerns at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey will meet March 7 to mull over ideas developed by subcommittees on safety, security, noise and community relations and operations. The subcommittees are coming up with numerous ideas aimed at balancing the interests of the community, the airport and the operators, one industry member said.
MEGGITT Model 602 smoke detectors approved under TSO-C1C [Docket No. FAA-2005-22031; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-259-AD; Amendment 39-14485; AD 2006-04-04] - requires replacing the affected smoke detectors with modified smoke detectors. This AD results from a report indicating that the affected smoke detectors can "lock up" during electrical power transfer from the auxiliary power unit to the engines.
Dassault Aviation has decided to move forward with a payload increase and winglet installation on its new 7X business jet. The company discussed potential options for boosting the range of the 7X during the National Business Aviation Association's annual meeting and convention last fall in Orlando, and said it would discuss the options with customers before making a decision to go ahead with the design changes (BA, Nov. 14/225).
Gary Halbert was named general counsel for the National Transportation Safety Board. Halbert served in the U.S. Air Force for 27 years, holding a number of senior legal posts. Most recently, he was director, executive issues in Air Force Headquarters Communications. He also has been staff judge advocate and legal counsel to the Commander, Third Air Force, at Mildenhall Royal Air Force Base in the United Kingdom.
Polskie Zaklady Lotnicze Model PZL M26 01 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-23733; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-09-AD; Amendment 39-14481; AD 2006-03-17] - requires repetitively inspecting fuselage Frame No. XI for cracks, replacing fuselage Frame No. XI and installing reinforcement modifications if any cracks are found. The installation of reinforcement modifications is terminating action for the repetitive inspection requirement. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for the European Union.
Rockwell Collins entered a definitive agreement to buy the simulation assets of Evans & Sutherland (E&S) for $71.5 million in cash. The acquisition includes military and commercial simulation assets, including simulation facilities in Salt Lake City, Orlando and the United Kingdom, and certain liabilities. About 200 employees will join Rockwell Collins, which will have exclusive rights to the Evans & Sutherland laser projector for simulation, while E&S will retain ownership of its planetarium and other laser projector products.
Bombardier Aerospace is restarting its CL-215T conversion program after receiving a series of orders for turbine conversion kits from the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, AeroFlite, and Buffalo Airways Ltd. of the Northwest Territories, Canada. Bombardier valued the orders at about $85 million (U.S.) The kits include Pratt & Whitney PW123AF turboprop engines, which will boost reliability and efficiency, and upgrades for structural components, the electrical distribution system and engine fuel system.
Aerospatiale Model ATR 42 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-23816; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-247-AD] - proposes to require one-time inspections to detect discrepancies (e.g., cracking, loose/sheared fasteners, distortion) of the upper skin and rib feet of the outer wing boxes, and repair if necessary. This proposed AD results from a report of cracking on the upper skin and ribs of the outer wing box on an in-service airplane. FAA is proposing this AD to detect and correct these discrepancies, which could reduce structural integrity of the airplane.
Bombardier is expanding its Flexjet fractional business jet ownership program into Canada, the company announced last week. The company will base two Learjet 45 aircraft and a Challenger 604 in Montreal for the fractional service. The Canadian-registered aircraft formerly were part of the Bombardier corporate fleet. Bombardier also has dedicated 10 Montreal-based pilots to the Flexjet organization.
European regulators have begun notifying manufacturers that they plan to increase certification fees to cover a gap in projected government revenues from certification activities. Cessna Chairman, President and CEO Jack Pelton last week said the proposal by the European Aviation Safety Agency would represent a quadrupling of certification fees in some cases, and demonstrates why the U.S. should not follow a similar system.
Jim O'Connell was appointed general manager of CAE's Northeast training center near the Morristown Municipal Airport (MMU) in New Jersey. O'Connell has more than 30 years of aviation service in the U.S. Air Force as well as in corporate aviation. He led a Northeast-based corporate flight department, and, since 2001, has been senior manager of training services for CAE SimuFlite in Dallas, Texas. While at CAE SimuFlite, O'Connell has overseen pilot training in 13 programs.
