The Senate Thursday confirmed the nomination of attorney Donald Bliss to be U.S. ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organization. The approval of Bliss follows an industry-wide appeal for expeditious consideration of his nomination (BA, Feb. 13/70).
American Legend Aircraft Company is trying to boost sales for its new two-place single-engine Legend Cub with a new refundable deposit program. New customers can reserve a production slot with a $2,400 refundable deposit if they do not want to tie up a lot of money up front. Customers who want to lock in the purchase price can continue to make a 10 percent nonrefundable down payment, pay another 40 percent 60 days before delivery and the remaining half due upon delivery. Prices for the Legend Cub begin in the low $80,000 range.
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
Salina Airport Authority and the Salina, Kan. Area Chamber of Commerce jointly hired the James Gregory Consultancy LLC as part of the community's efforts to recruit expanding and new aerospace business to the Salina Aviation Service Center. Gregory, who was in charge of corporate affairs and communications for Raytheon Aircraft Company in Wichita before retiring in 2002, has already performed a number of projects for Salina officials.
General aviation aircraft billings jumped 27.2 percent to an all-time high of $15.1 billion in 2005, and industry leaders are optimistic that economic forecasts bode well for even better performances in the future. The General Aviation Manufacturers Association last week reported that GA plane-makers shipped 3,580 airplanes in 2005, a 20.8 percent improvement from 2004 and the most deliveries recorded by the industry in 22 years.
An emergency landing with just minutes to spare on battery power following an electrical generator failure capped the longest flight in aviation history by Steve Fossett piloting the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer.
The Wing of an Airbus 380 airliner "ruptured" during ultimate load testing last week, before reaching the desired structural benchmark. In what was to be the final of about a dozen static tests, the wing was gradually being exposed to up to 1.5 times its load limit. Just before reaching the ultimate load level, the wing failed symmetrically on both sides, with the break occurring between the two engines. The load limit is the maximum strain an aircraft should encounter in flight, with ultimate load representing a 50 percent safety margin.
Richard Van Gemert, the president of New World Jet for more than a decade, is retiring and Bruce M. McNeely was named chief executive officer, changes that come in the wake of a company ownership change in early November.
A key congressional leader last week faulted the Bush Administration's proposed fiscal 2007 budget for the Federal Aviation Administration, characterizing it as "extremely shortsighted," and said the proposal would speed the nation's path to a crisis of congestion and delays. In testimony for the House Budget Committee last week, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Don Young (R-Alaska) said the proposed budget is not committed to meeting the nation's aviation infrastructure needs.
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.
