Embraer Model ERJ 170 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-23703; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-052-AD; Amendment 39-14465; AD 2006-03-01] - requires, when certain SmartProbes are installed, revising the Limitations section of the Airplane Flight Manual to limit the maximum takeoff weight of the airplane and increase the reference speed during certain landing conditions. This AD results from reports of variable calibration values of certain sensors of the SmartProbes, which could result in the transmission of erroneous information to the air data system.
The crew of a Citation business jet that crashed in California last month apparently was trying to abort the landing attempt and came close to executing a successful touch-and-go (BA, Jan. 30/46), but was unable to avoid an FAA localizer structure at the end of the runway. See article below.
The government is attempting to take a tougher line on labor costs in the current negotiations with PATCO's successor, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, but the two sides are not making much progress on a new agreement. "The proposal that NATCA has on the table right now would cost the FAA more than $2 billion in additional personnel costs and expenses over the next five years," Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta told the Aero Club of Washington recently.
MARTI SMITH was promoted to director of regional forums and static displays for the National Business Aviation Association. Smith will manage static displays at the NBAA annual meeting and convention, EBACE, LABACE, ABACE and regional forums. She joined NBAA in June 1988 and has been serving as senior manager of exhibits. She also served as the customer service/operations supervisor at Signature Flight Support at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Raytheon Model DH.125, HS.125, and BH.125 series airplanes; Model BAe.125 series 800A (C-29A and U-125), 800B, 1000A, and 1000B airplanes; and Model Hawker 800 (including variant U-125A), and 1000 airplanes [Docket No.
National Transportation Safety Board this week is expected to discuss a report on the Oct. 24, 2004 crash of a Beech King Air 200 operated by Hendrick Motorsports. The King Air flew into mountainous terrain in Stuart, Va. during a missed approach to Martinsville/Blue Ridge Airport, Martinsville, Va., and two crewmembers and eight passengers were killed.
New training requirements are in store for MU-2 turboprop operators, FAA said Thursday, even though agency officials acknowledged that three other models - the Swearingen SA 226/227, Beech 99 and Embraer 110 - have worse Part 135 fatal accident rates. John Hickey, director of Aircraft Certification for FAA, said the accident rate is only one indicator of the safety of an aircraft, and that other issues surrounding the history of the MU-2 triggered the latest agency review and changes in training procedures.
General Dynamics has been cautious about boosting production too rapidly at Gulfstream Aerospace since deliveries peaked at 84 and 85 new aircraft in 2001 and 2002 - just in time for a major downturn in the market that forced the Savannah, Ga. manufacturer to cut prices for new airplanes and left it awash in overvalued used-aircraft trade-ins. But strong order intake over the past 18 months has convinced GD officials the time is right to ramp up production - by more than 40 percent over the next two years.
National Transportation Safety Board recommended Friday that FAA "immediately prohibit" Part 121 operators from "using the reverse thrust credit in landing performance calculations." The "urgent" recommendation stems from the board's ongoing investigation of the Southwest Airlines' 737 overrun accident on Dec. 8 at Chicago's Midway Airport.
Bombardier Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-22793; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-161-AD; Amendment 39-14462; AD 2006-02-10] - requires replacing the Gask-O-Seal in the coupling of the refuel/defuel shutoff valves. This AD results from a report that Gask-O-Seals that did not incorporate an integral restrictor to limit fuel flow rate and fuel pressure during refueling were installed on certain airplanes.
Raytheon Company named S. Michael Scheeringa chief executive officer of its Flight Options fractional aircraft operation. Scheeringa, who joined Cleveland, Ohio-based Flight Options in February 2004, has been acting CEO since November. Before joining the fractional aircraft provider, Scheeringa was vice president of US Airways' Express Division. He has more than 17 years of experience in the aviation industry. "Michael is a proven leader," said William H.
The Communications Workshop, LLC, led by aviation industry veteran Steve Bassett, will present a new aviation crisis management program, Coping With Crisis 101 - Managing an Aviation Disaster during Helicopter Association International's 2006 HeliExpo Feb. 24-25 in Dallas. The program is designed for Part 121 and 135 operators and will cover prevention of, preparation for, response to and recovery from an accident. Bassett, who has more than 30 years of aviation and communications experience, will teach the program.
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
Bombardier's newest member of the Challenger family, the Challenger 605, flew for the first time last week, completing a three-hour, 23-minute flight from Bombardier's facility at Montreal-Trudeau International. The aircraft, officially launched during the November National Business Aviation Association annual meeting and convention (BA, Nov. 14/225), reached an altitude of 41,000 feet and a maximum true airspeed of 420 knots.
Jim Grindrod was named chief pilot for Jet Source. Grindrod will direct crewmember planning and oversee the pilot recruitment program and the development of improved safety standards. He has more than 16 years of aviation experience, including 10 years as an aviation manager and chief pilot.
ATR reported a resurgence in orders in 2005 that the Franco-Italian plane-maker has not experienced since the heyday of regional turboprops in the 1980s. ATR logged orders for 90 new aircraft and 26 options in 2005. Revenues for the year reached $542 million, compared with $469 million in 2004. "This commercial success is evidence of the strong revival of the turboprop aircraft in the regional aviation market," said Chief Executive Filippo Bagnato. "We have to go back more than 15 years to register this high of a level of sales.
Embraer Model EMB-135 and EMB-145, -145ER, -145MR, -145LR, -145XR, -145MP, and -145EP airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-23673; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-233-AD] - proposes to require inspecting to determine the part number of the ailerons. For airplanes with affected aileron part numbers, this proposed AD would require reworking the aileron damper fitting. For certain airplanes, this proposed AD also would require replacing the rod end of the aileron damper assembly with an improved rod end.
After leaving the post vacant for more than a year, President Bush finally this month announced his intention to nominate Donald T. Bliss as the U.S. representative to the International Civil Aviation Organization in Montreal, with the rank of ambassador. Bliss heads the Transportation/Aviation practice at the Washington law firm of O'Melveny & Myers. He served as deputy general counsel at the Transportation Department during the Ford Administration (BA, Dec. 12/271).
Fokker Model F27 Mark 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, and 700 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-23659; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-236-AD] - proposes to require revising the limitations section of the airplane flight manual regarding the use of continuous ignition, fuel filter heating, and resetting circuit breakers during flight in certain conditions such as icing. This proposed AD results from reports of power loss on one or both engines in icing conditions.
Embraer Model EMB-120, -120ER, -120FC, -120QC, and -120RT airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-23674; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-234-AD] - proposes to require 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 proposed AD results from corrosion in torque tubes of the elevators found during scheduled maintenance.
Volcanic eruptions in the Aleutian Islands spurred the Air Line Pilots Association to issue a Safety Alert last week warning aircraft on North Pacific routes to avoid the area of the Mount Augustine volcano, 65 miles southwest of the Homer VORTAC. The volcano erupted Jan. 11, 14 and 17. "The volcano remains seismically active, another eruption could occur with little or no warning, and crews transiting North Pacific routes should exercise caution and avail themselves of frequent updates," the pilots union said.
Aerospatiale Model ATR 42 airplanes and Model ATR 72 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-23635; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-245-AD] - proposes to require installing protective ramps on trim panel 110VU and inspecting the protective guard of the standby pitch trim switch to determine if it is missing, damaged or ineffective, and taking the corrective action, if necessary. This proposed AD results from a finding that the protective guard of the standby pitch trim switch, which is installed on the center pedestal, could be damaged or missing.
The Federal Aviation Administration is calling for a new training regimen for MU-2B operators that the agency hopes will stem the growing number of pilot-related accidents involving the high-speed twin-turboprop. The agency last week wrapped up its third safety evaluation of the airplane in three decades with a report outlining plans to develop new training standards and to issue a series of airworthiness directives.
Bombardier sold three 90-seat CRJ900 regional jets to Atlasjet of Istanbul, Turkey. The order, valued at $107 million (U.S.), includes options for two more CRJs. Atlasjet currently operates two used 70-passenger CRJ700 aircraft on domestic Turkish routes. The airline will use the new CRJ900s to grow those routes. Founded in 2001 with two Boeing 757 jets, the airline operates six Boeing 757s and nine Airbus A320s in addition to the Bombardier aircraft.
