FAA DROPS ALTITUDE CHANGE FOR MANDATORY OXYGEN MASKS - The Federal Aviation Administration last week shelved a rule easing Part 121 oxygen requirements after the National Transportation Safety Board warned that the rule was based on faulty data and could jeopardize safety. In November, FAA raised the altitude at which a pilot must don an oxygen mask when the other pilot leaves the cockpit. Pilots left alone at the controls must use their masks at altitudes above Flight Level 250, but the November rule would have changed that to FL350.
Max Allen was named Rolls-Royce program director for Dallas Airmotive's Forest Park facility in Dallas, Texas. Allen will manage Rolls-Royce engine programs, including planning, administration and overall profit and loss. Allen joined Dallas Airmotive in 2004 as director of engine operations at Forest Park. He previously served as manager of quality and engineering and interim plant manager for General Electric's aircraft engine overhaul facility at Dallas Love Field.
Thales' new air traffic management system has become fully operational in China. Thales won the contract from the Chinese North East and South Area Control Center in September 2001 and installed integrated Eurocat air traffic management systems in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. The systems control up to 60 percent of the current air traffic in China.
Business Aviation operators destined for Las Vegas Friday were warned to call ahead to fixed-base operators when planning to land at McCarran International Airport. "LAS has experienced severe ramp congestion over the past several weekends. This has resulted in a few instances of the airport being closed to GA and aircraft being diverted to other airports," the National Business Aviation Association told members.
Ballistic Recovery Systems won FAA supplemental type certification for installation of its whole-airplane parachute recovery system aboard Symphony SA 160 airplanes. The system will be offered as a factory installed option on the Symphony aircraft. BRS worked with Symphony engineers to design the system so that it would be lighter in weight and optimize center of gravity, BRS said. The system also is standard equipment on Cirrus aircraft.
Pilots at fractional aircraft operator Flight Options, having seen the lucrative contract that Teamsters union negotiators won for pilots at NetJets last year, have filed a petition seeking representation by the Teamsters. See article below.
MOONEY AEROSPACE BOARD ELECTS NEW CHAIRMAN - The Mooney Aerospace Board of Directors elected Steven Karol chairman, the company announced last week. Karol succeeds Walt Catlow, who resigned from the post earlier this month to devote his time to other interests. "I have enjoyed our professional relationship during 2005...taking Mooney to unparalleled stature in the field of personal air transportation," Catlow said.
Engine Components Inc. reciprocating engine cylinder assemblies [Docket No. FAA-2005-22358; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-20-AD; Amendment 39-14431; AD 2005-26-10] - requires replacement of ECi "Classic Cast" cylinder assemblies, Part Number (P/N) AEL65102. This AD results from reports of about 30 failures of the subject cylinder assemblies marketed by ECi. FAA is issuing this AD to prevent loss of engine power due to cracks in the cylinder assemblies and possible engine failure caused by separation of a cylinder head.
Embraer Model ERJ 170 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-23475; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-117-AD] - proposes to require revising the Airworthiness Limitations section (ALS) of the airplane maintenance manual (AMM) to include new, specific maintenance tasks related to the incorporation of a new horizontal stabilizer actuator. This proposed AD also would require revising the ALS of the AMM to include revised repetitive inspection intervals for certain tasks in the maintenance plan related to the aileron and flap/slat flight controls system.
Bob Kane was appointed director of sales, Canada, for Dassault Falcon. Kane, previously responsible for concept sales in the Western U.S. for Falcon, will oversee sales and marketing for all new Falcon business jets in Canada. He joined Dassault Falcon in 1997 as a demonstration pilot and is type rated in the Falcon 50, 50EX, 900 B/C, 900EX and 2000.
BAE Model BAe 146 and Model Avro 146-RJ airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-23477; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-181-AD] - proposes to require 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 proposed AD results from in-service reports of hinge bracket failures on the MLG doors.
Embraer and Bombardier appear to be two of biggest losers, at least temporarily, as a result of the U.S. Army's decision to cancel a contract with Lockheed for the Aerial Common Sensor (ACS) aircraft. The Army said late Thursday it was canceling the contract because of uncertainty about what size aircraft will be required to accommodate the equipment needed for the ACS missions. See article below.
Sikorsky handed over a third S-92 to Norsk Helikopter of Sola, Norway. Norsk became the first North Sea oil operator to place the S-92 in revenue service in February 2005. The most recently acquired helicopter will be operated under contract with BP Norge and Talisman Energy Norge for employee transport to and from oil platforms in the North Sea.
Richard (Dick) Kaplan, who has been associated with DeCrane Aircraft Holdings since its inception, was named last week to take over as chief executive officer of the Columbus, Ohio firm, succeeding founder Jack DeCrane, who died last month as a result of complications from lung cancer (BA, Jan. 9/13).
Aircraft Owners And Pilots Association released a new Aircraft Hangar Development Guide to help pilots and airport managers through the hangar development process from inception to completion. The guide outlines necessary planning steps, including determining the need, creating a sound business case and planning the project as well as checklists of items that should be accomplished. The guide is available online at www.aopa.org/asn/hangar.html or by contacting the Airport Support Network staff at (301) 695-2000.
Steve Lunde was named Rolls-Royce regional engine manager for Dallas Airmotive. Lunde will be responsible for sales of Rolls-Royce Spey and Tay programs to operators in the Western U.S. Lunde has more than 20 years of industry experience, working for Gulfstream Aerospace Long Beach and the Jet Center, Van Nuys. Most recently, he was a regional sales manager with Garrett Aviation at Los Angeles International Airport.
Jim Zarvos was named director of sales for Rolls-Royce engine programs for Dallas Airmotive. Zarvos will spearhead sales efforts for Dallas Airmotive Rolls-Royce Spey and Tay engine programs to North American operators. He also will be responsible for sales of the PW306A engine on the Gulfstream G200. Zarvos, who joined Dallas Airmotive in 2003 as director of customer service, formerly was Rolls-Royce program director at Dallas Airmotive's Forest Park facility in Dallas, Texas.
S-TEC is offering factory installation of its MAGIC 2100 digital autopilot and single-side electronic flight information system on King Air 90, Conquest I and Cheyenne I and II aircraft. S-TEC's dealer network also will continue to perform the installations. S-TEC, Mineral Wells, Texas, produces a variety of avionics systems for the business and general aviation market.
Oregon Aero, of Scappoose, Ore., secured FAA parts manufacturer approval to produce certified aircraft parts. The PMA approval follows Oregon Aero's construction of a 16,000-square-foot manufacturing building next to its headquarters and existing manufacturing facility at Scappoose Airport. Oregon Aero produces a range of civil and military parts including seats and seat cushions, aircraft interior upgrades, aviation headset and helmet upgrades, and other equipment.
Premier Turbines, a Neosho, Mo.-based subsidiary of Dallas Airmotive, won a five-year U.S. Coast Guard contract to repair and overhaul Pratt & Whitney GG4/FT4 components and accessories. The gas turbines, rated at 18,000 shaft horsepower, are used aboard the Coast Guard's 378-foot cutters.
SPECTRUM PROOF-OF-CONCEPT AIRPLANE FLIES - Linden Blue's entry-level Spectrum 33 jet completed about a seven-minute first flight Jan. 7, taking off from Springville-Spanish Fork Municipal Airport southeast of Provo, Utah and repositioning to Provo, Utah airport. William Davies, Spectrum chief of flight test, and test pilot Ian Hollingsworth manned the controls of the proof-of-concept aircraft.
FLIGHT OPTIONS PILOTS SEEK UNION REPRESENTATION - The Teamsters union said some 830 pilots from Raytheon-owned Flight Options of Cleveland, Ohio have filed a petition with the National Mediation Board seeking representation by the union. The announcement came from Teamsters Local 1108 in Columbus, Ohio, the same local that represents some 2,400 pilots who fly for rival fractional aircraft provider NetJets. The NetJets pilots in November ratified a new contract with their employer after a lengthy and bitter impasse was finally broken (BA, Oct. 17/171).
Operators of turbine-powered business aircraft had fewer accidents that resulted in fewer fatalities during 2005 than the previous year, according to Robert E. Breiling Associates of Boca Raton, Fla. The industry experienced a total of 57 accidents last year including 14 fatal accidents, which resulted in 46 passenger and crew fatalities. During 2004, operators were involved in 64 accidents, of which 18 involved fatalities, that claimed a total of 52 lives.
