JET-CARE INTERNATIONAL won a contract to provide oil and debris analysis for Eurocopter Mexico. The agreement covers engines and gearboxes on Eurocopter Mexico helicopters. Eurocopter Mexico manages and services Eurocopter aircraft in Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Surinam, the Caribbean/West Indies and Central America.
TSA NAMES NEW GA MANAGER; GAMA VETERAN JOINING AGENCY - The Transportation Security Administration has completed a significant restructuring, creating a Transportation Sector Network Management (TSNM) structure that became effective Dec. 1. Mike Restovich, the federal security director at Dallas Love Field, is acting assistant administrator of the new network.
Revamped NASA Advisory Council holds first meeting in Washington - The revamped NASA Advisory Council held its first meeting in Washington Nov. 29, under the leadership of former senator and Apollo 17 astronaut Harrison Schmitt. Other new members include former head of Air Force Materiel Command Gen. Lester Lyles, former Strategic Defense Initiative Organization head Lt. Gen. James Abrahamson (USAF), former Astronaut Neil Armstrong, former Aerospace Commission member Neil DeGrasse Tyson, and former Columbia Accident Investigation Board member John Logsdon.
EMBRAER Model EMB-135 airplanes, and Model EMB-145, -145ER, -145MR, -145LR, -145XR, -145MP, and -145EP airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-22256; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-113-AD; Amendment 39-14378; AD 2005-23-20] -- requires modification of the upper frame of the firewall for the auxiliary power unit (APU). This AD results from the discovery of a hole in the upper frame of the firewall for the APU. FAA is issuing this AD to ensure that the APU compartment is isolated from the rest of the airplane in the event of an APU fire.
FLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL is building two new Embraer 170/190 convertible full flight simulators. The trainers will increase the number of FSI Embraer simulators to 25. FSI also has four Embraer 120 and 18 Embraer 145 simulators along with a previously announced Embraer 170 simulator. The new convertible simulators are slated for delivery in early 2006. The first simulator will be stationed at FlightSafety's St. Louis learning center to support Republic Airways training. FSI is still determining the destination of the second simulator. In addition to St.
TSA OUTLINES FRACTIONAL SECURITY PLANS TO ECAC -- The Transportation Security Administration assured the European Civil Aviation Conference that TSA officials agree on the need for "more definitive operational security guidelines" governing fractional aircraft ownership programs and said the agency has launched an effort to develop such a program. TSA chief Kip Hawley wrote ECAC Executive Secretary Raymond Benjamin late last month that TSA "has taken into consideration the specific concerns expressed by ECAC about the security aspects of fractional operations."
BOEING Vertol Model 107-II helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2005-23085; Directorate Identifier 2005-SW-25-AD; Amendment 39-14385; AD 2005-24-05] -- requires a visual and magnetic particle inspection of the quill shaft. This amendment is prompted by the discovery of cracks in a quill shaft during a routine inspection.
STEPHEN T. FISHER, a former Marine Corps helicopter pilot, was named executive director of the Next Generation Air Transportation Systems Institute. He will oversee daily operations at the institute, an industry partnership supporting the Joint Planning and Development Office in developing and implementing the air traffic control system of the future. Fisher was most recently a senior account manager with Northrop Grumman's Information Technology Sector, overseeing FAA and DOT programs and services.
KATHLEEN TYLER was named director of sales and marketing for Aviation Research Group/US. Tyler will be responsible for field sales, advertising, marketing communications and trade show exhibits. Tyler has 17 years of business aviation experience, including 14 years with Executive Jet Management and two years managing a Cincinnati-based fixed-base operation. While managing the FBO, she helped obtain a Part 135 certificate and launched an aircraft management program.
HPN Presents Noise-Abatement Awards to Based Operators - Westchester County Airport (HPN) in White Plains, N.Y., presented its 11th annual "Spirit of Noise Abatement Awards" to based corporate operators that had achieved 100 percent compliance with the airport's voluntary noise-abatement programs during 2004. The popular New York City-area corporate airfield has a voluntary nighttime curfew in effect from midnight until 6:30 a.m., as well as a high-range noise event limit of 93 dBA.
MOONEY AIRPLANE COMPANY plans to offer Mooney operators electronic versions of their Pilot's Operating Handbooks, Illustrated Parts Catalogs, Service and Maintenance manuals. Mooney initially will offer small, portable UBS electronic storage devices, or "jump drives," for the Model M20 M Bravo. The drives will be available for the Model M20 R Ovation in January 2006.
BAE Model BAe 146 and Model Avro 146-RJ airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-20729; Directorate Identifier 2002-NM-71-AD; Amendment 39-14370; AD 2005-23-12] -- supersedes an existing AD that currently requires revising the Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness to incorporate life limits for certain items and inspections to detect fatigue cracking in certain structures.
The fiscal 2006 transportation appropriations bill, H.R.3058, continues the ban on raising aircraft weight limits at the Teterboro, N.J. Airport (TEB) for at least another year. Rep. Steve Rothman (D-N.J.) has led the effort to prevent large business jets, such as the Boeing Business Jet, from using the airport, and there were concerns that he might use the appropriations bill to pursue additional operational limits at TEB. The final measure that passed both the House and Senate Nov. 18 did not, however, include any other airport restrictions (BA, June 13/261).
Kreisler Manufacturing, an aircraft engine component maker, said sales were up 33 percent to $4.1 million in the quarter ended Sept. 30, while net income rose to $191,000 from $115,000 in the same period a year earlier. "We saw year-over-year sales improvements in all our market segments - sales of commercial, military and industrial gas turbine-related components increased 19 percent, 50 percent and 4 percent respectively," CEO Michael Stern said in a statement.
Boeing made it official, offering a larger version of the Boeing Business Jet, the BBJ3, at last week's Dubai Air Show (BA, Nov. 14/223). The new model is expected to post sales similar to the BBJ2, according to Boeing officials. Since the BBJ2 was introduced in 1999, the airframer has sold 14 aircraft, 90 percent of which have been to Middle East customers, says BBJ President Steve Hill. For the BBJ3, "we see a similar sales performance in time, numbers and locations," he told reporters at the air show.
CESSNA LEADER TO SERVE AS GAMA CHAIRMAN - Cessna Chairman, President and CEO Jack Pelton was elected chairman of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association for 2006. Pelton, formerly GAMA vice chairman, also will retain his position as chairman of GAMA's Flight Operations Policy Committee. As GAMA chairman, Pelton succeeds Jim Schuster, chairman and CEO of Raytheon Aircraft Company. The GAMA board of directors tapped John Grisik, president of Goodrich Corporation Electronic Systems, as vice chairman.
INDUSTRY GROUPS APPEAL TO FAA TO BACK OFF WET LEASE GUIDANCE - Fearful that recently released guidance covering wet lease aircraft agreements could "irreparably harm" Part 135 air charter and aircraft management businesses, industry groups have urged the Federal Aviation Administration to work with them to develop guidance that would address the agency's concerns about illegal operations without hampering charter and management businesses.
LEARJET Model 23, 24, 24A, 24B, 24B-A, 24C, 24D, 24D-A, 24E, 24F, 24F-A, 25, 25A, 25B, 25C, 25D, and 25F airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-22169; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-094-AD; Amendment 39-14361; AD 2005-23-03] - requires replacement of the spherical accumulator for the main hydraulic system with a new cylindrical accumulator. For certain airplanes, this AD also requires modification of the accumulator pressure gauge.
Jet Aviation Dusseldorf completed an expansion project that nearly doubles its maintenance hangar space. The project added 20,450 square feet of space to Jet Aviation's Hangar 1 in Dusseldorf, Germany. The hangar includes a five-layer flooring that includes granite, copper and a nonskid lamination that combines to protect against fluid leaks. The hangar has six bays and a new heating system. The Dusseldorf facility provides maintenance, repair and overhaul, avionics, refurbishment, FBO and 24-hour aircraft-on-ground services.
CONGRESS APPROVES $17 MILLION IN GA REIMBURSEMENT FOR 9/11 LOSSES - Congress set aside up to $17 million to compensate general aviation businesses in the Washington, D.C. area that have demonstrated losses stemming from the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The measure was included in the fiscal 2006 transportation appropriations bill, H.R.3058, which passed the House and Senate Nov. 18.
Duncan Aviation, which for decades has specialized in Learjet service, is now authorized by Bombardier to provide landing gear overhauls for Learjet models at Duncan's Battle Creek, Mich. facility.
BOEING UNVEILS BBJ3, WITH FOCUS ON MIDDLE EAST MARKET - Boeing Business Jets, as expected, began offering a new, larger version of the Boeing Business Jet, the BBJ3, at last week's Dubai Air Show. The new model is a VIP version of the 737-900ER commercial airliner, which Boeing said offers 35 percent more cabin space than the original BBJ and 11 percent more room than the BBJ2.
INNOTECH DESIGNATED AS BOMBARDIER COMPLETION CENTER - Innotech Aviation, which has been associated with the Challenger business jet program since the aircraft's inception, has been designated by Bombardier Aerospace as a Preferred Completion Center. Under the agreement, Innotech will complete the interiors of Bombardier Global Express XRS and Global 5000 business jets.
MAURICE LEVY joined Executive Jet Management (EJM) as senior vice president of charter sales. Levy will oversee EJM's global charter sales, outside charter sales representatives and inside charter service managers. Levy most recently was senior vice president-sales and marketing for Magnatrax Corporation. He also has served as managing director of sales, Canadian region for Federal Express Corporation and senior vice president of sales, marketing and new business ventures, for Purolator Courier Limited.
