Raisbeck Engineering is offering a new Enhanced Performance Package (EPIC) for the King Air C90 that will boost maximum gross takeoff weight to 10,350 pounds, 250 more than current C90Bs and 700 more than earlier C90s. The package includes 93-inch, four-bladed Hartzell/Raisbeck propellers, dual aft body strakes and a new FAA-approved airplane flight manual supplement and pilot's operating handbook. Raisbeck is offering the EPIC kit at $61,950 and said the modification takes 85 hours. The upgrade costs $4,000 for Raisbeck-equipped C90s.
The House and Senate, responding to concerns of aviation fueling companies, directed the Transportation Department to work with EPA on developing "reasonable methods" to comply with EPA's Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) requirements. SPCC rules call for a secondary containment area for mobile refuelers, a requirement the National Air Transportation Association and airport groups have said is costly and unnecessary (BA, Aug. 1/43).
Safe Flight Instrument Corp. received a contract to provide its Integrated Angle-of-Attack/Stall Warning System for the Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics suite that will be installed on the AVIC I Commercial Aircraft Company ARJ-21 regional jet. The 79- to 99-seat regional jet, unveiled during the 2001 Beijing Air Show, is slated to fly in mid-2006.
KEITH PHILLIPS was named director of program management, Nacelle/Thrust Reverser Systems Division, for The Nordam Group. Phillips joined Nordam from Garrett Aviation Services, where he had been vice president of sales and marketing. He also has served as vice president of aftermarket services with Curtiss-Wright Flight Systems and held sales positions with General Electric's maintenance, repair and overhaul businesses and UNC Incorporated's aerospace manufacturing business.
Aircraft Electronics Association has developed a new interactive CD, Repair Station Program Development, which will provide guidance on meeting requirements in FAA Advisory Circular AC 145-10 and inspectors Handbook Bulletin HBAW 0503. The CD defines what is required in the regulations and contains information on course definitions, training sources and methods, and documentation. Available in January, the CD is the latest in a series of computer-based training programs that AEA is offering.
RICHARD HEITZMAN was named manager of service center relations for Mooney Airplane Company. Heitzman will be based in Kerrville, Texas, and oversee performance of Mooney Service Center facilities. He also will be responsible for expanding the domestic and international networks.
BILL WENZEL was named director of technical service and parts for Mooney Airplane Company. Wenzel will oversee all technical publications and support as well as the service parts center.
Despite the relative scarcity of business jets in China, India and Russia, Rolls-Royce believes the aviation market will grow significantly in those countries as their economies continue to expand and infrastructure development follows. Rolls-Royce predicted that some 500 to 700 business jets could be shipped to operators in those countries over the next 10 years. Some of those orders began to trickle in at NBAA, with Gulfstream and Airbus among the plane-makers announcing their first orders from Chinese customers (BA, Nov. 14/227).
December 1-2 - National Air Transportation Association Line Service Supervisor Training, Albuquerque, N.M., (703) 845-9000 January 8-12, 2006 - American Association of Airport Executives Aviation Issues Conference, Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, Kona, Hawaii, (703) 824-0504, www.airportnet.org January 25-27, 2006 - National Business Aviation Association Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference, San Antonio, Texas, (202) 783-9000
BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701, & 702), CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705), and CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-22872; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-198-AD] - proposes to require replacing the Camloc fasteners on the sidewall of the center pedestal. This proposed AD results from reports of the Camloc fasteners on the sidewall of the center pedestal disengaging and interfering with an inboard rudder pedal.
ARINC Incorporated struck an agreement with Iridium Satellite to offer Iridium-based aeronautical voice and data communication services. The new services will be available in early 2006. ARINC is working with several Iridium hardware providers to offer a portfolio of services.
Raytheon Aircraft this month delivered the first Beechcraft Bonanza G36 equipped with a Garmin G1000 integrated avionics system. Delivery of the aircraft came within days of FAA certification (BA, Nov. 7/216). Formerly called the Bonanza A36, Raytheon Aircraft redesignated the aircraft the Beechcraft Bonanza G36 with the avionics upgrade and a new paint scheme. The first G36 was delivered to Ron Boyer, owner of Courtesy Ford in Portland, Ore.
ATG LINES UP SUPPLIERS FOR JAVELIN BIZ JET - Aviation Technology Group said Nov. 3 that it has lined up several suppliers for its Javelin executive jet, which is also expected to be developed into a military trainer in conjunction with Israel Aircraft Industries.
FAA is continuing to push for a fundamental change in its funding mechanisms, complaining in the latest version of its Flight Plan - 2006-2010 that the agency is in "an untenable position" because Airport and Airway Trust Fund revenues cannot sustain the costs of running the National Airspace System.
SOCATA Model TBM 700 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-21464; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-32-AD; Amendment 39-14320; AD 2005-20-24] - requires inspecting the fuselage skin in the VHF1 antenna mounting area for cracks and loose rivets. This AD also requires modification of the area if cracks or loose rivets are found. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for France. FAA is issuing this AD to detect and correct cracks in the fuselage skin, which could result in loss of aircraft pressurization.
EMBRAER Model EMB-135 airplanes and Model EMB-145, -145ER, -145MR, -145LR, -145XR, -145MP, and -145EP airplanes [Docket No. 2003-NM-271-AD] - revises an earlier proposal that would have required inspecting the pilot's and co-pilot's seat tracks for proper locking of the seats, and adjusting or replacing the seat tracks, if necessary. This new action revises the proposed rule by revising the applicability statement and requiring replacement of the seat locking pin on certain SICMA-brand seats.
The Nordam Group was selected by Honeywell to provide the thrust reverser system for the Gulfstream G150 business jet. Honeywell is supplying the integrated powerplant system for the jet, including the TFE731-AR engines. NORDAM also is supplying interior components for the G150, including the configured liner and composite panels that Gulfstream will use to fabricate cabinetry.
EMBRAER PICKS GARMIN TO PROVIDE AVIONICS FOR NEW JETS - Brazilian Manufacturer Embraer selected the Garmin 1000 avionics suite for installation in its two new business aircraft, the Phenom 100 Very Light Jet and the Phenom 300 Light Jet. The "Prodigy" flight decks on the two aircraft will feature three interchangeable 12-inch displays - two primary flight displays and one multifunction display.
EU AGREES ON BLACK LIST OF UNSAFE AIRLINES - The European Parliament last week voted overwhelmingly in favor of the creation of a European Union-wide black list of unsafe carriers, and a new regulation setting up the black list is scheduled to go into effect in January 2006.
BLUE PREPARES NEW LIGHT JET FOR FLIGHT - Aviation veteran Linden Blue, who led Beech Aircraft during the early days of the composite Starship program, is preparing his newest composite aircraft, the Spectrum 33 entry-level jet, for first flight within the next couple months.
VETERAN HAWKER GROWS WINGLETS - Raytheon Aircraft continued to evolve its Hawker family with the introduction of the Hawker 850XP, a follow-on to the Hawker 800XPi with Raytheon-designed winglets. The winglets give the aircraft 100 nautical miles more range, a four percent improvement over the 800XPi, and eight percent faster time-to-climb ratio, the company said. The winglets incorporate LED position lights that have a 5,000-hour mean time between failures.
National Business Aviation Association revised attendance figures for its annual meeting and convention this month in Orlando, Fla., to 28,796. Early estimates pegged attendance at 28,269, but that number did not include media registration or some attendees who registered at the static display at Orlando Executive Airport (BA, Nov. 14/227). During the convention, the association presented its American Spirit Award to Rep.
WOODIE WOODWARD STEPPING DOWN AS AIRPORTS LEADER - Woodie Woodward, a veteran FAA employee who most recently has been associate administrator for airports, is retiring from the agency, effective next month. Woodward joined FAA in 1987 and has held several management and executive assistant positions in the Government and Industry Affairs, NAS Systems Development, FAA Southern Region and Deputy Administrator's organizations.
VINTAGE CITATION CLAIMS TWO ON FINAL FLIGHT - A 1972 Cessna Citation which had been parked for months and which had recently undergone maintenance crashed Nov. 5 while the pilot was attempting to take off from Hobby Airport (HOU) in Houston, Texas. The instrument-rated commercial pilot and one passenger - who had done some maintenance on the business jet - were killed in the crash and explosion.
