PILATUS Models PC-12 and PC-12/45 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-22018; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-41-AD; Amendment 39-14348; AD 2005-22-04] - requires determining (maintenance records check and/or inspection) whether certain nose landing gear (NLG), main landing gear (MLG), and MLG shock absorber assemblies with a serial number beginning with "AM'' are installed, and, if installed, would require replacing them with ones without the "AM.'' This AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for Switzerland.
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey unveiled a 50 percent rate hike for Teterboro Airport in New Jersey that is slated to go into effect Jan. 1. The new schedule would increase landing fees for aircraft of 12,500 pounds or under to $22.50. Operators of aircraft weighing between 12,501 pounds and 80,000 pounds would pay $3.15 per 1,000 pounds, and operators of aircraft weighing more than 80,000 pounds would pay $5.85 per 1,000 pounds.
General Aviation Manufacturers Association warned FAA that imposing certification fees on aircraft manufacturers would be a "wasteful endeavor" that would cost more to collect than the revenue the fees would generate. Responding to an FAA inquiry about the possibility of imposing certification fees, GAMA said it strongly opposes such a move.
Despite years of delay in achieving certification of the SJ30-2 business jet (BA, Oct. 31/203), Sino Swearingen Aircraft Corp. claimed Friday it has recorded "new aircraft orders exceeding 295 sales in less than 30 months," a backlog valued at $1.5 billion. The company said those totals do not include Letters of Intent or Letters of Understanding, with all orders secured with nonrefundable cash deposits.
Helinet Aviation Services, a Los Angeles-based provider of helicopter flight services, named David Calvert-Jones chief executive. Calvert-Jones joined the company in 2004 as senior vice president-corporate strategy and became interim CEO last summer. He is taking over from company founder Alan Purwin, who will remained involved with business development for the company. Calvert-Jones has a background in the manufacturing, technology and agriculture industries. Before joining Helinet, he was managing director at Seafirst Australia Pty.
Honeywell says manufacturers will deliver nearly 10,000 new business jets from 2005 through 2015, a significant increase over last year's forecast despite what the company said is a marked decline in short-term purchase expectations among North American aircraft operators. The company's 14th annual Business Aviation Outlook, being unveiled tonight (Nov. 7) predicts airplane makers will deliver 9,900 new business jets valued at $156 billion during the forecast period.
Facing a mountain of opposition to a government rulemaking to make permanent the temporary airspace restrictions around Washington, D.C., Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta agreed to extend the comment period in the rulemaking by 90 days. Mineta Thursday told attendees at the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Expo 2005 in Tampa that he directed the Federal Aviation Administration to extend the comment period, which lapsed Nov. 2. The notice of the extension is expected to be published in the Nov. 7 Federal Register.
Federal Aviation Administration is hosting an informal meeting Nov. 10 at the NBAA convention to provide government and private-sector representatives who use government-provided aviation weather products an opportunity to provide input on FAA's plans for implementing new convective weather products. The meeting will begin at 1 p.m. in Room N210A of the Orlando Orange County Convention Center. For further information, contact Debi Bacon in FAA's Air Traffic Administration office at (202) 385-7705 or by e-mail at [email protected]
Schweizer Aircraft handed over its 1,000th helicopter, a 300CBi, to Gerry and Bonny Friesen of BC Helicopters in Abbotsford, British Columbia last month. The 300CBi is a derivative of the 269 Series, which Schweizer bought from Hughes Helicopters in 1983. "The transition of the 269 Series program from Hughes Helicopters to Schweizer Aircraft has been a true success story," said Schweizer President Paul Schweizer.
AVITAT WESTCHESTER LAUNCHES MAJOR RENOVATION - Visitors to Avitat Westchester's fixed-base operation at the Westchester County Airport will be treated to a multitude of sensory experiences, officials say, when a major renovation program is completed in about 18 months.
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
RALPH LINTELMAN was promoted to center manager for FlightSafety International's learning center in New York. Lintelman most recently was director of standards for the center. He joined FSI in 1998 and served in a number of roles, including simulator and ground school instructor for the Beech 1900.
Raytheon Aircraft appointed General Dynamics Aviation Services (GDAS) facility in Appleton, Wis., and West Star Aviation in Grand Junction, Colo., as Hawker Authorized Service Centers. GDAS, formerly KC Aviation, provides a range of Hawker support, including avionics installations; engineering support; interior refurbishments, engine and airframe maintenance; select APU overhaul; select landing gear overhaul and complete paint services.
As the Transportation Security Administration was "reopening" Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to private traffic, the agency was in the early preparations of closing down another nearby airport, Potomac Airfield. TSA ordered the airport closed last week for security violations. See article below.
CESSNA Model 500, 501, 550, S550, 551, and 560 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-20970; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-53-AD] - revises an earlier proposal that would have required revising the airplane flight manual (AFM) to prohibit use of the wing fuel boost pumps for defueling under certain conditions; installing a placard; doing other specified investigative and corrective actions as necessary; and modifying the boost pumps. The original proposal also would have required the subsequent removal of the AFM revision and placard.
EMBRAER Model EMB-135BJ, -135ER, -135KE, -135KL, -135LR, -145, -145ER, -145MR, -145LR, -145XR, -145MP, and -145EP airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2004-18564; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-16-AD; Amendment 39-14352; AD 2005-22-08] - requires modifying the total air temperature (TAT) sensor heating system. This AD also allows replacing the fully automated digital electronic control (FADEC) assemblies with new or modified assemblies as an additional means of compliance.
ANTHONY GRAHAM was appointed center manager for FlightSafety International's learning center in Houston. Graham previously managed FSI's base at LaGuardia Airport in New York since 2001. He joined FSI in 1996 and has moved into positions of increasing responsibility, including manager of FSI's Saab aircraft program and director of training.
Jet Source Charter added a Citation VII to its charter fleet. The aircraft will be based at McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad, Calif. The aircraft joins a fleet of Gulfstreams, Falcons, Hawkers, Learjets and Citations on Jet Source's charter certificate.
Rockwell Collins was selected to supply its Pro Line 21 integrated avionics system for six Beech King Air 300 aircraft being upgraded for U.S. government special-use missions. The contract, which includes options for 12 more aircraft, calls for first installation to begin in January 2006 with upgrades following in August 2006.
