Bombardier Aerospace is moving south of the border with plans to invest $200 million for a new facility in Mexico aimed at making components that Bombardier now buys from other suppliers. Work at the new facility, located just southwest of Yuma, Ariz., is scheduled to begin in mid-2006. The Mexican plant will begin making and assembling wire harnesses for Bombardier aircraft and then move on to making "major structural aircraft components currently being built by Bombardier Aerospace suppliers," Bombardier said.
FAA'S WET LEASE GUIDANCE ALARMS BUSINESS AVIATION GROUPS - Business aviation groups are concerned that guidance the Federal Aviation Administration released last week about wet leases could devastate the Part 135 industry. In a notice printed in the Oct. 25 Federal Register, FAA seeks comments on guidance discussing what would be considered legal and illegal wet lease arrangements - those involving the lease of an aircraft and at least one crewmember.
BAE Model ATP airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-22586; Directorate Identifier 2002-NM-258-AD; Amendment 39-14315; AD 2005-20-19] - requires one-time inspections for corrosion of the engine sub-frame tubes in Zone 1 and of the engine attachment struts in Zone 5, and corrective action if necessary. This AD results from reports of reduced thickness in localized areas of the engine sub-frame tubes due to corrosion, and reports that corrosion also may exist in the engine attachment struts in Zone 5.
AL RAMSEY was named center manager of FlightSafety International's Seattle/Tacoma learning center. The facility trains pilots and mechanics for Bombardier Dash 8, Jetstream and Metro III models. A 13-year FSI employee, Ramsey most recently managed the Houston learning center. He formerly had a 20-year career with the U.S. Air Force, retiring with the rank of lieutenant colonel. He also managed the flight department of an international petroleum company.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-1A11 (CL-600), CL-600-2A12 (CL-601), and CL-600-2B16 (CL-601-3A and CL-601-3R) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-22627; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-156-AD] - proposes to require measuring to detect migration of the lower gimbal pin and inspecting for other discrepancies of the horizontal stabilizer trim actuator (HSTA). This proposed AD also would require replacing or modifying the HSTA, as applicable. This proposed AD results from reports of failure of the lower gimbal pin of the HSTA.
Landmark Aviation - which encompasses Garrett Aviation, the Piedmont Hawthorne FBO chain and Associated Air Center (AAC) - unveiled its new name...and an aggressive plan to get bigger, predicated on organic growth and a carefully conceived strategy for assessing possible acquisitions. The Carlyle Group, Landmark's parent company, "has a significant appetite" for acquisitions, said Roger Wolfe, Landmark's new CEO. See article below.
Maryland last week named Tim Campbell the new executive director of the state's aviation administration. Campbell will resign as executive director of Salt Lake City Airport to move to Maryland. In his new job, Campbell will oversee the management and operations of Baltimore/Washington and Martin State airports. Campbell is a 31-year veteran of the industry and has been at Salt Lake City since 2000. He serves on the board of Airports Council International-North America and is chairman of the American Association of Airport Executives.
AMERICAN EUROCOPTER CONTRACTED TO RE-ENGINE HH-65 HELICOPTERS - EADS' American Eurocopter said Oct. 25 that Lockheed Martin Corp. has subcontracted to it to re-engine and upgrade the U.S. Coast Guard's HH-65 Dolphin helicopter fleet under the Deepwater recapitalization program.
MARK FERRARI was named vice president of sales and marketing for the NORDAM Group. Ferrari, formerly global director of aftermarket sales for Honeywell's Commercial Electronics Systems business, had served with Honeywell and its predecessor AlliedSignal for more than 10 years, beginning as an inside sales representative for the Bendix/King unit.
BELL Model 206A, B, L, L-1, L-3, and L-4 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2005-22696; Directorate Identifier 2005-SW-22-AD] - proposes superseding an existing AD that currently requires an initial inspection and at specified intervals checks and inspections of the tail rotor blade for a deformation, a crack and a bent or deformed tail rotor weight. Also, that AD requires, before further flight, replacing each blade with an airworthy blade if a deformation, a crack, or a bent or deformed weight is found.
Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation reduced the base price of the Columbia 350 by a little more than $20,000 to $378,900. "As we continue to increase the production rate, efficiencies specific to the Columbia 350 have enabled us to reduce our costs so we're passing the savings on to our customers," said Randy Bollinger, CAM's vice president of sales and marketing. The 350 is a normally aspirated, four-place, single-engine aircraft that cruises at 191 knots.
EMBRAER Model EMB-135BJ, -135ER, -135KE, -135KL, -135LR, -145, -145ER, -145MR, -145LR, -145XR, -145MP, and -145EP Airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-20223; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-193-AD; Amendment 39-14334; AD 2005-20-37] - requires repetitive detailed inspections for surface bruising of the main landing gear (MLG) trailing arms and integrity of the MLG pivot axle sealant, and corrective actions if necessary. This AD also provides for optional terminating action for the repetitive detailed inspections.
INHOFE SEEKS DELAY, REVIEW OF SPILL PREVENTION RULES - Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) urged Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Stephen Johnson last week to rethink new spill prevention regulations that would require secondary containment measures for airport fuel trucks.
National Transportation Safety Board plans to release a series of factual reports this morning from its continuing investigation into the Feb. 2 Challenger 600 overrun accident at the Teterboro, N.J. (TEB) Airport. The fully loaded airplane was unable to take off, ran off the end of a runway and crossed a highway, striking several cars before crashing into a warehouse and catching fire.
Bombardier sold three Q300 50-seat turboprop aircraft to Caribbean Aircraft Leasing. The aircraft will be operated by either of the company's regional affiliates, Caribbean Star Airlines Limited in Antigua or Caribbean Sun Airlines in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The aircraft are scheduled to be delivered beginning in the second quarter of 2006. The two airlines currently operate 12 37-seat Dash 8/Q Series 100 and six 50-seat Series 300 aircraft. Bombardier also placed two used 74-passenger Q400 turboprops with Royal Jordanian airlines.
Sino-Swearingen officials say they've finally won FAA certification for the company's SJ30-2 business jet, an aircraft that has been in development for nearly two decades. The certification includes day/night/IFR and single-pilot operations. Major items that still need approval include flight into icing conditions and the aircraft's interior.
ATR received an order from Spanish carrier Binter Canarias for an ATR 72-500 aircraft. The aircraft, which will replace an older 72-210 model, is slated for delivery in mid-2006. The order is a follow-on to a previous contract for six ATR 72-500 aircraft. ATR CEO Filippo Bagnato called the order further evidence "of the strong resurgence of the turboprop aircraft in the regional aviation market." ATR has received 60 new aircraft sales since the beginning of the year, the company said.
Washington Airports Task Force will present the Williams Trophy to FAA Administrator Marion Blakey during the organization's 23rd annual General Meeting Nov. 29. The task force established the award in 1996 to recognize individuals whose "leadership, vision and dedication in the application of aviation or space enriched the quality of life on earth." Past recipients include former astronaut and legislator John Glenn, former Transportation Secretary Elizabeth Dole, current Secretary Norman Mineta, National Air and Space Museum Director John "Jack" Dailey, FedEx Corp.
Transporation Security Administration officially okayed business jet travel into Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) beginning Oct. 18, but business aviation advocates continue to maintain that the airport is not truly open to private operations. The first two private flights since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks arrived at DCA Oct. 18 (BA, Oct. 24/181). Since then there have been zero private flights into DCA. Industry groups maintain that the requirements to get into the close-in airport are too severe and continue to appeal to TSA for relief.
Cirrus Design Corp., which will build some 600 single-engine SR20 and SR22 airplanes this year, is expected to make a major announcement during this week's Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Expo 2005 in Tampa, Fla. Speculation suggests the company will unveil a new turbocharged model.
