Adam Aircraft retained Shelly Simi to manage media relations, external communications and trade show presentations for the Colorado-based plane-maker. Simi, who has more than 17 years of industry experience, formerly was vice president of communications for the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. Before joining GAMA in 1989, Simi was a flight coordinator for Federal Express. She has been involved in a number of industry organizations, was a founding board member of Women In Aviation and is a former president of the Aero Club of Washington, D.C.
Honeywell shipped the initial prototype HTS900 turboshaft engine to Bell Helicopter for the Model 407X helicopter. Bell selected the HTS900 in February to power the new model. The 407X was selected by the U.S. Army as its Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter.
BIZJET International, a Tulsa, Okla. aircraft maintenance facility, was selected as an authorized service center for Jet Support Services, Inc. (JSSI), which offers fixed-cost maintenance plans for turbine aircraft. The agreement covers hot sections, overhauls, airframe maintenance, paint, avionics and interiors.
GULFSTREAM Model Gulfstream 100 airplanes, Model Astra SPX and 1125 Westwind Astra airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-22511; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-120-AD] - proposes to require a one-time inspection for discrepancies of the nose wheel steering assembly of the landing gear, installation of a warning placard on each nose landing gear door, and corrective action if necessary. This proposed AD is prompted by reports of failure of the steering brackets of the nose wheel steering assembly, and in one incident, loss of steering control.
MICHIGAN SCHOOL TO REPLACE CESSNAS WITH CIRRUS FLEET - Western Michigan University officials have decided to phase out their single-engine training fleet of Cessna 172s in favor of a new lease agreement with Cirrus Design Corp. WMU signed a 10-year lease with the Duluth, Minn. manufacturer under which the school will get a fleet of 30 SR20 and SR22 airplanes. The agreement calls for the Cirrus airplanes to be replaced every two years. The first of the new aircraft is scheduled for delivery this month to WMU's W.K. Kellogg Airport facility in Battle Creek, Mich.
TURBOMECA Arrius 2F turboshaft engines [Docket No. FAA-2005-22430; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-34-AD; Amendment 39-14275; AD 2005-19-10] - requires removing from service certain serial number fuel control units (FCUs) or replacing the constant delta pressure diaphragm in those FCUs. This AD results from a report of an accident in July 2005 involving a Eurocopter EC120B helicopter. FAA is issuing this AD to prevent an uncommanded engine in-flight shutdown on a single-engine helicopter, resulting in a forced autorotation landing or an accident. Effective date was Oct.
RAYTHEON Model 390 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-21410; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-31-AD; Amendment 39-14272; AD 2005-19-07] - requires replacing the rudder pedal arm assemblies used in the rudder control system with parts of improved design. This AD results from reports of cracks found on the rudder pedal arm assemblies. FAA is issuing this AD to prevent failure of the rudder pedal arm assemblies caused by fatigue cracks. This failure could lead to loss of rudder control, loss of nose gear steering, and loss of toe brakes on the side on which the failure occurs.
Lockheed Martin took over operations Oct. 4 of FAA's 58 Automated Flight Service Stations (AFSS) in the contiguous U.S., Hawaii and Puerto Rico. The takeover followed an eight-month transition period that began when Lockheed Martin won a $1.7 billion public-private outsourcing contract (BA, Feb. 7/59). The company said it has hired more than 1,750 former government employees since then.
General Aviation Manufacturers Association named Katie Pribyl director of communications. Pribyl formerly served with Phaneuf Associates, where she conducted studies and assessments of aviation safety data for the FAA National Aviation Safety Data Analysis Center. She also was a line pilot with Atlantic Coast Airlines/Independence Air. Pribyl participated in the airline's public outreach programs and on its air carrier certification team. Pribyl holds a bachelor of science degree in aeronautical science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
The Federal Aviation Administration warned pilots to pay close attention to the operating characteristics of the MU-2 turboprop while the agency continues an in-depth safety evaluation of the airplane. In a Sept. 30 letter to MU-2 owners and operators, the agency said it was taking a close look at the aircraft's certification, training, maintenance, service difficulty and accident history "to determine what steps are necessary to ensure its continued safe operation."
AIR GROUP EXPANDING OPERATIONS AT TETERBORO - The Air Group, one of the nation's leading aircraft management and charter companies, is planning a major expansion of its East Coast presence with a new facility at the Teterboro, N.J. (TEB) Airport.
Phil Michel was named chairman of the BE A PILOT program for 2006. Michel, a 30-year veteran of Cessna Aircraft, recently announced his plans to retire from the aircraft manufacturer in April (BA, Sept. 26/139). Michel has been involved in the BE A PILOT Program since its inception in the mid-1990s and most recently served as its communications chairman. AOPA President Phil Boyer, one of the organizers of the program in the 1990s, will serve as 2006 Communications Committee chairman.
Flight Explorer named James Kelly president and chief executive. Kelly joined Flight Explorer in 2001 after founding and serving as president and CEO of SynXis, a hotel reservation management software provider and its telecom spin-off, Innovectra. He also has been vice president, international of BDM, a technical services firm that is now part of Lockheed Martin, and international programs vice president at SAIC.
ROLLS-ROYCE (formerly Allison) Models 250-C28, -C28B, and -C28C turboshaft engines [Docket No. FAA-2005-22534; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-27-AD; Amendment 39-14305; AD 2005-20-11] - requires a one-time visual inspection of the seal joint in each passage between airfoils at the hub and shroud of third-stage turbine wheels, Part Number (P/N) 6899383. This AD results from reports of three failed third-stage turbine wheels and from the manufacturer's analysis of those failures.
National Air Transportation Association last week released an "Action Call" appealing to members to write their members of Congress seeking a hold on a new law calling for taxing certain jet fuel at 24.4 cents per gallon - the highway diesel fuel rate - rather than at 21.9 cents, the aviation jet fuel rate. The new law went into effect Oct. 1, but the IRS has yet to issue rules about who is eligible to obtain a rebate for the difference between the highway and aviation tax rates.
DAVIS IN, GALDI, AMOS OUT AT ATLANTIC FLIGHT SERVICES - Tom Davis, a 35-year veteran of the business and commercial aviation industry, was named president and chief executive of Atlantic Aviation Flight Services (AAFS), the operating subsidiary of Sentient Jet. Davis will replace Scott Galdi, who is stepping down as president to pursue other business interests. Also leaving is Christine Amos, who had been executive vice president.
Aerospace Products International (API) increased its portfolio of parts supplies with the purchase of an inventory of spare parts for Beechcraft aircraft. API has spare parts to support King Air, Baron and Bonanza aircraft and said it will support Beechcraft customers 24 hours a day, seven days per week.
BUSINESS JET ACCIDENTS CONTINUE TRENDING UPWARD - The number and severity of accidents involving turbine-powered business aircraft continues to be higher this year than last, according to information compiled by Robert E. Breiling Associates, Inc. of Boca Raton, Fla.
National Association Of State Aviation officials has written to key members of Congress urging them to resist "all attempts to raid the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, including airline industry calls for new tax breaks." Airline lobbyists are trying to get the 4.3-cent federal tax on fuel rolled back, NASAO said, adding that news reports suggest airline interests also want to get Congress "to suspend the 7.5 percent excise tax on passenger tickets." NASAO said the proposed tax cuts or suspensions would seriously erode the Airport and Airway Trust Fund and jeopardize the
FAA last week was flooded with comments - mostly in opposition - to its proposal to make permanent the temporary flight restrictions on operations in Washington, D.C.-area airspace. FAA in August released the proposal, which calls for a permanent National Defense Airspace Region that would encompass the inner Flight Restricted Zone and the more sweeping Air Defense Identification Zone (BA, Aug. 8/59).
DAVID DANIELS was appointed avionics manager for Garrett/Piedmont Hawthorne/Associated in Springfield, Ill. Daniels, who was an avionics technician in the U.S. Navy, most recently was a senior project manager at Duncan Aviation. He also has served with KAL-Aero in Battle Creek, Mich.
TELEDYNE CONTINENTAL MOTORS GTSIO-520 series reciprocating engines [Docket No. FAA-2005-20850; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-05-AD; Amendment 39-14297; AD 2005-20-04] - requires initial and repetitive visual inspections of the starter adapter assembly and crankshaft gear. This AD also requires unscheduled visual inspections of the starter adapter assembly and crankshaft gear due to a rough-running engine. This AD also requires replacement of the starter adapter shaft gear needle bearing with a certain bushing.
