AEROSPATIALE Model ATR 42-500 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-20406; Directorate Identifier 2002-NM-242-AD; Amendment 39-14270; AD 2005-19-05] -- requires inspecting for correct installation of the fastener that attaches the ground braids on the elevator, modifying the forward bonded assembly of the elevator control rod, and corrective action if necessary.
HONEYWELL EYES WIRELESS SYSTEM TO IMPROVE CUSTOMER SUPPORT - Honeywell Aerospace is evaluating a technology used in the automotive and industrial markets that the company hopes will substantially strengthen its customer support capabilities. Honeywell is developing a Telematics sensor that can be imbedded in an aircraft's electronic components and transfer real-time operational information to Honeywell facilities once the aircraft has landed.
AOPA PROTESTS FAA APPROACH TO MU-2B REVIEW - The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association objected to the Federal Aviation Administration's decision to conduct a certification review of the Mitsubishi MU-2B turboprop, saying the accident history of the aging MU-2B turboprop fleet suggests that problems stem more from operational and training shortcomings than from the aircraft's airworthiness.
LOCKHEED MARTIN TOLD TO FIX AERIAL COMMON SENSOR PROGRAM - The U.S. Army has halted work on the troubled Aerial Common Sensor (ACS) development program and told prime contractor Lockheed Martin to come up with a fix-it plan in 60 days. The Army announced its decision late Sept. 14 after reviewing the ACS design with Lockheed Martin and concluding that "the weight of the ACS payload and required airframe modifications exceed the structural limits of Lockheed Martin's selected aircraft," the Embraer ERJ-145 regional jet.
NATA'S COYNE ASKS CONGRESS TO STEP IN ON SPILL PREVENTION REGS - National Air Transportation Association President James Coyne last week sent a letter to all 535 members of Congress urging them to block enforcement of Environmental Protection Agency spill protection rules that call for secondary containment for fuel trucks. Coyne told Congress that the rules would deal aviation businesses "a significant blow at a time when they can least afford it." Coyne added that the physical requirements of the rule would reduce safety and security.
BAE Jetstream Model 4101 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-22290; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-129-AD] - proposes to require modifying the wiring of the starter-generator terminal block. This proposed AD results from a report of total electrical failure just as the airplane landed. FAA is proposing this AD to prevent total electrical failure and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane. This proposed AD would affect about 57 airplanes on the U.S. Registry at a cost of $37,050, or $650 per airplane. Send any comments by Oct.
NTSB ACTING CHAIR FAULTS RUNWAY SAFETY TECHNOLOGY, CALLS FOR NEW SYSTEMS - One of the Federal Aviation Administration's key technologies for preventing runway incursions, the Airport Movement Area Safety System (AMASS), is not good enough to protect against such incursions, Mark Rosenker, the acting chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, told a meeting of the American Association of Airport Executives last week. "Analysis of several near collisions has shown that AMASS performance is not adequate to prevent serious accidents," Rosenker said.
National Business Aviation Association is offering a new Web-based product that provides real-time flight operational information. The National Airspace Status Briefing, developed by the NBAA GA Desk at the FAA Air Traffic Control System Command Center, provides information on ground delay programs, ground stops, arrival and departure delays, en route constraints, reroutes, departure restrictions and collaborative convection forecasts. NBAA is offering the Web tool for a subscription fee.
Warning that "current taxes and fees paid into the Aviation Trust Fund, which provide funding for the National Aviation System, are only authorized through Sept. 30, 2007," FAA published a notice last week urging its constituents to participate in developing a new funding system for the agency.
Jet Aviation Engineering Services secured an FAA supplemental type certificate for a VIP interior installed in a Boeing 767. The yearlong project was a joint effort between Jet Aviation's facilities in San Antonio, Texas and Basel, Switzerland. The interior includes a library, bedrooms with adjoining lavatories, a dining room and a salon. The cabin has wireless Internet access, high-speed data service, satellite television, air filtration and humidification, digital entertainment and a cabin management system.
The Internal Revenue Service is allowing truck drivers to purchase aviation-grade kerosene (jet fuel) from certain airports without violating certain excise tax requirements. The relief, designed to help deal with Hurricane Katrina-related fuel shortages, extends through Nov. 1 and applies to five airports in New Orleans, Memphis, Dallas and Houston. The relief also comes as business aviation groups and the IRS are scrambling to deal with new tax laws designed to cut down on highway use of jet fuel. Beginning Oct.
COMMERCE OFFICIAL TO HEAD FAA'S INTERNATIONAL OFFICE - FAA Administrator Marion Blakey last week appointed former U.S. Commerce Department official Joseph Bogosian to head the agency's Office of International Aviation. Bogosian will assume his new job as assistant administrator-international aviation on Oct. 3, reporting directly to Blakey. He will be the second person to hold this title, which was created in February 2003 as one of Blakey's moves to increase FAA's focus on international affairs.
SENATORS PUSH TO MAINTAIN NASA AERONAUTICS R&D - Four Republican senators representing NASA research centers and a Democrat from Washington state are trying to amend the agency's appropriations for the next fiscal year to maintain the same level for aeronautics research and development programs as in fiscal 2005.
Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) last week appealed to the Transportation Security Administration to aggressively move toward reopening Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to light general aviation aircraft.
TURBOMECA Arrius 2F turboshaft engines [Docket No. FAA-2005-22039; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-33-AD; Amendment 39-14238; AD 2005-17-17] - requires replacing certain O-rings on the check valve piston in the lubrication unit. This AD results from a report of a forced landing of a Eurocopter EC120B helicopter. FAA is issuing this AD to prevent an uncommanded in-flight shutdown of the engine, which could result in a forced autorotation landing and damage to the helicopter. Effective date was Sept. 12, but FAA will accept comments until Oct. 25.
SAAB 2000 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-22255; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-106-AD] - proposes to require modifying the manual feather-and-unfeather system for the propellers to make the design of the system more robust. This proposed AD results from reports of in-flight engine shutdown caused by uncommanded operation of the feather pump of the propeller. FAA is proposing this AD to prevent uncommanded feathering of the propeller, which could result in the shutdown of an engine during flight and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane.
FAA SHELVES SDR OVERHAUL, OPTS FOR MINOR CHANGES IN SHORT TERM - The Federal Aviation Administration last week scrapped a rule it released five years ago to overhaul the service difficulty report (SDR) requirements, proposing instead to make several minor changes to reporting requirements while it continues to study how best to improve the process. The agency on Sept. 15, 2000 released the original rule increasing the requirements for Part 121, 125 and 135 operators to report problems that crop up with aircraft, engines, systems and components.
FAA STRENGTHENS BAN ON MISLEADING, FRAUDULENT PRODUCT CLAIMS - The Federal Aviation Administration Friday released a rule strengthening its ban on false or misleading claims about type-certificated products.
SKIP WOOD was named chief pilot for Mayo Aviation. Wood, who joined Mayo in 2003, has more than 9,000 flight hours in military and civilian aircraft. He served in the U.S. Navy for 24 years. He also has flown for American Eagle Airlines and United Airlines.
RICHARD KRAVIT was named director of contracts and general counsel for Mooney Airplane Company. Kravit has a 24-year legal career and has 14 years of aviation industry experience. Most recently he was director of contracts and in-house counsel for M7 Aerospace LP, the firm that purchased the U.S. assets of Fairchild Dornier. He also has been contract director and associate general counsel for Fairchild Dornier and was president of Fluf Inc., a Milwaukee, Wis.-based charter firm.
