BOMBARDIER TOUTS IMPROVED EARNINGS FOR FIRST HALF - Canadian manufacturer Bombardier reported significantly higher earnings for the second quarter and first half of the fiscal year ended July 31.
September 10-14 - 74th National Association of State Aviation Officials Annual Convention and Trade Show, Des Moines, Iowa, (301) 588-0587 September 15 - National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Regional Forum, Centennial Airport, Denver, Colo., (202) 783-9000 September 15-16 - National Air Transportation Association Line Service Supervisor Training, Dayton, Ohio, (703) 845-9000
TESTS TO BEGIN ON ANTI-MANPADS SYSTEM FOR AIRCRAFT - Northrop Grumman Corp. plans to begin operational testing and evaluation of its Guardian anti-missile protection system aboard an MD-11 airliner, followed by more tests aboard a Boeing 747 later this year, the company said Aug. 22. The planned tests came after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security approved the design of Guardian, intended to protect commercial airliners from attack by man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS).
GAMA'S VALENTINE TO RETIRE - Barry L. Valentine, the former acting FAA Administrator who most recently has been senior vice president of international affairs for the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, plans to retire Sept. 30. He will be 62. Valentine told BA he hopes to remain active in the aviation community and continue his duties on the board of the Experimental Aircraft Association. But Valentine, who has spent more than a decade maintaining a rigorous travel schedule, said he hopes to sharply scale back his activities.
Brazilian manufacturer Embraer confirms it has sales and deposits for its recently announced Very Light and Light Jet offerings - "there has been quite a bit of interest," according to a spokesman - but the real push on marketing and sales has not begun. Officials say there is still a lot of product definition work left to do, including the selection of an avionics supplier, which is expected to be completed in the near future.
United Services, the aircraft maintenance division of United Airlines, created a network with four large aircraft maintenance providers - Executive Air, JET Aircraft Maintenance, Jett Care and Pegasus Aircraft Maintenance - to expand its line-maintenance capabilities from the current 31 airports to more than 50 airports worldwide. The network provides routine and non-routine service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including emergency aircraft on the ground (AOG), engine changes, sheet-metal repair, and other mechanical and ground-handling services.
ALASKAN AVIATION PIONEER CARL BRADY DIES AT 85 - Carl Brady, 85, who is credited with bringing the first helicopter to Alaska, died Aug. 20 in Anchorage of natural causes.
Summary: This notice contains a summary of certain petitions seeking relief from specified requirements of 14 CFR, dispositions of certain petitions previously received, and corrections. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities.
Wencor & APS won a contract to supply its digEplayer portable in-flight entertainment units for charter operator Russia Jet Direct's Boeing 757. The units will offer programming in Russian and English. Russia Jet Direct will shuttle oil executives and workers to oilfields on Russia's Sakhalin Island using a Boeing 757 operated by Ryan International Airlines. The jet will be fitted with 84 Business Deluxe and 36 Comfort Plus seats. The first flight to Anchorage and Yuzhno was scheduled to leave from Houston, Texas Aug. 26.
ATG TO BUILD MANUFACTURING FACILITY AT FRONT RANGE - Aviation Technology Group (ATG) selected Front Range Airport (FTG) in Adams County, Colo. as the home for its new manufacturing facility.
JOE TALARICO was named Northeast regional engine manager for Dallas Airmotive. Talarico will manage Rolls-Royce Spey and Tay engine programs as well as Honeywell 36 series auxiliary power unit services for the Dallas-based engine repair and overhaul specialist. Talarico has been with the company for 26 years and most recently specialized in Rolls-Royce and Pratt & Whitney Canada products as a lead technician and manager for the Millville, N.J. service hangar. Talarico will remain based in Millville.
SOCATA Model TBM 700 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-21464; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-32-AD] - proposes to require inspecting the fuselage skin in the VHF1 antenna mounting area for cracks and loose rivets. This proposed AD also would require modifying the area if cracks or loose rivets are found. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for France. FAA is issuing this proposed AD to detect and correct cracks in the fuselage skin, which could result in loss of aircraft pressurization.
Precision Castparts, which announced plans earlier this month for a two-for-one stock split, said Friday that it is buying a West Virginia company in a move designed to move the company into new markets. See articlebelow.
THE NEW PIPER AIRCRAFT Models PA-34-200T, PA-34-220T, PA-44-180, and PA-44-180T airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-21590; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-33-AD; Amendment 39-14199; AD 2005-15-10] - supersedes AD 2003-11-14, which applies to certain New Piper Models PA-34-200T, PA-34-220T, PA-44-180, and PA-44-180T airplanes that have a Model 91E92-1 or Model 91E93-1 combustion heater fuel pump installed. AD 2003-11-14 currently requires a one-time inspection of the combustion heater fuel pumps for fuel leakage and if leakage is found, repairing or replacing the fuel pump.
FlightSafety International has developed a Twin Commander aircraft-training program in Houston, Texas. The program includes initial and recurrent training for pilots and maintenance personnel. FlightSafety has installed two Level A Twin Commander simulators that will be used in the training. The Houston learning center also trains those who fly and maintain Bombardier Challenger, Raytheon King Air and Hawker, Embraer regional jets and ATR turboprop aircraft.
SOCATA Model TBM 700 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-21464; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-32-AD] - proposes to require inspecting the fuselage skin in the VHF1 antenna mounting area for cracks and loose rivets. This proposed AD also would require modifying the area if cracks or loose rivets are found. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for France. FAA is issuing this proposed AD to detect and correct cracks in the fuselage skin, which could result in loss of aircraft pressurization.
Eclipse Aviation teamed with Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell and Albuquerque Technical Vocational Institute (TVI) to develop a training program to prepare students for entry-level aviation manufacturing positions. Classes for the new program will begin Oct. 3 at TVI and cover assembly and installation techniques, tool usage, blueprint reading and theory of flight and safety.
Summary: This notice contains a summary of certain petitions seeking relief from specified requirements of 14 CFR, dispositions of certain petitions previously received, and corrections. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities.
CHC TAKING EQUITY POSITION IN BRAZILIAN FIRM - Canadian helicopter operator CHC Helicopter Corp. was granted "an irrevocable option to acquire an equity position" in Brazilian Helicopter Services (BHS), CHC said this month. CHC also said it will provide operational expertise on safety management systems, maintenance procedures, technical support and flight standards. Heli-One, the helicopter support company that CHC launched early this year, will provide helicopter leasing services and access to its worldwide fleet of aircraft and power-by-the-hour maintenance support.
ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY Model R-22 series helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2005-22026; Directorate Identifier 2005-SW-05-AD; Amendment 39-14210; AD 2005-16-05] - requires inspecting the left-hand door and right-hand door for a crack in the door assembly integral frame, and replacing the door assembly if a crack is found.
ERIN HOLMES joined Schubach Aviation as charter sales/operations representative. Holmes oversees sales and charter flight coordination and assists with the company's day-to-day operations. She has five years of aviation industry experience and is a certified flight instructor and a single/multi-engine-rated commercial pilot. Holmes has a bachelor's degree in finance with a minor in French from Boston College.
