CESSNA Model 650 airplanes [Docket No. 2002-NM-332-AD; Amendment 39-14158; AD 2005-13-21] - requires inspecting to determine the part number of the actuator control unit (ACU) and replacing the ACU with a new, improved ACU if necessary. This AD also requires revising the Limitations section of the Airplane Flight Manual. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent uncommanded movement of the horizontal stabilizer, which could result in reduced controllability of the airplane. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.
BAE SYSTEMS Model BAe 146 and Avro 146-RJ airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-20757; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-192-AD; Amendment 39-14142; AD 2005-13-06] - requires modifying the auxiliary power unit (APU) exhaust duct in the environmental control system (ECS) bay; installing new, improved insulation on the APU exhaust duct; and replacing the existing drain pipe with a new exhaust drain pipe blank.
After months of discussions with industry representatives, FAA has amended an inspectors' Handbook Bulletin aimed at resolving concerns by some Part 135 operators about having to obtain expensive supplemental type certificates or comply with large-aircraft maintenance requirements. See article below.
FATALITIES UP SHARPLY IN FIRST HALF - The number of people killed in accidents involving U.S. non-airline jet and turboprop operators was up substantially in the first half of 2005 - from 16 in the first six months of 2004 to 36 this year - even though there was little change in the total number of accidents, according to data compiled by Robert E. Breiling Associates of Boca Raton, Fla.
Gulfstream Aerospace handed over the first mid-range G350 business jet to a customer. The shipment comes two months after Gulfstream began delivery of the long-range G450 to customers. The G350 and G450 have the same size cabin and baggage compartment, electrical and environmental control systems, engines, thrust reversers and PlaneView cockpit. Powered by two Rolls-Royce Tay 611-8C engines, the G350 will cruise at altitudes up to 45,000 feet at Mach .88 and has a range of 3,800 nautical miles. The G450 has a range of 4,350 nm.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-215-1A10 (Water Bomber), CL-215-6B11 (CL215T Variant), and CL-215-6B11 (CL415 Variant) series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-21595; Directorate Identifier 2002-NM-321-AD] - proposes to supersede an existing AD that applies to certain Bombardier Model CL-215-1A10 (Water Bomber), CL-215-6B11 (CL215T Variant), and CL-215-6B11 (CL415 Variant) series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires repetitive ultrasonic inspections to detect cracking of the lower caps of the wing front spar and rear spar, and corrective action if necessary.
COMMANDER OPERATORS BUY COMMANDER AIRCRAFT CORP. - A group of Commander owners bought Commander Aircraft Corporation from the company's bankruptcy trustee. The bankruptcy court approved the sale of the company late last month to Commander Premier Aircraft Corp. (CPAC), comprising more than 50 owners of Commander models. The acquisition includes the FAA type certificates for the Commander line as well as all jigs, tooling and other manufacturing assets. Under the approved acquisition, CPAC must move the assets, but it has not yet decided where to locate the company.
NBAA URGES FAA TO SHELVE CVR PROPOSAL UNTIL COST ANALYSIS IS DONE - The National Business Aviation Association urged the FAA to shelve its proposed rulemaking seeking upgraded cockpit voice recorders (CVRs) and digital flight data recorders (DFDRs) until the agency fully analyzes the costs of the new requirements (BA, Feb. 28/95). In comments on the Feb. 24 proposal, NBAA noted that FAA has furnished no evidence that it evaluated the effects of the proposal on the Part 91 and Part 135 on-demand markets, even though the requirements would cover those groups.
National Air Transportation Association today (July 11) will unveil a new program aimed at improving charter safety at a town hall meeting the association is hosting in Teterboro, N.J. Building on its ground service Safety Management System program, NATA has tailored a program for charter operators that involves senior management commitment, a new comprehensive safety manual, continuing education, third-party audits and data collection and analysis. Development of the program has involved a number of insurance and other industry leaders.
Rusty Cramer was appointed general manager for the General Dynamics Aviation Services center in West Palm Beach, Fla. Cramer will be responsible for all services performed on business jets. He has been with Gulfstream Aerospace for 21 years and most recently was manager of customer warranty programs at the company's corporate headquarters in Savannah, Ga. Before that he was a business analyst in Gulfstream's pre-owned sales department, and a regional sales manager for the Gulfstream service center in Savannah.
Ocean Air Aviation planned to open a new 4,000-square-foot executive terminal Saturday in North Bend, Ore. Ocean Air Aviation was formed in January 2004 by aviation veteran Edward Langerveld as a charter operator. The new fixed-base operation will be an Avfuel-branded facility and offer charter, ground transportation, catering, flight training, aircraft maintenance, aircraft sales and management.
Federal Aviation Administration last week warned that a Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) proposal to restrict access and increase fees at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey could violate grant assurance agreements. PANYNJ June 8 wrote FAA proposing to expand noise restrictions designated for Runway 24 to all runways, lower the maximum landing weight of aircraft from 100,000 pounds to 80,000 pounds and increase airport fees.
BAE SYSTEMS Model BAe 146 and Avro 146-RJ series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2004-18716; Directorate Identifier 2003-NM-240-AD; Amendment 39-14156; AD 2005-13-19] - requires repetitive external eddy current inspections of the forward fuselage skin to detect cracking due to fatigue, and repair if necessary. This AD is prompted by evidence of cracking due to fatigue along the edges of the chemi-etched pockets in certain front fuselage canopy skin panels.
July 11-14 - SAE International's Conference on Environmental Systems and European Symposium on Space Environmental Control Systems. Hotel Villa Pamphili, Rome. Call +1 (724) 776-4841 or see www.sae.org July 16 - National Aviation Hall of Fame 44th Annual Induction Ceremony, Dayton, Ohio, (937) 256-0944 July 18-19 - Airports Council International-North America, Summer Legislative Issues Conference, Washington, (202) 293-8500 x 3019, e-mail [email protected]
Garmin International was selected to supply its G1000 integrated avionics system for the Diamond D-JET personal jet. The G1000 integrates primary flight, navigation, communication, terrain, traffic, weather, engine instrumentation and crew-alerting system data on three high-definition displays - two primary flight displays and a centrally located multi-function display. The five-seat D-JET will cruise at 315 knots and have a maximum operating altitude of 25,000 feet. Diamond expects to begin deliveries in early 2007.
AVCRAFT DORNIER Model 328-100 and -300 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-20869; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-09-AD; Amendment 39-14139; AD 2005-13-03] - requires operators to install colored identification strips on the pulley brackets, fairlead bracket assemblies, operational assemblies, and flight control cables. This AD is prompted by a report that the flight control systems do not have elements that are distinctively identified.
State and federal government leaders are concerned that a recent incident involving a stolen aircraft from Danbury Airport in Connecticut demonstrates the vulnerabilities of general aviation airport security. A 20-year-old man, who reportedly had been drinking, allegedly stole a Cessna 172 from Danbury June 22 and flew it for five hours before landing at Westchester County Airport in New York.
BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON Model 206A, A-1, B, B-1, L, L-1, L-3, L-4 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2005-21680; Directorate Identifier 2004-SW-48-AD] - proposes to require, before the first flight of each day, checking the tail rotor blade root doublers for an edge void or de-bond on both sides of each blade, and if an edge void or de-bond is found, replacing the unairworthy blade with an airworthy blade. This proposal also would require replacing any affected serial-numbered blade with an airworthy blade.
GARMIN INTRODUCES PORTABLE AVIATION WEATHER DEVICE - Garmin International, Inc. introduced the GPSMAP 396, a portable aviation device that can display real-time weather information to pilots. The GPSMAP 396 with XM WX Satellite Weather, priced at $2,495, has Next Generation Radar, Aviation Routine Weather Reports, Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts, Temporary Flight Restrictions, Lightning and Winds Aloft and several other weather products.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700 & 701) series airplanes, and Model CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2004-19754; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-181-AD; Amendment 39-14138; AD 2005-13-02]-- requires revising the Airworthiness Limitations section of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness by incorporating new repetitive inspections and an optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections, and repairing any crack.
