CESSNA Model 650 airplanes [Docket No. 2002-NM-332-AD] - revises an earlier proposed AD that would have required repetitive replacement of the horizontal stabilizer primary trim actuator assembly (HSTA) with a repaired assembly.
The White House has threatened to veto sweeping highway and transit authorization legislation because it includes a measure to provide bond authority to raise additional money for highway infrastructure projects. In a Statement of Administration Policy on H.R.3, the Transportation Equity Act, the administration said it "strongly opposes the establishment of an entity that would issue new debt instruments to provide additional transportation spending.
National Air Transportation Association took FAA to task last week for releasing a proposed rulemaking that would affect Part 135 and fractional operators but does not consider the implications of the requirements on those operators. "Sadly, this is not the first [notice of proposed rulemaking] in recent years that overlooked the impact on the managers and operators represented by NATA," the association said. "We implore the FAA to establish completion of an accurate review of affected entities, particularly for regulations impacting Part 135."
Gulfstream Aerospace delivered the first Gulfstream G450 business jet to a U.S.-based owner May 7, two years after the first flight of that model. The G450 is powered by twin Rolls-Royce Tay 611-8C engines.
May 16-19 - Regional Airline Association Annual Convention, Cincinnati, Ohio, (202) 367-1170 May 18-20 - European Business Aviation Association Convention and Exposition EBACE2005, Geneva, Switzerland, (202) 783-9000 June 4 - Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Fly-In, AOPA Headquarters, Frederick, Md., (301) 695-2000 June 5-8 - American Association of Airport Executives/International Association of Airport Executives, U.S. Airport Security Conference, Dublin, 703-824-0504, e-mail [email protected]
BOMBARDIER SIGNS DEALS TO BUILD NEW AIRLINER IN BELFAST, MONTREAL - Canadian manufacturer Bombardier announced agreements Friday with the governments of Canada, Quebec and the United Kingdom to build major components of its new C-Series family of 100-seat airliners in the U.K. and assemble the new planes in Montreal.
Eclipse Aircraft announced another price increase for its Eclipse 500 very light jet. As of May 9, the new base price is $1,295,000, in 2000 dollars. That equates to $1,424,000 when inflation is added through the end of 2004. The manufacturer last raised the price in January 2003 when it boosted the price for new orders to $1.15 million (BA, Feb. 3, 2003/47). While stressing that the Eclipse 500 remains "the lowest-cost" VLJ on the market, the company said the latest price boost was made necessary by cost increases it is experiencing.
Dassult Falcon made a successful first flight Friday with its Falcon 900DX business jet from the company's facility in Bordeaux, France. During the three-hour, 10-minute mission the aircraft reached an altitude of 41,000 feet and a maximum speed of 370 knots. "All systems performed flawlessly," said Etienne Faurdessus, one of two test pilots on board. "We verified aircraft and navigation systems.
Opponents of the Bush Administration's cuts in federal aviation spending are making themselves heard. The National Institute for Aerospace says NASA needs nearly $900 million in aeronautics funding annually, about half the level requested in the White House's fiscal 2006 budget request. The FAA's Management Advisory Council also published a report last week that was sharply critical of proposed FAA funding levels, which are significantly below levels authorized by Congress. See articles below.
JEFF REID was named vice president of subcontract and vendor relations for Executive Jet Management (EJM). Reid, who joined EJM in 2002, most recently was vice president of information technology. He also has served as a program manager for General Electric's E-Business and Engine Services groups.
Cessna Aircraft's first Mustang business jet has logged more than 36 hours in 19 flights since its April 23 first flight, the manufacturer said Thursday. After successfully achieving interim flight envelope limits of 200 KIAS at Flight Level 410, Cessna test pilots are now expanding the test envelope and expect to reach the aircraft's maximum speed by mid-summer.
NATA URGES FAA TO STUDY CVR COSTS BEFORE ORDERING CHANGES - The Federal Aviation Administration should halt its proposed rulemaking to impose new cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and digital flight data recorder (DFDR) requirements until it conducts a thorough analysis of the costs of those requirements to Part 91 and 135 operators, the National Air Transportation Association told the agency in comments submitted last week. FAA in February proposed requiring operators to upgrade CVR and DFDR equipment to improve the quality and quantity of information recorded.
Rockwell Collins AHS-1000 Attitude Heading Reference System (AHRS) won supplemental type certificate approval from FAA for installation on Learjet 31/35/35A/36/36A business jets. The AHS-1000 was designed to replace previous-generation analog and iron gyro systems, Collins said.
REPORT ON AERONAUTICS A 'WAKE-UP CALL- Congress should return NASA's aeronautics budget to 1998 levels to help assure the United States' leadership in aviation, a report by the National Institute for Aerospace (NIA) says.
Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer, known primarily as a designer and manufacturer of aircraft for commuter and regional air carriers, last week announced a strategic decision to become a full-line business jet manufacturer, confirming recent reports (BA, March 28/143).
ExelTech Aerospace signed an agreement with Magellan Group to provide spares support for ATR 42 and ATR 72 regional turboprops. Magellan Group supplies airframe and component spares from facilities in Shannon, Ireland and Boca Raton, Fla. Magellan will place more than $1 million of ATR inventory at ExelTech's facility in Montreal. Magellan will ship ATR components, which include flight controls and structural parts, from the Montreal warehouse to operators worldwide. ExelTech's facilities cover 230,000 square feet and include hangar, shop and office space.
Four's a charm? House appropriators last week okayed yet another measure ordering the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to reopen Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to general aviation. The measure, included in the fiscal 2006 homeland security appropriations bill, calls for DHS to reopen the airport within 90 days after the bill is enacted. The language is one of four separate provisions ordering DCA reopened to GA that have been offered this year (BA, May 2/197). DHS officials apparently are paying attention to the House demands.
AVFUEL, SIGNATURE FLIGHT SUPPORT EXPAND AGREEMENT - Avfuel Corp. and Signature Flight Support, the nation's largest independent aviation fuel supplier and largest chain of fixed-base operations, respectively, have signed a new agreement expanding their long-time relationship and entering into a major fuel support program. Avfuel has become one of Signature's largest fuel suppliers in recent years, and the new agreement will mean that Ann Arbor, Mich.-based Avfuel will be delivering fuel to even more Signature bases.
Jet Aviation's fixed-base operations in Bedford, Mass., Palm Beach, Fla., Teterboro, N.J. and Dallas were named preferred maintenance service centers for TAG Aviation USA. Under the agreement Jet Aviation will provide heavy maintenance, refurbishment, avionics, scheduled line and base maintenance, modifications, engine repair, cleaning and painting on aircraft operated by TAG Aviation. TAG Aviation operates more than 100 aircraft located at more than 50 locations.
