Ballistic Recovery Systems was selected to provide its parachute recovery system as an option on the Symphony 160 two-place, high-wing aircraft under a strategic alliance agreement signed with Symphony Aircraft Industries. Under the agreement, BRS will work with Symphony to design an integration package that will make the Three Rivers, Quebec plane-maker the first to offer the parachute recovery system as a factory option on a high-wing aircraft.
BAE Systems Analytical Solutions, working through the Aerospace Innovation Center, has developed simulation software to train aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul workers in lean techniques to improve efficiency, product flow and quality. BAE Systems teamed with Macon State College and the Georgia Institute of Technology's School of Industrial Engineering on the project. The Aerospace Innovation Center, a coalition among government, academia and private institutions in Georgia, partnered with BAE on the effort.
GOODRICH "FASTprop" propeller de-icers [Docket No. FAA-2005-20847; Directorate Identifier 2004-NE-35-AD] - proposes, for "FASTprop" propeller de-icers, Part Numbers P4E1188 series, P4E1601 series, P4E2200 series, P4E2271-10, P4E2575-7, P4E2575-10, P4E2598-10, P5855BSW, P6199SW, P6592SW, P6662SW, and P6975-11, installed, to require inspection, repair, or replacement of those "FASTprop" propeller de-icers that fail visual checks before the first flight each day.
TONY KOPRIVNIK was appointed a Learjet sales and service manager for Midcoast Aviation. Formerly a Learjet product manager for Midcoast, Koprivnik will oversee all service, sales and other customer matters for the Learjet operators.
GROB-WERKE Model G120A airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-20590; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-13-AD] - proposes to require replacing the main landing gear front and rear spherical bearings with improved spherical bearings. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for Germany. FAA is issuing this proposed AD to replace front and rear main landing gear bearings that are exposed to high axial loads, which could result in failure of the landing gear bearing.
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.
GULFSTREAM RESULTS HELP BUOY GD REVENUES, EARNINGS - General Dynamics credited an "absolutely superb quarter" by Gulfstream with helping the company post increases in revenues and earnings for the first quarter of 2005. General Dynamics reported first quarter 2005 revenues of $4.8 billion and earnings of $336 million compared with revenues of $4.6 billion and earnings of $269 million in 2004.
Alteon Training, a Boeing unit, is adding a training center on a 2.5-acre site near Singapore's Changi International Airport. The center is slated to open for training early next year and will be capable of training more than 6,000 pilots and flight attendant students annually. The facility will house six full flight simulators and other training devices. Initial plans call for the installation of a 777-200/300 and A320 full flight simulators.
Duncan Aviation installed a Max-Viz EVS-1000 enhanced vision system in a Gulfstream G-IVSP. An authorized Max-Viz dealer, Duncan worked with the Max-Viz certification team to develop the supplemental type certificate for the installation. The EVS-1000 uses uncooled, long-wave infrared sensors to gather data about runways, terrain and potential obstacles and displays images on a video-capable display system in the cockpit. It helps pilots operate in conditions such as haze, smoke, snow and rain.
CSSI, the Washington, D.C. transportation and engineering services firm, won a contract valued at up to $35 million over five years from the Federal Aviation Administration to provide research, engineering, analysis and policy support. The contract calls for CSSI to support FAA's Office of Operations Planning System Engineering, Office of Environment and Energy and Airports Community and Environmental Needs Division.
CESSNA, BELL GAINS LEAD TEXTRON TO 19 PERCENT JUMP IN REVENUE - Double-digit gains at both Cessna Aircraft and Bell Helicopter helped boost Textron's overall revenue by more than 19 percent in the first quarter and more than triple net income. Textron reported revenues of $2.8 billion and net income of $126 million in the first quarter. "Overall first quarter results were solid with excellent revenue growth and strong order intake at most of our businesses," said Textron Chairman, President and CEO Lewis Campbell.
Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.), who was named the chair of the Senate aviation subcommittee earlier this year, also doesn't believe FAA should get more general fund revenues. Asked during an interview with Aviation Week Group editors last week whether the general fund should help pay for FAA needs, Burns said "not right now.
Liberty Aerospace signed a memorandum of understanding with the Melbourne, Fla. Airport Authority to lease more than 52,000 square feet on the southeast quadrant of the airport that will become the company's new manufacturing center. The company also will move its headquarters to the new site. The manufacturing center is slated to open this summer, and the headquarters move should be completed by this fall. Liberty said the new facilities will accommodate the production of up to six aircraft per week.
Jet Aviation Palm Beach received FAA approval to maintain and provide avionics services for the Bombardier Global Express Model BD-700. The Palm Beach center also has FAA approval to maintain the entire fleet of Bombardier Learjets. The center covers 1.2 million square feet of hangar, office, workshop, fixed-base operation and ramp space, and houses a paint facility and completion department. Jet Aviation Palm Beach can maintain a number of aircraft types including Gulfstream, Falcon, Bombardier Challenger/Learjet/Global Express, Cessna Citation, and Embraer Legacy.
BURNS WANTS FORWARD-LOOKING AVIATION AGENDA - Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) plans to place the long-term needs of the air traffic control system at the top of the priority list as the aviation subcommittee begins to prepare for the next major Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill. Speaking to Aviation Week Group editors last week, the new subcommittee chairman said he wants the subcommittee to consider where the industry is headed in the next 20 to 25 years as it makes decisions on FAA regulations.
U.S. AVIATION INDUSTRY OFFICIALS are continuing to work with European operators to help them develop recommendations for regulating fractional aircraft ownership operations. The European Civil Aviation Conference tasked a working group with developing the recommendations, and members of that group have solicited input from aviation industry leaders (BA, Dec. 6/249). European operators, who met with their U.S. counterparts this month to discuss fractional regulation, were particularly interested in the compromise developed in the U.S.
LEARJET Model 23, 24, 24A, 24B, 24B-A, 24C, 24D, 24D-A, 24E, 24F, 24F-A, 25, 25A, 25B, 25C, 25D, 25F, 28, 29, 31, 31A, 35, 35A (C-21A), and 36 Airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-20872; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-271-AD] - proposes to require a one-time inspection of the center ball of the aileron control cable or cables for a defective swage, and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD is prompted by a report indicating that an aileron cable failed on one affected airplane when the cable underwent a tension check.
JAYME TODD was named Learjet product manager for Midcoast Aviation. Todd has more than 25 years of aviation maintenance experience, most recently with Raytheon Aircraft Services. A former U.S. Navy maintenance technician, he also has several years of experience with both commercial and military versions of Learjet aircraft.
CAE received a contract from the Federal Aviation Administration to provide initial and recurrent training to more than 150 agency pilots in various business aircraft. The five-year contract was awarded by FAA's Aviation System Standards Aviation Training Team at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City, Okla. CAE will train pilots at the CAE SimuFlite and Bombardier training centers in Dallas, Texas. The training aircraft will include the King Air 300, Hawker 800, Challenger 601 and 604 and Learjet 60.
Cessna Aircraft is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Cessna Caravan with a worldwide demonstration tour that includes locations in the U.S. and Canada throughout the year, the Caribbean and Central America this month, South America through July, Africa in August and September and Europe through October. Since the model was introduced in 1985, the Caravan fleet has accumulated more than 8 million flight hours and operates in 68 countries. Cessna has delivered more than 1,400 Caravans.
Gulfstream Aerospace signed an agreement with Aerospace Products International for API to provide worldwide spare parts sales support for the Gulfstream product line. Under the agreement, 33 API sales representatives will supplement Gulfstream parts sales representatives. "The immediate increase in the scope and capabilities of the sales team will enable our sales representatives to provide improved customer service and gain a better understanding of the customers' needs," said Larry Flynn, Gulfstream president, product support.
OPERATORS SEEING MUCH HIGHER PREMIUMS TO MEET EU WAR RISK MANDATES - National Business Aviation Association has asked the U.S. Department of Transportation to work with European regulators to provide relief from new war risk insurance requirements that are slated to take effect April 30. The war risk regulations establish mandatory passenger, cargo, baggage and third-party liability coverage for commercial and private aircraft flying to, over, or within a European Union member state. The required coverage increases based upon the weight of an aircraft.
HARTZELL PROPELLER Models HC-B3TN-2, HC-B3TN-3, HC-B3TN-5, HC-B4TN-3, HC-B4TN-5, HC-B4MN-5, and HC-B5MP-3 turbopropellers [Docket No. 83-ANE-14-AD; Amendment 39-14043; AD 83-08-01R2] - revises an existing AD that requires, before further flight, that all new propellers being installed and all serviceable propellers being reinstalled are attached using Part Number (P/N) B-3339 bolts and P/N A-2048-2 washers, and that the bolts are properly torqued.
GENERAL ELECTRIC CF34-8E series turbofan engines [Docket No. 2004-NE-06-AD; Amendment 39-14033; AD 2005-07-09] - supersedes an existing AD for CF34-8E series turbofan engines with certain serial number (SN) master variable geometry (VG) actuators installed. That AD currently requires initial and repetitive reviews of the airplane computer systems for master VG actuator fault messages. That AD also requires replacement of actuators reported faulty by the Full Authority Digital Engine Control. This AD requires the same reviews.
HESTER SMITH was appointed director of research for JB&A Aviation. Smith formerly was a business analyst for Phantom Works, Boeing's research and development unit. Before that she was a project management specialist and business process analyst for Boeing's International Space Station program.
