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.
ECLIPSE TEST PROGRAM EXPANDS WITH THIRD AIRCRAFT - Eclipse Aviation last week increased its flight test program with the addition of a third flight test aircraft, N504EA. The aircraft flew Thursday, exactly one week after the second flight test aircraft, N502EA, completed its first flight. Aircraft N504EA departed at 2:10 p.m. MDT from the Albuquerque, N.M. International Sunport for a one-hour flight. The aircraft flew to 16,800 feet and reached a speed of 170 knots. Eclipse used its first test aircraft, N503EA, as the chase plane for the flight.
LEARJET Model 23, 24, 25, 35, and 36 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-20798; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-257-AD] - proposes to supersede an existing AD that requires repetitive inspections to detect deterioration of both flappers of the tip tank in each wing of the airplane, and various follow-on actions. The existing AD also requires replacing the flappers with new flappers, and repetitively performing certain other follow-on actions.
AVIATION NEEDS LARGER SHARE OF DEVELOPMENT FUNDS, BLAKEY SAYS - FAA Administrator Marion Blakey last week called for international development banks to devote more resources to improving aviation infrastructure, and FAA plans to host a conference this year to highlight the issue.
GENERAL ELECTRIC CF34-8C1 series and CF34-8C5 series turbofan engines [Docket No. 2003-NE-58-AD; Amendment 39-14030; AD 2005-07-06] - supersedes an existing AD that applies to CF34-8C1 series and CF34-8C5 series turbofan engines with certain serial number (SN) master variable geometry (VG) actuators installed. That AD requires initial and repetitive reviews of the airplane Maintenance Data Computer (MDC) for master VG actuator fault messages, and if the MDC is inoperative, reviews of the Engine Indication and Crew Alerting System for fault messages.
FAA Administrator Marion Blakey last week reiterated her claims that the agency is "still facing the real problem with the way the financing of our system has been structured." Only the U.S. and 13 much smaller countries, such as the Bahamas, Kuwait, Samoa, Togo and Tuvalu, don't charge for the actual cost of air traffic control services, she said.
Congress is continuing to press for the Department of Homeland Security to lift its nearly four-year-old ban on general aviation operations at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Burns said. The senator did not know whether legislation would be the answer, and said, "It would take just a good talk with the Secret Service. It's time for it to happen." Burns said he is considering holding a hearing on the issue.
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson announced a series of events to be held in October that will preview some of the technologies that will fly in next year's X Prize Cup. Called "Countdown to the X Prize Cup," the event will include demonstration flights of reusable spacecraft by future X Prize Cup contenders at the Las Cruces International Airport, static hardware displays, educational events and simulated weightless flights aboard Zero Gravity Corp.'s G-Force One aircraft.
BOMBARDIER Model DHC-8-400, -401, and -402 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-20860; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-043-AD] - proposes to require revising the Airworthiness Limitation section of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness of the Dash 8 400 series Maintenance Requirements Manual to reduce the life limits of the main landing gear (MLG) orifice support tube, upper bearing, and piston plug; and to reduce the threshold for initiating repetitive detailed inspections for cracking of the engine isolator brackets.
SENTIENT JET BUYS ATLANTIC AVIATION FLIGHT SERVICES - Private jet membership firm Sentient Jet increased its presence in the charter industry with the acquisition of Atlantic Aviation Flight Services (AAFS) from the private equity firm Voyager Group. Pittsburgh, Pa.-based Voyager acquired AAFS in March 2003 after Atlantic Aviation Corp. decided that it wanted to focus on the fixed-base operation business (BA, March 10, 2003/107). Voyager CEO James Dolan called the sale "highly positive for all involved.
SAUL ARCEO was appointed director of new aircraft sales for Bombardier Business Aircraft. Arceo, a 10-year Bombardier veteran, will sell Learjet, Challenger and Global business jets in a region stretching from the northern border of South America through Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean. He will be based in Dallas.
RUSS SMITH was appointed regional sales manager for the northeast region for DAC International. Smith, who joined DAC in 1996, has served as the test equipment program manager. Before that, he was general aviation manager for BFGoodrich/JcAIR. In his new position, he will be responsible for customers in 11 states in the Northeast region and Washington, D.C.
MEL HILDERBRAND was named senior vice president of customer operations for Meggitt/S-TEC. Hilderbrand will oversee program management, customer support and sales and marketing. He previously served with Bell Helicopter Textron.
