The Transportation Department and FAA, pushing for new ways to cover FAA's growing budget, are bringing in senior government officials from both agencies and representatives of a number of international organizations to join the debate about funding alternatives at a two-day forum next week (BA, March 21/129).
NEW WORLD SHIFTS MANAGEMENT AFTER ETTINGER DEPARTURE - Allentown, Pa. charter and aircraft management company New World Aviation made a number of senior level changes after Robert Ettinger, the chief executive officer who had been with the company since its founding in 1998, resigned suddenly last month. New World appointed Ralph Hubbell, a 35-year aviation business executive, to replace Ettinger.
Raytheon Aircraft redesignated its Beechcraft Bonanza and Baron lines the Beechcraft Bonanza G36 and Beechcraft Baron G58, to reflect the newly upgraded Garmin G1000 integrated avionics package. Raytheon, which announced plans in August to incorporate the Garmin glass cockpits into Bonanzas and Barons, expects FAA certification for the G36 and G58 later this year.
Mooney Aircraft Company reorganized its customer support operation and named three men to new positions. Todd Bates, who previously operated his own maintenance facility, was named director of service center relations, responsible for interfacing with Mooney's 35 authorized service centers. Bates joined Mooney a year ago. Mike Poligala was appointed director of customer service, responsible for technical support and warranty claims and coverage.
Cessna Aircraft won certification for its Citation Sovereign business jet from both the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA). The certifications clear the way for Sovereigns to be registered in all 25 European countries adhering to EASA regulations and 10 nations following JAA regulations. The manufacturer won FAA certification in June.
FOKKER Model F.28 Mark 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-20871; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-212-AD] - proposes to require a detailed inspection to determine the presence of incorrectly installed bushings in the attachment holes of the reinforcing strap of the left- and right-hand wings' lower skin, and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD is prompted by a report that bushings were installed in accordance with improper procedures in the structural repair manual.
Elliott Aviation received FAA supplemental type certificate approval to install Universal Class A terrain awareness and warning systems in Cessna Citation 550/560 series aircraft. The STC is the latest in a series of STCs that Elliott holds for the Citation 550/560 aircraft.
National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) has "grave concerns" about the "rush" to change FAA's current funding system to a user-fee system, John Carr, president of the controllers' union, told the House aviation subcommittee last week. "It is no secret that some believe user fees would remove the congressional oversight committees and elected officials from the decision-making process," Carr said. "We believe that the safety of our skies is a sacred public trust and it is the role of our elected officials to protect that trust."
JIM TURNER was named a partner in the international law firm of Arnold & Porter. Turner, a former U.S. congressman from Texas, is joining Arnold & Porter's public policy and government contracts practice in the Washington office. Turner spent eight years in Congress and was the ranking Democrat on the House Select Committee on Homeland Security and the Armed Services Committee's terrorism subcommittee.
Jet Aviation formed a new unit in its charter services department dedicated exclusively to carrying executives of companies engaged in "road show" presentations leading to initial public offerings of stock.
Carr also reiterated NATCA's skepticism over claims of declining trust fund balances (BA, April 11/164), saying, "Some will attempt to cloud the issue by talking about trust fund balances that may decline as a result of certain policy choices or framing the issue as revenue per flight." But Carr disputed the long-held view by many Washington officials that each flight adds to the cost of the system.
Digital Cyclone has expanded its Pilot My-Cast aviation weather information service to provide access to owners of data-enabled cellular telephones. The service is available through major providers, including AT&T/Cingular, Sprint PCS, Verizon, Nextel, T-Mobile, Alltel, Southern LINC, US Cellular and Midwest Wireless. Pilot My-Cast Version 4.0 provides information for specific airports or routes with color displays of weather information and maps.
EXTRA FLUGZEUGPRODUKTIONS-UND VERTRIEBS-GMBH Models EA-300, EA-300S, EA-300L, and EA-300/200 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-20588; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-11-AD] - proposes to require sealing with firewall sealant the gaps between the bottom fuselage cover (belly fairing) and the firewall and repeating the sealing procedure whenever bottom fuselage cover is installed. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for Germany.
Kansas City Aviation Center, located at Johnson County, Kan. Executive Airport, will host members of the Pilatus Owners and Pilots Association (POPA) during a three-day convention in Kansas City beginning April 20. Nearly 50 Pilatus PC-12s are expected to arrive for the event. KCAC has been an authorized PC-12 sales and service center since 2000.
Soloy received an order for its first Allstar AS350 conversion from Brazilian distributor Global Air Strategy of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The conversion replaces the Turbomeca powerplant with the Rolls-Royce 250C30 engine. Working through Global Air Strategy, Soloy received Brazilian approval for the AS350/Rolls-Royce modification.
New Piper Aircraft selected Avidyne's FlightMax Entegra integrated flight deck as standard equipment on the Piper Meridian. The Meridian becomes the eighth aircraft in the New Piper product line to carry the Entegra glass cockpit. The Entegra also is offered on the PA-28 family (the Warrior III, Archer III and Arrow) and the PA-32 family (Saratoga II HP, Saratoga II TC, Piper 6X and Piper 6XT).
LUKE GILL joined the Thomas Group as executive vice president. Gill will work with the company's aerospace and Air Force client base. He has more than 40 years of military and aerospace experience, including a 25-year Air Force career. He also has held logistics and maintenance positions at Continental, Northwest and Southwest Airlines as well as Lockheed Martin.
DORNIER Model 328-100 and -300 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-20869; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-09-AD] - proposes to require operators to install colored identification strips on the pulley brackets, fairlead bracket assemblies, operational assemblies, and flight control cables. This proposed AD is prompted by a report that the flight control systems do not have elements that are distinctively identified.
BALLISTIC RECOVERY SYSTEMS INC., which builds parachutes to rescue small aircraft, signed a nonbinding letter of intent to buy Free Flight Enterprises, an aviation safety systems company. The acquisition, subject to due diligence and a final agreement, is expected to close in early summer. Free Flight builds custom parachutes for commercial and recreational aircraft, including ultralights, hang gliders and parafoils. It is based in Lake Elsinore, Calif. Ballistic Recovery Systems is based in South St. Paul, Minn.
JEAN-MICHEL COMTOIS was appointed vice president of the military aviation business unit for CMC Electronics. Comtois joined CMC in February 2000 and has served as vice president of government and public affairs since September 2002. He is a retired general in the Canadian Armed Forces.
NTSB Bar Association will hold its Aviation and Transportation Law Conference June 8-10 in the NTSB Auditorium adjacent to 490 L'Enfant Plaza East, S.W. in Washington, D.C. For more information, contact Mark McDermott at Joseph, McDermott & Reiner, P.C. at (202) 331-1955 or fax at (202) 293-2309.
Liberty Aerospace, which is developing the new XL2 single-engine aircraft, will open new sales offices this month at Addison Airport near Dallas, Texas and at the Hagerstown, Md. Airport. John Hurst, the former general manager for Europa Aircraft's North America office, will head the Addison office and Peter Lehmann will run the Hagerstown operation. Lehman, who spent six years as a Blackhawk helicopter crew chief in the U.S. Army, most recently was assistant chief flight instructor and marketing manager for King Aviation-Mansfield, in Mansfield, Mass.
