AvData has released its 2005 edition of the Jet & Propjet Corporate Directory, which lists more than 24,000 aircraft operating in the U.S. and 141 other nations. The directory includes more than 300 different models and derivatives produced by more than 40 manufacturers. The directory lists aircraft registrations, owners, models, aircraft manufacturers and previous registration marks. The directory costs $21.95. To order, contact AvData Inc., 101 First St., 2nd Floor, Utica, N.Y.
ECLIPSE ADDS SECOND AIRCRAFT TO FLIGHT TEST PROGRAM - Eclipse Aviation added a second Eclipse 500 very light jet to its flight test program April 14 with the first flight of N502EA. The aircraft departed at 12:55 p.m. from Albuquerque International Sunport for a flight that lasted one hour and 30 minutes. The aircraft completed basic handling tests at various flap settings and cabin pressurization and electrical system tests. The first aircraft, N503EA, which completed its inaugural flight Dec.
National Business Aviation Association has been urging the Department of Transportation to provide some flexibility in a rule limiting foreign air carriers to six flights a year to the U.S. before they must obtain permits for further flights into the U.S. European fractional aircraft and charter operators first raised the issue, but Latin American operators attending the Latin America Business Aviation Conference and Exposition (LABACE) last month also expressed concerns about the limitations. DOT has stated a willingness to explore the issue, an NBAA official said.
TERRY FLAISHANS was named vice president of engineering for Meggitt/S-TEC. Flaishans will be responsible for all engineering and flight engineering activities, including work on very-light-jet projects and digital autopilot upgrades. He joins Meggitt/S-Tech from Honeywell Aerospace Electrical Systems.
AOPA BACKS FAA PLAN ON MOST NDB APPROACHES - The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association endorsed the Federal Aviation Administration's plan to eliminate redundant and underused non-directional beacon (NDB) approaches, but urged the agency to retain 57 approaches that the association believes are still necessary. FAA March 3 published a list of 479 NDB approaches that the agency would like to eliminate, saying the resulting cost savings will be used to expand the availability of Wide Area Augmentation System-capable area navigation [RNAV] instrument approach procedures.
ELIZABETH HURLEY BURKS joined Arnold & Porter as a senior policy and legislative adviser. Burks has 12 years of experience on Capitol Hill working as an aide for Sen. Blanche Lambert Lincoln (D-Ark.) when Lincoln served in the House. Burks also served with then-Rep. Jim Turner (D-Texas).
Universal Avionics and Duncan Aviation announced an agreement under which Duncan Avionics in Lincoln, Neb. will serve as "the first and only authorized service center in the United States for Universal Avionics." Duncan has been a leading sales outlet for Universal Avionics for the past decade.
NORAD DETAILS PLANS FOR LASER WARNING SYSTEM IN WASHINGTON - A North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) demonstration of a new laser-based warning system last week satisfied some safety concerns expressed by pilots, but the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association said security officials still must educate pilots about what the new warning system means before it will be effective.
Aircraft Security & Alert Systems (ASAS) developed a new series of locks for Cessna Caravan turboprops that will be installed on new Caravans as well as offered under a service bulletin for older aircraft. The security system includes up to seven individual locks for the pilot's, co-pilot's, air stair, cargo and belly pod doors and engine cowl. The locks can be accessed by one key that can be duplicated only by ASAS. The engine cowl lock brings the Caravan into compliance with two-lock laws enacted by certain states.
ALAN WINNINGER joined iviation as an account manager and will market and sell iviation services to corporate flight departments, air charter companies, Part 121 air carriers and the military. Winninger has more than 20 years of marketing and management experience, working in aviation and NASCAR. He has served as an aviation consultant to various media outlets and worked with NASA and the U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission.
VETERAN FAA REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR STEPPING DOWN - Cecelia Hunziker, FAA regional administrator for the agency's Great Lakes Region, will retire April 30 and will be succeeded by Christopher R. Blum, who currently is regional administrator for the Central Region. FAA said Blum will handle regional administrator duties for both the Great Lakes and Central regions, effective May 1.
Embraer named Boutsen Aviation as its authorized sales representative for Benelux (Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg), the Principality of Monaco and the French Cote d'Azur. Founded in 1997 by Thierry Boutsen, the ex-F1 Grand Prix driver, Boutsen Aviation is headquartered in Monaco with a subsidiary in Luxembourg. The company, which will handle sales of the Embraer Legacy family of business jets, has sold more than 80 aircraft in the past eight years and operates an aircraft management business.
HOUSE TRANSPORTATION LEADERS PUSH TO GET GA BACK INTO DCA - Expressing increasing frustration at the Department of Homeland Security's slow movement on reopening Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee leadership Wednesday introduced another bill ordering DHS to permit resumption of general aviation operations at DCA within six months.
Last week's announcement that Transportation Security Administration Chief David Stone was relinquishing his duties within the next few months surprised many general aviation advocates who had been working with Stone on GA security initiatives. Those advocates, however, do not believe the changes will significantly slow those initiatives, including TSA's plan for DCA access. See article below.
The House Government Reform Committee late last week postponed a hearing on the impact of the continuing ban on general aviation operations at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). The hearing initially was scheduled for April 8, but was one of several hearings scheduled either April 7 or April 8 on Capitol Hill that were delayed to enable legislators and other interested parties to travel to the funeral for Pope John Paul II in Rome.
Stevens Aviation is offering a new Elite In-Flight Customized Entertainment package for aircraft operators that includes CD, DVD, satellite radio, moving maps and high-resolution monitors. Stevens is offering full or partial packages. The package includes an option for a pyramid-shaped cabinet to enable installation in aircraft with existing cabinetry that does not have space to house the system.
JEFFREY BUTCHER was promoted to director of owner relations for American Jet International, the Houston-based air transportation services company. Butcher will support aircraft owners and customers for AJI. He has served with the company for seven years.
RICK JANTS joined Ballistic Recovery Systems as manager of quality assurance. Jants has 17 years of quality assurance experience with several companies, including Northwest Airlines. At BRS, he will monitor quality standards, specifications and product lines to ensure that they are in accordance with industry manufacturing methods and procedures.
Bush Administration fears that Aviation Trust Fund revenues are in long-term decline are unfounded, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association claims, saying smaller fund balances stem more from Administration policy than from shrinking revenues. NATCA late last week released a report contending that aviation trust fund revenues are not declining but are poised to grow substantially over the next decade.
EMBRAER Model EMB-145 and -135 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-20728; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-003-AD] - proposes to require replacing the horizontal stabilizer control unit (HSCU) with a modified and reidentified or new, improved HSCU. For certain airplanes, this proposed AD also would require related concurrent actions as necessary. This proposed AD is prompted by reports of loss of the pitch trim system due to a simultaneous failure of both channels of the HSCU.
EMBRAER VETERAN TO HEAD CORPORATE AVIATION UNIT - Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer, signaling its growing interest in the corporate aviation market, named a 22-year veteran of the company to focus on serving that market.
TURBINE ACCIDENTS UP IN FIRST QUARTER - U.S. business jet operators were involved in twice as many accidents in the first quarter of 2005 as they were during the same period a year ago, according to data compiled by Robert E. Breiling Associates of Boca Raton, Fla.
FOKKER Model F.28 Mark 0100 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-20868; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-162-AD] - proposes to require an inspection to determine the part number of the passenger service unit (PSU) panels for the PSU modification status, and corrective actions if applicable. This proposed AD is prompted by reported incidents of smoke in the passenger compartment during flight. One of those incidents also included a burning smell and consequently led to emergency evacuation of the airplane.
