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.
A Bell 206B Helicopter was destroyed and four occupants killed in Switzerland late last month when it crashed while carrying skiers to a dropoff point in the Alps. Investigators said the aircraft, HB-XQO, had departed Sirnach, Switzerland about 0800 on March 26 for a heli-skiing flight. The Swiss Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau said the helicopter struck mountainous terrain at an elevation of 10,400 feet and was destroyed. The pilot and all three passengers were killed.
General aviation groups last week expressed disappointment at the announcement that Adm. David Stone, assistant secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, who has run the Transportation Security Administration since late 2003, is relinquishing his post, noting the strong channels of communication that Stone fostered during his tenure.
BELL, AMARILLO GEAR UP TO BUILD PRESIDENTIAL HELOS - Although some Connecticut lawmakers plan to try to overturn the U.S. Navy's presidential helicopter award to a Lockheed Martin-led team, officials in Amarillo, Texas are gearing up for more than two decades of high-technology, high-pay, high-visibility work on the $6.1 billion VXX program. Under the self-branded title "Rotor City USA" - an acknowledged takeoff of Detroit's "Motor City" - Amarillo Economic Development Corp.
ATR received a contract for two ATR 42-300s from Russian carrier UT Air under an initial contract that could lead to further orders. "We are interested in taking up to 15 ATR aircraft in order to meet our fleet expansion plan," said UT Air Chairman Andrey Martirosov. "Apart from leasing, we are also looking at opportunities to buy them but this will be conditional on lifting import duties on foreign aircraft types." ATR further is negotiating with the airline for training and a Global Maintenance Agreement contract, the plane-maker said.
National Air Transportation Association last week urged the San Diego City Council to provide Gibbs Flying Service, the fixed-base operation at Montgomery Field, an opportunity to submit a proposal to continue its service at the local airport.
Avantair, the fractional aircraft ownership provider that sells shares of the Piaggio Avanti, rounded out its executive team with the appointments of Frank Parrella as director of operations, Thomas Mancuso as director of maintenance and Ken Siegel as director of human resources. Parrella, who has 26 years of commercial flight experience, formerly was a line captain for American Eagle. He will be responsible for all Avantair daily business operations, including scheduling, maintenance, training and flight crew operations.
FAA DEPUTY MAKES STRONG CASE FOR FRACTIONALS AT LABACE - Bobby Sturgell, the FAA's deputy administrator, made a strong show of support for fractional aircraft ownership programs - and advocated acceptance of FAA's regulatory approach to such business arrangements in other nations - during prepared remarks delivered at the LABACE business aviation conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
PILATUS Model PC-6 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-20515; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-09-AD] - proposes to require repetitively inspecting the stabilizer-trim attachment and structural components for cracks, corrosion, and discrepancies and replacing any defective part with a new part. This proposed AD also would require replacement of all Fairchild connecting pieces, Part Number 6232.0026.XX, with a Pilatus connecting piece. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for Switzerland.
CESSNA'S NEWEST CJ FLIES - Cessna's successor to the CJ2 light business jet, the CJ2+, took to the skies for the first time April 2 for two hours and six minutes. The conforming CJ2+ prototype took off from Mid-Continent Airport at 10:03 a.m. and was tested for basic stability, flap and landing gear extension and retraction, controllability, trim actuation, engine operating characteristics and basic autopilot operation before landing at 12:09 p.m. The CJ2+ was unveiled at the 2004 National Business Aviation Association convention.
Eclipse Aviation completed FAA certification inlet icing tests of the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW610F engines that power the Eclipse 500 very light jet. The tests were completed at the National Research Council's approved icing tunnel in Ottawa, Canada. Eclipse called the successful completion of the tests an important milestone in the company's quest for certification in March 2006.
Rockwell Collins won a 10-year contract from NetJets Europe to provide maintenance, repair and technical support for the company's fleet of Hawker 400XP business jets, Rockwell Collins said.
British catering firm Thinking Food, International (TFI) acquired Majestic Catering at the Luton, England Airport to better serve the needs of its corporate/executive aircraft customers. TFI, based at Biggin Hill Airport, has supplied catering to a number of U.K. airports from Biggin Hill, but officials said customer demand from operators using Luton, Stansted, Cambridge, Oxford and Northolt led to the acquisition of the Luton caterer. TFI is now installing a new kitchen at Luton that is expected to be open by mid-summer.
GROB-WERKE Model G120A airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2004-19473; Directorate Identifier 2004-CE-35-AD] - proposes to require replacing the main landing gear (MLG) up-lock hook assembly. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for Germany. FAA is issuing this proposed AD to prevent the MLG from becoming jammed and not extending, which could result in loss of control of the airplane during landing. The proposed AD affects an estimated six airplanes on the U.S. Registry.
