EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model EC 155B, EC155B1, SA-365N, SA-365N1, AS-365N2, and AS 365 N3 Helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2005-20512; Directorate Identifier 2004-SW-35-AD] - Proposes superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) Model EC 155B, SA-365N and N1, AS-365N2, and AS 365 N3 helicopters. That AD currently requires inspecting the hydraulic brake hose for crazing, pinching, distortion, or leaks at the torque link hinge and replacing the hose, if necessary.
About 10,000 feet of pavement on Runway 13-31 at New York's LaGuardia Airport (LGA) will be rehabilitated later this year. The project includes milling and repaving the runway and upgrading its electrical lighting system. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said the work will be coordinated with FAA and that runway closures will be scheduled during weekends and nighttime hours to minimize the impact on airline travelers and people living near the airport.
Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.), ranking member of the House Transportation Committee, along with Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), are among the legislators who sent a letter to the White House endorsing Paul McCarthy as a nominee to the National Transportation Safety Board. McCarthy has participated in NTSB investigations as a representative of the Air Line Pilots Association and headed ALPA's executive air safety committee. NTSB Member Carol Carmody's term at NTSB expired in December, but she will continue to serve until a successor is nominated and confirmed by the Senate.
ECLIPSE ASSEMBLING FLEET OF TEST AIRCRAFT - Eclipse Aviation Corp., the startup aircraft manufacturer credited with generating much of the buzz about a new generation of very light jet aircraft, said a fleet of test aircraft is being assembled at the company's Albuquerque, N.M. headquarters.
AGUSTA S.p.A. Model A109E helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2005-20511; Directorate Identifier 2004-SW-32-AD] - Proposes to require, within five hours time-in-service (TIS), locating relay K7212 and its associated cable in the overhead panel assembly and visually inspecting the electrical cable in the splice area for arcing or burns. If arcing or burns are found, this proposal would require, before further flight, replacing an unairworthy cable with an airworthy cable kit.
TSA Chief David Stone emphasized last week that his agency is very "pro-access." Speaking at the National Air Transportation Association convention in Las Vegas, Stone said, "Access is absolutely crucial, transportation is the life's blood of the nation's economy." He also said TSA wants to preserve freedom - including the freedom of flight. To back this up, he said TSA continues to strive toward reopening Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA).
While the agency is not considering major changes in operating rules, Kathy Perfetti, FAA's national resource specialist for Part 135 operations, said the agency is looking at how companies are using "doing business as," or DBA, relationships. Accident investigators are having a hard time tracing who had operational control of aircraft in some of the most recent accidents - including the Challenger runway overrun at Teterboro in February (BA, Feb. 7/61).
March 14-16 - 17th Annual Flight Safety Foundation European Aviation Safety Seminar, Sheraton Warsaw Hotel and Towers, Warsaw, Poland, (703) 739-6700 March 14-17 - 32nd Annual National Business Aviation Association International Operators Conference, Colorado Springs, Colo., (202) 783-9000 March 17-18 - 30th Annual FAA Aviation Forecast Conference, (cosponsored by Airports Council International-North America) Washington, D.C., Convention Center, e-mail: [email protected]
NETSJETS SHARES UP SHARPLY IN 2004; EUROPEAN QUEST CONTINUES - Fractional aircraft provider NetJets experienced strong growth domestically and significant growth in its European flight operations in 2004 and will continue to pursue the European market, despite a history of losses there that continued last year. NetJets was purchased by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway in 1998. Buffett's annual letter to shareholders says the fractional aircraft provider is doing well, even though it continues to lose money in Europe.
UPS CHOOSES LOUISVILLE FOR NEW AIR FREIGHT OPERATION - UPS will build a new heavy air freight operation at its main Louisville, Ky., hub, an announcement that came one day after the carrier announced the closing of the Dayton, Ohio, air freight hub operated by its Menlo freight forwarding subsidiary.
KERRY LYNCH WINS NATA WRITING AWARD - Kerry Lynch, managing editor of The Weekly of BUSINESS AVIATION, was presented the Aviation Journalism Excellence Award for 2005 last week by the National Air Transportation Association during the group's annual meeting and convention in Las Vegas, Nev. The award is presented annually "to recognize a journalist, writer or publication that excels in consumer education or editorial support that is beneficial to the FBO/Air Charter industry."
MARTIN GREIFFENHAGEN was named sales manager for A J Walter Aviation, with responsibility for development of the company's office in Frankfurt, Germany. He previously served as managing director of Aero Lloyd and has a background that includes aircraft operations, fleet management and maintenance.
Steven Wallace, director of FAA's Office of Accident Investigation, reiterated that the agency is not planning major regulatory changes as a result of the recent spate of business aircraft accidents. "We try to stay away from statistical upticks [in accidents]," he said, adding, "That's important with the recent rash of turbine accidents." Wallace, who spearheaded a recent FAA/industry gathering to discuss charter safety (BA, Feb. 28/99), said the agency is more interested in developing best practices to share across the industry.
JENNIFER VAN WINKLE, formerly director of charter sales for Sun Air, has relocated from Camarillo, Calif. to Oslo, Norway, where she will be responsible for developing overseas-based charter clientele in Europe for Sun Air Jets.
GEOFF MAKELY was named charter flight coordinator at Sun Air Jets corporate headquarters in Camarillo, Calif. A 17-year industry veteran with experience on both U.S. coasts, he previously was an executive charter sales representative at TWC Aviation.
Executive Aircraft Completions (EAC) LLC, an interior design engineering firm in Tulsa, Okla., signed an agreement with Midcoast Aviation under which EAC will support Midcoast's interior completions efforts on the Bombardier Global 5000 business jet. The contract also licenses Midcoast to use EAC's new PERMIT proprietary 3D solid-modeling engineering software.
The Federal Aviation Administration likely will grant a limited extension for the Part 135/125 Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) to develop a series of draft notices of proposed rulemaking that will provide the framework for a sweeping rewrite of Part 135 requirements, impose new flight and duty time standards and substantially alter Part 125, Kathy Perfetti, the FAA official leading the ARC, said last week during the National Air Transportation Association annual meeting and convention in Las Vegas.
One major rule FAA has yet to make a decision on, Perfetti said, is air tour safety. Perfetti noted that the rule generated strong opposition and said the agency was combing through the comments on it (BA, May 17/221). FAA, she said, has "not made a decision about what to do with that."
HELICOPTER PIONEER Frank N. Piasecki, founder and president of the Piasecki Aircraft Corp. of Essington, Pa., received the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Trophy for Lifetime Achievement in ceremonies at the museum March 9. Piasecki was honored "for his distinguished career as a pioneer in helicopter design and development, and for his lifelong commitment to aerospace," said Jack Daily, director of the museum. Piasecki is responsible for the development of more than 23 different vertical-lift aircraft in a career than spans 60 years.
FAA TO HELP DOT WITH DISABILITY ACT COMPLIANCE - FAA inspectors will help the U.S. Transportation Dept. enforce airline compliance of the Air Carrier Access Act as the department works to revise implementation of the law designed to ensure that disabled passengers have fair and equal access to air service.
Lockheed Martin hired a Pennsylvania firm to design a new manufacturing facility where the VXX presidential helicopter fleet will be built. L. Robert Kimball & Associates will design a 176,000-square-foot complex at Lockheed Martin's Systems Integration facility in Oswego, N.Y. The Oswego unit is the prime contractor and systems integrator for the U.S. Navy's Presidential Helicopter Replacement Program (VXX). The Lockheed Martin team won a contract earlier this year to supply the 23 helicopters for the Defense Department.
POGO'S CRANDALL SAYS AIRCRAFT SELECTION STILL UP IN THE AIR - Robert Crandall, the chairman of POGO Jet, Inc., said the company is still pushing ahead with plans to offer point-to-point service with the new generation of small business jets now in development, but in his remarks at last week's National Air Transportation Association convention he maintained that company officials have not decided on an aircraft provider - despite a previously announced order for 75 Adam A700 aircraft valued at $150 million.
LUFTHANSA, NETJETS TEAM UP; NEW PARTNERSHIP EXPLAINED - Lufthansa and Netjets yesterday unveiled a cooperation agreement that will see the two companies become partners on an exclusive basis. Under the agreement, signed yesterday in Munich by Lufthansa CEO Wolfgang Mayrhuber and Netjets CEO Richard Santulli, Netjets initially will provide business jet services to Lufthansa passengers arriving or departing on the airline's long-haul flights in Munich.
