Aviation Marketing veteran Robert Stangarone was named vice president, sales and marketing, for the Melbourne, Fla. small plane-maker Liberty Aerospace. Stangarone has 25 years of experience, holding executive positions with Fairchild Dornier, Litton, Rolls-Royce, Pratt & Whitney and Sikorsky. He more recently was vice president of marketing and public affairs for the now-defunct Safire Aircraft. Stangarone also has served as managing director at Broadgate Consultants and as managing editor for BA affiliate Business & Commercial Aviation magazine.
ROLLS-ROYCE Model Tay 611-8, 620-15, 650-15, and 651-54 turbofan engines [Docket No. 2002-NE-37-AD; Amendment 39-13962; AD 2005-03-06] - supersedes an existing AD for Tay 611-8, 620-15, 650-15, and 651-54 turbofan engines with low pressure (LP) fuel tube, part number (P/N) JR33021A, installed. That AD currently requires initial and repetitive inspections of the LP fuel tubes. This AD requires the same inspections and adds a requirement to replace the fuel tube with a new design tube, as mandatory terminating action to the repetitive inspections.
The Bush Administration's proposed budget for FAA in fiscal 2006 would sharply increase the amount of money from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund used to cover FAA's costs and would reduce spending significantly for the Airport Improvement Program. The proposal also would trim Facilities and Equipment spending below authorized levels.
Honeywell signed an agreement with AltoBridge, Ltd. to use software technology that will enable aircraft passengers to make cellular telephone calls in flight. The cellular phone system initially will work through GSM cellular networks, but the agreement calls for AltoBridge to integrate the Honeywell systems with other networks. AltoBridge will provide software for the airborne system along with the network interface on the ground. Honeywell tested the system with AltoBridge software last summer under an FCC experimental license.
CAE TAKES CHARGE, REPORTS BIG LOSS, PLANS RESTRUCTURING - CAE, the Canadian simulator manufacturer and training provider, took a charge of $443.3 million in the third quarter ended Dec. 31, which resulted in a net loss of $347 million for the quarter. The company also announced plans for a major restructuring and said it plans to lay off hundreds of employees.
TSA PROVIDES TRANSIENT AIRCRAFT ACCESS TO DC-3 AIRPORTS - For the first time since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, transient aircraft may access three Maryland airports dubbed the "DC-3" under an interim final rule the Transportation Security Administration released last week. The rule, printed in the Feb. 10 Federal Register, transfers responsibility for ground security at College Park Airport, Potomac Airfield and Washington Executive/Hyde Field airports to TSA and sets up a series of procedures for transient aircraft to access those airports.
Cessna Aircraft sold a Citation Excel to new India-based fractional aircraft ownership provider Club One and a Citation XLS to Jindal Iron and Steel Co., also based in India. The Citation Excel will enter service in March, and Cessna will deliver the XLS to Jindal in the fourth quarter. Cessna also delivered two Citations to customers in India in 2004, and said the market in India, which previously had been home to a total of five Citations, has started to flourish.
Embraer signed a memorandum of understanding with the Indian Defense, Research and Development Organization to support the Indian Air Force's new Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) system development. Embraer will provide its EMB 145 Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance platform for analysis. The analysis is expected to lead to an initial contract for three EMB 145 AEW&C aircraft and technical support during the development effort and possibly more orders in the future.
The Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee Monday approved the nomination of Michael Chertoff to be the next secretary of Homeland Security. The full Senate is expected to consider the nomination this week.
RAYTHEON 90, 99, 100, 200, and 300 series airplanes [Docket No. 2000-CE-38-AD; Amendment 39-13928; AD 2005-01-04] - incorporates corrections to AD 2005-01-04, which was published in the Jan. 6 Federal Register. AD 2005-01-04 applies to certain Raytheon 90, 99, 100, 200, and 300 series airplanes. This action incorporates the corrections into one document to help eliminate any confusion. FAA is re-issuing the AD in its entirety. Effective date remains Feb. 22. For further information, contact Jeffrey A.
George Melton was appointed chief executive officer and president of Wyle Laboratories, an engineering firm specializing in technology testing, life sciences and technical support services. Wyle made the announcement as it completed the acquisition of the Aeronautics Services business of General Dynamics. Melton joins Wyle from the EG&G division of USR Corp., where he was president and CEO of the technical services company. He has an extensive background in aerospace, leading component and subsystem manufacturers that were acquired by BAE Systems.
National Air Transportation Association is hosting a fixed-base operator symposium jointly with the American Association of Airport Executives during NATA's annual convention March 10 in Las Vegas, Nev. Previously hosted by AAAE, the symposium provides a forum for aviation businesses and airport management to discuss common issues.
AGUSTA Model A119 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2005-20291; Directorate Identifier 2004-SW-25-AD] - proposes to require visually inspecting each main transmission support fitting attachment bolt for a fracture, a crack, or looseness, and verifying the torque on each fitting bolt. This proposal is prompted by two incidents of fatigue failure of the bolts that secure the transmission rear support fittings to the helicopter.
American Society For Quality is holding the 17th Annual Quality Management Conference Feb. 24-25 at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Fla. The conference will provide management expertise and quality practices to raise standards of performance. The conference is designed for a cross-section of industries, from healthcare to aerospace and automotive. For more information, or to register, visit http://asq.qmd.org
AIRLINES, TRAVEL INDUSTRY COMBINE TO FIGHT HIGHER SECURITY TAX - The Air Transport Association, which represents the nation's largest scheduled carriers, has formed a coalition with 14 other travel industry organizations to combat a proposed increase in the security tax on air travelers from the current $2.50 per segment to $5.50 per segment.
Marquis Jet, which packages and sells time in NetJets aircraft, is offering customers a new 25-hour combination card that provides 12.5 hours in each of two different aircraft types in the NetJets fleet. The company is offering cards for either a Citation Excel/Hawker 800XP or Citation X/Citation Excel combination. Marquis Jet said it developed the new offering after customers said they needed more flexibility to meet differing travel needs.
AFTER HEATED BRIEFING, CONNECTICUT LAWMAKERS VOW TO CHALLENGE NAVY OVER VXX - After a tense Feb. 9 briefing with the U.S. Navy that only raised their tempers, at least four Democratic Connecticut lawmakers - including both U.S. senators - will try to overturn or change the Navy's recent award of the next fleet of presidential helicopters to an international team led by Lockheed Martin Corp. Lawmakers and their staffs told reporters that the Connecticut legislators, including Reps.
GAMA wasn't surprised by the agency's move to develop criteria for prioritizing certification applications, said interim President Ron Swanda. "We saw this coming. We had the feeling that this could turn out to be a nightmare." GAMA was particularly concerned since FAA's regulation and certification budget was held down in 2005 and the Administration's proposal for 2006 contains further cuts. The new FAA criteria are likely to affect not only new type certificates but parts manufacturing approvals and supplemental type certificates. See article below.
National Business Aviation Association last week released training guidance for the next generation of very light jets. The guidance, Training Guidelines for Single Pilot Operations of Very Light Jets and Technically Advanced Aircraft, recommends a minimum curriculum for a VLJ transition and recurrent training program. "The introduction of the very light jet into the general aviation community marks the beginning of a new era in business travel," said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen.
BURNS TAKES OVER SENATE AVIATION SUBCOMMITTEE - The Senate Commerce Committee last week officially tapped general aviation enthusiast Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) to chair the aviation subcommittee. Burns takes over for Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.), who has chaired the subcommittee since 2003. The announcement of Burns' appointment won widespread approval from Washington-based general aviation groups, which often have relied on the senator for help on critical issues.
Aerospatiale Model ATR 42-200, -300, and -320 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-20220; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-152-AD] - proposes to require doing repetitive inspections of the upper arms of the MLG side braces for missing or inadequately bonded identification plates; replacing the upper arm if necessary; and replacing the side brace assembly with a modified part. This proposed AD is prompted by an operator who reported experiencing an unlock warning for the MLG on the right side of the airplane.
Bombardier Model DHC-8-102, -103, -106, -201, -202, -301, -311, and -315 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-20222; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-230-AD] - proposes to require revising the airplane flight manual to include applicable procedures to follow when the flightcrew receives abnormal indications of airspeed, altitude, or vertical airspeed. This proposed AD also would require modifying the static system.
