February 12-16 - 16th Annual National Business Aviation Association Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference, Reno, Nev., (202) 783-9000 March 8-10 - National Air Transportation Association/Professional Aviation Maintenance Association GSE Aviation Services and Suppliers AS3 Supershow, Sands Expos & Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nev., (703) 845-9000 March 10-12 - 16th Annual International Women in Aviation Conference, Adam's Mark Hotel, Dallas, Texas, (386) 226-7996
Charles Gumbert was appointed vice president of maintenance operations for M7 Aerospace. Gumbert will be responsible for all of the company's maintenance, repair and overhaul operations as well as the airliner conversion activities. He has more than 30 years of maintenance, repair and overhaul experience, most recently as president of the Electromechanical Division of McKechnie Aerospace in Wichita, Kan. He also has served with BFGoodrich Aerospace, GE Engine Services, and Aviall.
FRANCE STEPS UP BIOMETRIC SECURITY FOR AIRPORT WORKERS, AIRLINE CREWS - France has moved closer toward introducing biometrics as a mandatory security measure for airport employees and airline crews. France's civil aviation authority, the Direction Générale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC), in January started testing biometric data using iris, face and fingerprint recognition technologies with a view to adopting biometrics-based security at French airports.
CHALLENGER OVERRUN ACCIDENT BRINGS OUT AIRPORT CRITICS AT TEB - Local politicians were calling for more restrictions on flight operations at the Teterboro, N.J. Airport in the wake of Wednesday's high profile accident involving a Challenger business jet. Both Rep. Steve Rothman (D-N.J.) and Richard Codey, the acting governor of New Jersey, issued calls for flight reductions and other restrictions at TEB, one of the busiest business aviation facilities on the East Coast.
Embraer Model EMB-135BJ series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2004-19526; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-140-AD; Amendment 39-13952; AD 2005-02-07] - requires modifying the electrical wiring for the "stick pusher" system. This AD is prompted by a report that the stick pushers are not being inhibited when the AP/PUSH/TRIM switches are activated, which can result in reduced controllability of the airplane if there is a system malfunction. FAA is issuing this AD to prevent reduced controllability of the airplane if the stick pusher system malfunctions.
RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT REPORTS CONTINUED FINANCIAL IMPROVEMENT - Raytheon Aircraft showed continued improvement in its financial results, posting higher sales and a significant jump in operating earnings for 2004. The Wichita, Kan. aircraft manufacturer had sales of $2.42 billion last year, up 15.9 percent over 2003's total of $2.08 billion. Operating income soared from just $2 million in 2003 to $63 million in 2004. The company's funded backlog increased 15.7 percent during the year to $2.63 billion.
A Chinese Company, Hangzhou Daoyuan Chemical Fiber Group, purchased a Premier I business jet manufactured by Raytheon Aircraft Corp. (RAC). The aircraft will be based in Hangzhou, China and will be managed by Deerjet, the charter company of Hainan Airlines of Haikou, China. The composite-fuselage Premier I is scheduled to go into service this spring. "As China's aviation infrastructure becomes more mature, we expect to see additional sales throughout the country," said Ted Farid, vice president of international sales at RAC.
ROLLS-ROYCE Tay 611-8, Tay 620-15, Tay 620-15/20, Tay 650-15, Tay 650-15/10, and Tay 651-54 turbofan engines [Docket No. 2004-NE-11-AD; Amendment 39-13922; AD 2004-26-10] - corrects AD 2004-26-10, which AD applies to certain RRD Tay 611-8, Tay 620-15, Tay 620-15/20, Tay 650-15, Tay 650-15/10, and Tay 651-54 turbofan engines with ice-impact panels installed in the low pressure (LP) compressor case. That AD was published in the Jan. 6 Federal Register. This document corrects the same Service Bulletin paragraph number reference in 17 locations of the compliance section.
CONGRESS 'ON TOP OF' MANPADS ISSUES, REP. MICA SAYS - Congress is ahead of the curve with legislation guiding the research and development of technology to defend commercial aircraft from the threat of shoulder-fired missiles, House aviation subcommittee Chair John Mica (R-Fla.) told BA affiliate Aviation Daily. Responding to a new comprehensive report from the Rand Corp.
Mineta added that FAA continues to tighten its financial belt to become more efficient and productive. The agency has "greatly improved financial accountability," he said, and received "a literal green light" from the Office of Management and Budget on its financial management progress. Other agencies have begun to acknowledge FAA's improvement as well. Just last week, the Government Accountability Office removed FAA from its list of high-risk agencies for financial management.
The Defense Department surprised many observers Friday, announcing that it had selected a team headed by Lockheed Martin to supply 23 helicopters for the VXX program, which will include Marine One, the helicopter used to carry the President and other top government officials. The Lockheed Martin team, which includes AgustaWestland and Bell Helicopter Textron, won with a version of the three-engine EH101 called the US101. A team led by Sikorsky was bidding a military version of Sikorsky's S-92 called the VH-92.
The yearend surge of orders came largely from Gulfstream's traditional customer base, the nation's Fortune 500 companies. That's not surprising, Chabraja said, when you consider the kind of earnings increases those companies are reporting. "Am I optimistic about Gulfstream?" Chabraja answered in response to a question from an analyst. "You bet I am." Textron reported similarly strong results for Cessna Aircraft. See articles below.
Aircraft Electronics Association said X Prize Foundation Chairman Peter Diamandis will be the keynote speaker during the opening ceremonies of AEA's 48th Annual Convention and Trade Show, scheduled April 27-30 in Dallas, Texas. The X Prize Foundation has been promoting the formation of a space tourism industry by awarding a $10 million prize for private space flight. Along with Diamandis, AEA said its convention will offer more than 55 hours of training and more than 150 exhibits.
February 6-8 - Helicopter Association International Heli-Expo 2005, Anaheim, Calif., (703) 683-4646 February 12-16 - 16th Annual National Business Aviation Association Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference, Reno, Nev., (202) 783-9000 March 8-10 - National Air Transportation Association/Professional Aviation Maintenance Association GSE Aviation Services and Suppliers AS3 Supershow, Sands Expos & Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nev., (703) 845-9000
Atlantic Aviation is now operating two fixed-base operations in California. Chief Executive Officer Lou Pepper said his company is now running the former Newport Jet Center at John Wayne Airport in Orange County and the former Million Air Palm Springs facility at Palm Springs International Airport. Craig Foster will serve as general manager of Atlantic Orange County and Karin Davidson will be general manager of Atlantic Palm Springs. "These are two well-known, great-run operations which will be welcome additions to our chain," Pepper said.
Cessna Aircraft received orders for four Super CargoMaster Caravans from a cargo carrier based in Madrid, Spain and for a Grand Caravan from a Russian company. The CargoMasters were sold through Cessna's authorized sales representative in Spain, MB Aviation. Cessna will deliver the aircraft in April 2005. The aircraft will transport cargo between Madrid and business financial centers in Spain. The Russia-bound Caravan was sold through Loyd's Investments, Cessna's authorized sales representative for Russia.
DOT SEEKS COMMENT ON OUTDATED, UNECESSARY RULES - The Department of Transportation hopes to clean up some outdated and cumbersome rules with a department-wide review of existing regulations. DOT said it "regularly makes a conscientious effort to review its rules" through a variety of means, including a 10-year plan to scrutinize existing regulations.
Raytheon Aircraft Services developed a Secure Start 1000 anti-terrorism security device for aircraft. The system, certified on King Air, Diamond, Beechjet and Cessna Caravan aircraft, disables the engine start circuits to prevent unauthorized use. The system is operated through a keyboard with a double access code. The keyboard unit indicates unauthorized tampering. The system can be installed during routine maintenance or an inspection. For more information, contact RAS at (800) 440-4824.
General Aviation Manufacturers Association hired Gregory Bowles as manager of engineering and maintenance, responsible for regulatory safety and continued airworthiness issues. Bowles joins GAMA from Keystone Helicopter Company, where he oversaw aircraft modification certification and validation program planning. He also held a number of positions with Cessna. Bowles earned a bachelor of science degree in aerospace engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a master of business administration degree from Webster University.
Pemco Aviation Group signed an agreement with Taikoo (Xiamen) Aircraft Engineering (TAECO) and Taikoo (Shandong) Aircraft Engineering Company (STAECO) this month that establishes a cargo conversion program for Boeing 737 passenger aircraft. The companies will jointly market freighter conversions and perform conversions at the TAECO/STAECO facilities in China.
Summary: This notice contains a summary of certain petitions seeking relief from specified requirements of 14 CFR, dispositions of certain petitions previously received, and corrections. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities.
President Bush's decision to nominate Michael Jackson as deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security won quick praise from aviation interests. Jackson, who formerly served as deputy secretary at the Transportation Department, was seen as a supporter of efforts to reopen Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to business aircraft flights when he was at DOT. See article below.
ARINC ACTIVATES COLLABORATIVE DECISION MAKING FOR BUSINESS JETS - Transportation communications specialist ARINC has activated a flight information sharing service that is new to business jet operators but has been available to scheduled airlines for some time. ARINC is participating in the FAA/industry Collaborative Decision Making (CDM) program that links operators and FAA controllers to provide simultaneous, real-time access to information about air traffic volume, possible delays, equipment problems, restrictions or other system constraints.
The search committee seeking a new president for the General Aviation Manufacturers Association is "close to making an offer" to a candidate, a source familiar with the process told BA last week. If that offer is accepted, the association could announce its new president at GAMA's Industry Review and 2005 Market Outlook Briefing, which is scheduled for Feb. 14 in Washington, D.C.
