Embraer Model EMB-120 series airplanes [Docket No. 2000-NM-120-AD] - revises an earlier proposed AD that would have required initial and repetitive calibration testing of potentiometers to detect noisy signals and replacement of only those with noisy signals. This new action revises the proposed AD by reducing the compliance time for the repetitive calibration testing of the potentiometers and adding the requirement for reporting results of the calibration tests of the potentiometers and the readouts of the flight data recorder (FDR) to the airplane manufacturer.
Executive Jet Management promoted Marietta French to vice president and general manager and Devin Piacente and Donald Scanlon to operations managers, all reporting to Richard Williams, executive vice president. French, formerly director of Owner Services for NetJets, has more than 20 years of aviation experience. She will be based at EJM's facility in White Plains, N.Y. Piacente most recently was EJM's guest services concierge supervisor in White Plains, and before that, served in NetJets owner services department.
Manufacturers will deliver 2,400 new civil-use, turbine-powered helicopters during the 2005-2009 period, with corporate, emergency medical services and law enforcement markets expected to account for more than 60 percent of all new civil rotorcraft sales during the period, Honeywell said.
FAA last week designated Jamail Larkins, a 21-year-old business student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and the nation's youngest aerobatic pilot, FAA Ambassador for Aviation and Space Education. As an FAA ambassador, Larkins will promote aviation and aerospace careers to young people nationwide and represent FAA's Aviation and Space Education Division at aviation events throughout 2005.
Boeing officially dubbed its 7E7 Dreamliner the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The 787 model designation follows the Boeing naming convention for its line, which began with the 707 and continued through the 777.
After holding another round of meetings with Secret Service, Transportation Security Administration and senior Administration policy-makers, National Air Transportation Association James Coyne said he is encouraged that there now is support from the necessary people to reopen Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to business aviation. The Administration has a strong desire to show things are "getting back to normal," Coyne said, and reopening DCA could signal a return to a level of normalcy, or at least "secured normalcy."
SAAB 2000 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-20244; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-204-AD] - proposes to require a one-time inspection to detect a broken terminal stud on a main relay of the electrical power generator, and corrective action if necessary. This proposed AD is prompted by disconnection of an electrical power generator during an inspection flight, which was caused by a broken terminal stud on the main relay.
Just one day after taking over as acting head of the Department of Homeland Security, Adm. Loy also expressed optimism that non-airline flight operations will return to DCA. See article below.
Pacific Aerospace Corporation Model 750XL airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2004-19444; Directorate Identifier 2004-CE-33-AD; Amendment 39-13960; AD 2005-03-04] - requires replacement of any type TLP-D or TLED rivets on the aileron pushrod ends and elevator control pushrod ends. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for New Zealand.
FAA EASES RESTRICTIONS ON CAMPAIGN FLIGHTS - The Federal Aviation Administration last week eased certain restrictions on Part 91 operators receiving payment for carrying state and local candidates for political office. FAA Monday released the rule to comply with a 1996 congressional mandate. The rule changes allow operators who do not hold either a Part 121 or 135 certificate to receive payments for carrying local or state candidates if the state and local election laws require such payment.
Raytheon Aircraft rolled the 400th Hawker 400XP off the assembly line late last month. Formerly called the Beechjet 400A, the aircraft was renamed the Hawker 400XP in May 2003 as part of a larger effort to reestablish the Beech and Hawker brands. RAC credited the success of sales of the aircraft in part to the fractional market. NetJets in late 2003 ordered 50 of the aircraft and added an order for 20 more six months later.
Traci Fremin was named general manager of Atlantic Aviation New Orleans Lakefront. Fremin also is director of customer development for Atlantic Aviation FBOs at New Orleans Lakefront and Louis Armstrong International Airport. Fremin joined Atlantic with 15 years of aviation customer service experience.
The Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee could act on the nomination of Michael Chertoff to be the next secretary of Homeland Security as early as today, but a vote had not been firmly scheduled as of Friday. If confirmed Chertoff would fill the vacancy created by the departure of former Secretary Tom Ridge. Ridge officially left the department Tuesday, and Adm. James Loy was quietly sworn in as acting secretary in the interim.
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.
