Key legislators and aviation lobbyists aired concerns about a potential FAA funding crisis during the recent American Association of Airport Executives annual meeting in Hawaii. Some industry advocates are bracing for the possibility that the Bush Administration, faced with lower Airport and Airways Trust Fund revenues, will include some form of user fees in the fiscal 2006 budget to bolster FAA funding. While there has been some talk about the possibility, it is unclear what fees might be under consideration.
Proponents of reducing security restrictions on business aircraft will not find much comfort in the January/February issue of The Atlantic magazine. The cover article, "America Attacked: The Sequel," was written by former national anti-terrorism adviser Richard Clarke in the form of an "imagined history" from the perspective of 2011.
MASSPORT SEEKING NEW FBO AT BOSTON LOGAN - The Massachusetts Port Authority is seeking proposals from bidders interested in the "design, development and operation of a first-class general aviation facility" at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS).
RAYTHEON Beech Models 45 (YT-34), A45 (T-34A, B-45), and D45 (T-34B) airplanes; Notice of Public Meeting - announces a public meeting of interest to owners and operators of Beech Models 45 (YT-34), A45 (T-34A, B-45), and D45 (T-34B) airplanes to discuss technical issues and potential corrective actions related to the continued operational safety of the affected airplanes, specifically related to the structural fatigue of critical structure and AD 2004-25-51. FAA will hold the public meeting on 1 p.m. Feb.
The Aero Club of Washington will feature Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta as the January luncheon speaker Thursday (Jan. 27) at the Capital Hilton Hotel. Also at Thursday's meeting, the Aero Club is expected to elect the 2005 officers and trustees. The nominees include: Robert Land, JetBlue Airways, as president; Deborah McElroy, Regional Airline Association, as vice president; Paula Hochstetler, Airport Consultants Council, as treasurer; and Susan Sheets, National Aircraft Resale Association, as secretary.
Pilatus Aircraft held a ceremony Jan. 14 at its facilities in Broomfield, Colo. to commemorate the delivery of the 500th PC-12 single-turboprop aircraft. Pilatus delivered the 500th aircraft to Scott Archer, managing director of The Barclay Group, in Scottsdale, Ariz. Pilatus distributor Aviation Sales, Inc. sold the aircraft to Archer. ASI was the first center to be appointed a distributor in the U.S. and has sold 80 new PC-12s since 1993.
RAYTHEON Beech 200 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2004-19078; Directorate Identifier 98-CE-17-AD; Amendment 39-13946; AD 98-20-38 R1] - requires revising the FAA-approved Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) to specify procedures that would prohibit flight in severe icing conditions (as determined by certain visual cues), limit or prohibit the use of various flight control devices while in severe icing conditions, and provide the flight crew with recognition cues and procedures for exiting from severe icing conditions.
Transportation Security Administration has indicated that it is realigning its policy office and that a new structure could be in place in early February. Chad Wolf, assistant administrator for transportation security policy, would oversee the new policy office, which would coordinate policy for all the modes of transportation.
CIRRUS Model SR20 and SR22 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2004-19694; Directorate Identifier 2004-CE-41-AD] - proposes to require measurement and adjustment of the crew seat break-over bolts and replacement of the crew seat recline locks on both crew seats. This proposed AD results from CDC discovering that the crew seats, under emergency landing dynamic loads, may fold forward at less than 26 G required by the regulations. FAA is issuing this proposed AD to prevent the crew seats from folding forward during emergency landing with consequent occupant injury.
Michelle Grillot was promoted to regional vice president of charter sales for New York City for Executive Jet Management, where she will be responsible for charter sales in Westchester County and Long Island as well as New York City.
Safe Flight Instrument Corporation received FAA supplemental type certification for the Powerline Detection System on Bell 206 helicopters. The Powerline Detection System senses electromagnetic fields radiating from power lines and uses an auditory alert to warn the pilot if the helicopter comes near a live wire. The warning increases in frequency, like a Geiger counter, as the helicopter gets closer to the live power line. A red warning light also will illuminate.
EMBRAER Model EMB-135 and -145 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-20011; Directorate Identifier 2003-NM-22-AD] - proposes to supersede an existing AD that requires revising the airplane flight manual (AFM) to prohibit in-flight auxiliary power unit (APU) starts, and installing a placard on or near the APU start/stop switch panel to provide such instructions to the flightcrew. This proposed AD would add an optional revision to the AFM that allows limited APU starts and would add a terminating action.
PILATUS Models PC-12 and PC-12/45 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2004-19221; Directorate Identifier 2004-CE-28-AD; Amendment 39-13935; AD 2005-01-11] - requires checking the airplane logbook to determine whether any main landing gear (MLG) actuator (P/N) 960.30.01.103) with serial numbers (S/Ns) 830E through 881E, is installed. If any MLG actuator with one of these S/Ns is installed, FAA requires replacing the MLG actuator with a P/N 960.30.01.103 actuator that has a S/N other than 830E through 881E. The pilot is allowed to do the logbook check.
ROLLS-ROYCE 250-B and 250-C series turboprop and turboshaft engines [Docket No. FAA-2004-18515; Directorate Identifier 2004-NE-12-AD; Amendment 39-13921; AD 2004-26-09] - requires, for 250-B and 250-C series engines with certain part numbers (P/Ns) of compressor adaptor couplings manufactured by Alcor Engine Company, EXTEX Ltd., RRC, and Superior Air Parts (SAP) installed, removal from service of affected compressor adaptor couplings. This AD results from nine reports of engine shutdown caused by coupling failure.
Bombardier's Learjet 45 super-light business jet earned Civil Aviation Administration of China type approval. The certification covers the Learjet 40 series business jet family, including the Learjet 40, 40 XR, 45 and 45 XR. Bombardier plans to make its first delivery of a China-bound Learjet 45 XR to Global Wings, which is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan but which plans to base two Learjet 45 XR jets in Beijing, China for executive charter service.
Greater Washington Business Aviation Association held an organizational meeting Thursday at Dulles International Airport, electing three officers and seven board members. Bob Blouin, former senior vice president of the National Business Aviation Association and now a vice president with Phaneuf Associates, Inc., was elected president of the GWBAA. Mary Miller of Signature Flight Support was elected treasurer and Joel Silversmith, of the Zuckert Scoutt & Rasenberger law firm, was elected secretary.
SIGNATURE ACQUIRES NEW ORLEANS FBO - Signature Flight Support added another fixed-base operation to its domestic network, acquiring the assets of Transit Aviation, Inc. at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY). Transit Aviation facilities include a passenger terminal built in 2001 and about eight acres of ramp space to service arriving and departing traffic and for overnight parking. Signature will compete with Atlantic Aviation, which previously acquired the facilities of General Aviation Corp.
INVESTIGATORS SEARCH FOR CLUES IN FATAL HELICOPTER CRASH - National Transportation Safety Board officials were attempting last week to determine what brought down a medevac helicopter that crashed into the Potomac River near Washington, D.C. the night of Jan 10.
James Day joined Aerodynamics Inc. as a sales representative in the Southeast U.S. Day will be based in Pompano Beach, Fla. He formerly sold the Embraer Legacy and 135 corporate jet for Embraer. He has 25 years of sales, marketing and finance experience.
The Potomac TRACON is steadying itself for a significant jump in traffic this week despite the vast airspace restrictions covering the Baltimore/Washington region. The TRACON last week circulated traffic management plans to the pilot community to help pilots and controllers cope with new procedures and restrictions at a time of heavier volume.
PRESIDENTIAL HELICOPTER DECISION NEARS AS DAB MEETS - The high-profile competition to provide the next fleet of presidential helicopters is close to peaking as the Defense Acquisition Board (DAB) met for a milestone decision review on Jan. 13, with a source-selection decision announcement expected by Jan. 28 at the latest. As far as major defense contracts go, the contract award - between teams led by Stratford, Conn.-based Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., part of United Technologies Corp., and defense contracting giant Lockheed Martin Corp. of Bethesda, Md.
Tim Burke was appointed federal security director (FSD) at Savannah/Hilton Head Airport by the Transportation Security Administration. A 21-year veteran of the aviation industry, Burke has been with TSA since October 2003. He previously was area director for Southeast area aviation operations as well as acting FSD at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport.
Executive Jet Management (EJM) added a Citation VII based at Scottsdale Airport in Scottsdale, Ariz., to its management fleet. EJM manages more than 100 aircraft at more than 60 locations in the U.S.
NEW PIPER Models PA-23-235, PA-23-250, and PA-E23-250 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2004-18597; Directorate Identifier 2004-CE-21-AD; Amendment 39-13934; AD 2005-01-10] - supersedes AD 74-06-01, which applies to certain models equipped with Garrett Aviation Services (formerly AiResearch) turbosuperchargers installed under Supplemental Type Certificate SA852WE, SA909WE, or SA978WE; or installed under Piper Aircraft Drawing Number 32016.
