EAGLE AIRCRAFT Model Eagle 150B airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2004-19897; Directorate Identifier 2004-CE-45-AD] - proposes to require modification or replacement of the co-pilot rudder pedal assembly. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for Malaysia. FAA is issuing this proposed AD to prevent binding of the co-pilot rudder pedal assembly due to premature wear of the bushing, which could result in loss of co-pilot rudder and brake control.
Charles Pineo was named marketing and sales director for the UND Aerospace Foundation, a non-profit corporation that links industry and the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences at the University of North Dakota. Pineo graduated from UND with a bachelor of science degree in physical education; he also holds a master's degree in business administration. He most recently was a regional manager of corporate and agency sales with Northwest Airlines.
CPI Aerostructures moved to larger headquarter facilities in Edgewood, N.Y. and rebranded itself CPI Aero. The changes come as the company celebrates its 25th anniversary. CPI moved into a 75,000-square-foot facility, nearly twice the size of the former headquarters. The space will accommodate anticipated growth as CPI fulfills contracts with Lockheed Martin, Vought, Northrop Grumman and the U.S. government.
B/E Aerospace announced a series of contracts valued at $90 million firm for its cabin interior products. B/E Aerospace said the orders, coming from multiple airlines, could exceed $125 million if options are exercised. B/E will design a super-first-class interior for an airline's long-haul aircraft. The interior program will use its resources in the company's Business Jet and Flight Structures unit. B/E also will supply its MiniPod lie-flat seating for another airline.
Rockwell Collins added seven languages to its Airshow 4000 moving map display and flight information system. The added languages are Chinese, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Russian. The system already offered Arabic, English, French, German and Spanish. The system, installed on many in-production business jets, provides real-time flight information, moving maps, news, financial, sports and weather data.
Bush Administration plans for a full-blown inaugural ceremony, with a parade through downtown Washington, D.C. Thursday and numerous celebratory parties and receptions that evening, are causing dismay because of the costs and inconvenience of the security precautions that are being instituted. Security in Washington will be unprecedented, said Tom Ridge, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
GULFSTREAM Model Gulfstream 100 airplanes and Model Astra SPX and 1125 Westwind Astra series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2004-19138; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-102-AD; Amendment 39-13888; AD 2004-25-01] - requires adjusting the ground contact switches of the main landing gear. This AD is prompted by two occurrences of uncommanded deployments of the ground airbrakes during descent. FAA is issuing this AD to prevent a false "Ground" position signal, which could result in deployment of the ground airbrakes and reduced controllability of the airplane.
Ideal Aerosmith, which provides test equipment for the aerospace, automotive and petroleum industries, bought Carco Electronics, which builds missile flight motion simulators and inertial navigation test systems. The acquisition, Aerosmith said, gives the company "the most complete range of motion simulation products within the industry." Contractors use Carco systems to simulate the "high dynamic flight environment" of missiles and missile targets. Ideal Aerosmith is based in East Grand Forks, Minn., and Carco has bases in Menlo Park, Calif. and Pittsburgh, Pa.
Pilatus Aircraft received certification from Switzerland's Federal Office for Civil Aviation for its PC-21 military training aircraft. Two PC-21 prototypes logged more than 750 flight-test hours during development and certification.
MINETA UNVEILS PILOT LASER ALERT STRATEGY - The Federal Aviation Administration last week released an advisory circular outlining a new laser reporting and warning system to better prepare pilots for the possibility of a laser encounter. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta Wednesday announced the warning and reporting system, saying it was particularly important in light of the recent spate of laser incidents involving aircraft. Some 31 laser incidents have been reported since Dec. 23 and more than 400 incidents since 1990.
ATR partnered with Interturbine Logistik GmbH to distribute ATR hardware spares worldwide. Interturbine will support ATR airline customer needs for components such as fasteners, rivets, electrical connectors and switches. The agreement comes as ATR is cutting its spare part prices by three percent. The price reduction covers all spares including proprietary items, rotables and vendors' breakdown parts.
All non-essential federal employees in Washington will get two days off this week, Monday for the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, and Thursday for the inauguration. In addition, thousands of federal workers will be permitted to leave work beginning at midday Wednesday to minimize traffic problems and congestion as security measures are put in place for Thursday's events.
Reduced Vertical Separation Minimums (RVSM) take effect Thursday between Flight Levels 290 and 410 for flights in Canadian, Mexican, Caribbean, South American and U.S. airspace. Separation standards are reduced from 2,000 feet to 1,000 feet. Only RVSM-compliant aircraft can operate at those flight levels, unless the aircraft is transiting through to reach altitudes higher than FL410. FAA estimates that about two-thirds of the some 10,000 U.S. business aircraft that fly at the higher altitudes are RVSM-compliant.
QANTAS AIRWAYS ORDERS SEVEN Q400S - Bombardier Aerospace received an order valued at $168 million from Australian carrier Qantas Airways for seven Q400 regional turboprops. Delivery of the aircraft is slated to begin in early 2006. The order includes options for up to 10 more Q400s. Qantas regional carrier QantasLink will operate the new aircraft.
RAYTHEON 90, 99, 100, 200, and 300 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2004-19089; Directorate Identifier 2000-CE-38-AD; Amendment 39-13928; AD 2005-01-04] - supersedes AD 98-15-13, which applies to certain Raytheon Aircraft 90, 100, 200, and 300 series airplanes. This AD adds the Raytheon Beech 99 series to the applicability listed in AD 98-15-13. AD 98-15-13 currently requires checking the airplane maintenance records from Jan.
BOMBARDIER-ROTAX Type 912 F, 912 S, and 914 F series reciprocating engines [Docket No. 2002-NE-33-AD; Amendment 39-13939; AD 2005-01-14] - supersedes an existing AD that currently requires venting of the lubrication system and inspection of the valve train on all engines. That AD also requires venting of the lubrication system of all engines on which the lubrication system has been opened, and any engine on which the propeller has been rotated one full turn in the wrong direction.
HONEYWELL BEGINS FLIGHT-TESTS OF 13-INCH MICRO AIR VEHICLE - Honeywell began flight tests of its 13-inch Micro Air Vehicle (MAV) at company facilities in Albuquerque, N.M., last month, in anticipation of handing the system over to the Army for evaluation in March (BA, Jan. 3/6).
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 and Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nev., (703) 845-9000
Federal Trade Commission approved Honeywell's proposed acquisition of U.K. company Novar plc. Novar supplies electrical, electronic and control products and services to building operators, contractors and developers worldwide, and its Indelex Aluminum Solutions business is one of the world's largest aluminum extrusion companies with a network of plants across North America (BA, Dec. 20/278).
Chuck Atkins was appointed Democratic staff director for the House Science Committee. Atkins also will continue to serve as chief of staff to Rep. Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.), the ranking member on the Science Committee. Atkins has served as chief of staff in Gordon's congressional office since 1998. Before that, he was chief of staff to former Rep. Scotty Baesler (D-Ky.).
National Air Transportation Association praised a TSA cargo security proposal for using a risk-based approach and allowing smaller cargo carriers to continue compliance through the Twelve-Five Standard Security Program. The Regional Air Cargo Carriers Association, however, complained the proposal needs several clarifications and could cost much more than TSA envisioned. See related article below.
Federal Aviation Administration changed the name of its Regulation and Certification division to the Aviation Safety unit. Nick Sabatini, who was the associate administrator for regulation and certification, noted that FAA and the aviation community have combined to produce outstanding safety results "including the lowest three-year commercial aviation accident rate in history," adding that the new name "more appropriately reflects what we do and what we stand for." The existing AVR- designations for division employees will be replaced with AVS prefixes.
