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.
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.
