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] - supersedes an existing AD that requires visually inspecting all ice-impact panels and fillers in the LP compressor case for certain conditions, and if necessary, replacing any ice-impact panels and fillers that have those conditions.
Timken Latrobe Steel is increasing prices by five to 15 percent on all remelted aerospace alloys and air melt stainless steel grades. The price change will be effective with all new orders received after Jan. 17, 2005. "Increasing operational costs and other key factors have made this price increase necessary," said Hans J. Sack, president of Timken Latrobe.
Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), who is moving from chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee to chair the Commerce Committee, told reporters he wants to see legislation that reflects a broad range of scientific input. "Too many people in the past on this [Commerce] Committee, have put legislation in and then listened to the scientists and to the people who have knowledge of the basic industry. I want people to stop and listen to those affected by these changes or by the proposed legislative changes before we say, yes, I'm going to support that.
FIELD AVIATION TO SUPPLY SURVEILLANCE AIRCRAFT FOR SWEDISH FORCES - Field Aviation Company has won its third contract to provide Bombardier-built turboprop aircraft for military operators, an $80 million (U.S.) deal to provide maritime patrol aircraft for the Swedish government.
Jet Aviation is again hosting La Bella Macchina, "a private cocktail reception and celebration of Ferraris, private aircraft, yachts and other rarities of life" Jan. 20 in Palm Beach, Fla. Organizers expect nearly 100 new, classic and vintage Ferraris to be on display, including the new F430 model. Aviation participants include Boeing Business Jets, Bombardier, EADS Socata, Eurocopter, Flight Options, Embraer, Piaggio Aero, Pilatus and Smart Jets.
Transportation Security Administration is negotiating with InVision Technologies and L-3 Communications to renew contracts for explosive detection systems (EDS) maintenance. TSA expects to complete five-year contracts next month. InVision and L-3 have maintained their equipment for TSA for the last two years.
PRECISION CASTPARTS CORP. SELLS MAGNETS UNIT - Precision Castparts Corp. (PCC), Portland, Ore., sold its Arnold Magnetic Technologies Corp. (AMTC) subsidiary to Audax Group. PCC acquired AMTC in December 2003 when it purchased SPS Technologies. PCC has been carrying AMTC, which is based in Rochester, N.Y., as a discontinued operation. AMTC manufactures a wide variety of magnets for various industrial and commercial uses. Audax is a five-year-old investment capital provider for middle market companies. It has offices in Boston and New York.
National Air Transportation Association will host a tax seminar for Part 135 air charter operators March 9 during its annual convention in Las Vegas, Nev. The tax seminar, which will be held at the Aladdin Resort & Casino, will be led by aviation tax expert Nel Sanders-Stubbs, with Conklin & de Decker. The seminar will cover federal and state taxes, international user fees, common tax errors, IRS forms, the fuel tax credit, aircraft management agreements and tax implications of charter brokering.
BOEING DECIDES TO END 717 PROGRAM - Boeing said Friday it plans to terminate its 717 airliner program next year because of limited sales for the 106-seat aircraft. Boeing plans to take a charge of $340 million pre-tax in the fourth quarter to cover the costs of terminating the program in 2006. Most of the cash expenditures related to the charge, and an additional $45 million of period expenses associated with the shutdown, are expected to occur in 2005 through 2007.
Mooney Aviation Company planned to launch a nationwide tour Jan. 15 to promote its products and raise money to support U.S. troops. The Mooney Freedom Tour was set to begin at the Scottsdale, Ariz. Air Center fixed-base operation and travel to more than 30 cities. The general aviation manufacturer is inviting qualified prospects for its products, which will be on display at each stop, along with local officials. The company will distribute "Defending Freedom" wristbands, the proceeds from which will be forwarded to the Red Cross Military Fund.
INDUSTRY URGES TSA TO LIMIT EXPANSION OF SECURED AIRPORT AREAS - A Transportation Security Administration proposal to expand the security identification display area (SIDA) at airports to include cargo areas "may have harmful unintended consequences" and should be revisited, several aviation groups told the TSA. In comments on the TSA's notice of proposed rulemaking released in November to improve cargo security (BA, Nov. 15/220).
GA GREETS CHERTOFF ANNOUNCEMENT WITH CAUTION - General aviation groups last week appeared cautious, but hopeful that President Bush's latest selection to run the Department of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff, will take a balanced and cooperative approach to security. Bush Tuesday announced his intention to nominate Chertoff as the nation's second secretary of homeland security, replacing departing Tom Ridge, who late last year said he planned to resign.
MILLION AIR BUYS PROVO FBO - Million Air Salt Lake City expanded its base in Provo, Utah with the acquisition of Advantage Aviation. Million Air will fold Advantage's fuel services, maintenance capability and hangar availability into its existing Provo facility. The acquisition also will enhance the Provo facility's charter and aircraft sales.
FAA BANS GA VFR FLIGHTS OVER WIDE AREA AROUND WASHINGTON DURING INAUGURATION - The Federal Aviation Administration is establishing a no-fly zone for most of general aviation from 1000 to 1800 Jan. 20 over a wide area surrounding Washington, D.C. as part of what is expected to be the most tightly secured presidential inauguration in U.S. history. FAA said the airspace restrictions were requested by the departments of Homeland Security and Defense. The restrictions include modifying the Washington, D.C.
VOUGHT AND ALENIA TO JOIN 7E7 FUSELAGE IN CHARLESTON, S.C. - Vought Aircraft Industries and Alenia North America area are finalizing a joint venture called Global Aeronautica to join and integrate fuselage sections of Boeing's 7E7 and named Charleston International Airport, S.C., as the site where they will do the work.
While Honeywell continues to offer upgrades to its venerable TFE731 series aircraft, the company has an ongoing research and development program for the next generation of turbofans in the 3,000-5,000 pounds' thrust class, Honeywell's Eccleston said. He said the company has been running a demonstrator core engine and could formally launch a program in the next two to three years. But launch would be dependent on a tangible application for the engine.
HONEYWELL ANNOUNCES EXECUTIVE CHANGES AT AEROSPACE, TRANSPORTATION - Honeywell announced the appointment of two executives to head its Aerospace and Transportation units Friday.
National Air Transportation Association was pleased FAA once again delayed implementation of a Handbook Bulletin that would force certain Part 135 operators to implement new aviation maintenance programs or seek supplemental type certificates for seat designs on their aircraft. FAA agreed to extend the deadline for implementation to Aug. 31. The Handbook Bulletin originally took effect Sept. 30, but FAA had most recently delayed compliance until Feb. 28 at NATA's request (BA, Nov. 1/193).
Air Methods Corp. said the pilot of one of its Eurocopter AS-350D helicopters was killed late Wednesday night during a crash in Tippah County, Miss. The pilot was the only person on board the aircraft, which was operated by the North Mississippi Medical Center. The aircraft was registered as N350RM.
Raytheon Aircraft was awarded a $240 million contract by the U.S. government in mid-December to build another 50 T-6A turboprop trainers for the U.S. Air Force and Navy, part of the Primary Joint Training Aircraft System program. To date the services have ordered 354 aircraft and 215 have been delivered - 172 to the Air Force and 43 to the Navy. The total value of the acquisition program to date, including options, is just over $2 billion. The government is expected eventually to buy nearly 800 aircraft under the JPATS program.
Ken Combs was named senior vice president and director of flight operations for the Air Group in Van Nuys, Calif. Combs has 30 years of experience and 9,000 hours of flight time as a military and civilian pilot. He graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1973 and served as an F-111 fighter pilot. He participated in operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and five Air Medals. After retiring in 1997, he joined Raytheon Travel Air and rose to the position of chief pilot.
Long-time general aviation enthusiast Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) last week was named to chair the Senate Commerce Committee, taking the reins from Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the unpredictable senator who often took controversial positions on key business aviation issues. The appointment of Stevens to the Commerce chairmanship was one of several key committee leadership reshufflings that took place last week as House and Senate legislators opened the 109th U.S. Congress.
January 9-13 - American Association of Airport Executives Aviation Issues Conference, Hapuna Beach, Prince Hotel, Kona, Hawaii, (703) 824-0504 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
CRASH OF EUROCOPTER EMS FLIGHT KILLS ONE, INJURES TWO - The crash of a Eurocopter AS350-B3 Dec. 14 while it was attempting to land to conduct a medevac mission seriously injured the commercial pilot and a medical crewmember and resulted in fatal injuries to a flight nurse. The aircraft, N971AE, operated by Petroleum Helicopters, Inc. under the call sign Air-Evac II under Part 91 of the FARs, was attempting to land at Apache Junction, Ariz. at about 2237 local time. The flight had originated at a local flight base.
