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.
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.
