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.
BELL Model 222, 222B, 222U, 230, and 430 Helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2004-19969; Directorate Identifier 2004-SW-43-AD; Amendment 39-13923; AD 2004-26-11] - requires certain checks and inspections of the tail rotor blades. If a crack is found, before further flight, this AD requires replacing the tail rotor blade with an airworthy blade. This amendment is prompted by three reports of cracked blades found during scheduled inspections.
FAA ADMINISTRATOR LAYS OUT JOB OPTIONS FOR FSS WORKERS - FAA Administrator Marion Blakey has begun meeting with Flight Service Station workers to lay out possible opportunities for them within the Air Traffic Organization as FAA nears a decision on a proposal to dramatically overhaul the FSS network. FAA is expected to select a bid by the end of the month to potentially outsource the FSS operations in an effort to substantially cut costs while upgrading FSS equipment and services.
EMBRAER Model EMB-135 and EMB-145 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2004-18752; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-107-AD; Amendment 39-13929; AD 2005-01-05] - supersedes an existing AD that currently requires replacing the nose landing gear wheel nuts and associated inner and outer seals, and reidentifying the landing gear strut. This new AD adds an airplane to the applicability and revises a part number for a replacement part. This AD is prompted by a report of an invalid part number for the new nose landing gear wheel nut.
EMBRAER Model EMB-135 and -145 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2004-19050; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-139-AD; Amendment 39-13900; AD 2004-25-12] - corrects a typographical error in an existing AD published in the Dec. 9 Federal Register (69 FR 71339). The docket number of the final rule was incorrectly cited as FAA-2004-19767. This AD applies to all EMBRAER Model EMB-135 and -145 series airplanes.
Honeywell Aerospace officials have long been frustrated by their inability to find a second OEM customer for the HTF7000 (formerly the AS907) turbofan engine, but that drought may be nearing an end. Barry Eccleston, vice president and general manager of Honeywell's Propulsion Systems Enterprise, said there is "quite a lot of renewed interest" in the engine from other OEMs, based in part on the powerplant's smooth entry into service on the Bombardier Challenger 300 and on Honeywell's design, which emphasizes reliability and ease of maintenance.
Carlos Gutierrez, who fled Cuba as a youngster and became chief executive of The Kellogg Company, was unanimously approved by the Senate Commerce Committee last week for the post of secretary of commerce. Full Senate approval of the nomination is expected soon.
RAYTHEON'S SCHUSTER PICKED TO HEAD GAMA'S BOARD - James E. Schuster, the chairman and chief executive of Raytheon Aircraft Company (RAC), was elected chairman of the board of directors of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. Schuster previously served as vice chairman of the GAMA board and chaired the organization's Security Issues Committee. As chairman, Schuster succeeds Clay Jones, the chairman, president and CEO of avionics manufacturer Rockwell Collins.
FAA CALLS SANTA MONICA FEES DISCRIMINATORY, REVOKES AIRPORT GRANTS - The Federal Aviation Administration last week called a fee schedule implemented at Santa Monica Municipal Airport (SMO) in Santa Monica, Calif., unjust and discriminatory and barred the airport from seeking additional federal grants until it lifts landing fees. In a Jan.
The pilot of a Swearingen SA227 got a chilly shock early Thursday morning high above North Dakota. The twin turboprop, N3108B, was climbing through 18,000 feet just after 0100 local time when the left seat window blew outward and separated from the aircraft. The pilot moved to the right seat and landed without incident at Minot, N.D.
General Aviation Manufacturers Association issued a statement Friday praising Congress for recent passage of legislation that boosts funding for the National Transportation Safety Board. GAMA said the legislation provided $2 million more than requested by the agency, and specifies that it be used to hire additional accident investigators for NTSB's regional offices.
