NATA DEVELOPS GROUND INCIDENT REPORTING PROGRAM - Backed by aviation insurance agencies that call ground-handling incidents the fastest growing area for aviation claims, the National Air Transportation Association is developing a program that will create a ground-incident reporting program for fixed-base operators and other airport businesses.
BAE Systems Jetstream Model 4101 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2004-19751; Directorate Identifier 2002-NM-59-AD] - proposes to require repetitive detailed inspections of the aft fuselage frames for any discrepancies, and any applicable corrective actions. This proposed AD is prompted by reports of corrosion found on the aft fuselage frames due to the ingress of water or liquid. FAA is proposing this AD to detect and correct corrosion of the aft fuselage frames, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the fuselage.
NEW JAPANESE AIRPORT PREPS FOR FEBRUARY OPENING - The Central Japan International Airport (CJIA), currently in trial runs, should open for operations on Feb. 17. Built for JPY768 billion (US$6.8 billion) on a 1,170-acre site off the Nagoya suburb of Tokoname, the airport will operate with one runway, 3,600 meters long and 60 meters wide. CJIA is being set up to handle international flights, and the existing facility will remain open for domestic operations. It will initially handle 17.5 million passengers - 10 million international and 7.5 million domestic.
Federal Aviation Administration said five of the six people in a Cessna 421 were killed Dec. 2 when the aircraft, N4215D, crashed during unknown circumstances near Collegedale, Texas.
FAA said it ranked second among 11 federal agencies in a Harris Poll assessing public opinion. The Harris Poll gave the agency a 77 percent positive public rating in 2004, up only by one percent from 2003 but up significantly from 2000 and 2001, when the approval ratings were 58 and 54 percent, respectively. FAA notes the rating comes as the commercial aviation industry has achieved its safest three-year period in history. "The American public is telling us that the FAA is taxpayer money well spent," said FAA Administrator Marion Blakey.
LARGER EMBRAER JETS CAPTURE WALL STREET'S ATTENTION - Embraer could emerge as the biggest winner of current airline restructuring if the revamped carriers opt to depend more on aircraft in the 70- to 110-seat range, leaving Bombardier to enter the market in 2010 with its 110- to 135-seat C Series jet family and allowing Airbus and Boeing enough time to prepare to lash out at the Canadian airframer's new plane.
CESSNA BEGINS DELIVERY OF CJ3 - Cessna Aircraft last week handed over the first Citation CJ3, the third Citation model the Wichita plane-maker has introduced into service this year. The delivery on Wednesday follows type certification of the Model 525B CJ3 Oct. 15 (BA, Oct. 25/183). In addition to introducing the CJ3 - the newest member of the CitationJet family - Cessna began delivery of the Citation XLS and Sovereign in 2004.
Ross Reynolds was promoted to head Lockheed Martin's Air Mobility business. Reynolds will be responsible for the C-130J Super Hercules, C-5 Modernization, C-27J Spartan and Air Mobility Support programs. He had served as vice president of C-130J programs since November 2000. He first joined Lockheed in July 1970 as part of the L-1011 TriStar program team. Following a two-year tour with the U.S. Navy, he rejoined Lockheed in 1973 as a member of the Skunk Works and has since held positions of increasing responsibility.
Iridium Satellite LLC's burgeoning subscriber base helped the company to a 27 percent growth in revenue during the third quarter ending Sept. 30 and 21 percent growth during the first nine months of the year, Iridium reported. The subscriber base grew 29 percent in the first nine months of 2004, pushing the satellite voice and data communications specialist past the 100,000-subcriber mark in July. Iridium officials expect growth of the company's services to continue thanks to advancements of key customers.
GA GROUPS HOPE FOR CONTINUATION OF DHS COOPERATION WITH KERIK IN CHARGE - General aviation groups last week expressed hope that President Bush's selection of former New York Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik to succeed Tom Ridge as secretary of homeland security would mean a continuation of the spirit of collaboration rather than a future of security at all costs. Bush on Friday morning said he intended to nominate Kerik to succeed Ridge, who had announced his resignation earlier in the week.
Raytheon Aircraft is offering new Beechcraft and Hawker customers the option of subscribing to the company's Support Plus maintenance program for a one-year trial. Customers will have the option at the end of the trial to end the agreement or continue it for the full five-year term. Participants in the trial will be charged the same hourly rates as five-year subscribers. Raytheon offers Support Plus to owners of aircraft up to 10 years old.
National Air Transportation Association President James Coyne Friday said it's difficult to predict how the selection of former New York Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik to head the Department of Homeland Security will affect continuing industry efforts to get general aviation back into Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). On the one hand, Coyne said that given Kerik's police background, the tendency would be to predict that he would reinforce the Secret Service position of total security.
MTU CEO KLAUS STEFFENS RESIGNS; UDO STARK LIKELY SUCCESSOR - MTU Aero Engines CEO Klaus Steffens late Monday resigned from his post, effective by the end of the year.
The European Civil Aviation Conference is considering a proposal developed by an international working group of business aviation executives on handling security issues involving fractional aircraft operators. ECAC formed the working group earlier this year to make recommendations on how to treat fractional operations in Europe. An official involved in the group said security is one of the key unresolved issues.
DERCO AEROSPACE PLANS LEADERSHIP TRANSITION - Sikorsky Aircraft unit Derco Aerospace plans to name Max Dermond chairman for four months after Derco founder and Chairman Eric Dermond retires at the end of the month. Max Dermond, who will retire April 30, owned and operated Derco with Eric for 23 years before Sikorsky bought the Milwaukee-based repair, logistics and aftermarket services company in April 2002.
GRAND AIRE EXPRESS OWNER KILLED IN HANSA JET CRASH - The founder and president of financially troubled air taxi operator Grande Aire Express was killed Tuesday night when his Hansa HFB-320 business jet crashed just after taking off from Spirit of St. Louis Airport (SUS).
DHS POISED TO TEST PROTOTYPE TRANSPORTATION WORKER IDENTITY CARD - The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is about to begin testing prototype identification cards for transportation workers, according to the project's manager. "We are just about a hair from beginning this program," Lolie Kull, manager of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program told the Inside ID Conference & Expo last month.
Federal Aviation Administration last week presented 2004 Excellence in Aviation Research Awards to Flight Safety Foundation and Gulfstream Aerospace. FAA recognized Flight Safety Foundation for its publication, Waterproof Flight Operations, which teaches how to safely ditch an aircraft. The agency said the publication "fills a critical knowledge gap." FAA recognized Gulfstream for the development and certification of its enhanced vision system, which provides pilots with daylight-like visibility during evening or low-light conditions.
British Aerospace Model BAe 146 and Model Avro 146-RJ series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2004-19757; Directorate Identifier 2001-NM-273-AD] - proposes to supersede an AD that currently requires a one-time measurement of the thickness of the outer links on the side stays of the main landing gear (MLG), and related investigative and corrective actions as necessary; and provides for replacement of a thin outer link with a new or serviceable part in lieu of certain related investigative inspections.
BOMBARDIER POSTS $10 MILLION IN EARNINGS; PLANS MORE LAYOFFS - Canadian manufacturer Bombardier is continuing to struggle financially, posting a meager $10 million third-quarter profit last week on $3.6 billion in revenues and announcing plans to cut more employees from its Transportation (rail) unit.
Bombardier Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes [Docket No. 2003-NM-158-AD; Amendment 39-13836; AD 2004-22-08] - requires repetitive inspections of the check valves and air supply ducts of the rear bulkhead for damage, and related corrective actions. This amendment also would require eventual rework or replacement of the air supply ducts, which would terminate the repetitive inspections for the air supply ducts only.
NATA's Coyne noted recent accidents involving charter operations, saying those accidents raise questions about "what we can do as an industry to improve safety." The association is working with its charter-operating members to develop recommendations for proactive charter-safety programs. But he said one of the first steps for improving safety must come from the federal government. "We do not have good data at the federal level," he said, citing studies highlighting FAA's lack of information on charter activity.
Bombardier Otter DHC-3 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2004-18606; Directorate Identifier 2004-CE-17-AD; Amendment 39-13877; AD 2004-24-01] - requires, for all Bombardier Otter DHC-3 airplanes that have been modified by 524085 BC, Ltd. Supplemental Type Certificate Number ST01243NY or SA01243NY, replacing the existing Viking Air Ltd. elevator servo tab assembly with a redesigned Viking Air Ltd. elevator servo tab assembly. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for Canada.
STEELWORKERS AGREE TO END STRIKE AT RMI TITANIUM - RTI International Metals, Inc. said it had reached an agreement with the United Steelworkers of America that will end a 13-month strike at the company's RMI Titanium Company mill in Niles, Ohio. The facility employs about 550 workers. About 340 workers, members of the Steelworkers union, went on strike Oct. 26, 2003 when the union and company could not agree on a new contract. RTI has kept the plant running on a limited basis despite the strike. Union members ratified a new 62-month agreement Dec. 1.
