The ATR 72 regional turboprop program reached the 300-delivery mark with a delivery to Air New Zealand. Air New Zealand operates 11 ATR 72-500s. Air New Zealand regional carrier Mount Cook Airlines, based in Christchurch, will operate the aircraft. ATR launched the ATR 72 in January 1986 and delivered the first aircraft to Finnair in October 1989.
A Gulfstream IV business jet was damaged last week when it ran off the runway after landing at the Teterboro, N.J. Airport. The aircraft, G-GMAC, was carrying a crew of two and seven passengers. The airplane ran off the end of Runway 24 and struck a number of trees. Wind conditions were blustery when the accident occurred about 4:30 p.m. local time Wednesday. There were no reported injuries.
Veteran business aviation safety analyst Robert E. Breiling characterized the recent spate of business-jet accidents as "very unusual." Breiling, who has been tracking the industry's safety record for more than 30 years, noted that three of the latest accidents involved a Gulfstream III, a Gulfstream IV and a Bombardier Challenger 601, each of which has an outstanding safety record. Through 2003, those aircraft models had been involved in few total accidents: G-III (1); G-IV (2); and Challenger 601/604 (3). Breiling said U.S.
GROUP FORMING TO REPRESENT WASHINGTON AREA AVIATION INTERESTS - Reacting to expressions of interest from aircraft operators in the Maryland/Washington, D.C. and Virginia area, former National Business Aviation Association executive Bob Blouin is serving as a clearinghouse for people interested in joining a regional aviation organization.
Marc Parent was appointed group president, Simulation Products, for CAE. Parent joins CAE from Bombardier, where he most recently served as vice president and general manager of Bombardier Aerospace. He spent 20 years with Bombardier, holding a number of senior management positions overseeing engineering, product development, management and operations at facilities in Montreal, Toronto and Tucson, Ariz.
February 6-8, 2005 - Helicopter Association International Heli-Expo 2005, Anaheim, Calif., (703) 683-4646 February 12-16, 2005 - 16th Annual National Business Aviation Association Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference, Reno, Nev., (202) 783-9000 March 8-10, 2005 - National Air Transportation Association/Professional Aviation Maintenance Association GSE Aviation Services and Suppliers AS3 Supershow, March 8-10, Sands Expos & Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nev., (703) 845-9000
ARINC Incorporated, the Annapolis, Md.-based high-technology services provider, is celebrating its 75th anniversary. ARINC was launched in 1929 when four major U.S. airlines created a single radio service for coast-to-coast air/ground communications. The organization since has grown to providing technology and services covering airline passenger ticketing, battlefield evacuation, nuclear power plant security and subway control systems.
Embraer Model EMB-135 and -145 series airplanes [Docket No. 2002-NM-351-AD; Amendment 39-13874; AD 2004-23-19] - supersedes an existing AD that currently requires a one-time inspection to detect incorrect wiring of the electrical connectors to the pressure switches and cartridges on the fire extinguisher bottles for the engines and the auxiliary power unit (APU); disconnection and reconnection of the wiring, as necessary; and adjustment of the length of the harnesses on the fire extinguisher bottles to avoid future misconnections.
Sacramento County, Calif. Airport System is seeking bids from companies interested in running a full-service fixed-base operation at the Sacramento International Airport (SMF). Information can be obtained by calling officials at (916) 874-0911. Deadline for submission of proposals is Jan. 6.
EXECUTIVE JET MANAGEMENT NAMES MAYO TO NEW POST - Executive Jet Management of Cincinnati, Ohio named two employees to new posts within the aircraft management and charter firm's operations department.
MD Helicopters Model 600N helicopters (Docket No. 2003-SW-51-AD; Amendment 39-13840; AD 2004-22-12) - requires replacing the Fuselage Station 75 control support bracket assembly, reducing the life limit, and revising the Limitations section of the applicable maintenance manual to state the reduced life limits on certain serial-numbered helicopters. This amendment is prompted by information received from the manufacturer indicating that the fatigue life of the control support bracket is shorter than the original analysis indicated.
STANDARD AERO WINS LONG-TERM ENGINE CONTRACT - Regional carrier SkyWest signed a 16-year engine maintenance deal with Standard Aero to maintain the GE CF34-8 engines powering the airline's fleet of Bombardier CRJ-700s. The agreement covers scheduled and unscheduled repairs, with SkyWest paying a set amount per month for each engine hour flown. The carrier currently flies 10 -700s and expects to add 22 more planes to its fleet by May.
Raytheon Aircraft Services in Tampa, Fla. was recognized by the Brazilian Departamento de Aviacao Civil as an authorized Brazilian Repair Station. The facility is completing its first Brazilian Beechjet repair and inspection. The Tampa Bay facility also is a certified foreign repair station for Bermuda and Venezuela.
Raytheon Model B100 Airplanes (Docket No. 2004-CE-11-AD; Amendment 39-13856; AD 2004-22-28) - requires drilling holes in the hot lip tube "B" nuts, tightening the "B" nuts to specified torque ranges, and securing the "B" nuts with safety wire. This AD is the result of reports of loose "B" nuts on the engine inlet that may loosen and permit a leak in the engine inlet anti-ice system. FAA is issuing this AD to detect and correct loose "B" nuts on the engine inlet, which could result in failure of the engine inlet anti-ice system and consequent ice buildup.
Michael Brasier was named executive general manager of the Mercury Air Centers fixed-base operation at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Brasier oversees the day-to-day operations of the LAX facility and is a member of Mercury's senior management team. He formerly was general manager of Mercury Burbank and served as an area general manager.
Pilatus Model PC-7 airplanes (Docket No. FAA-2004-18579; Directorate Identifier 2004-CE-19-AD; Amendment 39-13856; AD 2004-23-01) - requires, for certain aircraft with any Lear Romec RR53710B type or Lear Romec RR53710K fuel booster pump (Pilatus part number 968.84.11.401; 968.84.11.403; or 968.84.11.404) installed, a check of the airplane logbook to determine whether any installed fuel booster pump has been modified with spiral wrap to protect the wire leads and has the suffix letter "B" added to the serial number of the fuel booster pump identification plate.
Part 135 operators represent anywhere between a $4.4 billion and $12.7 billion industry, but finding a more precise estimate will be difficult without better data collection, the Federal Aviation Administration acknowledged in a comprehensive study it released this month after researching the industry for the past four years. FAA this month transmitted its Part 135 Air Taxi Operators Study to Congress after being ordered to do the study in the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR 21), enacted in the spring of 2000.
Paul Hawthorne joined the Aeronautical Repair Station Association as vice president for operations. Hawthorne, who has 27 years of aviation industry experience, most recently was vice president of quality assurance for Messier Services. He has held quality management positions at an aircraft manufacturer, major air carriers and parts distribution companies. Hawthorne is a certificated airframe and powerplant mechanic and private pilot.
FAA EVALUATES USE OF SOLAR-POWERED TAXI LIGHTS AT GA AIRPORTS - Federal Aviation Administration this week will begin installing solar-powered taxiway lights at Cross Keys Airport in Gloucester County, N.J. as part of a study of whether to offer a technology currently used by the U.S. military as a low-cost alternative for general aviation airports. "This innovative program could eventually benefit thousands of small general aviation airports across the country," FAA said. "These are the same taxiway lights that guide pilots of U.S.
Mooney Model M20M airplanes (Docket No. FAA-2004-19618; Directorate Identifier 2004-CE-39-AD; Amendment 39-13872; AD 2004-23-17) - supersedes an AD that requires replacement of the tailpipe coupling with an improved tailpipe coupling. Since FAA issued AD 91-03-15, a fire erupted in the lower left cockpit area of one of the airplanes affected by AD 91-03-15. The V-clamp that attaches the exhaust tailpipe to the turbocharger fell off, which allowed the exhaust tailpipe to detach from the turbocharger.
Federal Aviation Administration is pushing ahead with plans to develop a numerical safety index that will depict the overall safety of the U.S. aviation industry from general aviation to scheduled airline service. Despite skepticism from some quarters about the value of developing a matrix that encompasses such widely different types of flying, FAA wants the new safety index in place by the end of 2006 (BA, Jan. 26/33). This prototype safety index "will measure aviation fatalities and injuries in all segments of the industry," FAA said.
