Gulfstream Model GV and GV-SP series airplanes (Docket No. FAA-2004-19492; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-200-AD; Amendment 39-13844; AD 2004-22-16) - requires a one-time general visual inspection for contact or insufficient clearance between the crew oxygen bottle/supports and any wiring harness, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary.
The Boeing Business Jet will remain shut out of Teterboro Airport under the most recent FAA budget. The fiscal 2005 FAA budget - part of the omnibus appropriations bill that Congress passed this month - included a provision prohibiting FAA from using any funds to change weight restrictions or prior permission rules at Teterboro Airport. Boeing has been seeking an exemption to the 100,000-pound weight limitation at Teterboro so the BBJ could land there.
Aeronautical Repair Station Association scheduled its 2005 Annual Repair Symposium and Legislative Day March 11-13 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel at Pentagon City in Arlington, Va. The symposium will include sessions on European aviation regulations, FAA Flight Standards Service developments, training manuals, human factors in training, repair station-customer relations, employment law and other topics.
AOPA URGES MINNESOTA LEGISLATORS TO SAVE CRYSTAL AIRPORT - Calling Crystal Airport a critical reliever for the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association this month urged Minnesota legislators to save the airport that regional planners are considering closing and redeveloping.
CAE SimuFlite received European Aviation Safety Agency approval for Gulfstream V, Gulfstream IV and Falcon 2000 maintenance training at its facility in Dallas. CAE SimuFlite expects approvals for other maintenance programs to follow shortly. CAE SimuFli
Ecuadorian carrier TAME signed a letter of intent this month to acquire up to seven aircraft from Brazilian manufacturer Embraer. The agreement includes two Embraer 170LR models that carry 70 passengers and one 98-seat Embraer 190. The deal includes options for four more aircraft.
AGUSTAWESTLAND COMPANIES RELOCATING TO FAIRFAX, HIRING 300 - AgustaWestland Inc. and AgustaWestlandBell will relocate and consolidate their operations to Fairfax County, Va., in January 2005 and hire 300 new workers, the companies said this month. The companies, currently located in nearby Arlington, Va., will occupy 30,000 square feet at the Plaza America complex in the Reston area.
The Boca Raton Airport Authority has the right to permit third-party development of aviation land on the airport (BCT) as long as the airport does not violate the exclusive rights provision of the Airport and Airway Improvement Act of 1982, the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled this month.
Embraer Model EMB-135 and -145 series airplanes (Docket No. 2003-NM-04-AD) - Withdraws a proposal that would have required a one-time inspection of the trailing arm cardan of each main landing gear (MLG) to identify a certain part number; a one-time inspection of certain trailing arm cardans to detect cracking, if necessary; and replacement of incorrect trailing arm cardans with cardans having a certain part number.
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
Sabreliner Corp. promoted Kurt Sutterer to president of Midcoast Aviation and to the newly created position of senior vice president, business development for Sabreliner. Sutterer will be responsible for corporate aviation sales and supporting business development across the Sabreliner companies as well as remaining responsible for overall Midcoast growth. He most recently was executive vice president of Midcoast.
Bombardier Flexjet is claiming a speed record this month for a Challenger 300 flight from Carlsbad, Calif. to Bangor, Maine. The aircraft departed Carlsbad at 7:58 a.m. PST with two pilots, eight passengers and their baggage and arrived at Bangor International Airport four hours and 41 minutes later. The Nov. 12 flight had an average speed of 572 miles per hour (497 knots) and a maximum cruising level of 41,000 feet. The flight was carrying families that have children afflicted with juvenile diabetes in recognition of National Diabetes Awareness Month.
CONTROLLERS QUERIED G-III CREW ABOUT ALTITUDE JUST BEFORE CRASH - Air traffic controllers handling the approach of a Gulfstream III business jet at Houston Hobby Airport last Monday morning asked the pilots to check their altitude shortly before the airplane hit a tall light tower and crashed short of Runway 4, killing all three crewmembers.
TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY Norman Mineta will receive an award this morning (Nov. 22) from the Washington Airports Task Force. Mineta was selected to receive the Williams Trophy, which is presented to individuals whose "leadership, vision and dedication in the application of aviation or space enriched the quality of life on earth." The trophy is named in honor of Carrington Williams, the founding chairman of the Washington Airports Task Force.
The Federal Aviation Administration last week called for a new type rating that would recognize pilots who complete second-in-command (SIC) training. The rating would conform to International Civil Aviation Organization standards, eliminating one of the differences between U.S. and international regulations. The proposal is designed to "allow U.S. flight crews to continue to operate in international airspace without the threat of being grounded for not holding the appropriate pilot type rating," FAA said.
GCR & ASSOCIATES launched a project under an FAA grant to collect airport safety and maintenance data at about 5,000 public-use general aviation airports in North America. The grant covers the collection and compilation of data including runway lengths, approach standards, NAVAIDS and other facility and operational data. GCR subcontracted with Southern Illinois University at Carbondale for coordination and administration assistance.
Summary: This notice contains a summary of certain petitions seeking relief from specified requirements of 14 CFR, dispositions of certain petitions previously received, and corrections. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities.
BELL Model 206L-1 and 206L-3 helicopters (Docket No. 2004-SW-03-AD; Amendment 39-13841; AD 2004-22-13) - requires a one-time inspection of the adjustable stop screws of the magnetic brake assembly; repairing, as appropriate, certain mechanical damage to the cyclic and collective flight control magnetic brake arm assembly, if necessary; and installing the stop screw with the proper adhesive, adjusting the arm assembly travel and applying slippage marks.
KEY WASHINGTON decision-makers last week indicated a willingness to give another look to a proposal that would allow business aviation back into Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) after the presidential inauguration in January. The proposal was drafted at the direction of Congress but has been buried within the Department of Homeland Security.
ECLIPSE AVIATION cut a deal with United Airlines to have training provided for Eclipse 500 pilots at the air carrier's training center in the Denver, Colo. area, a move pioneered more than 35 years ago by Learjet. From about 1967 until the early 1970s the fledgling business-jet manufacturer sent its customers to United for training, a system that continued until shortly after Harry Combs became president at Learjet and FlightSafety took over responsibility for Learjet training. See article on Page 228.
GENERAL DYNAMICS AVIATION SERVICES' facility in West Palm Beach, Fla. received European Aviation Safety Agency and Joint Aviation Authorities approval to provide maintenance on business jets registered in any of the 25 European Union countries. The center, which has 46,200 square feet of hangar space, provides maintenance on Challenger, Falcon, Hawker, Gulfstream and other business aircraft.
THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE recommended FAA consider charging fees to enhance the agency's ability to provide more consistent and complete oversight of its designee programs. The recommendation was one of a series the congressional investigative arm made to improve FAA's designee programs.
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE won FAA supplemental type certificate approval to install the Gulfstream Broad Band Multi-Link (BBML) system on the Gulfstream V. The STC follows similar approval that FAA granted for the GIV business jet last month. The BBML provides high-speed Internet access through the SKYLink by ARINC Direct broadband service. The service is available over the U.S., but plans call for expansion into the North Atlantic, Europe, and the Middle East regions next year. Service over the Pacific is slated to follow in 2006.
OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET this month finished reviewing a proposal that would ease certain limitations on U.S.-registered aircraft operated by foreign companies under Part 375. National Business Aviation Association has been working with the Department of Transportation to lift some restrictions on charge-backs and other types of transactions involving foreign companies. DOT finished work on the proposal and sent it to OMB in July. OMB on Nov. 12 cleared the proposal for release.
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE won type certification Friday from the European Aviation Safety Agency for the company's new G450 business jet. The EASA certification permits the G450 to be registered in any of the 25 European Union countries. FAA certificated the G450 Aug. 12. The first aircraft is scheduled to enter customer service in the second quarter of 2005.
