TUBBS JONES BILL AIMED AT PRESERVING AIR SHOW - Cleveland Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Ohio) this month crafted legislation aimed at ensuring the long-term viability of the Cleveland National Air Show after the Labor Day event was threatened by a ban on flights within three miles and 3,000 feet of a major stadium event. The air show, a Labor Day tradition in Cleveland, is held at Cleveland's Burke Lakefront Airport, about two miles from Jacobs Field, where the Cleveland Indians were scheduled to play at the same time.
Raytheon Aircraft Services in Toluca, Mexico earned FAA approval to operate as a Part 145 repair station. The approval authorizes RAS-Toluca to provide maintenance for any N-registered aircraft, including all Beechcraft and Hawker, Falcon 50 and Learjet 20, 30 and 60 aircraft. RAS-Toluca previously won certification through the Mexican La Direccion General de Aeronautica Civil.
National Air Transportation Association, working with the Aircraft Electronics Association, is hoping to persuade FAA to at least delay enforcement of its handbook bulletin ensuring proper approval for seating configurations on Part 135 aircraft (BA, Sept. 13/111). FAA officials who spoke at NATA committee meetings last week maintained that the handbook bulletin was issued at the request of agency lawyers concerned about the inconsistent application of the maintenance and seating requirements of Part 135.
Innotech Aviation appointed Bob Lavellee sales manager for the U.S. Mid-East region. Before joining Innotech, Lavellee was president of Global Technical Services, a maintenance firm based in Illinois. He also has served as director of maintenance for the Brunswick Corp. and a field service representative for Bombardier. BA incorrectly reported that Rob Brooks was named to the position. Brooks actually is Innotech's vice president and general manager.
Sikorsky Aircraft recognized Keystone Helicopter Corp. last week for completion of the 50th S-76C+. Keystone, headquartered in Coatesville, Pa., is the principal completion center for S-76 helicopters, installing avionics and unique equipment and completing interiors and exteriors to suit customer needs.
Hartzell Propeller, Inc. signed a long-term agreement with Cirrus Design Corp. to provide propellers for all Cirrus SR20 and SR22 aircraft. Hartzell said the contract with Cirrus is one of the largest orders in its history.
EAA, NAFI SCHEDULE SPORT PILOT SEMINAR FOR FLIGHT INSTRUCTORS - The Experimental Aircraft Association and the National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) are joining forces to offer a first-of-its-kind symposium for flight instructors. EAA said the symposium, scheduled for Oct. 29-30 at the inaugural U.S. Sport Aviation Expo at Sebring, Fla., is designed to help prepare the nation's flight instructors for the "anticipated influx of flight students emerging from the new sport pilot/light sport aircraft rule" (BA, July 26/36).
FLIGHTSAFETY TO OFFER TRAINING VARIETY AT NEW FARNBOROUGH CENTER - FlightSafety International (FSI) is lining up a variety of business and regional aircraft simulators ranging from the King Air turboprop to a Gulfstream IV for its new 14-bay center in Farnborough, England. Simulator installation is to begin in January, and FlightSafety hopes to secure Joint Aviation Authorities approval by the end of the first quarter.
CESSNA, IAM REACH SPEEDY AGREEMENT ON NEW CONTRACT - Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and Cessna Aircraft officials reached agreement on a new three-year labor pact this month, just six weeks after negotiations began. The new contract provides a signing bonus of $2,500 for each covered employee, plus wage increases of four percent this year and three percent in each of the next two years. Union officials said just short of 80 percent of IAM members participating cast votes in favor of the new agreement.
BOLEN VOWS TO FOCUS ON ACCESS, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS - In his first major public address since taking office, newly installed NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen declared during a luncheon Friday at Westchester County Airport (HPN) in White Plains, N.Y., that government affairs would be a top priority of the association under his leadership.
Dassault Falcon Jet named Eric Monsel vice president of programs. Monsel, who has been with the French aircraft manufacturer for more than two decades, will succeed Marc Valle, who will retire from the company. Valle has been with Dassault since 1967 and has served as vice president of programs since 1997. Monsel will be responsible for coordinating all new Falcon options and the new projects developed for the completion programs.
EMS Technologies signed a seven-year agreement to supply high-speed data satellite communications products to complement the Honeywell/Thales MCS-4000/7000 high-speed data system. The products will include high-power amplifiers and high-speed data units that will support Inmarsat Swift64 and can upgrade to SwiftBroadband when it is available. EMS officials said the agreement will provide Honeywell/Thales clients the potential of a single source for their SATCOM products while the agreement provides EMS greater airline market penetration.
CSSI, INC., the Washington, D.C.-based engineering and technical services firm, was selected to assist seven Latin American and Caribbean countries in an initiative to reduce vertical separation minimums (RVSM) from 2,000 feet to 1,000 feet at altitudes between 29,000 and 41,000 feet. CSSI had worked in consultation with FAA on domestic RVSM rules, which are slated to take effect Jan. 20, 2005. CSSI will work with FAA to assist implementation in Latin America and the Caribbean shortly thereafter.
LMI Aerospace agreed to sell its Versaform Division in British Columbia to a group of private investors, part of a previously announced plan to sell certain non-core assets. Acquired in 2002, Versaform serves aerospace, architectural and commercial industries. The Langley, B.C. facility provides stretch wrap forming, skin forming, hydro forming, tooling, assembly and heat treating.
NEW FAA UNIVERSITY TEAM WILL FOCUS ON CABIN AIR QUALITY, THREATS - The Federal Aviation Administration established a new Center of Excellence, headed by Auburn University, to examine cabin air quality and study chemical and biological threats in airliners.
Transportation Security Administration released an interim rule transferring background check authority for aliens seeking flight training in the U.S. from the Federal Bureau of Investigation to the TSA. The interim rule, scheduled for publication in today's (Sept. 20) Federal Register, establishes standards for the security threat assessment process that TSA will conduct and establishes a fee to cover the costs of conducting the threat assessment. The rule also includes security-training standards for flight school employees. TSA is requesting comments on the rule.
Most business aircraft operators aren't any closer to regaining access to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) than they were three years ago, but government officials who can obtain waivers to use DCA continue to take advantage of the privilege. Last Wednesday, for example, the nation's most famous King Air 100, operated by the Kentucky State Police, was at DCA. Back in June that airplane, which was carrying Gov.
Gulfstream Aerospace received type certification for the G200 business jet from the European Aviation Safety Agency, clearing the aircraft for registration in European Union member companies.
MD HELICOPTERS Model MD900 helicopters (Docket No. 2004-SW-10-AD; Amendment 39-13764; AD 2004-16-08) - requires installing a fan input force limiting control rod assembly fail-safe device. This AD also requires, after installing a fail-safe device, before the first flight of each day, checking the fail-safe device for bent clips, taut lanyards, and piston rod movement. If any of these conditions are found, this AD requires replacing the control rod assembly with an airworthy control rod assembly before further flight.
MICHELLA BALLARD was named marketing coordinator for JetCorp, a fixed-base operator at Spirit of St. Louis Airport, Mo. Ballard will oversee a number of marketing functions, including trade show coordination, advertising and media relations, promotions and internal communications. Ballard graduated from Parks College of St. Louis University with a bachelor of science degree in aviation management and most recently was marketing coordinator for L-3 Avionics Systems in Grand Rapids, Mich.
WEINER DEFERS PUSH ON GA SECURITY BILL; SAYS FUTURE ACTION POSSIBLE - After hearing an outpouring of opposition to his bill to severely curtail general aviation flights, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) decided last week to withhold action on the legislation to address "the obvious concerns" of the GA community, but said he hoped to follow up with more focused security measures in the future.
Avexus, Inc., which specializes in providing software to help manage aviation and aerospace operations, said Turbine Controls, Inc., an FAA/JAA/CAAC repair facility that repairs gas turbines and airframe components, selected Avexus software to help manage its maintenance, repair and overhaul operations in Bloomfield, Conn.
DASSAULT FALCON OPENS NEW TEB FLIGHT OPS CENTER - Dassault Falcon Jet opened its new flight operations center at the Teterboro, N.J. Airport (TEB), a facility that will house the company's 23-person flight operations department and the Falcon demonstration fleet. The new structure, located directly across from DFJ's headquarters, also will house three of the company's field service representatives.
LARGE MARKET SEEN FOR HAWKER 800 WINGLET RETROFIT - Aviation Partners, Inc., the Seattle, Wash. firm that specializes in developing winglet retrofits for business jets and commercial airliners, believes hundreds of Hawker 800 business jet operators will opt to install the performance-enhancing devices on their aircraft now that API has finally won certification from FAA.
LOSSES MOUNT AT FIRST AVIATION DESPITE SHARPLY HIGHER SALES - First Aviation Services, Inc., (FAS) the Westport, Conn.-based provider of parts and supply chain services to the aerospace industry, reported 12 times higher losses in the first half despite a significant increase in sales.
