AIR TRACTOR Models AT-401, AT-401B, AT-402, AT-402A, AT-402B, AT-501, AT-502, AT-502A, AT-502B, AT-503A, AT-602, AT-802, and AT-802A airplanes (Docket No. 2004-CE-05-AD) - proposes to supersede an AD that currently requires repetitively inspecting the upper longeron and upper diagonal tube on the left hand side of the aft fuselage structure for cracks and contacting the manufacturer for a repair scheme if cracks are found. This proposed AD is the result of reports of the same cracks recently found on AT-500 series airplanes.
STONE OFFERS LITTLE HOPE ON DCA ACCESS, PRESIDENTIAL TFRS - General aviation groups found TSA acting Administrator David Stone open to their concerns and well-versed on the issues in their first joint meeting with him this month, but also found that he offered little hope of progress on key security issues, such as presidential temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) and access to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Political momentum is growing to get FAA to withdraw its controversial notice of proposed rulemaking tightening restrictions on sightseeing flights, air tours and charitable flights. Industry representatives blasted the NPRM at a public hearing in Washington last week where the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association noted that 14 members of Congress had written FAA to express their concerns. Also last week, Rep.
TIMKEN BUYS ARIZONA ENGINE REPAIR FACILITY - Bearing manufacturer Timken Company purchased the assets of Alcor Engine Company, Inc., and its affiliate Advance Repair Technologies, Inc. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Conklin & De Decker is hosting its fifth annual Financial-Accounting-Cost-Tax Seminar for Business Aviation June 7-8 in Providence, R.I. The seminar will cover cost management, finance and leasing alternatives, insurance, financial planning, like-kind exchange, personal use, taxes and other topics. The seminar costs $995. For more information, contact Pam Wise at (817) 277-6403 or Nel Sanders-Stubbs at (480) 922-8110.
Mercury Air Centers dedicated a new hangar and tenant offices last week at the company's Charleston, S.C. Airport (CHS) fixed-base operation. The new 45,000-square-foot facility is adjacent to Mercury's 23,000-square-foot terminal. In a separate announcement, the Charles County Aviation Authority awarded Mercury a 10-year contract to operate the fixed-base facility at the Charleston Executive Airport (JZI) on Johns Island, S.C.
AvAero received certification for a new fuel burn reduction modification developed for Boeing 737-200 and -300 aircraft and is working toward supplemental type certification of the system on 737-400 and -500 aircraft. The FuelMizer system can provide an average fuel savings of at least four percent according to AvAero, which said the modification involves changing certain parts and repositioning certain wing controls. AvAero estimated that the modification can be installed in 200 to 250 man-hours.
Jet Source added a Learjet 40 to its charter operation based at McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad, Calif. In addition to the Learjet, Jet Source's fleet of managed aircraft includes a Citation II that was added earlier this year (BA, March 29/143), a G400, Falcon 50, Citation I and a King Air F-90.
Avions De Transport Regional is undertaking an aging structure program to extend the "design objective life" of its ATR 42 and 72 regional aircraft from 70,000 to 105,000 cycles. The extension would provide an average yearly utilization rate of 2,500 flight hours and an economic life of more than 40 years. ATR is hoping to achieve its fleet goals by 2005.
Liberty Aerospace hired Joseph Fucci, a colonel who formerly commanded the U.S. Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment at Fort Campbell, Ky., to spearhead the company's effort to market its Liberty XL2 single-piston aircraft for the airborne law enforcement and surveillance markets. Liberty is marketing an XL2 platform with a high-resolution telescopic infrared and thermal imaging system as a low-cost alternative to helicopter operations for search and rescue, surveillance and reconnaissance, border and maritime patrol and environmental monitoring.
The Transportation Security Administration is expected to release today (May 17) a series of guidelines for improving general aviation airport security. The guidelines were based upon recommendations drafted by the industry-based Aviation Security Advisory Committee and presented to the TSA in November (BA, Nov. 24/233). The TSA recommendations are expected to generate support from most segments of the industry, but some groups are taking a wait-and-see attitude. They fear that some states may attempt to make the guidelines mandatory.
Boeing and Airbus are jointly sponsoring a series of symposiums to build a consensus about Global Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology standards on commercial aircraft. Boeing and Airbus are promoting the Air Transport Association SPEC 2000 automated identification and data capture guidelines. "This technology offers the aviation industry many proven benefits with the ultimate objective being continued safety, airworthiness and operational efficiencies for commercial airplanes," said Kenneth Porad, RFID program leader for Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
Cessna Aircraft will hand over five Cessna 172R Skyhawks to Bonn, Germany-based Theorie Training Center (TTC). TTC will provide both private and instrument training on the aircraft. The company has used Cessna airplanes for flight training for 15 years.
AIR SAFETY FOUNDATION PRAISES SAFETY RECORD, QUESTIONS TRAINING - While general aviation continues to record decreasing numbers of accidents, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Air Safety Foundation (ASF) expressed concern that pilot-related actions account for nearly three-quarters of all GA accidents and questioned whether changes in training are necessary. In the ASF's annual Joseph T. Nall General Aviation Report released this month, the ASF found the improving accident trends encouraging.
THOMAS ARNSMEYER was named a vice president for Northrop Grumman's Information Technology sector. Arnsmeyer will oversee security and infrastructure business for the Federal Enterprise Solutions unit, overseeing programs with the Transportation Security Administration, Departments of Justice and Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He has a 23-year career in the design, development and management of large government programs.
General Aviation Manufacturers Association added EADS Socata and Pilatus Aircraft to its membership. Stephane Bernard, president and CEO of Socata Aircraft, Inc., and Thomas Bosshard, president and CEO of Pilatus Business Aircraft, Ltd., will serve on the GAMA board. GAMA represents more than 50 general aviation aircraft, engine, avionics and other equipment manufacturers.
RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT CLAIMS BIG GAINS IN CUSTOMER SERVICE - Raytheon Aircraft Company has substantially increased its customer support and spare parts availability, and "we are approaching [being] a world-class organization," according to Ed Dolanski, vice president of customer support operations. Dolanski, who spent the early years of his career at retail giant Wal-Mart, said the improvements in the customer support area at RAC are due to changes in systems, processes and the management team.
Former Dassault Falcon Jet President and CEO Jean-Francois Georges and European Business Aviation Association CEO Fernand Francois were selected as the 2004 recipients of the European Business Aviation Convention and Exposition's (EBACE) European Business Aviation Awards. The awards were created to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of business aviation in Europe. The awards will be presented during EBACE May 26 in Geneva. Georges retired from Dassault Falcon Jet in late 2003 after serving with the company for nearly 40 years.
PILOT KILLED AS MU-2 CARGO FLIGHT CRASHES NEAR BWI - The pilot of a Mitsubishi MU-2 turboprop was killed early Friday morning when his aircraft crashed into a residential area as he attempted to land at Baltimore-Washington International (BWI) Airport. The aircraft, which was carrying financial documents, was on a flight from Philadelphia, Pa. The aircraft was operated by Epps Aviation of Atlanta. Officials there told reporters the person killed in the crash was an experienced pilot who had been flying the route for about the last five years.
Eaglemed, a unit of Ballard Aviation that provides medical evacuation services, leased hangar space formerly occupied by Raytheon Aircraft at Salina Municipal Airport in Salina, Kan. EagleMed will use the hangar as a helicopter base for medical transport flights. EagleMed provides critical care transport in Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri.
MAYO DEVELOPS NEW HYPOXIA TRAINER - The Mayo Clinic has developed a new training device and curriculum designed to prepare pilots to properly handle situations involving loss of oxygen that could lead to hypoxia. The computer-based, portable Hypoxia Awareness Training System simulates the effects of hypoxia by having pilots breathe a controlled mix of oxygen and nitrogen. During about a 10-minute test, pilots are prompted to respond to commands and to carry out tasks while a video camera records their actions.
