Senate Democrats who have been threatening to block passage of FAA reauthorization legislation by staging a filibuster were waiting for a response from the White House late last week on a deal that could resolve the impasse and permit passage of the bill, which is supported by nearly all elements of the aviation community. See article below.
An end might be in sight for passage of the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill as the Senate late last week scheduled a cloture vote to be taken this evening (Nov. 17). No details were available as to what version of the bill would be up for the vote. Senate Republicans last week were considering a proposal from Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), banning air traffic control privatization for one year.
Senate Governmental Affairs Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. to consider the nomination of Transportation Security Administration chief James Loy as the new deputy secretary for the Department of Homeland Security. The hearing will be held in Room 342 of the Senate Dirksen Bldg. on Capitol Hill.
Ballistic Recovery Systems' vice president of sales and marketing, Dan Johnson, resigned last week. He will continue to work with BRS as an independent contractor, providing marketing, advertising and public relations services. Johnson, who has worked at the South St. Paul, Minn.-based company for 17 years, also will continue to represent BRS on industry boards and panels. While BRS looks for a new vice president of sales and marketing, Stewart D.
Northrop Grumman officials are trying to interest government officials and potential civil customers in a laser-based system that was developed to protect military airplanes and helicopters from attacks by terrorists or other groups using shoulder-fired missiles or MANPADS (man-portable air defense systems).
Jet Aviation West Palm Beach is installing a reduced vertical separation minimum system into a Falcon 10 - its fifth RVSM retrofit on a Falcon since obtaining an FAA supplemental type certificate earlier this year. With the January 2005 RVSM implementation date nearing, Jet Aviation is expecting a "rush to compliance" and the company has recently hired extra staff to handle the overflow, said Brian Wilson, avionics manager.
ENGINE PROBLEMS FOCUS OF SKYVAN FATAL CRASH - A Short Brothers Skyvan SC7 operated by an air carrier crashed shortly after takeoff Nov. 8, killing a flight attendant and one passenger and injuring the pilots and three other passengers.
Rep. Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) has asked the General Accounting Office to conduct a full-blown study of general aviation security. Officials from GAO's Atlanta and Washington offices are working on the project, which is expected to include input from a number of aviation trade organizations.
The Senate November 12 approved the fiscal 2004 Defense Department authorization conference report by a 95-3 vote. The legislation, which passed the House Nov. 7, now heads to President Bush for his expected signature. The $401 billion measure authorizes $74 billion for procurement and $63 billion for research and development. The legislation contains a provision permitting the Air Force to acquire 100 new Boeing KC-767A tanker aircraft by leasing 20 and buying the remainder.
The Federal Aviation Administration proposed a new rule last week to govern extended operations (ETOPS) for flights conducted under Parts 25, 33, 121 and 135 of the Federal Aviation Regulations, attempting for the first time to codify informal procedures that have been in place since the mid-1980s. The notice of proposed rulemaking "implements existing policy, industry best practices and recommendations, and international standards to ensure that long-range flights will operate safely," FAA said.
Russell Chew, the chief operating officer of FAA's Air Traffic Organization, has briefed Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta and key members of Congress on his plans to transform the nation's air traffic control system into a performance-based organization. Chew is expected to go public with these plans tomorrow (Nov. 18). Details are being closely held, but one insider used the "B" word - Bold - to describe Chew's approach to making ATO a PBO. Chew also is expected to discuss his plans Nov.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-1A11 (CL-600), CL-600-2A12 (CL-601), and CL-600-2B16 (CL-601-3A, CL-601-3R, and CL-604) series airplanes (Docket No. 2002-NM-157-AD; Amendment 39-13360; AD 2003-22-12) - adopts a new AD that requires revising the airplane flight manual to provide the flightcrew with procedures and limitations for operating the airplane with out-of-tolerance angle of attack (AOA) transducers.
AOPA ASKS FOR MEETING WITH FAA ON AIR TOUR REGULATIONS - The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association is calling on the Federal Aviation Administration to hold public meetings to discuss the proposed changes to national air tour operational standards, saying that the agency "has failed to consider the true impacts of this proposal."
HPN HANDS OUT NOISE-ABATEMENT AWARDS - Westchester County Airport (HPN) in White Plains, N.Y. handed out its "Spirit of Noise Abatement" awards this month to 33 based operators that achieved 100 percent compliance with the airport's Voluntary Restraint From Flying (VRFF) and the High-Range Noise Event programs in 2002. In 2001, 27 operators received such awards. The awards were presented in three aircraft categories.
Security Of General Aviation Airports is on the agenda for today when the General Aviation Airport Working Group is scheduled to present its final report to the Aviation Security Advisory Committee.
SUMMARY: Pursuant to FAA's rulemaking provisions governing the application, processing, and disposition of petitions for exemption (14 CFR Part 11), this notice contains a summary of certain petitions seeking relief from specified requirements of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR Chapter I), 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.
Rolls-Royce is celebrating 50 years of production for the T56 engine this month. The turboprop engine, which can produce between 3,250 and 5,800 shaft horsepower, has accumulated 180 million operating hours and is in service on C-130 Hercules, C-2A Greyhound, E-2C Hawkeye and P-3 Orion aircraft. Rolls-Royce has produced more than 16,500 of the engines to date and the company said that production could continue through 2015.
Lockheed Martin will provide C-130J training systems and services to the U.S. Air Force under a contract that could total $287 million if all options are exercised, the company said. The deal includes simulators that have been subcontracted to CAE of Toronto, Canada, Lockheed Martin said. The manufacturer delivered the first group of HC-130J Super Hercules airlifters to the Coast Guard at Elizabeth City, N.J. in an Oct. 31 ceremony.
Air BP added Million Air Oxnard in Ventura County, Calif. to its national network. Located 10 miles north of Los Angeles, the fixed-base operator opened for business this summer.
Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.) contacted leaders of aviation trade associations last week asking them to get in touch with their members in support of winning Senate passage of the FAA reauthorization bill. Mica told the organizations that the Bush Administration "has stated in writing that it will not privatize the ATC system," and pointed out that of the 219 contract towers, 116 were privatized during the Clinton Administration. Those 219 contract towers account for 45 percent of the nation's total of 484, he said.
CPI REPORTS IMPROVED FINANCIAL RESULTS - CPI Aerostructures, Inc. reported improved revenue and income figures for the third quarter and nine months ended Sept. 30. Revenue for the quarter was up 11 percent to $7.8 million and net income jumped by nearly $600,000, from $1.25 million a year ago to $1.84 million in the most recent period. For the first nine months, revenue was up 15 percent to $20.7 million and net income soared from $2.8 million for the first three quarters of 2002 to $7.1 million in the most recent period.
