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.
PILATUS SEES UPTICK IN SALES - Swiss plane-maker Pilatus Aircraft has sold out its PC-12 single-turboprop production for the year and expects to deliver 10 more planes this year than last at a time when most airframers have scaled back production. Pilatus centers booked 14 new PC-12 orders in the first two weeks of September, rounding out the company's planned delivery schedule of 55 for the year and building a backlog.
The Aviation Security Advisory Committee, an industry group tasked by the Transportation Security Administration with developing a series of recommendations for enhancing cargo and general aviation airport security, last week finished work on a series of measures that cargo carriers and airports could incorporate, but withheld adopting the less controversial GA airport recommendations until the group could review them further.
The National Association of State Aviation Officials named Washington as the "Most Innovative State" of 2003 for developing the Online Pilot Registration program. The award was presented to the Washington State Department of Transportation at NASAO's 72nd Annual Convention and Trade Show in Charlotte, N.C. last month. The WSDOT started the online program to make registration, payment of fees and personal information updates easier and more convenient for pilots.
AOPA CALLS FOR MORE GA REPRESENTATION ON FAA'S ADVISORY COUNCIL - The Department of Transportation is drawing fire from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association for the newest appointments to FAA's Management Advisory Council, which, according to AOPA, does not adequately represent the general aviation sector.
Honeywell earned FAA supplemental type certification for a KFC 225 flight control system and KCS 55A compass system for the PA-31-350 Piper Chieftain. The system, which replaces the out-of-production Bendix/King KFC 200, improves cockpit functionality and reliability on the Chieftain, Honeywell said. The package includes a new compass sensor, horizontal situation indicator and flight director. Honeywell is offering four system configurations for the Chieftain.
Avcon Industries won FAA supplemental type certification for installing reduced vertical separation minimum-compliant equipment on a Learjet 25D aircraft. Avcon is seeking RVSM group approval for the Learjet 20 series of aircraft and called the most recent STC "an important first step." Avcon teamed with Bizjet International in Tulsa, Okla. on the program. The companies are sharing development risks and costs for a program that could potentially encompass 500 Lear 20 series aircraft. Avcon secured the STC through the Wichita Aircraft Certification Office.
BLAKEY: FLIGHT SERVICE STATIONS ONLY PRIVATIZATION FOCUS FOR FAA - The National Air Traffic Controllers Association and other union groups continue to claim that FAA wants to privatize the nation's entire air traffic control system but FAA Administrator Marion Blakey maintains that the agency's only effort along those lines is the potential privatization of Flight Service Stations (FSSs), the Administrator told BA in a recent interview.
Elliott Aviation struck an agreement with Cessna Aircraft to modify, refurbish and market certain late-model Citations in Cessna's used aircraft inventory. Operators will be given the opportunity to select paint and interior specifications, cabin amenities and avionics equipment on the Citations. Cessna will recognize Elliott as a service center for the aircraft it refurbishes and sells.
WICHITA AVIONICS FIRM INTRODUCING BATTERY-EQUIPPED ATTITUDE INDICATOR - Mid-Continent Instruments of Wichita, Kan. is introducing a new panel-mounted electric attitude indicator that includes a self-contained battery backup. Mid-Continent said its new 4300 Series electric attitude indicator, the Lifesaver Gyro, will continue to operate for up to one hour even if every other system in the aircraft's avionics panel goes dark. The unit, which is self-illuminating, is designed to prevent spatial disorientation if the aircraft loses electrical power.
The Transportation Department Inspector General will audit FAA's oversight of airport land acquisition and relocation assistance programs, the IG office told FAA acting Assistant Administrator John Hennigan in a memo late last month. The audit, which begins Oct. 20, will look at whether airport sponsors acquire property and relocate occupants in accordance with laws and regulations and are reimbursed only for AIP-eligible costs.
Honeywell is expected to announce that the GROB Ranger G160 single-engine turboprop will be among the first aircraft models to use Honeywell's APEX integrated cockpit avionics system as standard equipment.
BAE SYSTEMS (Jetstream) Model 4101 airplanes (Docket No. 2002-NM-58-AD) - proposes to adopt a new AD that would require repetitive inspection of the seat rails in the passenger cabin for evidence of damage and corrosion, repair of any damage or corrosion, and replacement of any floor panels found to be "soft" due to ingress of moisture.
Flight Safety Technologies won a $4 million contract extension from the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center at the Department of Transportation for the development of the SOCRATES wake vortex sensor. Phase III SOCRATES is a joint venture between Flight Safety Technologies and Lockheed Martin. The new funds will be used to further develop the sensor from its four-beam configuration to eight or more beams.
Aviall received a 10-year agreement that expands its aftermarket representation of Honeywell Lighting and Electronics products. Under the agreement, Aviall will be responsible for aftermarket parts sales - including marketing, order administration, warehousing and product distribution - for Honeywell general aviation and airline lighting products. Aviall estimated that sales over the contract life could exceed $500 million.
Innotech Aviation won a supplemental type certificate to install DirecTV service in Bombardier Challenger 601 aircraft using the Honeywell AIS-1000 OneView TV system. The system, which has channels for DVDs and Airshow, will be able to accommodate four independent input signals from various cabin and cockpit locations. The first installation of the system will use a North American transmission uplink for a U.S.-registered aircraft. Innotech also recently installed a Honeywell HS-700 high-speed data link in a Bombardier Global Express for an American customer.
Embraer completed mating of the sections of the first fuselage of the Embraer 190 regional jet, calling the milestone "a landmark not only for Embraer, but also for all of the customers, partners and suppliers of the program." Embraer said the mating of the three sections was completed on schedule. The Embraer 190 is part of Embraer's new family of larger regional jets and can be configured with 98 to 108 seats in a single class. The aircraft also can be configured with dual-class service and will be equipped with "ample" stowage space for longer flights.
Air BP added eight new dealers to its aviation fuel network. In the Southwest, the new locations include Encore Aviation, Inc. of Caldwell, Texas, N.W. Regional Airport of Roanoke, Texas and Trajen of Tucson, Ariz. The three new dealers in the Northeast are Jamestown Aviation in Jamestown, N.Y., Middle Peninsula Regional in Mattaponi, Va. and Turbo Prop East, Inc. of North Adams, Mass. Also, Medford Air Service of Medford, Ore. was added in the Northwest and Quality Aviation Services, Inc. of Hastings, Mich. was added in the Midwest.
