A group meeting with TSA chief Adm. James Loy Wednesday walked away with the clear impression the TSA was not the general aviation community's advocate, some attendees told BA. While TSA is interested in listening to ideas that would generate public/private efforts to improve GA security and would be willing to pitch those ideas to other government entities, Loy conveyed the message that it is not the job of TSA to defend GA to those entities.
Boeing Company and Lufthansa Technik received approval from German aviation authorities (LBA) and the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for the use of airborne wireless applications on commercial flights. The approvals will allow passengers to use their own wireless laptop computers or personal electronic devices for real-time, high-speed Internet access through an open wireless local area network aboard a 747-400 airliner equipped with the Connexion by Boeing service.
Federal Aviation Administration's Part 135/125 regulatory review gets under way this week at a conference center in suburban Virginia, and participants will have plenty to discuss. Nearly 80 proposals for changes in the existing regulations had been posted on FAA's web site by late last week.
BAE SYSTEMS Model ATP airplanes (Docket No. 2001-NM-285-AD; Amendment 39-13165; AD 2003-11-06) - requires a one-time inspection of the fuel pipes within the fuel "float switch" test pipelines in the left and right inner wings for evidence of damage, cracks, misalignment, or fuel leakage; follow-on corrective actions, if necessary; and repetitive replacement of the fuel pipes at regular intervals. This action is necessary to prevent fuel vapors from collecting in the dry bay of the wing torsion box and consequent risk of an explosion due to fuel leakage.
National Air Transportation Association presented Gwendolyn Mayo, founder and chair of Mayo Aviation, its William A. Ong Award. The award, named in honor and memory of the association's co-founder and first president, is given annually in recognition of "extraordinary achievement and extended meritorious service to the general aviation industry." Gwen Mayo co-founded Mayo Aviation in 1978 as a Part 135 charter operation with three King Air aircraft.
Shelley A. Longmuir, formerly the top lobbyist for United Airlines, says she's excited about the opportunity to lead the National Business Aviation Association, where she's scheduled to formally assume her duties July 7. NBAA board members hope her good working relationships with top government officials will pay benefits for NBAA members.
AOPA Air Safety Foundation unveiled an online training program designed to help pilots navigate around the constantly changing airspace restrictions. The program, Know Before You Go: Navigating Today's Airspace, is designed to teach pilots about handling current airspace restrictions also reviewing everyday regulatory airspace issues. "As pilots-in-command, it's ultimately our responsibility to know where we're allowed to fly," said ASF Executive Director Bruce Landsberg.
RAYTHEON MOVING DOLANSKI TO DALLAS, RELOCATING MANAGEMENT TEAM AT HQ - Raytheon Aircraft Company (RAC), in moves both symbolic and practical, is switching some of its executives to new locations and offices. Ed Dolanski, vice president of customer service and support - and possibly some of his team - will relocate from RAC headquarters in Wichita, Kan. to the company's Parts Distribution Center in Dallas, Texas. Dolanski will continue to have responsibility for all aspects of customer service and support at RAC.
Executive Jet Management added three aircraft to its charter fleet. A Hawker 800 will be based at Pease International Tradeport (TSM) in Portsmouth, N.H. Also, a Learjet 60 will be based at Kenosha Regional Airport (ENW) in Kenosha, Wis. and a Gulfstream IV-SP will be based at Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO) in Reno, Nev. Business at EJM has been strong, with the company recently reporting that March 2003 was its best sales month since it opened in 1964.
National Air Transportation Association President Jim Coyne will host four town meetings around the U.S. this month. Coyne will review the current legislative and regulatory issues that affect NATA's membership and answer questions.
DOUG BOHAC was named paint shop manager at Duncan Aviation in Lincoln, Neb. He has worked at Duncan since 1997 and was most recently assistant paint shop manager. TRENT J. CARMAN was appointed chief financial officer at Air Methods. He will replace Aaron Todd, who will become CEO of Air Methods when George Belsey retires this month. Carman was most recently chief financial officer at StorNet, Inc. of Englewood, Calif., a company that sells data storage equipment.
TRIUMPH COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF HEAT EXCHANGER LINE - Triumph Group, Inc. of Wayne, Pa., completed the acquisition of Parker Hannifin's United Aircraft Products Division and plans to continue operating the business in Forest, Ohio. The acquired business, renamed Triumph Thermal Systems, Inc., is expected to add approximately $17 million in revenues for the remaining 10 months of fiscal 2004.
Air freight and cargo carriers that haul canceled checks for the banking industry could lose a lot of business if legislation roaring through Congress is enacted. The House Thursday - by a vote of 405-0 - passed H.R.1474, which would permit financial institutions to process checks electronically and end the practice of returning canceled checks to the bank on which they were written. The legislation is strongly supported by the banking community and the Federal Reserve.
Hamilton Sundstrand will start delivering its new propeller systems to the U.S. Navy this month. The contract, valued at $44.5 million, calls for 188 NP2000 propeller system units with an option for 54 more. The Navy conducted a series of flight tests at the Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., before approving the deliveries. The eight-bladed propeller system will power a fleet of E-2C Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft and C-2A Greyhound transport aircraft.
While wednesday's biannual meeting between TSA and the GA Action Coalition continued the dialogue with the agency, some of the GA representatives came away with another concern - that TSA is no longer the ultimate authority on civil aviation security matters. Last week a North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) exercise took place over Washington, D.C. in which F-16 fighter jets practiced intercepting a Cessna 172XXXXXXX. Senior TSA officials learned of plans for the exercise when they read about it in The Washington Post.
Senate Aviation leaders are hoping to begin consideration of the comprehensive FAA reauthorization bill this week. Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) has indicated plans to offer an amendment providing up to $100 million in funding for general aviation entities that can demonstrate losses stemming from the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks (BA, June 2/249). The measure would be similar to a provision included in the House reauthorization bill that also is awaiting full floor action (BA, May 26/237).
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.
V-22 PROGRAM CUTS FACTORY RIBBON, SEEKS TO CUT COSTS NEXT - Two weeks after U.S. Defense Department officials validated the V-22 Osprey's yearlong push to disprove doubts about tiltrotor technology, Boeing officially opened a modern assembly plant in Ridley Park, Pa. that highlights the program's next key challenge - slashing production costs.
The 2003 Vectren Dayton Air Show, featuring the 20,000-square-foot Birth of Aviation Pavilion, will take place July 17-20. The air-conditioned pavilion will display replicas of six Wright flyers, the 1895 Lilienthal glider, the 1896 Chanute/Herring Glider and the 1896 Langley Aerodrome #5. The air show also will have daily performances by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, U.S. Navy Blue Angels and Canadian Forces Snowbirds. For more information about the event, visit www.daytonairshow.com or call (937) 898-5901.
National Business Aviation Association named Michael Nichols manager of tax and finance. Nichols will handle tax, finance and insurance issues surrounding aircraft ownership and operations at the federal, state and local levels. He will serve as the liaison to the association's Tax Committee and coordinate the NBAA Tax Conference and Tax Forums. Nichols most recently was manager of industry forums for the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions, where he oversaw day-to-day operations of key forums.
