National Aircraft Finance Association's annual meeting is scheduled for April 8-11, 2003 at the Westin Resort in Savannah, Ga. For more information, contact the organization at (301) 349-2070 or [email protected].
Bombardier Aerospace's recent Safety Standdown drew more than 200 pilots and crewmembers representing 94 different business aircraft operators. The event, held late last month in Wichita Kan., covered recurrent and update training with hands-on training simulations and presentations on fatigue countermeasures, aviation psychology, applied aerodynamics and professional airmanship.
FAA is expected to give industry 75 more days to comment on an advisory circular that provides guidance on new rules governing Part 145 repair stations. FAA released the AC covering repair station manuals earlier this month, but provided only a 15-day comment period. The limited comment period drew fire from industry groups, and the Aircraft Electronics Association formally petitioned for the extension (see article below).
Model PC-7 airplanes (Docket No. 2002-CE-28-AD; Amendment 39-12927; AD 2002-22-03) - requires repetitive inspections of the main landing gear front attachment brackets for cracks, and, if cracks are found, installation of improved-design brackets. Installing the improved-design brackets terminates the required inspections. This AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for Switzerland.
TSA PROMISES '12-5' TRAINING TEMPLATE, BACKGROUND CHECK HELP - The Transportation Security Administration plans to help facilitate background checks and develop a training program template for operators who must comply with the security requirements in the "Twelve-Five Rule," the agency said as it delayed the compliance schedule for the rule. TSA this month moved the compliance deadline for the rule from Dec. 1 to Feb. 1, citing concerns that "a large number of affected operators will not be able to meet the Dec. 1, 2002 compliance date" (BA, Nov. 11/215).
National Business Aviation Association said its Nov. 14 business aviation forum and static display at Meacham Field in Ft. Worth, Texas drew some 1,500 attendees for a day of seminars and the opportunity to view 27 business aircraft on static display. Officials said they received "a lot of positive feedback" from registrants and representatives of more than 50 exhibiting companies about the one-day event. NBAA staged a similar event earlier this year in the Chicago area.
Linda Solomon was named marketing manager for Bii Bearing Inspection, Inc. She will be responsible for planning, market and sales analysis and customer relations. With more than 20 years of marketing and communications experience, Soloman was most recently marketing manager for Accuride International.
Airnet Systems appointed Bruce Parker, founder and president of IT Management Group LLC, to its board of directors. IT Management advises and manages information technology for companies based in the U.S. and Europe. He recently retired from Sapient Corporation, where he served as executive vice president. AirNet Systems, Inc. provides air transportation services to banks and small package shippers in more than 100 cities nationwide.
Comair Aviation Academy teamed with Bridgewater State College in Massachusetts to offer the academy's airline training curriculum to Bridgewater's Aviation Program students. Students who graduate from the program would have a guaranteed job interview with Delta Connection carrier Comair. "Comair's plans for 2003 call for the continued expansion of its fleet, flight operations and the hiring of additional pilots to support that growth," said Susan Burrell, President of Comair Aviation Academy.
Fastest-Growing aviation organization in the country is the new Regional Air Cargo Carriers Association, which held its first board meeting with a dozen members in mid-August, and now has more than 25 member airlines and more than a dozen vendors who have signed on as associate members (BA, Sept. 9/112).
Airnet Systems appointed Bruce Parker, founder and president of IT Management Group LLC, to its board of directors. IT Management advises and manages information technology for companies based in the U.S. and Europe. He recently retired from Sapient Corporation, where he served as executive vice president. AirNet Systems, Inc. provides air transportation services to banks and small package shippers in more than 100 cities nationwide.
The Transportation Security Administration plans to help facilitate background checks and develop a training program template for operators who must comply with the security requirements in the "Twelve-Five Rule," the agency said as it delayed the compliance schedule for the rule. TSA this month moved the compliance deadline for the rule from Dec. 1 to Feb. 1, citing concerns that "a large number of affected operators will not be able to meet the Dec. 1, 2002 compliance date" (BA, Nov. 11/215).
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association asked the Federal Aviation Administration last week to ease temporary flight restrictions imposed around the Washington, D.C. area.
BOMBARDIER WINS U.S. CERTIFICATION FOR CRJ900 - Canadian manufacturer Bombardier won FAA certification for its 86-seat CRJ900, the largest passenger airplane ever built by the company in decades of manufacturing aircraft for the commuter and regional markets. U.S. certification came about two months after Transport Canada granted type approval to the CRJ900. Bombardier expects the European Joint Aviation Authorities to sign off on the new model in the near future.
David Joyce, 45, was named vice president and general manager, Commercial Engines, at GE Aircraft Engines. Joyce, a 22-year veteran of the company, had most recently been general manager, Small Commercial Engine Operations.
Ron Scheer was appointed director of operations at Thunder Aviation. He will be responsible for operations of all aircraft maintenance services and purchasing. Scheer, a private pilot who has more than 25 years of experience in the aviation industry, holds an airframe powerplant license and joined Thunder Aviation in February as director of maintenance.
BLAKEY BRINGS KEY NTSB ADVISORS TO FAA - FAA Administrator Marion Blakey filled four key slots at her new agency with former colleagues from the National Transportation Safety Board. Robert Sturgell, who served as Blakey's primary advisor at NTSB and coordinated the safety board's recommendations, was appointed senior counsel to the FAA Administrator. Before joining NTSB, he was a flight operations supervisor and a line pilot for United Airlines and has served as an aviation attorney with the Washington, D.C. law firm Shaw Pittman.
Industry Groups have been urging the Office of Management and Budget to conduct a quick review of a Department of Justice rule that outlines background check requirements for non-U.S. citizens seeking initial or, in some cases, upgrade training for aircraft that weigh 12,500 pounds or more. The rule was sent to OMB in mid-October and could stay there for up to 90 days.
The Federal Aviation Administration issued yet another airworthiness directive on Textron Lycoming 540 engines last week, ordering operators to replace certain zinc-plated crankshaft gear retaining bolts within the next 10 hours time-in-service or seven days after Nov. 19.
Docket No.: FAA-2002-12894 Section of 14 CFR Affected: SFAR 88 Description of Relief Sought: To permit five Lockheed Model DC-9-30 (C9-B) military airplanes to operate until June 2003 without meeting the requirements of SFAR-88.
HARRIS TEAMS WITH LOCKHEED ON AIRSPACE MANAGEMENT - Harris Corporation and Lockheed Martin formed a strategic alliance to explore teaming possibilities for providing air traffic management automation, navigation, traffic flow management, communication and weather products. The companies, which announced their agreement this month during the 47th annual meeting of the Air Traffic Control Association in Washington, D.C., estimated a $5 billion worldwide market for domestic and international airspace management products.
Presidential Air Corporation acquired Los Angeles, Calif.-based ground maintenance provider Certified Aviation Services. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. The completion of the deal follows a letter of intent the companies signed in September. "We are confident that our new alignment with Presidential Air coupled with our contacts in the aviation industry and long history working with most of the major airlines...
The pilot of a Piper PA-28 escaped injury this month despite a dramatic nighttime landing at Richard Arthur Field (M95) in Fayette, Ala. that had friends and family lined up to watch. The initial FAA report said the pilot found the pilot-controlled runway lighting system at the airport was not working when he was getting ready to land on the evening of Nov. 7. Unable to see the runway, FAA's preliminary report said the pilot "called family and friends on cell phone. Friends and city vehicles lined runway with vehicles for light.
General Aviation Manufacturers are trying to jumpstart business and move inventory, creating a buyers market for bargain hunters. Cessna last week announced it would extend zero percent financing for one year on about 30 Cessna Caravans scheduled for delivery before June 28, 2003. That announcement followed one by Raytheon Aircraft that its Raytheon Aircraft Parts Inventory & Distribution Company was discounting by up to 90 percent certain Beechcraft, Hawker and aftermarket spare parts until Dec. 31 (BA, Nov. 11/221).
AOPA CALLS FOR TFR REDUCTIONS - The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association asked the Federal Aviation Administration last week to ease temporary flight restrictions imposed around the Washington, D.C. area.
