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.
USED RETAIL JET AND TURBOPROP DELIVERIES INSIDE AND OUTSIDE NORTH AMERICA FOR OCTOBER Used Retail Deliveries OCT. '99 OCT. '00 OCT. '01 OCT. '02 L M H L M H L M H L M H Jet North 72 30 11 61 29 18 46 20 10 56 27 15 America Jet Outside 8 1 1 3 1 2 3 0 1 4 2 2 N. America
AEA APPEALS FOR MORE TIME ON REPAIR STATION GUIDANCE - Aircraft Electronics Association this month urged the Federal Aviation Administration to extend the comment period on draft guidance for complying with repair station rules. FAA drew fire when it released the draft guidance, proposed Advisory Circular 145-MAN, Guide for Developing and Evaluating Repair Station and Quality Control Manuals, on Nov. 7 and set a Nov. 22 deadline for comments (BA, Nov. 11/215).
GAMA ADDS FOUR NON-U.S. MEMBERS - General Aviation Manufacturers Association, as expected, added four non-U.S. manufacturers at the organization's board meeting this month in Palm Springs, Calif. The addition of Bombardier Aerospace of Canada, Dassault Falcon Jet of France, Embraer of Brazil and Piaggio of Italy follows a decision by GAMA's board of directors to overturn a long-standing restriction that limited GAMA membership to U.S. aircraft and component manufacturers (BA, Sept. 23/139).
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.
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.
Christopher Hipps was appointed regional sales manager, mid-Atlantic region at CAE SimuFlite. He will be responsible for sales in North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. Hipps was most recently account manager and technical sales representative with Datacolor International. Based in Charlotte, N.C., Hipps is a private pilot with experience in sales and marketing.
Docket No.: FAA-2002-13062 Section of 14 CFR Affected: SFAR 88 Description of Relief Sought: To permit Lockheed Model L-11011-385 airplanes to operate without meeting the requirements of SFAR-88.
Docket No.: FAA-2002-12412 Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 141.27(b)(2). Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit Air Transport to reapply for a provisional pilot school certificate less than 180 days after the May 31, 2002, expiration date of its certificate, and without having trained and recommended 10 students for pilot certification and ratings. Grant, May 31, 2002, Exemption No. 7785
Docket No.: FAA-2002-12344 Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 25.785(h)(2), 25.813(e), and 25.785(j) Description of Relief Sought: To permit flight attendant seats that do not provide a direct view of the cabin area, installation of interior doors between passenger compartments, and relief from requirements for firm handholds along each aisle and additional passenger areas on a Boeing 747SP-68 airplane.
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.
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).
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.
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.
National Business Aviation Association is enjoying a lot of success with its one-day business aviation forums and static displays. The initial event in the Chicago area was well attended and received, and this week's gathering in Ft. Worth appears on track to draw even larger crowds. Officials say they expect more than 1,000 attendees - more than 500 had pre-registered by the end of October - to view exhibits by more than 70 manufacturers and other vendors. Some 25 aircraft are expected to be on site in the static display.
