General Aviation Manufacturers Association board of directors is expected to approve membership in the organization for four non-U.S. aircraft manufacturers at GAMA's board meeting this week in Palm Springs, Calif. (BA, Sept. 23/139). The four companies are Bombardier of Canada, Dassault Falcon Jet of France, Embraer of Brazil and Piaggio of Italy. Admission of the four non-U.S. members will end an internal debate among GAMA members that has persisted periodically for years and help clear the way for other foreign OEMs to join the association in the future.
Hamilton Aerospace, the recently established Part 145 repair station based in Tucson, Ariz., received a contract from Goodrich Aerostructures Group to overhaul one of its Boeing 727 aircraft. Announcement comes on the heels of an agreement to maintain Aviation Partners Boeing's B737-300 aircraft.
Bombardier handed over the 700th 50-seat CRJ series regional jet (Serial Number 7700), to Spanish carrier Air Nostrum. The delivery increases Air Nostrum's CRJ200 fleet to 16 aircraft. The airline ordered 21 of the aircraft in March 2000. Air Nostrum, which has a franchise agreement with Spanish flag carrier Iberia, also has taken delivery of 16 of the 29 52-seat Bombardier Q300 turboprop aircraft on order.
Jim Spinder was named president and chief operating officer at Atlantic Aero and its sister companies Aero Modification&Consulting and Mid Atlantic Freight. For the past three years, Spinder has been the executive vice president and general manager of the three companies. He also worked as president of Alliance Engines before joining Atlantic Aero.
series turboprop engines (Docket No. 2001-NE-01-AD) - proposes to require removal from service of certain turbine rotor components at reduced life limits. This proposal is prompted by the result of recalculated material properties by the manufacturer. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent uncontained turbine rotor failure resulting in in-flight engine shutdown and possible damage to the airplane. FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 684 engines installed on aircraft on the U.S. Registry at a cost of $30.8 million.
Hamilton Aerospace, the recently established Part 145 repair station based in Tucson, Ariz., received a contract from Goodrich Aerostructures Group to overhaul one of its Boeing 727 aircraft. Announcement comes on the heels of an agreement to maintain Aviation Partners Boeing's B737-300 aircraft.
Robert Hudson was named aircraft services manager at Piedmont Hawthorne. He has more than 18 years of experience with Beechcraft/Raytheon Aircraft. Hudson was most recently shop supervisor at Stevens Aviation's Dayton, Ohio location.
Model PC-6 airplanes (Docket No. 2002-CE-08-AD; Amendment 39-12914; AD 2002-21-08) -- requires inspection of the aileron assembly for correct configuration and modification as necessary. This AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for Switzerland. The actions specified by this AD are intended to correct improper aileron assembly configuration, which could result in failure of the aileron mass balance weight. Such failure could lead to loss of control of the airplane.
National Air Transportation Association has scheduled "Town Hall Meetings" Nov. 25 in Denver, Colo., and Nov. 26 in Seattle, Wash. The Denver meeting, sponsored by Denver Jet Center, Signature Flight Support and TAC Air, will begin at 11 a.m. at The Perfect Landing Restaurant in Englewood, Colo. The Seattle meeting will begin at 10:30 a.m. at Galvin Flying Service's facility on Boeing Field. The meetings will serve as a forum to discuss pressing legislative and regulatory issues. For more information, contact Eric Byer at (800) 808-6282.
Dan Morris was named vice president of avionics engineering at Atlantic Aero. He has spent most of his career at Keystone Helicopter where he was most recently division manager of KeyTech, overseeing Parts Manufacturer Approvals parts production and supplemental type certificate completions. Morris started as an aircraft maintenance technician and inspector at Keystone.
Honeywell has developed an avionics retrofit package for early Cessna Citation 500 models that would meet the standards for operating in reduced vertical separation minimums (RVSM) airspace. The Bendix/King package, offered through Honeywell dealers, includes two AM-250 altimeter/air data computers, a KFC 325 autopilot, a two-display EFIS50 electronic flight instrument system and engineering data. Honeywell plans to win group certification, which the company estimated would save aircraft owners five to 10 hours of test flights.
Models Lake LA-4, Lake LA-4A, Lake LA-4P, Lake LA-4-200, and Lake Model 250 airplanes (Docket No. 2002-CE-40-AD; Amendment 39-12911; AD 2002-21-05) - requires inspection of the upper and lower wing spar doublers and angles for cracks at a certain time after the incorporation of Modification Kit B-79 or FAA-approved equivalent, replacement of any cracked wing spar doubler or angle, and reporting the results of the inspection to FAA. The kit modification consists of installing a doubler kit to give the spar an adequate fatigue life.
TAC Air added the 10th facility to its fixed-base operation chain with the acquisition of Krystal Aviation at Lovell Field in Chattanooga, Tenn. The facility, managed by Terry McDowell, includes eight hangars with 120,000 square feet of space along with 44,000 square feet of office space. The facility also has 31 T-hangars and two fuel farms that store 80,000 gallons of jet fuel, 15,000 gallons of avgas and 10,000 gallons of automobile fuel.
Top officials of engine maker Textron Lycoming, who have been wrestling for more than a year with a series of crankshaft failures in the company's 300-horsepower piston engines, believe they will be able to begin installing improved new crankshafts in some 950 grounded aircraft early next year.
GOODRICH SALES, INCOME DROP IN SOFT MARKET - The soft commercial aviation market continued to hurt manufacturers as Goodrich last week reported that sales declined by more than 16 percent and net income fell by almost 50 percent in the third quarter. Goodrich reported $882 million in sales for the three months ended Sept. 30, compared with $1.05 billion in the third quarter of 2001. Net income plummeted from $88 million in the third quarter of 2001 to $46 million in the most recent quarter.
Angela Ferragamo was appointed marketing director at Bombardier SkyJet. She was most recently director of sponsorship marketing at MCI WorldCom where she was responsible for motorsports sponsorships.
FAA is compiling data from bird-strike reports and offering it online to promote more reporting at airports, an FAA official says. Identification and tracking data of the bird species that are involved in aircraft bird strikes compiled by FAA and partner, the Smithsonian Institution Feather Identification Lab, is now accessible online as a tool for airports and carriers to track their data, said Ed Cleary, FAA wildlife biologist.
BEECH Models 35, 35R, A35, and B35 airplanes (Docket No. 2000-CE-44-AD; Amendment 39-12920; AD 2002-21-13) - supersedes AD 98-13-02, which currently requires operating limitations on Raytheon Beech Models 35, 35R, A35, and B35 airplanes. This AD is the result of Raytheon developing inspection and modification procedures that, when accomplished on the affected airplanes, will eliminate the need for the operating limitations.
Docket No.: FAA-2002-13368 Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 25.785(j) Description of Relief Sought: Petitioner requests exemption from that portion of 14 CFR 25.785(j) which requires a firm handhold along each aisle to enable persons to steady themselves while using the aisles in moderately rough air. The petitioner requests this exemption for the Boeing Model 737-800 airplane, equipped with an executive interior, to be used in private, not for hire, operation.
Aircraft Owners And Pilots Association was recognized with a special appreciation award from the Civil Air Patrol for its response during the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The CAP, the civilian auxiliary for the U.S. Air Force, noted the "key role" AOPA played in keeping non-military pilots updated on airspace restrictions.
After laying off more than 200 workers over the summer, Lancair is planning this month to re-emerge from three months of dormancy with money from new investors.
Air BP Aviation Services is using what it says is the first all-electric-powered general aviation refueler in active service at Million Air Long Beach (LBG). The oil company said the vehicle, which was built on a low-profile Isuzu chassis that produces "absolutely no emissions," will be used to dispense 100LL avgas from its 750-gallon tank. AIR BP said all-electric refueling equipment was previously limited to hydrants and commercial refueling equipment.
AIRBUS WINS TC FOR CORPORATE JETLINER - Federal Aviation Administration issued a type certificate to Airbus for the manufacturer's Corporate Jetliner, clearing the use of the ACJ in both scheduled service and private operations in the U.S. With the FAA approval Airbus can begin deliveries of the ACJ - a version of the A319 airliner - to U.S. customers. The ACJ is equipped with up to six extra fuel tanks in the hold to increase range, as well as a higher ceiling (41,000 feet) and built-in airstairs for rapid access at remote airports.
Model 1900D airplanes (Docket No. 2002-CE-32-AD) - proposes to require inspection of the alternating current (AC) inverter and modification of the AC inverter and inverter sync wire shield. This proposed AD is the result of reports that electrical noise causes the inverter to shut down in flight with loss of AC-powered flight instruments. The actions specified by this proposed AD are intended to prevent electrical noise causing the inverter to shut down, which could result in failure of key aircraft electrical systems.
