Model G-V series airplanes (Docket No. 2002-NM-255-AD; Amendment 39-12909; AD 2002-21-03) - requires performing a one-time general visual inspection of the pilot's overhead circuit breaker panel wiring for discrepancies; rerouting the P45-12 wire; and repair, if necessary. This action is necessary to prevent circuit breaker wiring from becoming pinched or damaged, causing arcing between the wire and attaching bracket, which could result in smoke and/or fire in the pilot's circuit breaker panel. The AD is effective Oct.
The European Commission is taking aim at a new Belgian law that would ban hushkitted aircraft from landing or taking off at Belgian airports between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., beginning July 2003. In the first step of the so-called infringement procedure, the EC formally notified Belgium's government that the ban contradicts existing European Union hushkit legislation. Those rules were crafted in April to address a long-running transatlantic dispute the U.S. won by using a complaint to ICAO to force Europe to back down from a total ban.
Cessna Aircraft delivered the 200th Citation X last week to NetJets Inc., the largest operator of the high-speed business jet. NetJets has more than 60 Citation Xs in service and ordered 12 more at the National Business Aviation Association convention last month in Orlando, Fla. Cessna began deliveries of the Citation X in the third quarter of 1996.
The First Annual Latin American Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (LABACE) was rescheduled from the originally planned January date to March 13-15, 2003. "The new dates for LABACE2003, which resulted when space became available at Sao Paulo's Transamerica Expo Center in March, will provide enhanced opportunities to interface with officials from the new Brazilian government that will be in place from January 1st on," said Jack Olcott, president of the National Business Aviation Association.
Raytheon Aircraft developed an online price review form that will allow customers to validate the cost of their spare parts. The form is part of an ongoing effort by Raytheon's Customer Support Division to bolster customer service. "With this site, we are opening yet another avenue for customer feedback," said Ed Dolanski, vice president-customer support for Raytheon Aircraft.
Vector Training Systems received FAA approval for its aircraft reference data for the Piper Warrior. The approval, granted by the agency's National Simulator Program, clears the path for flight schools operating Vector's Piper Warrior flight training devices (FTDs) to seek FAA Level 3 approval. Vector delivered two Piper Warrior FTDs to the Odegard School at the University of North Dakota, and FAA Level 3 approval is expected later this month.
Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) last week lifted his "hold" blocking a bill in the Senate that would prohibit FAA from granting waivers to the stadium TFRs (BA, Oct. 14/169). Sen. John Breaux (D-La.) sponsored the stadium measure, which was included as an amendment to the Aviation Security Improvement Act, S.2949. While maintaining his opposition to the stadium measure, Inhofe was reluctant to continue holding up the bill because it contains a host of other security-related measures that the Senator felt needed to be addressed, an aide said.
Textron said its Aircraft segment's revenues rose $60 million to $1.15 billion in the quarter ended Sept. 28, but operating profits suffered as a result of continuing crankshaft problems with certain Lycoming engines.
Dugald Euan Baird, the chairman and chief executive officer of global technology services company Schlumberger Ltd., was named last week to succeed Sir Ralph Robins as head of British engine maker Rolls-Royce plc when Robins retires early next year.
Jim Goeing was named Midwest regional sales manager at Geotest-Marvin Test Systems. Based in Chicago, Goeing also will act as the corporate business development manager. He was previously a district sales manager for National Instruments. Geotest-Marvin Test Systems is a California-based supplier of electronic test equipment for aerospace, semiconductors, industrial and military applications.
New aircraft deliveries by Gulfstream Aerospace were off significantly in the third quarter, but officials of parent company General Dynamics expressed optimism that the Savannah, Ga. business jet manufacturer will report improved results for the fourth quarter.
Dassault Aviation reported a profit of 145 million euros for the first half of the year ended June 30, but Chairman Charles Edelstenne warned that the lack of growth in the economy is forcing the company to consider cutting production next year from six business jets per month to five. Sales in the first half of the year for the French plane maker slid from 1.61 billion euros to 1.47 billion euros, with the Falcon business jet line accounting for 72 percent of sales.
AGUSTA Model A119 helicopters (Docket No. 2002-SW-46-AD; Amendment 39-12910; AD 2002-21-04) - supersedes an existing emergency airworthiness directive for Agusta Model A119 helicopters. EAD 2002-17-52 issued on August 21, 2002 and sent to all known U.S. owners and operators of Agusta Model A119 helicopters by individual letters.
Despite pleas from the helicopter industry, TSA Chief James Loy didn't offer much encouragement last week about lifting temporary flight restrictions at large sporting events like auto races. During a meeting between senior TSA officials and members of the General Aviation Coalition Wednesday, helicopter interests said helicopter operators needed access to race venues to pick up and deliver VIPs, sponsors and drivers at the tracks.
Raytheon Aircraft developed an online price review form that will allow customers to validate the cost of their spare parts. The form is part of an ongoing effort by Raytheon's Customer Support Division to bolster customer service. "With this site, we are opening yet another avenue for customer feedback," said Ed Dolanski, vice president-customer support for Raytheon Aircraft.
AOPA URGES FAA TO FREE UP 'DC 3' - The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association stepped up its efforts to get FAA to ease restrictions hobbling three small Maryland airports just outside of Washington, D.C., formally petitioning the agency for a rulemaking that would permit a waiver process that would allow more pilots to fly in or out of the airports. The three airports - College Park Airport (CGS), Potomac Airfield (VKX), and Hyde Field (W32) - were the last to reopen after the government shut down the airspace on Sept.
Aviall Services, Inc. signed an agreement with Honeywell Engine Systems and Accessories that expands Aviall's worldwide aftermarket parts distribution rights for the manufacturer. Aviall said the latest agreement "significantly broadens the product line offering" of the Honeywell Engine Systems and Accessories parts that it can distribute. The Dallas-based parts supplier estimated that the agreement will boost its sales by more than $20 million per year.
Honeywell posted a $560 million before-tax profit in the third quarter, turning around the $498 million loss reported in the third quarter of 2001, but the ailing airline industry and sluggish economy are spurring Honeywell to cut up to 5,000 more positions, Honeywell Chairman and CEO Dave Cote said last week. Honeywell already has reduced its work force by about seven percent, a move that helped the company show a profit despite a four percent decline in sales in the third quarter that ended Sept. 30.
President Bush this month announced his intention to formally nominate Adm. James Loy to serve as under secretary of transportation for security, heading the Transportation Security Administration. Loy has headed TSA in an acting capacity since July 2002, when John Magaw departed the agency. The White House has not yet sent the nomination to the Senate for confirmation.
Congress likely won't act on any aviation security legislation until after the Nov. 5 elections. The House and Senate last week approved a stop-gap spending bill to tide the federal government over until Nov. 22. While not officially recessed, neither the House nor the Senate is expected to tackle any major issues until after the elections. When Congress returns, the House and Senate will have to finish work on almost all the appropriations bills, including the fiscal 2003 transportation appropriations, in a lame-duck session.
Jet Aviation Kassel received a German LBA supplemental type certificate to install new radar and a flight management system on a Citation II. The Citation will be equipped with a new Honeywell RDR 2000 weather radar system and a new Universal UNS-1L FMS, a navigation system with additional memory and a high-speed microprocessor.
The TSA Chief was much more enthusiastic about the National Business Aviation Association's proposed Transportation Security Administration Access Protocol (TSSAP) idea, however. Loy reiterated earlier comments that TSSAP procedures - under which pilots who met certain requirements could be pre-cleared - seems like a reasonable approach for permitting flights into airports covered by a TFR or instead of the current waiver process for international flights (BA, Oct. 7/159).
EC FIGHTS BELGIAN HUSHKIT BAN; TRANSATLANTIC DISPUTE RETURNS - The European Commission is taking aim at a new Belgian law that would ban hushkitted aircraft from landing or taking off at Belgian airports between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., beginning July 2003. In the first step of the so-called infringement procedure, the EC formally notified Belgium's government that the ban contradicts existing European Union hushkit legislation. Those rules were crafted in April to address a long-running transatlantic dispute the U.S.
