Canadian Air Transport Security Authority, created like the U.S. Transportation Security Administration after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, named Jacques Duchesneau its first president and chief executive.
ADAM AIRCRAFT ADDS NEW JET AIRCRAFT TO LINE-UP - Moving forward with an assertive plan to bring more affordable aircraft into the market, Adam Aircraft of Englewood, Colo. announced plans to add a new $2 million jet to its product line last week. "An affordable business jet fills a huge void in the aviation market," said the company, claiming that "there are approximately 20,000 cabin-class twin and turboprop aircraft that are step-up candidates for the A700."
A King Air crash in northeast Minnesota Friday killed Sen. Paul Wellstone (D-Minn.), his wife Sheila and their daughter Marcia. Five others onboard, including two pilots and three staff members, also died in the crash.
Jetstream Model 3201 airplanes (Docket No. 2002-CE-25-AD; Amendment 39-12905; AD 2002-20-08) - supersedes AD 2000-09-13, which currently requires inspection of the fuel quantity indication system for damage to the insulation of the wiring within the fuel tanks on British Aerospace Jetstream Model 3201 airplanes and requires repair or replacement of damaged wiring.
Models C35, D35, E35, F35, G35, H35, J35, K35, M35, N35, P35, S35, V35, V35A and V35B airplanes (Docket No. 93-CE-37-AD; Amendment 39-12919; AD 94-20-04 R1) - revises AD 94-20-04, which currently requires ruddervator inspections, modifications, and operating limitations on certain Raytheon Beech Models 35, 35R, A35, B35, C35, D35, E35, F35, G35, H35, J35, K35, M35, N35, P35, S35, V35, V35A, and V35B airplanes. This AD is the result of information received from the field on the ability to accomplish and understand the existing AD.
Two Raytheon Company businesses will develop anti-jamming technology for the Global Positioning System (GPS), the company said this month. The Precision Guidance Systems (PGS) unit of Raytheon's Space and Airborne Systems division was awarded a contract option worth $1.9 million by the Navy's Space&Naval Warfare Systems Center as part of Raytheon's work on the Digital Antenna Electronics (DAE) program. Under the option, PGS will develop, produce and test DAE prototypes that are compatible with standard aircraft anti-jam antenna systems.
COCKPIT DOORS FOR TURBOPROPS RECEIVE GREEN LIGHT FROM FAA - FAA has approved cockpit doors made by Everett, Wash.-based Cascade Aviation Services for Dash 8 turboprops, and the company is developing doors for Embraer EMB 120s and Fairchild 328JETs and turboprops. Engineers designing cockpit doors for smaller aircraft faced challenges similar to those involved in developing doors for larger jets, said Cascade Vice President-Marketing and Sales Duk King. "Beefing up the weight of the door was the most difficult."
AGUSTA Model A109E helicopters (Docket No. 2002-SW-06-AD; Amendment 39-12918; AD 2002-21-12) - requires establishing or reducing the life limits of various parts listed in the airworthiness limitations section of the maintenance manual. This amendment is prompted by the results of fatigue tests and analysis to determine life limits for various parts. The actions specified by this AD are intended to establish or reduce the life limits to prevent failure of specified parts and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
Operating income at Raytheon Aircraft improved dramatically in the third quarter, but officials acknowledged they have significant numbers of 2002 production aircraft left to sell. RAC had sales of $451 million for the quarter ended Sept. 30, up $2 million from a year ago. The Wichita, Kan.-based unit had operating income of $1 million, versus an operating loss of $758 million a year ago when Raytheon wrote off $693 million in connection with its commuter aircraft business and $52 million related to used general aviation aircraft.
Milwaukee officials expect a new ground runup enclosure at General Mitchell Airport will cut noise from engine maintenance runups by 75 percent. The three-sided hangar-like structure was built on a 24-inch thick concrete pad with 157 tons of structural steel and 2,400 acoustic panels. The $4.5 million project cost about $500,000 less than first estimates. Local officials said aircraft maintenance supports 677 jobs producing $26.5 million in wages at the airport.
Drew Baker was promoted to vice president of marketing and repair development for Bearing Inspection, Inc. He will be responsible for Bii's marketing worldwide. Baker has worked at Bii for eight years, starting as the engineering manager, and was most recently director of quality and engineering.
Model 427 helicopters (Docket No. 2002-SW-19-AD) - proposes to require replacing the hydraulic solenoid tee fitting and tubes. This proposal is prompted by the manufacturer's discovery that tee fittings may be installed improperly and restrict hydraulic fluid flow. The actions specified by this proposed AD are intended to prevent restricted flow of hydraulic fluid to the flight control hydraulic actuators resulting in loss of hydraulic control, excessive stiffness in the flight controls, and a subsequent forced landing of the helicopter.
Privatair added four aircraft to its charter fleet. A Gulfstream II and Gulfstream IV-SP are based in Stratford, Conn.; a Citation S-II is based in Teterboro, N.J., and a Hawker 125-800 is based in Van Nuys, Calif.
Digital World Services won a contract to provide TAG Aviation USA its Digital Rights Management software for TAG's aviation manuals. The software ensures the secured distribution of the manuals through digitally-encrypted PDF files on a secured CD. TAG is the first air transportation to use DRM for flight operations personnel. The CDs will be distributed to 600 TAG Aviation employees, including pilots, maintenance technicians and flight attendants.
Model A109E helicopters (Docket No. 2002-SW-06-AD; Amendment 39-12918; AD 2002-21-12) - requires establishing or reducing the life limits of various parts listed in the airworthiness limitations section of the maintenance manual. This amendment is prompted by the results of fatigue tests and analysis to determine life limits for various parts. The actions specified by this AD are intended to establish or reduce the life limits to prevent failure of specified parts and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
FAA Administrator Marion Blakey continues to meet with the general aviation community, speaking before the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association's Expo last week in Palm Springs, Calif. In her remarks, Blakey acknowledged that FAA's role is to be "an advocate for commerce and the economic benefits of aviation" and said, "We will never overlook an opportunity to remind our colleagues in the security agencies of the importance of general aviation." But she added that the community must be its own best advocate before TSA.
Type 912 F, 912 S and 914 F series reciprocating engines (Docket No. 2002-NE-33-AD; Amendment 39-12923; AD 2002-21-16) - requires venting of the lubrication system and inspection of the valve train on all engines. This action also requires venting of the lubrication system of all engines on which the lubrication system has been opened, and any engine on which the propeller has been rotated one full turn in the reverse direction. This amendment is prompted by reports of several in-flight engine failures, all of which resulted in forced landings.
Moving forward with an assertive plan to bring more affordable aircraft into the market, Adam Aircraft of Englewood, Colo. announced plans to add a new $2 million jet to its product line last week.
TEXTRON PICKS HONEYWELL'S LORANGER TO OVERSEE MOST BUSINESS UNITSSteven R. Loranger, 50, the president and chief executive of Honeywell's aircraft engine business, joined Textron Friday to oversee the company's manufacturing businesses, including Cessna Aircraft and Bell Helicopter. Loranger was named executive vice president and chief operating officer of Textron.
November 4-7 - Flight Safety Foundation/International Federation of Airworthiness/International Air Transport Association 55th Annual International Air Safety Seminar, City West Hotel and Conference Center, Dublin, Ireland, (703) 739-6700 February 9-11, 2003 - Helicopter Association International Heli-Expo 2003, Dallas, Texas, (703) 683-4646 April 23-27, 2003 - National Aircraft Resale Association Annual Meeting, Westin Regina Resort, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
FAA has approved cockpit doors made by Everett, Wash.-based Cascade Aviation Services for Dash 8 turboprops, and the company is developing doors for Embraer EMB 120s and Fairchild 328JETs and turboprops. Engineers designing cockpit doors for smaller aircraft faced challenges similar to those involved in developing doors for larger jets, said Cascade Vice President-Marketing and Sales Duk King. "Beefing up the weight of the door was the most difficult."
General aviation plane-makers delivered 1,766 aircraft in the first nine months of 2002, a 16.6 percent drop from the 2,118 through the first three quarters of 2002. Billings also fell 18.1 percent from $10.25 billion through the first nine months of 2001 to $8.39 billion in the same period this year. "The numbers reflect the reality of a weak economy, not just in the U.S., but around the world," said GAMA President and CEO Ed Bolen.
