PRESIDENT BUSH signed an executive order aimed at streamlining environmental reviews of important transportation infrastructure projects. The order calls for a Cabinet-level task force reporting to the President through the chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality to ensure that environmentally sound projects are not held up unnecessarily.
DANIEL MAIDEN was appointed managing director at Bombardier Flexjet Europe. Maiden has 11 years of aviation industry experience and was most recently commercial director for Bombardier Flexjet Europe.
BRITTEN NORMAN Limited BN2A Mk. III series airplanes (Docket No. 2002-CE-36-AD) - proposes to require repetitive inspections of the rear engine-mounti ng frame for cracks and replacement of the frame if cracks are found. This proposed AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for the United Kingdom. The actions specified by this proposed AD are intended to detect and correct cracks in the rear engine-mounting frame, which could lead to engine mount failure.
TCA TO BUILD AND DISTRIBUTE GERMAN AIRCRAFT -- TransContinental Avionics sealed a deal to assemble and market German-designed single-engine sport/trainer aircraft in the U.S.
JET AVIATION DUSSELDORF won German LBA maintenance approvals for the ERJ 135 and 145. With the new approvals, the facility is able to perform line and base maintenance on the Embraer Legacy jet, the ERJ 135 and ERJ 145 aircraft. "This will be our first entry into the maintenance market for regional jets," said Johannes Turzer, general manager of Jet Aviation Dusseldorf.
NATIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION added FlightSafety International to its list of approved training providers for the NBAA Schedulers Professional Development Program (SPDP). Other training providers for the SPDP include Air Routing, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Professional Performance Improvement Company, Summit Solutions and Universal Weather and Aviation. SPDP includes a series of courses tailored to business aviation schedulers and dispatchers.
Oct 24-26 - Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Expo 2002, Palm Springs, Calif., (301) 695-2000 November 3-7 - Air Traffic Control Association 47th International Technical Program and Exhibits, Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Washington, (703) 522-5717, fax (703) 527-7251, e-mail [email protected]
DORNIER Model 328-100 and -300 series airplanes (Docket No. 2002-NM-77-AD) - proposes to require inspecting the electrical wire harness next to the fuel line at the left electric fuel pump for signs of chafing; securing the electrical wire harness to the fuel line using ty-rap; and taking corrective actions, if necessary. This action is necessary to prevent damage to the electrical wire harness, which could result in electrical arcing and an increased potential for fire or explosion. FAA estimates that this proposed AD affects 100 airplanes on the U.S.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model SA330F, SA330G, SA330J, AS332C, AS332L, and AS332L1 helicopters (Docket No. 2001-SW-66-AD; Amendment 39-12879; AD 2002-18-05) - requires inspecting each tail rotor blade de-icing rotating collector for radial play and rotation torque at specified intervals. If the play or torque exceeds the specified standard, this AD requires replacing the collector with an airworthy part. This amendment is prompted by excessive play measured on the collector of an ECF Model AS332 helicopter.
PIAGGIO AMERICA, INC. named Jim Holcombe executive vice president, sales and marketing, with responsibility for all sales and marketing efforts for the Piaggio Avanti turboprop in North America. He will supervise flight demonstrations, sales contracting, advertising and corporate communications. Holcombe most recently had been senior vice president of marketing at Gulfstream Aerospace. Before joining Gulfstream, he was vice president of sales and marketing at K-C Aviation.
TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION intercepted nearly 2.4 million prohibited items from February through July, acting TSA head James Loy told the Senate Commerce Committee this month. The contraband included 614,212 knives, 23,974 box cutters and 527 firearms. He said 667 arrests were made. Loy, noting the numbers "speak volumes about the public's continued confusion," pledged to educate travelers on prohibited items.
ELLIOTT AVIATION teamed with AeroMech in Everett, Wash. to help bring Falcon 10 aircraft into compliance with reduced vertical separation minimum standards. The companies are developing packages to cover a variety of equipment and autopilot configurations found on the Falcon 10.
RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT won approval for a 200-pound gross weight increase for its Beechjet 400A. The increase, which will bring the 400A maximum gross weight to 16,300 pounds, will be incorporated on all new Beechjet 400As and offered through a kit for Beechjet 400A aircraft that meet certain configuration requirements. The kit includes updated charts and performance data necessary for the upgrade. Raytheon Aircraft said the upgrade does not require aircraft structural modifications.
MAX-VIZ, INC. was selected to offer its Enhanced Visibility System (EVS) as an option on new Cessna Citation X and Sovereign airplanes. The Max-Viz EVS2000 enhances a pilot's vision by combining two different infrared sensors - long-wave sensors suited to see terrain and obstacles through atmospheric conditions and short-range infrared for airport and runway lights. The system will be available beginning next year on new Citation Xs and Sovereigns as well as for retrofit.
AS ONE OF HIS last actions before retiring, FAA acting Administrator Monte Belger signed the final rule establishing a new Subpart K to Part 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations to govern fractional aircraft operations. The rule was signed Sept. 13, Belger's last day with the agency. Belger retired from FAA after a 30-year career that culminated in his temporary appointment as acting administrator in August. Former National Transportation Safety Board Chair Marion Blakey last week assumed her new responsibilities as FAA Administrator (BA, Sept. 16/123).
ROLLS-ROYCE is boosting its corporate aircraft customer support efforts with a new team of regional customer managers dedicated to providing support to operators of Rolls-Royce-powered business jets. The engine manufacturer will have dedicated regional customer managers available round-the-clock to answer operator questions about in-service technical and logistics support, warranties, lease engines, repair and overhaul services, technical publications and CorporateCare, its new comprehensive engine maintenance program.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION has added hundreds of additional Textron Lycoming engines to the list of those that must be inspected for faulty crankshafts. Textron now estimates it will cost some $27 million to resolve the problem and manufacturing of replacement crankshafts has not yet begun. See article on Page 138.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model AS332C, L, L1, and Model SA330F, G, and J helicopters (Docket No. 2001-SW-47-AD; Amendment 39-12880; AD 2002-18-06) - supersedes an existing AD, applicable to ECF Model AS332C, L, and L1 and Model SA330F, G, and J helicopters, that currently requires an inspection to determine the angular play of the tail rotor gearbox at specified intervals. This amendment changes the measurement limits and the load to be applied to a tail rotor blade when determining the angular play.
FEARFUL that aviators will have to face a hodgepodge of security restrictions nationwide, the New Jersey Aviation Association urged the federal government to adopt "understandable, realistic and sensible security regulations for the nation's general aviation industry." Such action is aimed at tempering concerns of the states, some of which are planning their own regulatory initiatives.
HARTZELL PROPELLER introduced a new four-bladed propeller conversion for the Fairchild Metro II airliner. The new propeller system, part of Hartzell's Top Prop Performance Propeller Conversion program, is certified for all Fairchild SA226-TC Metro II aircraft, except those with serial numbers S/N TC-398 through TC-418. Engineers redesigned the propeller, reducing the overall prop diameter by five inches to cut noise levels by 10-12 dB, Hartzell said.
DUNCAN AVIATION completed certification and installation of air data display units manufactured by Innovative Systems and Solutions and a Collins ADC-87 Air Data Computer on a Falcon 10. The installation will allow RVSM group approval for Falcon 10s equipped with Collins APS-80 autopilot systems.
FAA EXPANDS INSPECTION OF LYCOMING CRANKSHAFTS - The Federal Aviation Administration has substantially increased the number of Textron Lycoming crankshafts that must be inspected and/or replaced and officials also say they are going to increase scrutiny of the engine maker and its crankshaft supplier to ensure that the production problems that caused crankshaft failures have been resolved.
JET AVIATION DALLAS received certification for the installation of an integrated hazard awareness system (IHAS) on the Citation S550 series aircraft. The facility will install the Bendix King IHAS 8000 units on Cessna aircraft.
HONEYWELL launched the newest variant of its venerable TFE731 engine line, the TFE731-50, which will provide 4,900 pounds of takeoff thrust and be offered with integrated nacelle and thrust reverser systems. Derived from the TFE731-60, the 50 will use a common core and a scaled wide chord damperless fan. The -50 engine will have a 3,000-hour hot section interval and a 10,000-hour compressor zone interval. Honeywell expects to win certification for the newest member of the TFE731 family in 2004.
ELLIOTT AVIATION teamed with AeroMech in Everett, Wash. to help bring Falcon 10 aircraft into compliance with reduced vertical separation minimum standards. The companies are developing packages to cover a variety of equipment and autopilot configurations found on the Falcon 10.
