In its continuing effort to tighten aviation security, a Senate panel last week called for expanding background check requirements to cover all new foreign student pilots and moved to block FAA from modifying or issuing any waivers from flight restrictions over stadiums and other open-air events for at least six more months.
PILATUS BRITTEN-NORMAN BN2T and BN2T-4R series airplanes (Docket No. 2002-CE-34-AD) - proposes to require repetitive inspections of the left and right engine-mounting 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 left and right engine-mounting frame, which could lead to engine mount failure.
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.
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).
BRITTEN NORMAN Limited BN2A Mk. III series airplanes (Docket No. 2002-CE-36-AD) - proposes to require repetitive inspections of the rear engine-mounting 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.
The board of directors of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association is expected to approve applications from four non-U.S. aircraft manufacturers to become members of the organization when the GAMA board holds its November meeting. Bombardier of Canada, Dassault Falcon Jet of France, Embraer of Brazil and Piaggio of Italy have applied for membership in the lobbying organization.
While the Senate's latest aviation security legislation included some items that concerned the general aviation community, it also offered some help. A provision in the Aviation Security Improvement Act passed last week could exempt operators of some Twin Otter and King Air 200 aircraft from the "Twelve Five" security requirements. The rule currently covers commercial operators of aircraft weighing 12,500 pounds or more but would be changed to cover operators of aircraft weighing more than 12,500 pounds. See article below.
MESSIER-DOWTY was selected to provide the integrated landing gear system for Bombardier's Global 5000 business jet. The Global 5000 is expected to begin flying early next year with certification following a year later. Messier already supplies the integrated landing gear for the Bombardier Global Express and has been awarded similar contracts for the Raytheon Hawker Horizon, the Bell/Agusta BA609 civil tiltrotor, Bombardier Continental (300) and Dassault Falcon 7X.
PILATUS BRITTEN-NORMAN BN-2 and BN2A Mk. III series airplanes (Docket No. 2002-CE-35-AD) - proposes to require inspections of the universal joints on the pilot's and co-pilot's control column to determine the diameter of the shaft. This proposed AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for the United Kingdom.
EMBRAER Model EMB-135 and -145 series airplanes (Docket No. 2002-NM-166-AD; Amendment 39-12845; AD 2002-16-06) - corrects a typographical error that appeared in AD 2002-16-06 that was published in the Federal Register on August 12, 2002 (67 FR 52398). The typographical error resulted in specifying an incorrect serial number for the auxiliary power unit (APU) exhaust silencer. This AD is applicable to certain Embraer Model EMB-135 and -145 series airplanes.
Hangar Space Available at Atlantic Aviation FBO's TEB/MDW/PHL/FRG/HOU/PNE/HFD/BDR Please call Steve Hirschfeld 972-447-4220 or email: [email protected]
MEMBERS of the General Aviation Coalition were concerned that the Transportation Security Administration might be planning some widespread restrictions on flight operations last Tuesday when they were notified that Adm. James Loy would be contacting them via a conference call later that day. The heads-up from TSA followed an earlier announcement by Attorney General John Ashcroft and Tom Ridge, head of the Office of Homeland Security, that the government was raising the terror alert level to Code Orange for the first time, which denotes a "high" level of danger.
Gulfstream Aerospace, which for years prospered while producing only one or two models at a time, is dramatically expanding its product line to appeal to a wider range of business aircraft buyers and provide direct alternatives to aircraft being developed by competing manufacturers. The company added two new models last year with its acquisition of the Astra SPX (G100) and Galaxy (G200) when it bought Galaxy Aerospace and brought the product line to four models.
BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON, a division of Textron Canada, Model 407 helicopters [Docket No. 2002-SW-03-AD; Amendment 39-12868; AD 2002-17-03] - requires a fuel filler cap assembly shimming and electrical bonding procedure. This amendment is prompted by the FAA's determination, based on information from the manufacturer, that electrical bonding may be inadequate. The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent a lack of electrical bonding that could result in an electrical arc, ignition of fuel vapors and an onboard fire.
While FAA has agreed to permit operation of large aircraft such as the Boeing Business Jet under Part 135 as long as they meet weight and seat limitations, DOT has taken a different stance. DOT this month told Birmingham, Ala.-based MEDJet International that it was not authorized to use the BBJ for commercial purposes because it did not have the appropriate certificate authority. MEDJet originally applied to DOT for certificates of public convenience and necessity, saying it intended to operate the BBJ commercially under Part 121.
Jodi Balestrieri was named regional vice president of charter services at Executive Jet Management. Based in St. Augustine, Fla., Balestrieri will be responsible for aircraft charter sales in the southeastern U.S. She was previously director of sales in the southeast region for FlightTime Corp.
National Aircraft Resale Association last week elected officers to serve on its Associate Member Advisory Council in 2003. The officers are: William Quinn of Aviation Management Systems, Inc. as chairman; Brian McNulty of Apex Property Exchange as vice chairman; and, Ann Lennon of First American Title Insurance Company as secretary.
Gulfstream Aerospace, which for years prospered while producing only one or two models at a time, is dramatically expanding its product line to appeal to a wider range of business aircraft buyers and provide direct alternatives to aircraft being developed by competing manufacturers. The company added two new models last year with its acquisition of the Astra SPX (G100) and Galaxy (G200) when it bought Galaxy Aerospace and brought the product line to four models.
Maureen P. Cragin was named vice president of communications for Boeing's Washington, D.C. operations. She was previously the assistant secretary for public and intergovernmental affairs in the Department of Veterans Affairs. Cragin also is a Commander in the U.S. Navy and performs reserve duty in the public affairs office of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY Model R44 helicopters [Docket No. 2001-SW-45-AD] - proposes to require inspecting the pitch control assembly for roughness or binding of the pitch control bearings by hand-rotating the pitch control bearing housing. If the housing does not rotate freely, the proposed AD would require replacing the unairworthy pitch control assembly with an airworthy unit. This proposal is prompted by reports of failure of the tail rotor assembly due to improperly lubricated bearings on the RHC Model R22 and R44 helicopters.
Sino Swearingen reported last week that its SJ30 business jet has completed a third of its flight test program and is on track for FAA certification at the end of 2003. The company also added two new distributors to its network of 27. Business and Commuter Aircraft in Lyon, France and Sino Swearingen Mexico in Mexico City are the latest to join the network.
Bombardier won Transport Canada approval for its 86-seat CRJ900 regional jet. The Canadian conglomerate expects FAA and European Joint Aviation Authorities approval shortly. The Canadian OK follows a 13-month flight test program that included two aircraft that accumulated 895 hours in 347 flights. The first CRJ900 will enter service in early 2003 with Mesa Air Group. Mesa has firm orders for 20 of the aircraft.
