COLLINS FOLDS AIRSHOW INTO PRODUCT LINE - Rockwell Collins unveiled its newest line of integrated cabin electronic systems, Airshow 21, which blends the recently acquired Airshow product line into the Collins portfolio. Rockwell Collins completed its purchase of Tustin, Calif.-based Airshow last month, the company's eighth acquisition in the past five years, expanding its line of cabin electronic systems for business and commercial aircraft (BA, Aug. 19/80).
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.
BUDDY GUESS was named product support manager at Whittaker Controls, Inc. of North Hollywood, Calif. Guess, a former Delta Air Lines executive, was most recently vice president and general manager of U.S. Technical in Atlanta, Ga.
ELECTRONICFLIGHT SOLUTIONS, Inc. developed CompleteLearning Avionics/Cockpit Automation Training Library interactive software packages for corporate pilots and flight departments. The CompleteLearning software covers autopilot, GPS navigation, traffic, terrain and weather awareness technologies from leading manufacturers including Collins, Garmin, Goodrich and Honeywell. The training programs are designed to operate on a personal computer/laptop or through a corporate network. For more information, contact ElectronicFlight Solutions at (508) 775-7575.
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.
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.
MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES MU-2B series airplanes (Docket No. 2002-CE-27-AD) - proposes to supersede AD 88-23-01, which currently requires repetitively inspecting torque tube joints for cracks, and, if cracks are found, replacing the joints on all Mitsubishi MU-2B series airplanes. AD 88-23-01 resulted from field reports that fatigue cracks were found in the flap control system. A design change exists that could eliminate the need for the repetitive inspections.
TIGER AIRCRAFT OBTAINS PRODUCTION CERTIFICATE -- Tiger Aircraft beat its neighbor Sino Swearingen to the punch by earning the first FAA production certificate (PC) in West Virginia for the Tiger AG-4B aircraft last week. Tiger delivered its first three aircraft at the end of 2001 (BA, Dec. 10/269). But the company had been hampered for the past year, working without a production certificate and having FAA inspect each aircraft.
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.
