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.
TURBOMECA Models 1A, 1A1, and 1A2 turboshaft engines (Docket No. 2001-NE-42-AD; Amendment 39-12882; AD 2002-19-02) - requires visual inspections of exhaust pipes for cracks and tears, upon completion of the last flight of each day, and replacement of cracked and torn exhaust pipes before further flight. This action also requires removing modification TU 200A exhaust pipes at the next shop visit or no later than a certain date. This amendment is prompted by several reports of modification TU 200A exhaust pipes cracking at several of the ejector attachment tabs.
DUNCAN AVIATION received a supplemental type certificate for Universal TAWS and multi-function displays for the Hawker 400, 600 and 700 series. Installation of the systems will meet FAA Class A and Class B TAWS mandates.
Used Retail Deliveries AUG. '99 AUG. '00 AUG. '01 AUG. '02 L M H L M H L M H L M H Jet North 50 23 21 47 33 18 44 23 16 40 21 21 America Jet Outside 4 3 1 8 1 2 3 2 4 5 3 3 N. America Prop North 2 91 0 5 72 0 6 680 1 0 62 2 America
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.
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.
GULFSTREAM appointed four authorized service centers to support Gulfstream business jets in South America -- Aerocardal in Santiago, Chile; Aerocentro de Servicios C.A. in Caracas, Venezuela; Riana T·xi Aéreo in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Varig Engineering and Maintenance (VEM), in Rio de Janeiro.
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.
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).
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.
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.
GULFSTREAM appointed four authorized service centers to support Gulfstream business jets in South America -- Aerocardal in Santiago, Chile; Aerocentro de Servicios C.A. in Caracas, Venezuela; Riana T.xi Aereo in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Varig Engineering and Maintenance (VEM), in Rio de Janeiro.
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.
SIMCOM won FAA Level C approval for a new Hawker 800A simulator based at its training center in Orlando, Fla. The six-axis, full-motion simulator includes a five-tube Honeywell electronic flight instrument system. SimCom provides initial and recurrent training in the Hawker aircraft. In addition to the Hawker simulator, Simcom houses Level C Learjet and Citation simulators and provides training for an array of turboprop and piston aircraft.
FRANK YOUNGKIN was appointed to the newly created position of vice president, worldwide Falcon spares, at Dassault Falcon. He will lead the new worldwide spares organization, made up of DFJ Spares in Teterboro and Dassault Aviation Falcon Spares in France. Youngkin joined the company in 1988 and was most recently director of spares for the Eastern Hemisphere.
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.
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.
