BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-2B19 series airplanes (Docket No. 2001-NM-250-AD) - revises an earlier proposed AD that would have required replacement of the existing smoke detectors in the cargo compartment with new, improved smoke detectors. This new action revises the proposed rule by including spare part information. This new proposed AD is intended to prevent false smoke warnings from the smoke detectors in the cargo compartment.
Aircraft Owners And Pilots Association and the sports community have been working with FAA and TSA to tighten up the language of a temporary flight restriction put in place Sept. 20 prohibiting flights within a three-nautical-mile radius or 3,000 feet over "any major professional or collegiate sport
Roy Norris, who took over as top executive of Advanced Aerodynamics&Structures, Inc. last year, wrote off that company's signature Jetcruzer 500 aircraft because of design shortcomings and engineered the acquisition of Mooney Aircraft early this year, left the company this month. Norris told BA last week that when he took over as chairman and CEO last year he told the board he was "not interested in a long-term job." With a new management team now in place, Norris said he felt it was a good time to step down. He resigned Aug.
AOPA also is concerned by reports that Chicago Mayor Richard Daley once again is trying to convince FAA to impose a sizeable TFR over Chicago. AOPA President Phil Boyer wrote FAA and TSA that without a specific credible threat, it would be "inappropriate for the federal government to institute arbitrary airspace restrictions."
Federal Aviation Administration continued its modernization of air traffic control equipment with the commissioning of the first production ATCBI-6 secondary surveillance radar at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. This kicks off the deployment of up to 128 ATCBI-6 systems nationwide, upgrading the agency's en route radar network. The radar at Tinker will provide data to FAA's air route traffic control centers in Fort Worth, Texas, and Kansas City, Mo.
Jetstream Model 3201 airplanes (Docket No. 2002-CE-25-AD) - proposes to supersede 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.
NIMBUS SIGNS PACT WITH HORIZONS AVIATION TO SECURE FUTURE - Continuing its quest to build an international private jet carrier, Nimbus Group, Inc. reached an agreement to merge with Florida-based Horizons Aviation, which offers fractional aircraft ownership, charter services and aircraft maintenance. Under the deal, which is subject to regulatory as well as each company's board approval, Nimbus would acquire all of Horizons Aviation's stock in exchange for its unregistered stock.
Rolls-Royce won FAA certification for its new AE 3007A1 engine variant, the AE 3007AIE, which will power Embraer's long-range ERJ-145XR regional jet. Continental Express carrier ExpressJet Airlines is the launch customer for the ERJ-145XR with firm orders for 104 and options for up to 100 more. Delivery of the first aircraft is expected later this year.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-2B19 series airplanes (Docket No. 2002-NM-135-AD; Amendment 39-12841; AD 2002-16-02) - requires revising the airworthiness limitations section of the maintenance requirements manual to incorporate life limits for certain horizontal stabilizer trim actuators (HSTAs), and replacing the HSTAs with new or serviceable HSTAs. This action is necessary to prevent failure of key components of the HSTAs, which could result in loss of horizontal trim control and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane. The AD is effective Aug.
Jet Aviation Engineering Services is providing engineering services to L3 Communications under a NASA subcontract that involves the installation of an infrared telescope in a Boeing aircraft to create a stratospheric observatory. Part of an eight-year program, the project involves modifying a Boeing 747SP airframe to install a 40,000-pound telescope, a protective door and supporting structures. It also includes the creation of a 30-inch-thick pressure bulkhead that can support the telescope and maintain normal cabin pressure.
An industry-based advisory group last week recommended that the Federal Aviation Administration overhaul its repair station classification system to provide more flexibility and reflect the latest and emerging technologies. But the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC) also told FAA that it was unable to reach a consensus on the other major issue it was tasked to review, the need for mandated quality assurance programs.
Rolls-Royce won FAA certification for its new AE 3007A1 engine variant, the AE 3007AIE, which will power Embraer's long-range ERJ-145XR regional jet. Continental Express carrier ExpressJet Airlines is the launch customer for the ERJ-145XR with firm orders for 104 and options for up to 100 more. Delivery of the first aircraft is expected later this year.
Kenneth J. Paul was named vice president of sales and marketing at Meggitt Avionics/S-TEC. He will oversee a turboprop aftermarket field sales team for the MAGIC line of autopilots and electronic flight instruments. A pilot with multi-engine and instrument ratings, Paul was previously the director of marketing at Meggitt.
The memo is raising concerns of aviation associations, which fear that use of the BBJ under Part 135 could make other Part 135 operations vulnerable to increased scrutiny. At a recent meeting of the National Air Transportation Association's Fractional Aircraft Business Council, FAA's Kathy Perfetti acknowledged that FAA plans to look at the operations of the larger aircraft. She added that FAA also is considering whether to review Part 135 in its entirety, which could result in a rewrite of Part 135.
The Transportation Security Administration's approach to security for charter operators of large aircraft is discriminatory and unworkable and should be shelved, industry associations, operators and manufacturers told the agency. The groups were commenting on the TSA's rule that requires passenger screening before enplanement on a charter aircraft weighing at least 95,000 pounds. While aimed at larger aircraft that typically are flown under Part 121, the rule also affects operators of the Boeing Business Jet as well as the Global Express.
Ballistic Recovery Systems reported a 53.8 percent jump in revenues and a more than doubling of net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2002. Revenues in the third quarter were $1.5 million, compared with just over $1 million in the third quarter of 2001. Net income grew from $113,881 in the third quarter of 2001 to $229,000 in the most recent quarter. In the first nine months of the year, sales were $3.4 million, a 26 percent increase over the $2.7 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2001.
Delta AirElite Business Jets, the aircraft management and charter affiliate of Delta Air Lines, has begun offering rewards in the Delta Sky Miles program to its charter customers.
FlightSafety International opened a new center in Savannah to train Gulfstream maintenance technicians. The 18,000-square-foot building expands FlightSafety's training facilities next to the Gulfstream production plant and maintenance and aircraft service centers. The new building includes nine multi-media classrooms and a 4,000-square-foot high-bay workspace configured for hands-on training.
Cass Anderson was named director of sales, Canada, for Dassault Falcon. He will be responsible for sales and marketing for new and used Falcon business jets in Canada. Anderson was most recently inside sales manager for the eastern U.S. at Dassault.
The memo is raising concerns of aviation associations, which fear that use of the BBJ under Part 135 could make other Part 135 operations vulnerable to increased scrutiny. At a recent meeting of the National Air Transportation Association's Fractional Aircraft Business Council, FAA's Kathy Perfetti acknowledged that FAA plans to look at the operations of the larger aircraft. She added that FAA also is considering whether to review Part 135 in its entirety, which could result in a rewrite of Part 135.
Boxing Promoter Bob Arum and six other passengers survived without injuries in a crash of a Cessna Citation 550 last week. The passengers were traveling from Las Vegas to Big Bear Airport, about 100 miles east of Los Angeles, when the aircraft missed the runway and crashed in a dry pond. A fire in the wings was extinguished and the cause of the crash is under investigation.
Kenneth J. Paul was named vice president of sales and marketing at Meggitt Avionics/S-TEC. He will oversee a turboprop aftermarket field sales team for the MAGIC line of autopilots and electronic flight instruments. A pilot with multi-engine and instrument ratings, Paul was previously the director of marketing at Meggitt.
Jet Aviation Engineering Services is providing engineering services to L3 Communications under a NASA subcontract that involves the installation of an infrared telescope in a Boeing aircraft to create a stratospheric observatory. Part of an eight-year program, the project involves modifying a Boeing 747SP airframe to install a 40,000-pound telescope, a protective door and supporting structures. It also includes the creation of a 30-inch-thick pressure bulkhead that can support the telescope and maintain normal cabin pressure.
Honeywell signed an agreement with Huatian Electronics Industry Company Limited to distribute Honeywell aerospace hardware product lines including fasteners, seals and electrical products. The agreement names Huatian Electronics as Honeywell's exclusive distributor in China. Honeywell said the agreement would provide customers in China, Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines and Singapore with faster access to aerospace parts and lower freight and logistics costs. The center is based in the Free Trade Zone of Shenzhen in China.
