An Aerospatiale SA315B helicopter, N3978Y, operated by the U.S. Forest Service was destroyed Wednesday when it crashed during a fire-fighting mission near Estes Park, Colo. The pilot and sole occupant suffered fatal injuries.
SENATE PANEL OKs $13.6 BILLION FAA BUDGET - The Senate Appropriations Committee late last month approved a $13.586 billion budget for the Federal Aviation Administration in fiscal 2003, some $4 million more than the agency requested. The budget, included in the fiscal 2003 Transportation appropriations bill, matches the dollar amounts that the Bush Administration requested for FAA in every category and gives $4 million more for operations. While it matches the budget request in total dollars, the committee altered some of the spending priorities.
LAST-MINUTE ATTEMPT TO CONFIRM NEW FAA ADMINISTRATOR FALLS SHORT - A hurried effort to rush through the Senate confirmation of Marion Blakey as Jane Garvey's successor as FAA Administrator fell short Thursday, leaving the nation's top civil aviation post in the hands of veteran FAA executive Monte Belger.
LEARJET ANNOUNCES MORE LAYOFFS, PRODUCTION CUTBACKS - Bombardier's Learjet business jet manufacturing operation in Wichita laid off another 150 employees Friday, continuing a trend that began after last September's terrorist attacks on the U.S. Last week's reductions include 115 production workers and another 35 employees in other areas of the Wichita plant. A spokesman said the layoffs reflect a decision to reduce production rates of the company's line of business jets because of softness in the market.
The U.S. Customs Service last month began notifying commercial operators that it is raising the minimums on bonds required for international travel to $75,000. Some operators, who have few international flights, previously were required to obtain only $25,000 bonds. The increase in minimums comes at a time when insurance companies - which issue a significant percentage of the bonds - have already dramatically raised their rates.
Bombardier received a follow-on order from Delta Connection carriers Atlantic Southeast Airlines and Comair for a CRJ700 and two CRJ200 regional jets. The order, valued at more than $73 million, brings the number of options Delta Connection has converted this year to six. The Delta feeder network converted options for three Bombardier CRJ200s in May. Under the most recent contract, ASA will operate one of the CRJ200s and the CRJ700, and Comair will operate the other CRJ200. The three aircraft are slated for delivery in September 2003.
Raytheon Aircraft Charter And Management expanded its charter fleet with three more aircraft: a Beechjet 400A based in Plymouth, Mass.; a Learjet 35A in Kenosha, Wis.; and, a Challenger 604 in Opa Locka, Fla. Raytheon Aircraft has offered charter for more than 40 years.
Pratt & Whitney Canada won type certification for its new PW306C turbofan engine from both Transport Canada and FAA. The PW306C is flat rated to 5,686 pounds of thrust.
Several Charter Companies are still waiting to receive a copy of the Transportation Security Administration's guidance on compliance with the agency's "Twelve-Five" rule, which mandates charter companies to implement approved security programs. Although the rule originally called for these programs to be in place June 24, it did not provide guidance on how to comply with the requirements. TSA agreed to extend the deadline and provide charter companies time to review and comment on the guidance (BA, June 10/270).
The Stock Symbol for Mooney Aerospace Group, Ltd. has changed from AASI to MASG. The company was previously known as Advanced Aerodynamics & Structures, Inc. It acquired the assets of Mooney Aircraft Corp. of Kerrville, Texas earlier this year (BA, June 24/295).
George Batchelor, 81, one of the pioneers of air service between Miami and Latin America, a millionaire and noted philanthropist, died July 30 in Miami. He made his fortune with three main aviation companies - Batch Air, Arrow Air and International Air Leases - with heavy emphasis on Latin America, concentrating on air freight and aircraft leasing. He donated million of dollars to the University of Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital.
The airport community is appealing to federal transportation officials to let airport operators use "market-based" incentives such as peak-hour pricing to control congestion at crowded facilities and raise additional money to increase capacity, but general aviation leaders call such incentives discriminatory and are urging policy makers to consider different approaches to reduce airport overcrowding.
HELICOPTER PILOTS ESCAPE SERIOUS INJURIES DESPITE CHALLENGING CIRCUMSTANCES - Pilots of two Bell 206 helicopters escaped serious injury in separate incidents last month. National Transportation Safety Board said the pilot of a privately owned Bell 206B briefly lost control of his aircraft when the windshield failed while he was cruising at an airspeed of 110 knots and an altitude of 2,500 feet. After regaining control of the helicopter, the pilot made a successful emergency landing along U.S. Highway 26 near Seaside, Ore.
Several Charter Companies are still waiting to receive a copy of the Transportation Security Administration's guidance on compliance with the agency's "Twelve-Five" rule, which mandates charter companies to implement approved security programs. Although the rule originally called for these programs to be in place June 24, it did not provide guidance on how to comply with the requirements. TSA agreed to extend the deadline and provide charter companies time to review and comment on the guidance (BA, June 10/270).
Adam Aircraft Industries' first A500 Carbon Aero aircraft completed a 40-minute first flight from Centennial Airport in Englewood, Colo. last month. Test pilots conducted a series of aircraft handling and engine performance tests at an altitude of 12,500 feet.
Some 15 aviation associations and companies lambasted FAA's proposal to make drug and alcohol testing requirements apply to all maintenance subcontractors, saying the rule is so open-ended that thousands of companies - including those not under FAA's purview - would be covered. See article below.
National Business Aviation Association is sponsoring another update session at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) Aug. 19. While earlier NBAA sessions at the airport have focused on the single issue of getting DCA reopened to business and general aviation flights, this month's session also will include discussions regarding how to access information about Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) in a timely manner and NBAA's recommended "best practices" for flight department security.
Telair International won a contract from Simair to provide a newly developed and patented composite material to Avions de Transport Regional (ATR) for hardening the cockpit doors on ATR regional aircraft already in service. The initial order calls for the production of 105 door sets. Telair, a subsidiary of Teleflex Inc., said the new composite material weighs less than other hardening agents and is resistant to bullets, blunt force impacts and fire.
Lufthansa Bombardier Aviation Services completed its first retrofit on a Bombardier Learjet 31A business jet to meet JAR-OPS Part 1 requirements. JAR-OPS Part 1 establishes certification requirements for equipment and operation of civilian aircraft operating under a commercial Air Operator Certificate in European countries registered with the Joint Aviation Authorities.
Honeywell obtained FAA certification for two aviation radios with voice and data communication capability. The Honeywell XK 516D high frequency aviation voice/data radio for long range communication was certified for use on the Airbus A318, A319, A320, A321, A330 and A340 airliners. Additionally, the VDL Mode 2 version of Honeywell's RTA-44D very high frequency radio won manufacturing approval. The VDL Mode 2 radio will replace current generation Mode Zero voice/data VHF radios and can transmit data at 31.5 kilobits per second, Honeywell said.
Raytheon Aerospace LLC signed an agreement with Central Flying Service (CFS) of Little Rock, Ark. to lease a 19,000-square-foot aircraft hangar and office on the Little Rock Airport (LIT). Raytheon said the Little Rock facility will be used to service and maintain Beech 1900s under contract with Air Midwest. Raytheon expects the LIT base to employ about 30 aircraft specialists and operate seven days a week. Raytheon Aerospace is headquartered in Madison, Miss. near Jackson.
Some 15 aviation associations and companies lambasted FAA's proposal to make drug and alcohol testing requirements apply to all maintenance subcontractors, saying the rule is so open-ended that thousands of companies - including those not under FAA's purview - would be covered. See article below.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University launched its accelerated First Officer Flight Training program (FOFT). Offered through the university's Aviation&Space Technology Academy, the program is a 10- to 12-month course that "trains first officer candidates to regional airline and corporate fleet standards," giving candidates 550 hours of total flight experience and advanced jet simulator flight time, Embry-Riddle said. Training will take place at St. Augustine Airport in Florida.
Sikorsky expects to receive FAA type certification for the S/H-92 large-cabin helicopter at the end of the year. Three aircraft are taking part in the flight test program, which has logged 1,250 hours of a planned 1,500 hours of testing.
