SCOPE CLAUSE FORCES EAGLE TO DROP SOME RJs - American Eagle has reached an agreement to drop 14 Embraer ERJ-145s from its fleet because of pilot scope clause restrictions. The RJs eventually will be acquired by Trans States Airlines, an AmericanConnection carrier.
Scott Bradbury was appointed senior consultant at Sinex Aviation Technologies. Bradbury has had a 24-year career in aircraft maintenance program development and customer support for Boeing and Fairchild Dornier. At Boeing, Bradbury worked to reduce maintenance cost on the next-generation 737 aircraft by 15 percent. As member and chair for a number of Air Transport Association of America committees and working groups, Bradbury specializes in maintenance program development.
FAIRCHILD DORNIER WILL ATTEMPT TO SELL 728/928 LICENSE - Bankrupt regional aircraft manufacturer Fairchild Dornier will try to sell a license for others to build the 728/928 regional jets, after efforts to attract a strategic investor have failed. CEO Thomas Brandt said a last chance to save the program would be to sell it to Russia or China for instance, where new regional jet programs are already on the drawing board.
Eclipse Aviation completed its fourth round of private equity funding of $18 million, bringing the company's total funding to date to $238 million. The capital, which was raised from a group of undisclosed private investors, puts the Eclipse 500 program in a comfortable financial situation, said Vern Raburn, Eclipse president and CEO.
A new membership recruitment brochure being distributed by the National Air Transportation Association is ruffling the feathers of officials at some of the other aviation trade groups. In addition to touting its 2,000 member companies as "the backbone of business aviation" and detailing some of the organization's accomplishments and lobbying initiatives, the NATA pamphlet also provides pointed thumbnail descriptions of many of the other GA "alphabet" groups' constituencies and priorities.
Precise Flight, Inc. won an FAA supplemental type certificate for its 2000 series speedbrakes on Beech Bonanza Models A35 through G35 and 35R. Priced at $3,995, "Speedbrakes give the pilot the ability to create instant drag - without major power or speed changes, thus improving overall performance of the aircraft and operational flexibility," said Precise Flight. The company also is working on the certification of Speedbrakes for the rest of the 35 series.
SOCATA Model TBM 700 airplanes (Docket No. 2002-CE-15-AD) - proposes to adopt a new AD that would apply to all SOCATA Model TBM 700 airplanes. This proposed AD would require testing the flight control system and adjusting the control roll stop if jamming occurs during the test. This proposed AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for France.
AOPA PETITIONS FOR RELAXED MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR SPORT PILOTS - The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association filed a petition last week with FAA to allow pilots who limit themselves to recreational pilot privileges to use a driver's license as a medical certificate. The petition is a follow-up to AOPA comments on FAA's proposed sport pilot rule.
Nicolas Chabbert was named executive vice president of sales and marketing at Mooney Aerospace Group. He will develop Mooney's three sales centers in Long Beach, Calif., southern Florida and Kerrville, Tex. and build a team of regional sales representatives. Chabbert worked for more than 10 years in general aviation marketing at Socata Aircraft and was most recently the company's senior vice president, sales and marketing.
The number of fatal accidents and fatalities resulting from accidents involving the U.S. business jet and turboprop fleet was down sharply in the first half of 2002 compared with the same period a year ago, according to data compiled by Robert E. Breiling Associates, Inc. of Boca Raton, Fla.
The House of Representatives approved an amended bill last week to arm airline pilots, making more than 70,000 commercial pilots eligible to voluntarily receive training in the use of firearms and carry them in the cockpit.
Keystone Helicopter was named the primary independent supplier and installer of A++ Conversion kits for the S76A helicopter in agreements signed with Turbomeca Engine Corporation and Sikorsky Aircraft. The Keystone 7 Turbomeca agreement establishes Keystone as the exclusive, worldwide source for Arriel engines in addition to A+ and A++ Conversion Kit sales. Turbomeca will continue to build, support and warranty the engines.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is initiating a project to preserve its history and document its heritage. The university will collect and archive documents, photographs, oral histories, memorabilia and artifacts, dating back to its start as a flight school at Lunken Airport in Cinncinati, Ohio. The school plans to display the historical collection at its campuses in Daytona Beach, Fla. and Prescott, Ariz. For more information, contact Bob Rockett at (386) 226-6026.
July 20 - National Aviation Hall of Fame's 41st Annual Enshrinement Ceremony. Dayton Convention Center, Dayton, Ohio. For more information call (937) 256-0944 or go to www.nationalaviation.org July 23-29 - Experimental Aircraft Association 50th Annual Gathering, AirVenture Oshkosh 2002, Oshkosh, Wis., (920) 235-3007 August 31-September 2 - The Cleveland National Air Show, 1501 North Marginal Road, Burke Lakefront Airport, Cleveland, Ohio. For more information call Kim Dell at (216) 781-0747 or visit www.clevelandairshow.com
EVENTS LEADING TO GERMAN MIDAIR REVEAL COMPLEX SCENARIO - The collision warning system on the Bashkirian Airlines Tupolev TU-154 jet involved in the July 1 midair collision over Germany instructed the plane to pull up to avoid a fast-closing DHL 757 at the same altitude, but the crew heeded a nearly simultaneous ATC instruction to descend, putting the planes back on a collision course, investigators said.
Lawrence M. Falco was named division manager of Barnes Aerospace Apex Manufacturing Division in Phoenix, Ariz. He will be responsible for all of the division's activities. Most recently, Falco was division manager of the Barnes Aerospace Ceramics Division. His career also includes positions with Precision Components International in Columbus, Ga. and with Pratt&Whitney in East Hartford, Conn. from 1991 to 1996.
The National Transportation Safety Board is calling for design changes in Stemme S10-VT powered gliders as a result of its investigation of a rapidly spreading fire in one of the aircraft a year ago.
ROCKWELL COLLINS FMC-4200, FMC-5000, and FMC-6000 flight management computers (Docket No. 2000-CE-13-AD) - proposes to require modifying the FMCs to correct a problem with the flight management system accepting new information when an existing procedure or flight plan is changed. This proposed AD is the result of a report that an aircraft proceeded beyond the published altitude constraint on an arrival procedure.
EUROCOPTER Model AS332L and AS332L1 helicopters (Docket No. 2001-SW-46-AD; Amendment 39-12801; AD 2002-14-01) - requires adding a supplement to the Limitations section of the applicable Rotorcraft Flight Manual for helicopters with "SEFA" skis installed. This amendment is prompted by the need to limit the taxi and Vne speed of those helicopters with skis. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent structural failure of a ski and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. FAA estimates that this AD will affect three helicopters on the U.S.
Just over three years since development began, Eclipse Aviation was scheduled to roll out the first Eclipse 500 business jet last weekend, the first of what company officials believe will soon be a fleet of thousands of aircraft for the owner-flown and air taxi markets.
Federal Aviation Administration issued a stern warning to pilots last week to avoid areas where temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) are in place. The agency warned that the TFRs are not shown on sectional or other aeronautical charts, but said the TFR information is available through flight service stations or DUATS.
A Boeing 777 pilot for United Airlines was killed July 6 after the 2002 model Diamond Aircraft Industries DA 20C-1 he was flying experienced engine problems and crashed into a subdivision as the pilot was attempting to find a safe place to land.
DA 20 CRASH CLAIMS BOEING 777 PILOT - A Boeing 777 pilot for United Airlines was killed July 6 after the 2002 model Diamond Aircraft Industries DA 20C-1 he was flying experienced engine problems and crashed into a subdivision as the pilot was attempting to find a safe place to land.
Brian F. Gunderson, a long-time aide to Rep. Dick Armey (R-Texas), was named chief of staff in the office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Gunderson, who held a variety of positions in Armey's office from 1985-2000, most recently has been Armey's top aide, helping to manage the House Republican legislative agenda, including last year's passage of the Trade Promotion Authority legislation.
