HOUSE VOTES TO ARM AIRLINE PILOTS - 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.
Meghan Newman joined Thunder Aviation NA Inc., in St. Louis, Mo. as charter manager. She is responsible for scheduling and dispatching charter aircraft and pilots and also is involved in helping the company acquire additional aircraft. She reports to Rick McGuire, director of charter operations. Newman is a pilot and holds a bachelor's degree in aviation management from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.
Providing red carpet service can drive up costs for fixed-base operators, as one unfortunate FBO in the Southeast U.S. learned recently. The exhaust blast from a Hawker making a turn on the ramp blew a welcome mat off the ground and into the air toward an idling Citation business jet. The mat blew into one of the Citation's engines, causing extensive damage to the powerplant. The incident occurred shortly before the FBO's insurance coverage was due to renew. Not only did the cost of the insurance go up, but the deductible amount on the policy increased ten-fold.
Goodrich was awarded a technical standard order approval from FAA for a new Solid-State Vertical Reference System Model VRS-3000. The system is designed as a replacement for conventional spinning mass type vertical gyroscopes and provides traditional Aeronautical Radio Incorporated (ARINC) 407-synchro information for pitch and roll attitude, Goodrich said. The company expects military aircraft and helicopters that are subject to high vibration will benefit from the newly approved system.
AIR TAXIS SCRAMBLING TO COPE WITH NEW TSA RULES - Air taxi operators across the nation were struggling last week to comply with new Transportation Security Administration regulations for aircraft weighing more than 12,500 pounds, an effort complicated by the fact that TSA will not immediately tell callers whether the rule applies to them or what the new rule requires.
Providing red carpet service can drive up costs for fixed-base operators, as one unfortunate FBO in the Southeast U.S. learned recently. The exhaust blast from a Hawker making a turn on the ramp blew a welcome mat off the ground and into the air toward an idling Citation business jet. The mat blew into one of the Citation's engines, causing extensive damage to the powerplant. The incident occurred shortly before the FBO's insurance coverage was due to renew. Not only did the cost of the insurance go up, but the deductible amount on the policy increased ten-fold.
GULFSTREAM LP Model Astra SPX and 1125 Westwind Astra series airplanes (Docket No. 2002-NM-114-AD) - proposes to require revising the airplane flight manual to advise the flightcrew to don oxygen masks as a first and immediate step following a cabin altitude alert. This action is necessary to prevent incapacitation of the flightcrew due to lack of oxygen. FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 90 airplanes on the U.S. Registry at a cost of $5,400, or $60 per airplane. Send comments in triplicate by Aug.
Meghan Newman joined Thunder Aviation NA Inc., in St. Louis, Mo. as charter manager. She is responsible for scheduling and dispatching charter aircraft and pilots and also is involved in helping the company acquire additional aircraft. She reports to Rick McGuire, director of charter operations. Newman is a pilot and holds a bachelor's degree in aviation management from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.
Goodrich was awarded a technical standard order approval from FAA for a new Solid-State Vertical Reference System Model VRS-3000. The system is designed as a replacement for conventional spinning mass type vertical gyroscopes and provides traditional Aeronautical Radio Incorporated (ARINC) 407-synchro information for pitch and roll attitude, Goodrich said. The company expects military aircraft and helicopters that are subject to high vibration will benefit from the newly approved system.
Randy Kennedy, a former Air Force officer and an early member of the Dassault Falcon Jet team, died July 7. Services were held Thursday at The Church of the Presentation in Upper Saddle River, N.J.
EUROCOPTER Model EC120B helicopters (Docket No. 2001-SW-68-AD; Amendment 39-12799; AD 2002-13-11) - requires installing front and side covers to protect the yaw control. This amendment is prompted by a report of a mobile phone falling between the windshield canopy and the cabin floor jamming the yaw control pedal. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent an object from sliding between the canopy and the cabin floor, loss of yaw control, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. FAA estimates that this AD will affect 44 helicopters on the U.S.
GE CF34-8C1 turbofan engines (Docket No. 2002-NE-13-AD) - proposes to require revisions to the Airworthiness Limitations Section of the manufacturer's Instructions for Continued Airworthiness to include required enhanced inspection of selected critical life-limited parts at each piece-part exposure. This proposal also would require an air carrier's approved continuous airworthiness maintenance program to incorporate these inspection procedures.
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.
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.
PRATT&WHITNEY turboprop engines (Docket No. 2001-NE-34-AD) - proposes to require replacing certain part number fuel heaters with redesigned fuel heaters. This proposal is prompted by several field incidents in which one or more of the three studs that attach the fuel filter bowl to the fuel heater have been partially or completely pulled free of the fuel heater housing. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent the separation of the fuel filter bowl from the fuel heater, which could result in a pressurized fuel leak and possible engine fire.
Randy Kennedy, a former Air Force officer and an early member of the Dassault Falcon Jet team, died July 7. Services were held Thursday at The Church of the Presentation in Upper Saddle River, N.J.
AvSoft signed an agreement with insurance broker Aon Limited to distribute Aon's Aircraft Damage History and Daily Incident Alert Data. The Aircraft Damage History covers significant aircraft damage back to 1977 and will be incorporated into AvSoft's ACAS aviation system. Avsoft also will deliver the Daily Incident Alert, which covers all aircraft from large commercial jets to light aircraft and helicopters, as a daily e-mail service. AvSoft will demonstrate the new additions to its product line at its booth at the Farnborough Air Show.
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.
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.
BOMBARDIER PLANNING TWO NEW LEARJET MODELS - Canadian manufacturer Bombardier is expected to announce two new Learjet models next week at the Farnborough Air Show.
Jim Keenan was named senior vice president of commercial engines for Pratt&Whitney Commercial Engines. He will have full responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the Commercial Engines Division, said Robert F. Leduc, president of the division, who said Keenan's appointment will provide Leduc with more time to focus on critical customer and employee issues as well as long-term strategic initiatives. The Commercial Engines unit serves more than 500 customers worldwide and has more than 7,000 employees.
ROLLS-ROYCE Tay Model 650-15 and 651-54 turbofan engines; Correction - makes a correction to AD 2002-09-02, applicable to Rolls-Royce Tay Model 650-15 and 651-54 turbofan engines. AD 2002-09-02 was published in the Federal Register on May 2, 2002 (67 FR 21979). Note 3 in the Alternative Method of Compliance section is incorrect. This document corrects Note 3. In all other respects, the original document remains the same.
Air taxi operators across the nation were struggling last week to comply with new Transportation Security Administration regulations for aircraft weighing more than 12,500 pounds, an effort complicated by the fact that TSA will not immediately tell callers whether the rule applies to them or what the new rule requires.
Keystone Helicopter, West Chester, Pa., said Argosy Investment Partners II LP of Wayne, Pa., has joined Keystone's outside group of institutional investors. Terms of Argosy's involvement were not disclosed, but Steve Townes, CEO of the helicopter company, said "We welcome Argosy's investment experience and capital resources as we continue to grow Keystone Helicopter internally as well as through follow-on acquisitions."
AvSoft signed an agreement with insurance broker Aon Limited to distribute Aon's Aircraft Damage History and Daily Incident Alert Data. The Aircraft Damage History covers significant aircraft damage back to 1977 and will be incorporated into AvSoft's ACAS aviation system. Avsoft also will deliver the Daily Incident Alert, which covers all aircraft from large commercial jets to light aircraft and helicopters, as a daily e-mail service. AvSoft will demonstrate the new additions to its product line at its booth at the Farnborough Air Show.
