AEROSPACE COMMISSION TO HEAR FROM AIRLINES, EUROPEANS - The Bush Administration's Commission on the Future of the Aerospace Industry plans to get input from airlines and European regulators as it drafts its final report, Commission Chairman Robert Walker said last week. The Commission was created by the White House in 2001, and must issue a final report to the President by Nov. 27. The Commission will publish its third interim report on June 26, and has scheduled one more public meeting on Aug. 22.
A disappointed National Business Aviation Association appealed to Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary Michael Jackson to reconsider DOT's decision to postpone the reopening of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (BA, June 17/283).
The General Aviation Action Coalition, a group comprising several GA associations, met with a cross-section of the aviation industry Wednesday in what was described as a "brainstorming session" on best security practices. While the GA groups endorsed a broad outline of increased security measures in December (BA, Dec. 17/280), Wednesday's session gave industry representatives a chance to discuss concrete examples of how those measures have increased security.
SWISS OWNERS INSTALL NEW MANAGEMENT TEAM AT PILATUS - Angelo Fiataruolo, who has headed operations of Pilatus Business Aircraft Ltd. (PBAL) for the past 23 months, was abruptly dismissed by officials of the Swiss-based parent company last week who installed Swiss nationals to replace Fiataruolo and his chief financial officer.
Maury Devine was named to the board of directors for Atlantic Coast Airlines Holdings, Inc. Devine is currently a fellow at Harvard University's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. Devine worked for many years at the Mobil Corporation in government affairs, serving in a number of senior positions such as secretary of the corporation and president and managing director of Mobil's Norwegian affiliate.
Aircraft Owners And Pilots Association was pleased to learn that FAA has decided to adopt the association's proposal to require pilots to carry government-issued photo identification along with their pilot certificates. FAA wrote Sen.
Microvision has developed the Nomad Personal Flight System, which will give pilots a head-up view of critical flight information. Relying on an iPAQ Pocket personal computer, the system uses a high-resolution, head-worn display that can present images in see-through or head-up mode. The system is independent of installed avionics and does not require additional certifications, Microvision said. Microvision has priced the system at about $12,000.
Phillips 66 donated a 100 LL aviation gasoline refueler to the Experimental Aircraft Association to fuel aircraft at the association's Pioneer Airport in Oshkosh, Wis. The donation is part of a partnership between Phillips and EAA to continue aviation educational outreach programs.
Maury Devine was named to the board of directors for Atlantic Coast Airlines Holdings, Inc. Devine is currently a fellow at Harvard University's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. Devine worked for many years at the Mobil Corporation in government affairs, serving in a number of senior positions such as secretary of the corporation and president and managing director of Mobil's Norwegian affiliate.
The General Aviation Action Coalition, a group comprising several GA associations, met with a cross-section of the aviation industry Wednesday in what was described as a "brainstorming session" on best security practices.While the GA groups endorsed a broad outline of increased security measures in December (BA, Dec. 17/280), Wednesday's session gave industry representatives a chance to discuss concrete examples of how those measures have increased security.
A disappointed National Business Aviation Association appealed to Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary Michael Jackson to reconsider DOT's decision to postpone the reopening of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (BA, June 17/283).
DPI has developed a peer-to-peer (P2P) cabin management system that provides networking without a central server computer. DPI said the system could eliminate up to two-thirds the weight of a server-based cabin management system, reducing the amount of wiring and other parts necessary to connect cabin electronics. As an example, DPI noted that 12 or more lights could be strung on one relay module in the P2P system, requiring only two wires.
Jet Aviation added a Falcon 50 to its European charter fleet. The aircraft will be based in Zurich, Switzerland and configured for 10 passengers, two pilots and two flight attendants. The aircraft has a range of nearly 6,400 kilometers and can fly nonstop for seven and one-half hours.
Jet Aviation Engineering Services redesigned a Learjet 45 winglet for a manufacturing company. The winglet was re-engineered to reduce manufacturing costs and improve it structurally. Jet Aviation engineers used new alloys to decrease fatigue and stress levels and reduced casting and machinery time to lower costs.
General aviation leaders hope last week's incident in which the pilot of a Cessna 182 encroached the temporary no-fly zone around Washington, D.C., coming within five miles of the White House, doesn't serve as another setback in their effort to get GA flights back into Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). The incident, which took place Wednesday evening, caused a brief evacuation of the White House as two military fighters were sent up to intercept the errant aircraft.
AIR TRACTOR Models AT-400, AT-401, AT-401B, AT-402, AT-402A, AT-402B, AT-501, AT-802, and AT-802A airplanes (Docket No. 2001-CE-36-AD; Amendment 39-12766; AD 2002-11-05) - supersedes AD 2001-10-04 R1, which lowered the safe life for the wing lower spar cap on certain Air Tractor AT-400, AT-500, and AT-800 series airplanes. AD 2001-10-04 R1 resulted from numerous reports of cracks in the 3/8-inch bolthole of the wing lower spar cap on the affected airplanes.
A National Transportation Safety Board team completed its site survey of a C-130A that crashed during a firefighting mission June 17 in Walker, Calif., and plans to move the aircraft wreckage to a hangar in Minden, Nev., for further investigation, the safety board said Friday. NTSB sent two investigators to Walker after the C-130A crashed, killing all three crewmembers aboard. Operated by Hawkins&Powers Aviation of Greybull, Wyo., under contract to the U.S.
DPI has developed a peer-to-peer (P2P) cabin management system that provides networking without a central server computer. DPI said the system could eliminate up to two-thirds the weight of a server-based cabin management system, reducing the amount of wiring and other parts necessary to connect cabin electronics. As an example, DPI noted that 12 or more lights could be strung on one relay module in the P2P system, requiring only two wires.
TRW Inc. signed a definitive agreement with Goodrich Corp. to sell the TRW Aeronautical Systems business (formerly Lucas Aerospace) for $1.5 billion. The deal is expected to close early in the fourth quarter of 2002 following U.S. and European regulatory approvals.
SIKORSKY Model S-76A, S-76B and S-76C helicopters [Docket No. 2001-SW-59-AD] - proposes to require removing and inspecting each main rotor spindle attachment bolt to ensure that the correct bolts are installed. This proposal is prompted by the discovery of improper bolts installed on a helicopter during its production.
Radio Personality Don Imus joined the Corporate Angel Network as a NetJets fractional aircraft owner. Imus is the first fractional aircraft owner to participate in CAN, a national public charity that arranges free transportation for cancer patients traveling to treatment centers. Imus and his wife Deidre run a nonprofit working cattle ranch in New Mexico for children with cancer, and he said CAN recently flew one of the kids from his ranch. "I found the program rewarding, efficient and hassle-free...and I'm happy to be a part of it," Imus said.
