BELL HELICOPTER Model 407 helicopters (Docket No. 2001-SW-54-AD; Amendment 39-12770; AD 2002-11-09) - requires visually inspecting the forward hanger bearing bracket for a crack. This amendment is prompted by reports of cracks in the bracket. The actions specified by this AD are intended to detect a crack in the bracket, to prevent loss of tail rotor drive or control and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. FAA estimates that this AD will affect 442 helicopters on the U.S. Registry at a cost of $6,630, assuming no crack is detected in a bracket.
The federal government will delay implementation of draft plans to restore general aviation operations at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport for at least 30 more days and continue to assess security requirements for GA at the airport, the Department of Transportation announced last week. Although DOT and the general aviation community have reached "tentative conclusions" to restore access, DOT Deputy Secretary Michael Jackson said the department would convene another meeting with GA industry representatives in about a month.
MIDWEST EXPRESS will change its name in January to Midwest Airlines, an effort to recapture an estimated $10 million in lost booking annually because some passengers selected other carriers because they assumed Midwest Express was a regional airline and possibly a turboprop operator. Skyway, a feeder carrier for Midwest Express, also will change its name to Midwest Connect, to more closely link it to the larger carrier.
NTSB CITES FAULTY CREW COORDINATION IN ASPEN CRASH -- Faulty coordination between the pilots and the continuation of an unstabilized approach past the missed approach point, were cited by the National Transportation Safety Board as critical factors in the March 29, 2001 crash of a Gulfstream III at Aspen-Pitkin County Airport Sardy Field (ASE) in Aspen, Colo. (BA, April 2, 2001/156).
GENERAL AVIATION ACCESS TO DCA DELAYED AT LEAST 30 MORE DAYS -- The federal government will delay implementation of draft plans to restore general aviation operations at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport for at least 30 more days and continue to assess security requirements for GA at the airport, the Department of Transportation announced last week.
The aviation industry will have to adjust to new procedures that dispense with long discussions and extensive industry input, according to Sandy Murdock, a partner with the law firm Shaw, Pittman and former FAA chief counsel in the Reagan administration. Murdock made his comments at the Homeland Security and Defense conference held by McGraw-Hill in Washington this month.
ROCKWELL COLLINS said its avionics communications router (ACR) will be used to support datalink capabilities on the Airbus A380. The ACR is an onboard system that connects aircraft and ground-based systems and both manages and supports data traffic through various communications tools, including the airborne communications addressing and reporting system.
AERONAVALI, an Alenia Aeronautica/Finmeccania unit, installed a cargo door on an ATR72 as part of an ATR Freighter Conversion Program. Aeronavali's facility in Naples won an exclusive contract last year to complete ATR 42 and ATR 72 cargo conversions for the French-Italian consortium. The ATR 72 Cargo prototype aircraft is slated for certification this month and will be handed over to launch customer FARNAIR, a European feeder airline for integrators and postal services. Aeronavali next will begin work on an ATR 42 conversion.
STAN ALLMON was named director of avionics at the JetCorp fixed based operation, located at the Spirit of St. Louis Airport. He will oversee JetCorp's avionics department and manage sales and the maintenance and installation of avionics packages. Allmon has worked at JetCorp for the past 10 years in various positions including avionics repair manager, avionics supervisor and avionics technician.
ACM AVIATION added a Gulfstream V to its charter fleet. ACM operates a fleet of nearly 30 corporate jets from its base at San Jose, Calif., International Airport and other airports in California, Grand Junction, Colo., and Reno, Nev.
SHAIRFORCE LAUNCHES MARKETING PROGRAM -- A new shared aircraft ownership company, ShAirForce, unveiled its aircraft sales and marketing program by launching its web site, www.shairforce.com, last week. The launch follows on the heels of an agreement between the company and Piedmont Aviation Services to operate ShAirForce's fleet of new Boeing Business Jets on Piedmont's Pace Airlines' FAA Part 121 certificate.
PRATT&WHITNEY PT6A series turboprop engines (Docket No. 99-NE-44-AD) - revises an earlier proposed AD, applicable to Pratt&Whitney Canada PT6A series turboprop engines, that have certain turbine exhaust ducts that were modified by Standard Aero Limited of Winnipeg, Canada before Sept. 1, 1997. That proposal would have required initial and repetitive inspections for cracks and, if necessary, replacing the turbine exhaust duct if the cracks exceed allowable limits. That proposal was prompted by reports of cracks along the weld seams of certain turbine exhaust ducts.
Former FAA Official: Security Mandates Trumping Public Comment Procedures -- The aviation industry will have to adjust to new procedures that dispense with long discussions and extensive industry input, according to Sandy Murdock, a partner with the law firm Shaw, Pittman and former FAA chief counsel in the Reagan administration. Murdock made his comments at the Homeland Security and Defense conference held by McGraw-Hill in Washington this month.
Montreal-based CMC Electronics signed an agreement to buy Flight Visions, Inc. of Sugar Grove, Ill. Flight Visions designs and manufactures a range of cockpit systems and products that includes head-up displays, mission computers and control panels for fighter and trainer aircraft, and helicopters. The Sugar Grove plant has about 100 employees.
NATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION is offering a series of risk management seminars to cover aviation insurance availability, insurance broker selection, claims management, non-traditional sources for coverage and security updates. The seminars are scheduled for July 15 at the Renaissance Hotel in Washington, D.C.; Sept. 26 at the Hilton Airport Hotel in Austin, Texas; Oct. 10 at Million Air Cleveland in Cleveland, Ohio; Oct. 25 at the Marriott Courtyard in Los Angeles, Calif.; Nov. 14 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Denver, Colo.; and Nov. 21 in Atlanta, Ga.
ANOTHER AIRLINE has acknowledged that business jets are claiming a bigger share of its high-yield, first-class passengers.Swiss International Air Lines, formed from the ashes of Swissair's post-9/11 demise, is logging 80 percent load factors on long-haul flights after just three months of operations. But officials say the numbers would be better if not for the reluctance of some former first-class passengers to fly on commercial carriers.
AIR METHODS TO BUY ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOLDINGS -- Finalizing a deal struck in April, Air Methods will buy Rocky Mountain Holdings of Provo, Utah, for $28 million to make the company the largest provider of air medical services in the United States, Air Methods said last week. Englewood, Colo.-based Air Methods, which provides medical transportation and performs aircraft modifications, previously announced it signed a non-binding letter of intent to purchase a major air medical service provider (BA, April 22/190).
AOPA also is combating the view that small aircraft pose a threat to nuclear power plants. It released a report that concludes that GA aircraft could not penetrate concrete containment vessels at nuclear plants and that even an "explosive-laden" GA aircraft would not likely cause the release of radiation. As AOPA released its report, Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) was trying to generate support for a bill he introduced to require criminal background checks on all foreign applicants to U.S. flight schools, regardless of what size aircraft applicants would be flying.
BOEING is establishing a new service center in Wichita, Kan., to repair and overhaul aircraft nacelles and composite structures. The Boeing Wichita Service Center increases Boeing's worldwide network of service centers to nine. "Traditionally Boeing Wichita has designed and built aircraft assemblies and components," said Jeff Turner, Boeing Wichita vice president-general manager. "The establishment of this new service center, however, gives us an opportunity to expand into new business endeavors and utilize the expertise of our great workforce."
BEN CLAYDEN was appointed chief pilot at Woodland Aviation of Sacramento, Calif. He will supervise Woodland's flight department of 20 pilots, assist in ground and flight training for crewmembers and work with the director of operations. Clayden was most recently director of operations, senior vice president, chief operating officer and chief pilot at Monterey Airplane Company. He has more than 7,000 hours of Part 135 experience in business jets and turboprops, flying to Asia, Africa, South America, the Pacific Rim and Europe.
Hayes Named Aviation Panel Vice Chair -- Rep. Robin Hayes (R-N.C.) has been named vice chairman of the 46-member House aviation subcommittee, chaired by Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.). Hayes has been a licensed pilot for more than 30 years and is a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. "Aviation impacts my top two priorities for this session of Congress -- economic security and national security," Hayes said. He replaces John Cooksey (R-La.), who resigned from the Transportation Committee.
THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF AIRPORT EXECUTIVES distributed a series of recommendations to the Transportation Security Administration that the association says are a "work in progress" to enhance security at general aviation airports. The association recommends that all GA airports prepare a comprehensive airport security plan that includes items such as installation of adequate outdoor lighting and security fencing and/or electronic monitoring.
BEN CLAYDEN was appointed chief pilot at Woodland Aviation of Sacramento, Calif. He will supervise Woodland's flight department of 20 pilots, assist in ground and flight training for crewmembers and work with the director of operations. Clayden was most recently director of operations, senior vice president, chief operating officer and chief pilot at Monterey Airplane Company. He has more than 7,000 hours of Part 135 experience in business jets and turboprops, flying to Asia, Africa, South America, the Pacific Rim and Europe.
BAE Systems Limited Model 4101 airplanes (Docket No. 2001-NM-151-AD; Amendment 39-12773; AD 2002-12-01) - requires a functional test of the shortening mechanism of the nose landing gear for free movement of the capsule in the upper and lower bearings, and corrective action, if necessary. This action is necessary to prevent damage to the capsule, which could result in inability to extend the nose landing gear in normal or emergency situations, and consequent injury to passengers and flight crew. FAA estimates this AD will affect 59 Model 4101 airplanes on the U.S.
RAYNOR REAVIS, a veteran business jet marketing executive, is rejoining Gulfstream Aerospace this week after spending the past three and one-half years as national sales manager for the NetJets fractional ownership program. Reavis, who has worked closely in the past with Gulfstream President and COO Bill Boisture, is taking over as senior vice president of marketing and sales. He succeeds Joe Walker, who left the company a month ago to pursue other interests (BA, May 13/228).
