The Weekly of Business Aviation

Staff
DAN PROSSER was named western regional sales manager at AirCell, Inc. He will be responsible for sales and marketing in the western U.S. Prosser previously held sales and management positions at Avidyne, AlliedSignal, Stevens Aviation and IFR Avionics.

Staff
F.I.T. Aviation LLC, Melbourne, Fla., a subsidiary of Florida Tech, recently took delivery of two Cessna 152s, two Cessna 172s and a Piper Warrior to meet its growing pilot training and rental needs.

Staff
BAE SYSTEMS LTD. Model BAe 146 and Avro 146-RJ series airplanes (Docket No. 2002-NM-48-AD) - proposes to require replacement of the existing "Low Temp" terminal blocks "G" with new, fireproof ceramic terminal blocks "G" in engine zones 412, 422, 432, and 442. This action is necessary to prevent failure of the engine fire detection and suppression systems to operate properly in the event of a fire due to failure of non-fireproof terminal blocks, which could result in an undetected and uncontrollable fire in an engine.

Staff
Raymond Bennett was named sales vice president at NetJets. He will be responsible for sales in Georgia, North and South Carolina, as well as Chattanooga, Tenn. Bennett has previously worked as regional sales manager for Raytheon Travel Air and AlliedSignal Aerospace.

Staff
McKinney Aerospace expanded its avionics capabilities to cover a range of retrofits and factory-certified installations on medium, large and ultra-long-range business jets. McKinney decided last year to expand its internal avionics services after a four-year partnership with avionics specialist ElectroSonics. "Once this decision was made, the company moved aggressively to create an avionics department that would be an industry leader from its inception," McKinney said. The company hopes to receive FAA Designated Alteration Station recognition within the next year.

Staff
GULFSTREAM Model Galaxy and Gulfstream 200 airplanes (Docket No. 2002-NM-123-AD; Amendment 39-12755; AD 2002-10-09) - requires repetitive inspections for evidence of fuel accumulation inside of the aft service compartment; and follow-on actions, if necessary. This AD also provides for an optional terminating modification. This action is necessary to prevent such fuel accumulation, which could result in fuel vapors coming into contact with ignition sources and consequent fire.

Staff
Bombardier recently delivered its 200th Learjet 45 business jet to JM Aviation Holdings LLC, a subsidiary of JM Family Enterprises, Inc., a diversified automotive company. The customer already operates one Model 35 and one Model 55 Learjet.

Staff
Bombardier recently delivered its 200th Learjet 45 business jet to JM Aviation Holdings LLC, a subsidiary of JM Family Enterprises, Inc., a diversified automotive company. The customer already operates one Model 35 and one Model 55 Learjet.

Staff
Aircraft Technical Publishers introduced new software to help maintenance professionals comply with the recently approved Federal Air Regulation Part 43.10. The FAR requires record keeping of the current status of life-limited parts. The ATP Maintenance Director software suite can validate the part number, serial number and current life status of a part on or off an aircraft, ATP said.

Staff
GLASER-DIRKS FLUGZEUGBAU Models DG-400 and DG-800A sailplanes (Docket No. 2002-CE-12-AD) - proposes to require inspection of the rear plate of the propeller mount for marks and/or cracks and replace if necessary. This proposed AD would also require inspection of the mounting blocks for cracks and replacement if necessary. This proposed AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for Germany.

Staff
Aero System Engineering, St. Paul, Minn., signed an exclusive agreement with Honeywell to provide design, engineering and fabrication services for Honeywell engine test cells sold to third parties. ASE, which specializes in wind tunnel and jet engine testing facilities, will function as the exclusive subcontractor to Honeywell for those services on contracts where Honeywell is the prime contractor providing new engine test cells or equipment upgrades for its customers.

Staff
U.S. Department of State is seeking aviation veterans to fill two positions in Colombia as part of the effort to control drug production and smuggling in that country. The department's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs wants to hire a senior aviation adviser and an aviation safety adviser who will work with U.S. and Colombian officials in coordinating their airborne drug interdiction efforts. For more information, contact: Mary Pat Hayes-Crow at (202) 776-8373; fax, (202) 776-8775; or e-mail at [email protected]

Staff
NEW PIPER APPEALS CIVIL PENALTY ACTION - New Piper Aircraft is appealing a proposed $222,300 civil penalty for alleged quality violations, the company said last week. The Federal Aviation Administration announced earlier it was seeking the civil penalty, charging that "the company failed to properly maintain its approved quality system and failed to ensure its aircraft conformed to the approved type design."

Staff
Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) promised to make every effort to bring the National Aviation Capacity Expansion Act, (S.2039), to the Senate floor for a vote. The bill would enforce at a national level last fall's pact between Chicago Mayor Richard Daley (D) and Gov. George Ryan (R) to add runways and expand Chicago O'Hare, explore a new airport in Peotone, Ill., and keep Meigs Field operating.

Staff
May 28-30 - National Business Aviation Association/European Business Aviation Association European Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition, Palexpo Convention Center, Geneva, Switzerland, (202) 783-9000 June 1 - Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Fly-In and Open House, Frederick, Md., (301) 695-2000 June 14-15 - 7th Annual NBAA Flight Attendants Conference, Nashville, Tenn. (202) 783-9000

Staff
EMBRAER model EMB-120 series airplanes (Docket No. 2000-NM-66-AD) - revises an earlier proposed airworthiness directive, that would have superseded an existing AD that currently requires repetitive visual checks or inspections to verify that the flight idle stop system circuit breakers are closed, and functional tests to determine if the backup flight idle stop system is operative. A supplemental NPRM was issued to require modification of the secondary flight idle stop system (SFISS), which would terminate the repetitive actions.

Staff
Aero System Engineering, St. Paul, Minn., signed an exclusive agreement with Honeywell to provide design, engineering and fabrication services for Honeywell engine test cells sold to third parties. ASE, which specializes in wind tunnel and jet engine testing facilities, will function as the exclusive subcontractor to Honeywell for those services on contracts where Honeywell is the prime contractor providing new engine test cells or equipment upgrades for its customers.

Staff
State of Iowa is still considering eliminating all aviation funding to help ease its budget crunch. The state legislature earlier this year proposed cutting the $2.5 million in aviation funding, but agreed to restore

Staff
UPS Aviation Technologies has developed a new version of its MX20 multifunction display that will show weather information from the Honeywell/Bendix King RDR 2000 digital color radar system. The new unit, the MX20-IO, also displays traffic targets from both Goodrich Skywatch and Ryan TCAD products. The MX20-IO also can display terrain awareness, VFR navigation, IFR navigation and data uplink. UPS Aviation is pricing the new unit at $14,995, including the standard MX20 with RDR 2000 weather radar, Skywatch and TCAD traffic.

Staff
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University graduated 30 in its first class of students from the new Aviation and Space Technology Academy. The academy, which was started by the university to address the nation's shortage of aircraft maintenance technicians, offers a 16-month program leading to certification of airframe and powerplant technicians. An additional four-month certification program in avionics maintenance also is offered. The academy will produce 180 new A&P technicians annually, said Program Director Stan Mackiewicz.

Staff
Raymond Bennett was named sales vice president at NetJets. He will be responsible for sales in Georgia, North and South Carolina, as well as Chattanooga, Tenn. Bennett has previously worked as regional sales manager for Raytheon Travel Air and AlliedSignal Aerospace.

Staff
Latest Version Of STARS Deployed At First Site - The first version of full STARS recently went operational in El Paso, Texas, FAA said. Full STARS (Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System) replaces the Automated Radar Terminal Systems (ARTS) and includes new, color displays and computers that provide both radar and backup services. The El Paso version can control 435 aircraft at one time from 16 radar feeds, FAA said. STARS is being phased in.

Staff
Docket No.: FAA-2002-10876 Petitioner: Experimental Aircraft Association Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 91.319(a)(2), 119.5(g), and 119.21(a) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit the Experimental Aircraft Association to operate its Spirit of St. Louis airplane for the purpose of carrying passengers for compensation or hire on local flights for educational and historical purposes. Grant, March 15, 2002, Exemption No. 6541E

Staff
Heather Kidd was named sales vice president at NetJets. She will be responsible for sales in southern California from Orange County to San Diego. Kidd was most recently director of sales and marketing for CLS in Los Angeles, Calif.

Staff
Docket No.: FAA-2002-11570 Petitioner: Sky Helicopters, Inc. Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 135.143(c)(2) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit Sky Helicopters to operate certain aircraft under Part 135 without a TSO-C112 (Mode S) transponder installed on those aircraft. Grant, April 15, 2002, Exemption No. 6430C (Previously Docket No. 28499)