BURBANK AIRPORT SEEKS NIGHT CURFEW THROUGH PART 161 STUDY - Burbank Glendale Pasadena Airport, under local pressure to reduce noise, is seeking a nighttime flight curfew through an FAA Part 161 noise study.
Nearly 90 percent of fractional aircraft owners are happy with the service they receive from their fractional providers, according to the latest Fractional Aircraft Ownership Experience Study conducted by Aviation Research Group/US, Inc. (ARG/US). "Overwhelmingly, fractional customers (87.6 percent) indicate they are satisfied with their current fractional program," said ARG/US President Joe Moeggenberg. He added that the majority of survey participants (84.8 percent) plan to renew with their current fractional provider.
Docket No.: FAA-2001-8613 Petitioner: Midwest Express Airlines, Inc. Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 91.205(b)(12) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit MWEA to replace the required approved pyrotechnic signaling device on each aircraft with crewmember personal flotation devices each of which is equipped with an approved survivor locator light. Denial, Feb. 20, 2002, Exemption No. 7720
RAYTHEON Model 58P, 60, A60, B60, and 65-88 airplanes (Docket No. 2001-CE-32-AD; Amendment 39-12759; AD 2002-10-13) - requires installation of a new exterior operating instruction placards for the exit doors. This AD is the result of Raytheon improving the visibility of the door operating instruction placards. This was done as a result of difficulty opening the emergency exits of a similar type design airplane. The actions specified by this AD are intended to assure that clear and complete operating instructions are visible for opening the emergency exit doors.
RAYTHEON INTRODUCES ONLINE CHATS FOR CUSTOMER SUPPORT - In the latest of a series of initiatives to improve customer service, Raytheon is launching monthly online chat sessions to give aircraft owners a chance to "talk shop" with product experts. The new chat room for Beech, Hawker and Raytheon Premier I aircraft operators will go live next month on the company's website: www.RaytheonAircraft.com.
Air taxi operators have a month to develop and implement a security program that would pass federal muster but have yet to receive any guidance on what standards they should meet, the National Air Transportation Association said last week. NATA urged the Transportation Security Administration to extend the deadline for compliance with the security program mandate.
Louisville, Ky. Airport implemented Passur's AirportMonitor traffic-tracking tool, the airport said. The web-based flight tracking system gives residents of neighboring communities concerned about aircraft noise information on planes landing and taking off at Louisville. Flight data are tracked through Passur's passive radar network and depicted graphically on the web. The "live" mode includes a 10-minute delay of actual aircraft location and other data-censoring for security purposes.
Docket No.: FAA-2002-11498 Petitioner: Air Tractor, Inc. Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 61.31(a)(1) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit Air Tractor and pilots of Air Tractor AT-802 and AT-802A airplanes to operate those airplanes without holding a type rating, although the maximum gross weight of the airplane exceeds 12,500 pounds. Grant, March 11, 2002, Exemption No. 5651G (Previously Docket No. 27122)
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.
Louisville, Ky. Airport implemented Passur's AirportMonitor traffic-tracking tool, the airport said. The web-based flight tracking system gives residents of neighboring communities concerned about aircraft noise information on planes landing and taking off at Louisville. Flight data are tracked through Passur's passive radar network and depicted graphically on the web. The "live" mode includes a 10-minute delay of actual aircraft location and other data-censoring for security purposes.
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.
Fairchild Dornier and the administrator handling the manufacturer's insolvency filing in Germany are facing a June 17 deadline for presenting a plan to the courts regarding the search for buyers for Fairchild Dornier's assets. Bombardier, which is believed to be interested in the 728/928JET program, has a team in Germany assessing the regional aircraft maker's operations.
FlightSafety International won two certifications from FAA for simulators at its training centers. The Atlanta Learning Center received Level D certification for its King Air 200 simulator. The company designed and built the full motion simulator at its facilities in Tulsa, Okla. The Cessna Learning Center in Wichita, Kan. also earned Level D certification for its Citation X full flight simulator.
Federal Aviation Administration issued a "Terrorism Intelligence Update" Friday morning warning of "possible use of small aircraft to conduct terrorist attacks. The FBI has received uncorroborated information indicating that terrorists may still be interested in the use of aircraft for suicide attacks in the United States." The FAA message said terrorists are reportedly interested in small aircraft, as opposed to large, commercial aircraft "due to post Sept.
Summary: Pursuant to FAA's rulemaking provisions governing the application, processing, and disposition of petitions for exemption (14 CFR Part 11), this notice contains a summary of certain petitions seeking relief from specified requirements of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR Chapter I), dispositions of certain petitions previously received, and corrections. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities.
Rockwell Collins Aviation Services signed a Dispatch Plus contract with American Eagle Airlines, the regional airline affiliate of American Airlines. The 10-year agreement covers service and support for Collins avionics on American Eagle's fleet of Bombardier Regional Jets, including avionics inventories in multiple locations. The airline has firm orders for 25 CRJ-700 aircraft with options for 25 additional aircraft.
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.
Bombardier won an order valued at $68.7 million from Atlantic Southeast Airlines for three CRJ200 regional jets. The order converts three options the Delta Connection carrier held for the CRJ. Bombardier will deliver the aircraft to ASA in the summer of 2003. ASA and Delta Connection affiliate Comair have combined to order 237 Bombardier CRJ100 and 200 aircraft, of which 191 have been delivered and 46 remain on backlog.
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. Previous versions that hook a new color display into the existing ARTS hardware have been deployed at several locations, including El Paso.
HYDE FIELD AIRPORT SHUT DOWN AFTER SECURITY BREACHES - The Transportation Security Administration shut down Washington Executive Airport/Hyde Field (W32) this month after Federal Aviation Administration officials discovered "serious security breaches" during a site visit to the airport. The closure comes just three months after officials reopened the airport under tough new security measures outlined in Special Federal Air Regulation 94 (BA, Feb. 18/87).
Jim Gregory, director of corporate affairs and communications for Raytheon Aircraft Company, is retiring May 31. Gregory began his public relations career at Boeing Wichita in 1974 and spent three years there before moving to Gates Learjet in 1977. He joined Beech Aircraft in 1980 and has headed communications operations for the Wichita manufacturer since it became part of Raytheon. Gregory told BA he plans to open a public affairs consultancy in Wichita this summer.
FlightSafety International won two certifications from FAA for simulators at its training centers. The Atlanta Learning Center received Level D certification for its King Air 200 simulator. The company designed and built the full motion simulator at its facilities in Tulsa, Okla. The Cessna Learning Center in Wichita, Kan. also earned Level D certification for its Citation X full flight simulator.
State Of Utah, Division of Purchasing is seeking bids for lobbyist and consulting services in the Washington, D.C. area to secure federal funds for future transportation improvement programs. Responses are due 3 p.m. June 4 for bid RM2179. For more information, contact Jim Phillips at (801) 538-3232.
NATA URGES TSA TO EXTEND SECURITY PROGRAM DEADLINE - Air taxi operators have a month to develop and implement a security program that would pass federal muster but have yet to receive any guidance on what standards they should meet, the National Air Transportation Association said last week. NATA urged the Transportation Security Administration to extend the deadline for compliance with the security program mandate.
Stephen Zaidman, a veteran FAA executive who recently reversed his decision to retire from the agency, was named director of the Airway Facilities Service. He had been associate administrator for research and acquisition before announcing his retirement in April. Zaidman has been with FAA since 1974. In his new post he succeeds Alan Moore, who is retiring.
