FAA DRAFT RULE SETS PLANS FOR DOMESTIC RVSM BY END OF 2004 - Despite general aviation opposition, FAA has published a draft rule proposing a one-step transition to domestic reduced vertical separation minimums (DRVSM) in December 2004. The notice of proposed rulemaking has a 90-day comment period.
BRIAN BRANDEWIE was named president, avionics systems at Goodrich. He has worked for Goodrich for 21 years and was most recently vice president and general manager of the company's regional, business and military aircraft wheel and brake business.
Model EMB-135 and -145 series airplanes (Docket No. 2002-NM-68-AD; Amendment 39-12730; AD 2002-08-18) - requires repetitive inspections of the actuator clutches of the primary and backup pitch trim systems of the horizontal stabilizer for proper pitch trim indications, and replacement of the actuator, if necessary.
Following additional analysis of Gulfstream V wing tests done for the Joint Aviation Authorities, Gulfstream Aerospace is going to make a minor wing modification to the first 16 GVs that were built. Following up on an earlier conversation (BA, May 6/218), Gulfstream President Bill Boisture told BA Friday that analysis of the just completed wing tests revealed "a non-compliance issue" with FAA certification requirements. Under FAA certification procedures, Boisture said some parameters are satisfied by actual tests, while others are accomplished by data analysis.
The Air Group added a Canadair Global Express business jet to its East Coast charter fleet. The 6,500-nautical-mile aircraft will be based in Windsor Locks, Conn.
Flight Options plans to convert the nearly 100 aircraft it received in the Raytheon Travel Air merger from the RTA livery and "Tango Alpha" N-numbers to its own paint scheme and "Charlie Whiskey" N-numbers. The changes will take place over the next three years as the aircraft go through the regular three-year cabin refurbishment cycle.
OFFICIALS are investigating the circumstances surrounding an accident involving a NetJets Model 560 Cessna Citation Ultra, N397QS, May 2 in Texas. FAA said the aircraft, with two pilots and four passengers, departed Houston for a flight to a small airport in Leakey, Texas. The aircraft ran off the end of the runway and caught fire, but all aboard managed to escape without injury.
Joseph K. (Joe) Walker, senior vice president, sales and marketing, at Gulfstream Aerospace in Savannah, Ga., left the company last month after seven years to pursue other interests. Walker moved from Cessna Aircraft, where he had been vice president of worldwide sales, to Gulfstream in 1995 to become vice president of North American sales (BA, Oct. 13, 1997/162). He later served as senior vice president of international sales before moving up to the company's top sales post.
COLLINS AVIONICS said a U.S. Army C-12 (King Air 200) upgraded with a new Collins avionics suite, won FAA certification. Collins said the certification permits the Army to modify 21 of the C-12s to meet Communications, Navigation, Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) requirements. The new avionics installation includes satellite-based navigation and flight display overlay capabilities and expanded data link capabilities.
The Department of Transportation hopes to release a rule by the end of the month that would allow general aviation to resume operations at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), provided that operators follow a strict series of security requirements, including providing the passenger manifest 48 hours before the flight, Read Van de Water, DOT assistant secretary for aviation and international affairs, said last week.
Automotive Air Charter signed on with the CharterX on-line reservation system, which provides live price quotes for trips on AAC's 21 business jets. AAC represents the combination of the resources of General Motors Worldwide Travel Services and Pentastar Aviation. The combined fleet of those two operators includes five Gulfstream Vs; two Gulfstream IVs; three Gulfstream IIIs; two Challengers; five Citation Xs; two Hawkers; a Learjet 60; and a Citation VII.
THE AIR GROUP added a Canadair Global Express business jet to its East Coast charter fleet. The 6,500-nautical-mile aircraft will be based in Windsor Locks, Conn.
Pratt & Whitney named Sherman Baldwin vice president of strategy, and said he will report to President Louis R. Chenevert. Baldwin, a former Navy pilot who later served as a special assistant to the Secretary of the Navy and as a planner for the strategic plans and policy division of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had most recently been affiliated with the Redleaf Group, which provides capital and strategic services to technology companies.
While advocates continue lobbying to win support for the $5.5 billion general aviation relief bill, they face more challenges than just opposition from the Administration (BA, May 6/209). There appears to be confusion among some legislators, who believe that all of aviation has received help through the $15 billion Air Transportation and Stabilization Act adopted shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks. That bill was limited only to the airlines.
The Bush Administration will soon have to seek a new deputy administrator for FAA as well as a new administrator, as long-serving Acting Deputy Administrator Monte Belger has announced he will retire July 31. He has not given a reason for his decision, but Belger will be leaving four days before Administrator Jane Garvey's scheduled departure date. The Bush administration has not named a successor for either position. Belger has worked for FAA for more than 30 years. He joined the agency in 1972 as a security inspector in Tampa.
BOEING AIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT signed a $750,000 contract with NASA to participate in the agency's Virtual Airspace Modeling and Simulation (VAMS) project, which is designed to increase the capacity of the U.S. airspace system. The contract covers work on the first phase of a four-phase project over a five-year period, but it does not guarantee participation in future phases of the project. Boeing ATM said it teamed with Metron Aviation, Inc., which "offers capabilities in traffic flow management, simulations and cost/benefit tools."
Model 205A, 205A-1, 205B, 212, 412, 412EP, and 412CF helicopters (Docket No. 2001-SW-37-AD; Amendment 39-12737; AD 2002-09-04] - requires inspecting each affected tail rotor blade forward tip weight retention block and the aft tip closure for adhesive bond voids, and removing any tail rotor blade with an excessive void from service. This AD also requires modifying certain tail rotor blades by installing shear pins and tip closure rivets. This amendment is prompted by five occurrences of missing tip blocks or tip closures resulting in minor to substantial damage.
CAE won $35 million (Canadian) in training contracts from Horizon Air, Aerolineas Argentinas and the U.S. Navy Reserve. CAE will provide pilot training for Horizon Air's CRJ700 pilots for the next 14 years. The training will take place at Alaska Airlines' training center in Seattle, Wash. Naval Reserve C-40 pilots will begin training this month at CAE's Dallas, Texas facility on a Boeing 737NG simulator. CAE also will provide Airbus 340 simulator training for the Argentine carrier.
Model TBM 700 airplanes (Docket No. 2002-CE-01-AD; Amendment 39-12744; AD 2002-09-11) - supersedes AD 2001-05-03, which requires application of Loctite on attaching bolt/screw threads of inboard, central, and outboard carriages; increasing tightening torques of associated hardware; and replacing central carriage attaching bolts. The French airworthiness authority has determined that certain service information referenced in AD 2001-05-03 be removed and additional inspection of the flap carriage attaching bolts, screws, and barrel nut be included.
The Department of Transportation hopes to release a rule by the end of the month that would allow general aviation to resume operations at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), provided that operators follow a strict series of security requirements, including providing the passenger manifest 48 hours before the flight, Read Van de Water, DOT assistant secretary for aviation and international affairs, said last week.
Despite general aviation opposition, FAA has published a draft rule proposing a one-step transition to domestic reduced vertical separation minimums (DRVSM) in December 2004. The notice of proposed rulemaking has a 90-day comment period.
Models SA226 and SA227 series airplanes (Docket No. 2001-CE-47-AD; Amendment 39-12709; AD 2002-08-02) - issued a correction as follows: In rule document 02-9574 beginning on page 19327 in the issue of Friday, April 19, 2002, make the following corrections: Sec. 39.13 [Corrected] 1. On page 19329, Sec. 39.13, in the table, under the column, "Compliance", in the third paragraph, in the fifth and sixth lines, "(the effective date of AD 2001-20-154)" should read "(the effective date of AD 2001-20-14)". 2. On page 19329, Sec.
FLIGHT OPTIONS plans to convert the nearly 100 aircraft it received in the Raytheon Travel Air merger from the RTA livery and "Tango Alpha" N-numbers to its own paint scheme and "Charlie Whiskey" N-numbers. The changes will take place over the next three years as the aircraft go through the regular three-year cabin refurbishment cycle.
Following additional analysis of Gulfstream V wing tests done for the Joint Aviation Authorities, Gulfstream Aerospace is going to make a minor wing modification to the first 16 GVs that were built. Following up on an earlier conversation (BA, May 6/218), Gulfstream President Bill Boisture told BA Friday that analysis of the just completed wing tests revealed "a non-compliance issue" with FAA certification requirements. Under FAA certification procedures, Boisture said some parameters are satisfied by actual tests, while others are accomplished by data analysis.
