BELL HELICOPTER 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.
SANTULLI SAYS EUROPEAN NETJETS PROGRAM WILL CONTINUE - Despite difficulties and slower than expected growth in its NetJets operations in Europe, NetJets Chairman and CEO Richard Santulli maintains that it was "absolutely not" a mistake to expand the fractional aircraft program to Europe.
THE PILOT of a Mooney M-20, N2762W, managed to make a safe landing April 30 after an airborne encounter with a buzzard near Daytona Beach, Fla. FAA said the bird shattered the aircraft's windshield and a passenger sustained facial lacerations, but the pilot was able to land without further incident at Ormond Beach, Fla.
Model CFE738-1-1B turbofan engines (Docket No. 2001-NE-04-AD; Amendment 39-12743; AD 2002-09-10) - requires replacing the high-pressure turbine (HPT) Stage 1 aft cooling plate and HPT Stage 2 disk at or before they reach new reduced life cycle limits. This amendment is prompted by analysis of the existing life cycle limits by the engine manufacturer. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent failure of the HPT Stage 1 aft cooling plate and HPT Stage 2 disk, which could result in an uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane.
The Federal Aviation Administration received more than 2,000 comments in response to its light-sport aircraft proposal - a majority of which expressed support - but maintenance experts remained concerned about the possibility of relaxed safety standards in the proposed rule.
BELGER TO RETIRE FROM FAA - 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.
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.
GAPS are often defined as troublesome spaces or breaks in continuity, but Gulfstream Aerospace says its new GAPS program is designed to improve support to its customers who operate aircraft under warranty. See article below.
HONEYWELL EXECUTIVES have been talking about making some acquisitions since Larry Bossidy returned from retirement and took over as chairman last year, but the company may finally be close to doing something besides talking. Steve Loranger, president and CEO of Honeywell's Engines, Systems and Services unit, told BA Wednesday "we are working on several" possible deals, adding that officials hope to be able to make some announcements within the next quarter or two.
TAG AVIATION opened a charter sales office in the Chicago area. Barry T. Gray, Vernon Hill, Ill., was named to head the new office. He has more than 15 years experience in the corporate aviation industry, having served as national sales and marketing director of DB Aviation and regional vice president of Vance&Engles Aircraft Brokers, Inc.
Sinex Aviation Technologies partnered with Jouve Data Management, Inc. to provide production management software to maintenance shops. The pact combines the Sinex FleetCycle maintenance production software with the JDM AirGTI digital maintenance manual and job card software applications. "The Sinex FleetCycle products are literally conduits to the line and hangar floor for the JDM AirGTI products," said John Miller, president and CEO of Sinex.
Boisture was responding to questions from BA about an Internet report circulating last week that claimed the GV wing failed in a test rig at 130 percent of the ultimate wing load, short of the 150 percent requirement.
ASKED WHETHER he agreed with Flight Options competitor Kenn Ricci that the fractional aircraft arena is now a two-horse race between NetJets and Flight Options since FO doubled its fleet with the addition of Raytheon Travel Air's aircraft (BA, April 15/175), Santulli responded, "Whether it's a two-horse race, or a three-horse race or a five-horse race, NetJets horse is way in front and no can pass us. I'll guarantee that."
Pilot: Resumption of V-22 testing to be treated like first flightWhen the V-22 Osprey takes to the air again next month, the event will be treated as if it were the first flight of a new aircraft, according to Chief Test Pilot Tom MacDonald. "That makes us go through a much more detailed planning process and approval process," MacDonald said. "By doing it that way ... we're being incredibly safe and conservative. It'll be a simple flight."
Triumph Group, Inc., Wayne, Pa., acquired the assets of Ozone Industries, Inc., East Lyme, Conn., a subsidiary of BBA U.S. Holdings, Inc. Triumph said the assets it purchased are used in conjunction with the design, development, testing and manufacturing of aircraft hydraulic systems and components for the defense and commercial markets. Those products include nose wheel steering assemblies and hydraulic quick-disconnect couplings. Ozone also holds an FAA repair station license.
GD BUYS MANUFACTURER OF COMPOSITES - General Dynamics, the parent firm of Gulfstream Aerospace, signed a definitive agreement to acquire all of the nearly six million shares of Advanced Technical Products (ATP) for a purchase price of $33.50 million per share, or about $197 million. In addition GD would assume $26.2 million of ATP's net debt and retire approximately $16.2 million in ATP stock options, bringing the transaction's value to approximately $250 million. The acquisition would be immediately accretive to GD's earnings, the company said.
Momentum continues to grow on Capitol Hill for arming airline pilots with weapons, but senior government officials caution that they must continue testing the systems before they are used on airliners. House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Don Young (R-Alaska) and aviation subcommittee Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.) last week introduced legislation to allow pilots to carry firearms. "The decision to arm pilots and crew was not taken lightly.
THE U.S. NAVY declared it will sell the former El Toro Marine air base for mixed-land use instead of releasing it for use as a commercial airport as some Orange County, Calif. officials had planned. The decision follows a series of reversals for airport supporters during elections March 5, when voters passed a referendum to alter El Toro's zoning requiring non-airport uses. Airport supporters also lost an essential swing vote on the county board.
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.
NEW BILL PROPOSED TO ALLOT $1 BILLION IN AERONAUTICS R&D - A wide-reaching bill introduced in the House of Representatives last week would authorize $1.15 billion in aeronautics research and development in the next five years to compete against a recent unified European investment in the industry.
Karen Tripp, who headed communications for avionics maker Rockwell Collins for a number of years, is joining General Electric Aircraft Engines to lead that firm's communications programs. Tripp, who was vice president of communications at Collins in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, will join GEAE headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio later this month or early in June in the newly created role of general manager, global communications. She will report to David L. Calhoun, president and CEO and serve as a member of the executive team.
General aviation billings dropped 20 percent as shipments fell 18.8 percent in the first three months of 2002, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association reported last week, calling the decline predictable in the post-Sept. 11 economy. General aviation plane-makers shipped 521 airplanes worldwide in the first three months of 2002, down from the 642 shipped during the same period in 2001. U.S. manufacturers alone reported a 23.2 percent drop in deliveries, GAMA said. See BA's compilation of worldwide deliveries on Pages 213 and 214.
A HOUSE PANEL this week is expected to question Bush Administration officials about why restrictions are still in place for general aviation at Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA). The subcommittee on the District of Columbia, chaired by Rep. Connie Morella (R-Md.), will hold a hearing Wednesday on DCA issues, including noise abatement and the ban on general aviation.
Spirent Systems is providing its AvVisor cabin display system as optional equipment on Cessna Citation business jets. First installation of the system is on a Cessna Model 550 Citation Bravo destined for an international customer. Cessna is certifying the system on its aircraft type certificate and Spirent already has supplemental type certificate approval on the Model 525 Citation.
