BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-2B19 series airplanes (Docket No. 2001-NM-50-AD) - proposes to require the installation of protective tape on the fire and overheat control unit located in the flight compartment. This action is necessary to prevent fluid contamination inside the fire and overheat control unit, which could result in a false fire alarm and consequent emergency landing. The FAA estimates that this AD would affect 160 airplanes on the U.S. Registry at a cost of $9,600 or $60 per airplane. Send comments in triplicate by Sept.
JAY M. ROEVER was named supervisor of operations support at Midcoast Aviation. Roever, who has worked for 20 years at Midcoast, will oversee day-to-day operations of the accessory department.
MERCURY AIR CENTERS opened its new hangar and tenant office at Hanscom Field Airport in Bedford, Mass. The 38,000-square-foot facility is adjacent to the Mercury Air Centers terminal and can accommodate large business jets, including the Gulfstream V and Global Express. The new facility also includes 8,000 square feet of office and shop space.
BAE SYSTEMS Model Avro 146-RJ85A and 146-RJ100A series airplanes (Docket No. 2001-NM-223-AD; Amendment 39-12384; AD 2001-16-15) - requires replacement of bolts in the wing rear spar at the center fuel tank. This action is prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness information from a foreign civil airworthiness authority. This action is necessary to prevent the failure of bolts in the wing rear spar at the center fuel tank, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane.
REGIONAL AVIATION PARTNERS continued to expand with Great Lakes Aviation and Standard Aero joining the organization. RAP was founded in April to act as an independent voice for the regional airline industry, representing airlines, aircraft manufacturers, parts manufacturers, chambers of commerce, state government agencies and other businesses dependent upon regional airline service. "For the first time air carriers and communities will be partners in the communication process," said Great Lakes Aviation President Doug Voss.
Docket No.: FAA-2001-8807 Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 119.49 Description of Relief Sought: To allow ASA to (1) add or delete aircraft from its operations specifications during nonbusiness hours, weekends, or holidays, and (2) have its certificate management office revise its operations specifications on the next business day.
BOMBARDIER Model DHC-8-102, -103, -106, -201, -202, -301, -311, -314, and -315 series airplanes (Docket No. 2000-NM-45-AD; Amendment 39-12301; AD 2001-13-19) - corrects information in an existing airworthiness directive that applies to all Bombardier Model DHC-8-102, -103, -106, -201, -202, -301, -311, -314, and -315 series airplanes. That AD currently requires revising the Bombardier maintenance program to incorporate repetitive inspections to detect fatigue cracking in certain structures; and corrective actions, if necessary.
JET AVIATION Dallas is offering a reduced fuel price rate of $1.99 per gallon during construction at its Love Field Airport location. The full-service FBO is expanding and upgrading its passenger terminal, executive office building, ramp and infield.
Tom McSweeny, a 28-year veteran of FAA, told colleagues he is resigning as associate administrator for regulation and certification, the senior safety post in the agency with responsibility for aircraft certification and enforcement of the Federal Aviation Regulations. McSweeny said he was offered a higher paying position with Boeing that permits him to remain in the Washington, D.C. area.
Docket No.: FAA-2001-9780 Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR Sec. 25.813(e) Description of Relief Sought: To allow Schwartz to install an interior "hinged'' door between passenger compartments on a Boeing Model 737-700IGW airplane, to be used in a private, not-for-hire, operation.
SOCATA-GROUPE AEROSPATIALE Model TBM 700 airplanes (Docket No. 2001-CE-11-AD) - proposes to require inspection for defective Amendment A fuel tank air vent valves and replacement with parts of improved design. The proposed AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for France.
WALTER RITTENHOUSE was appointed vice president, technical services at Banyan Air Services. Rittenhouse will oversee the maintenance, avionics, turbine and propeller shops. He was most recently vice president of maintenance service at Miller Aviation.
Docket No.: FAA-2001-9795 Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 135.143(c)(2) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit DBAI to operate certain aircraft under Part 135 without a TSO-C112 (Mode S) transponder installed in the aircraft. Grant, 07/09/2001, Exemption No. 7567
CESSNA AIRCRAFT sold four Caravan single-turboprop aircraft to operators in Russia. Cessna sold the aircraft, the first Caravans to be placed in Russia, through its authorized sales representative, Loyd's Investment Corp. Cessna received Russian certification for the Caravan in September 1998.
HONEYWELL ALF502 and LF507 series turbofan engines (Docket No. 99-NE-51-AD) - proposes to require removing from service certain gas producer turbine (GPT) components prior to reaching new, lower cyclic life limits using drawdown plans, and replacing with serviceable parts. This proposal is prompted by continuous analysis of field-returned hardware indicating smaller service life margins than originally expected.
Honeywell Aerospace, a $10 billion business in the wake of the abandoned Honeywell/General Electric merger, is expected to grow 30 to 40 percent in annual revenues over the next couple of years, largely through acquisitions, according to Bob Johnson, president and chief executive of the aerospace unit.
A FALCON 20C was damaged Aug. 28 when it made a wheels-up landing on Runway 33 at Detroit City Airport (DET) in Detroit, Mich. The domestic cargo flight was operating under Part 135 of the FARs. Officials said the aircraft had departed DET to fly to Greater Rockford Airport near Rockford, Ill., but the crew was returning for a landing at DET at the time of the accident. The aircraft, N617GA, is registered to Grand Aire Express, Inc. The two pilots were not injured.
BE A PILOT, which underwent a management reorganization late last year with the hiring of Drew Steketee as president and chief executive, has stepped up its media push as it continues to gather leads for participating flight departments. The industry learn-to-fly program earlier this year hired Philadelphia-based Barton, Gilanelli&Associates to begin a new public relations campaign that intensified with a Father's Day push, Steketee said.
THE NATIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION will have 1,050 exhibitors occupying a record 4,988 10-foot by 10-foot booth spaces at its 54th Annual Meeting&Convention in New Orleans this month. The number of exhibitors is up 14 percent from 964 exhibitors in 2000 and occupied space is up five percent from 4,750 in 2000. "There will be more than 130 aircraft on static display at Lakefront Airport, making this the largest NBAA Annual Meeting&Convention ever," said Kathleen Blouin, NBAA vice president, conventions and seminars.
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.
PILATUS AIRCRAFT LTD. Models PC-12 and PC-12/45 airplanes (Docket No. 2001-CE-24-AD) - proposes to require inspection of the cargo doors to identify front and rear end frames with plain lightening holes and installation of reinforcing plates on any frame with the holes. The proposed AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for Switzerland.
EUROCOPTER France Model EC120B helicopters (Docket No. 2001-SW-23-AD) - proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive for Eurocopter France Model EC120B helicopters. That AD currently requires adjusting the clearance of the cabin sliding door, if necessary. This action would require adding an end stop to the front rail and modifying the rear stop of the middle rail to increase its adjustment range for certain cabin sliding doors. This proposal is prompted by an in-flight loss of a cabin sliding door, which had been locked in the open position.
GROEN BROTHERS AVIATION received approval from the Saudi Arabian General Investment Agency to move ahead with a joint venture company with the Saudi royal family. The company, Obayya&Groen Brothers Saudi Co. (OGBA-SA), will serve as Groen Brothers Aviation's marketing, sales and service representative in the Middle East, North Africa and the Asian portions of the former Soviet Union. OGBA-SA also is expected to become an FAA-certified production facility for Groen's Hawk 4 gyroplane in the region.
Several general aviation organizations last week urged Illinois Gov. George Ryan (R) to help save Meigs Field from its scheduled closure early next year. Chicago Mayor Richard Daley plans to close Meigs in February under an agreement he struck with former Gov. Jim Edgar in 1997 (BA, Jan. 13, 1997/14). At a hearing in Tinley Park southwest of Chicago, association executives warned that closing Meigs Field would serve only to add to Chicago's congestion problems.
