Rockwell International Corp., of Milwaukee, Wis., planned to complete the spinoff of its avionics and communications unit, Rockwell Collins, Inc., of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, at the close of business June 29. For each share of Rockwell International common stock held on June 15, 2001, shareholders will receive one share of Rockwell Collins, Inc., stock.
GROEN BROTHERS AVIATION retained Stern&Co. of New York as investor and media counsel. Stern&Co. will raise investor awareness in the company's aircraft technology and opportunities in military and civil aerospace markets. The company is developing the Hawk 4 gyroplane and claims to have received deposits for more than 140 of the aircraft.
Docket No.: FAA-2000-8514 Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 25.857(e)(4) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To provide AAS with relief from 14 CFR 25.857(e)(4) pertaining to the exclusion of hazardous quantities of smoke, flames, and noxious gases from the flight crew compartment to permit supplemental type certification of the Learjet Model 25 series airplanes modified for the carriage of cargo. Grant, April 11, 2001, Exemption No. 7507
ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY Model R44 helicopters (Docket No. 2000-SW-67-AD) - proposes to require establishing a life limit of 2,200 hours time-in-service (TIS) for affected horizontal stabilizers. This proposal is prompted by engineering analysis, which indicates that certain vertical-to-horizontal stabilizer attach channels will crack sooner than the original life limit of the horizontal stabilizer. FAA estimates that this AD will affect three helicopters on the U.S. Registry. The total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $90.
FedEx is writing off its $9 million investment and deposits in the Ayres Loadmaster development program, the small package carrier said last week. FedEx was the launch customer for the twin-engine, single-propeller cargo aircraft, but Ayres Aircraft encountered financial problems.
Docket No.: FAA-2001-9160 (previously Docket No. 24187) Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 91.209(a)(1) and (b), and (2) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit FDLE to conduct operations in support of drug law enforcement and drug traffic interdiction without complying with the visual flight rules cruising altitude requirements or without lighted aircraft position and anticollision lights while operating between sunset and sunrise. Grant, May 4, 2001, Exemption No. 3596G
THE WHITE HOUSE nominated Marion Blakey as chair of the National Transportation Safety Board last week. Blakey was the administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration from 1992-1993 and is now the owner of Blakey&Associates, a public relations firm that represents auto industry interests.
New Piper Aircraft recently completed the first phase of its "factory of the future," which company executives describe as a radical change in its approach to the manufacturing process with the implementation of flow technology, new quality standards and inventory control. Those changes replace long-standard "batch" manufacturing practices in the aviation industry and adopt manufacturing processes modeled after the automobile industry, company executives said.
Messier-Dowty last week was awarded 3.4 million euros for the research and design of reduced-noise landing gear. The company's efforts are part of "Silence," a 48-month European Technology Platform launched to improve the "environmental friendliness" of commercial aircraft, including external noise generated by both engines and airframe components such as the undercarriage. For a long time, engine noise dominated overall aircraft noise levels, but the introduction of quieter engine technology has made airframe noise more noticeable.
SABRELINER CORP. won FAA group certification for its modification and data package for the Sabre 65 business jet to operate in reduced vertical separation minimum airspace. Sabreliner said it can complete the RVSM installation within two to three weeks with analog and digital packages costing $189,900 and $239,900, respectively. The company is working toward FAA approval for the Sabre 60 and 80 models, with certification expected next summer.
The House of Representatives approved an amendment by Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) to establish the first national toll-free airline customer complaint phone number at the Department of Transportation. The provision, included in the FY 2002 Transportation Appropriations bill, designates $720,000 to fund a phone line and staff at the DOT's Aviation Consumer Protection Division.
Docket No.: FAA-2001-8811 (previously Docket No. 28884) Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 145.37(b) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit Aero Sky to continue to hold an FAA repair station certificate (Certificate No. KQ7R556N) without having suitable permanent housing facilities for at least one of the heaviest aircraft within the weight class of the rating it holds. Grant, May 10, 2001, Exemption No. 6673B
GARDEN CITY, KAN., REGIONAL AIRPORT (GCK) joined Regional Aviation Partners as its fifth new member in June. RAP will act as a lobbying group for regional aviation and support industries.
Docket No.: FAA-2001-9043 Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 121.344(a)(14), (a)(29), (a)(33), (a)(40), (a)(44), and (a)(54) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit Horizon and all similarly situated air carriers to operate the Bombardier CL-600-2C10 airplane without recording the parameters listed in Sec. 121.344(a)(14), (a)(29), (a)(33), (a)(40), (a)(44), and (a)(54) within the ranges, accuracies, resolutions, and recording intervals specified in Appendix M to Part 121. Denial, April 27, 2001, Exemption No. 7520
RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT last week was granted a production certificate for the Premier I. FAA approved full-scale production after a two-day certification audit. The production certification followed first delivery of the entry-level business jet June 22 (BA, June 25/300) and type certification of the aircraft in late March.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION issued special conditions for certification of the Gulfstream Model G-V enhanced vision system, a head-up display modified with forward-looking infrared imagery.
CASA Model CN-235 series airplanes (Docket No. 2000-NM-262-AD; Amendment 39-12274; AD 2001-12-18) - requires modification of the rigging of the engine control cable assembly and replacement of either the entire engine control cable assembly or a segment of the control cables. This amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by a foreign airworthiness authority. FAA estimates that this AD will affect two airplanes on the U.S. Registry at a cost of about $9,488. Rule is effective July 25.
ATLANTIC AERO received supplemental type certificate approval to install the Teledyne Continental Motors IO-550-P normally aspirated 310-horsepower piston engine on turbocharged Cessna 210 model aircraft produced between 1970 and 1984. The engine conversion reduces fuel consumption and provides up to a 43 percent increase in time between overhaul, Atlantic Aero said. Other improvements include faster climb rate and cruise speed.
Docket No.: FAA-2001-9228 Section 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 135.143(2)(2) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit Bridger to operate certain aircraft under Part 135 without a TSO-C112 (Mode S) transponder installed in the aircraft. Grant, April 26, 2001, Exemption No. 7519
NEW PIPER AIRCRAFT is scaling back planned production for this year from 538 to 489 aircraft. The production cuts are not expected to result in layoffs since the new level is well above last year, when the company delivered 395 new airplanes. New Piper originally forecast a 75 percent jump in revenue on the year, but moderated that to a 60 percent increase with the production cuts. The company is the latest general aviation manufacturer to cut production - both Raytheon and Cessna have announced new rates and begun furloughing certain workers.
BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA Model 407 helicopters (Docket No. 2001-SW-02-AD; Amendment 39-12272; AD 2001-01-52 R1) - rescinds an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that requires, before further flight, imposing never exceed velocity (Vne) restrictions on the helicopter. The requirements of that AD were intended to prevent tail rotor blades from striking the tailboom, separation of the aft section of the tailboom with the tail rotor gearbox and vertical fin, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
The Federal Aviation Administration came under fire last week from both the Transportation Inspector General and the National Transportation Safety Board for focusing on the wrong problem in its attempt to curb runway incursions. "For the past several years, FAA has placed substantial management focus of reducing runway incursions," DOT IG Kenneth Mead said during a hearing before the House aviation subcommittee Tuesday.
Docket No.: 28855 Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 135.152(a) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To amend Exemption No. 6714, as amended, which permits Offshore to operate certain helicopters under Part 135 without an approved digital flight data recorder installed on each helicopter by (1) changing the name of the exemption holder from Offshore Logistics, Inc., to Air Logistics, L.L.C., and (2) updating the list of helicopters covered by the exemption. Grant, May 4, 2001, Exemption No. 6714C.
KANDI MCCOY was named head of sales and service for The Air Group's Santa Ana, Calif. office. She was previously fleet scheduler for Executive Jet Aviation.
