ALTHOUGH the Deepwater Project will generate substantial business for aircraft and helicopter manufacturers, it also is drawing concern from the aviation industry. FAA competes against the Coast Guard and other agencies within the Department of Transportation for operations funds. Although the Office of Management and Budget is expected to increase its request for FAA funding, GAO and the IG both cautioned that FAA's operations could be squeezed this year as budget requests by the Coast Guard and other transportation modes increase. See articles below.
Bombardier Aerospace, which has used an evolutionary development process that transfers technology from one aircraft program to another to reduce costs, has signed an agreement to sell business jets to one of its existing regional jet customers.
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is concerned that a recent agreement between the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Air Traffic Controllers' Association (NATCA) could reduce safety margins and compromise the FAA's quality assurance process.
GENERAL AVIATION groups battling airport restrictions received more good news last week as a federal judge ruled that a lawsuit challenging a Stage 2 non-addition rule at Van Nuys, Calif. Airport should move forward. The judge's decision, setting a May 1 trial date, comes a week after the Naples Airport Authority board of directors agreed to delay enforcement of its Stage 2 aircraft ban at Naples, Fla. Municipal Airport (BA, Feb. 12/77).
Model 407 helicopters (Docket No. 2001-SW-02-AD; Amendment 39-12100; AD 2001-01-52) - publishes AD 2001-01-52, which was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of the affected Model 407 helicopters by individual letters. This AD requires, before further flight, reducing the maximum approved never exceed velocity (Vne); inserting a copy of this AD into the Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM); installing a temporary placard on the flight instrument panel to indicate the reduced Vne limit; and installing a new redline Vne limit on all airspeed indicators.
BRAD PALMER joined CitationShares as regional sales manager. Palmer, who will be based in Cleveland, Ohio, has 15 years of aviation sales, marketing and financing experience. Most recently a regional sales manager in the aircraft finance group of United Bank, he spent eight years with Cessna.
Models 60, A60, and B60 airplanes (Docket No. 99-CE-74-AD; Amendment 39-12094; AD 2001-02-10) - requires inspection for the existence of any lower forward wing bolts with the Mercury Aerospace trademark, and replacement of any such bolt with an FAA-approved bolt without this trademark. This AD is the result of a report that wing bolts supplied by Mercury Aerospace may not meet the required Rockwell hardness specifications. The actions specified by this AD are intended to detect and correct wing bolts that do not meet strength requirements.
JIM DOLLE was named assistant manager for FlightSafety International's learning center in Savannah, Ga. Dolle, a former Naval aviator, most recently was with the North Carolina Division of Occupational Safety and Health.
A BEECH SUPER KING AIR 200 operated by the State of Washington was damaged Feb. 13 while landing on Runway 17L at Olympia, Wash. FAA said the aircraft, N222KA, ran off the end of the runway, damaging the wing, a propeller and the front landing gear. There were 12 people on board, but no injuries were reported.
Hartford County, Md. officials retained a consulting firm to prepare a preliminary feasibility study for the joint-use of Phillips Army Airfield, which is part of the U.S. Army's Aberdeen Proving Ground facility.
A BEECH 1900D operated by Great Lakes Aviation was heavily damaged Feb. 10 during a gear-up landing on Runway 4R at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. The Part 121 flight, which originated in Springfield, Ill., was operating under an active instrument flight plan. Seven of the 15 passengers were evaluated and treated for minor injuries at a local hospital. The two pilots and the other eight passengers were not injured.
J. RANDALL REINHARDT was elected chairman of the U.S. Aerobatic Foundation. Reinhardt, a trial lawyer based in Paris, Ky., has been on USAF's board of trustees since 1994 and in 1992 was team manager for the World Aerobatic Championships.
JET AND PROPJET 2001, a corporate aircraft directory that provides ownership information on thousands of business jets and business turboprops, was published this month by AvCom International. The latest volume of the annual paperback provides information on 23,000 aircraft operating in the U.S. and around the world, including more than 12,500 jets. The 400-plus page edition includes information on more than 200 aircraft models and derivatives built by more than 40 manufacturers The book also lists aircraft written off or otherwise withdrawn from service.
NATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION alerted members that the U.S. Customs Service increased its fees to $43.50 for fingerprinting airport employees that access Federal Inspection Services (FIS) areas of an airport. The fingerprint identification is part of the criminal history background check required for aviation services employees who have unescorted access to the Customs FIS areas.
SevenBar, a Dallas-based aviation company, is launching a new fractional aircraft ownership program to serve customers in the Southwest. SevenBar's Ascend program will offer shares in used Beech King Air B200 turboprops initially, adding shares in Sino Swearingen SJ30-2 entry-level jets when those become available in 2002. The new venture will be based at SevenBar's Love Field headquarters. Cost of a one-eighth share (the minimum commitment) in a B200 is $287,500, with a monthly management fee of $6,000 and a fee of $850 per occupied hour.
FAA's efforts to make headway against the soaring incidence of runway incursions have been hampered by poor follow-through due to a lack of stable and consistent management, Transportation Inspector General Kenneth Mead testified last week. Runway incursions last year jumped nearly one-third to a record 429 from 322 in 1999.
Gulfstream Aerospace, which announced plans in October for a longer-range Gulfstream G-V business jet, has begun modifying a standard aircraft for use in the development and test program.
Aviation leaders last week were relieved that the Bush Administration appeared willing to craft a budget for the Federal Aviation Administration that includes full funding for capital expenses. The Office of Management and Budget indicated it would back off plans to recommend a fiscal 2002 FAA budget some $568 million shy of funding levels that Congress authorized in its comprehensive aviation legislation, AIR-21.
Model Galaxy airplanes (Docket No. 2001-NM-14-AD; Amendment 39-12102; AD 2001-03-01) - requires revising the Airplane Flight Manual to advise of the proper operation of the main entry door. This action is necessary to prevent the main entry door from jamming, which could impede the safe evacuation of passengers and crew during an emergency. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition. The rule is effective Feb. 20, but comments will be accepted until March 5.
THE MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COUNCIL, tasked with overseeing FAA's operations, will meet Thursday and Friday with several industry representatives to discuss FAA's cost/benefit analysis process for rulemakings. Industry groups have frequently criticized FAA cost/benefit analyses, saying that they consistently underestimate the true costs of rules. The MAC also is expected to look at some of the agency's oversight activities, such as advisory circulars.
President Bush announced his intention to nominate a former Transportation Department chief of staff as DOT's deputy secretary. The White House said Michael Jackson, currently a vice president and general manager for business development at Lockheed Martin IMS, will be nominated for the No. 2 post at DOT. If confirmed by the Senate, Jackson would be working for DOT Secretary Norman Mineta, the former California congressman who also worked at Lockheed Martin after leaving Congress in 1995.
