THE U.S. NAVY ordered a sixth Boeing 737-700C (Convertible) for its Navy Unique Fleet Essential Airlift Replacement Aircraft program. The aircraft, designated the C-40A Clipper, will replace the service's aging fleet of C-9 (DC-9) airliners. The C-40As can be configured for up to 121 passengers, carry eight pallets or a combination of up to three pallets and 70 passengers on the main deck.
FAIRCHILD DORNIER named Jay Jenkins vice president-aircraft sales contracts, with responsibility for negotiating aircraft sales contracts from offer tender to purchase agreement. Jenkins will be based at the company's sales and marketing offices in Herndon, Va. and will report to Jim Walsh, senior vice president and chief counsel.
Federal Aviation Administration officials hope to persuade the Naples Airport Authority (NAA) this week to delay its Stage 2 aircraft ban at Naples, Fla. Municipal Airport until the authority addresses the agency's concerns regarding the justification for the ban. FAA officials will discuss its concerns about the ban at an airport authority board meeting Thursday. Airport authority officials met with FAA in Washington, D.C. earlier this month on the Stage 2 ban, but officials said they are powerless to rescind the ban, which took effect Jan.
DASSAULT FALCON JET named Gerald Goguen senior vice president, customer service. Goguen, most recently a vice president, was instrumental in the acquisition of the former Atlantic Aviation facility in Wilmington, Del. and the establishment of that site as a factory service center, John Rosanvallon, president of Dassault Falcon Jet, said. Goguen started an avionics business, Northeastern Aviation, in Westerly, R.I., and later sold that business to Atlantic Aviation.
TAG AVIATION opened an aircraft acquisition and sales office at the company's Palm Beach, Fla. location. Pat Hatch, who had been TAG's Palm Beach base manager, has moved to the company's Acquisitions and Sales Division as regional vice president. He will assist TAG's aircraft management clients in acquiring and selling aircraft, providing similar services for outside clients and assisting with the inventory and resale of aircraft.
KARL J. KRAPEK, president and chief operating officer of United Technologies Corp., was named chairman of the board of governors of the Aerospace Industries Association, effective this month. Marshall O. Larsen, president and chief operating officer of BFGoodrich Aerospace, was named vice chairman.
The Federal Aviation Administration, attempting to find ways to accommodate growing numbers of turbine-powered aircraft in high-altitude airspace, is expected to issue a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the next few months that would require aircraft operators to meet reduced vertical separation minimum (RVSM) requirements in the U.S., probably beginning in the 2004-2005 time frame.
The U.S. Department of the Interior last month "strongly urged" the U.S. Air Force to transfer much of the former Homestead Air Force Base in Southern Florida to DOI to prevent the airfield from being reopened as a commercial airport.
RON FILLER, 60, a test pilot under contract with S-Tec Corp. who had a 16-year career as an FAA certification test pilot, died Jan. 8 from injuries sustained in the crash of a 1974 Bell 206 JetRanger, N152LA, earlier that day. Filler was on a routine refamiliarization flight with the S-Tec JetRanger when he made an emergency landing in an area covered with mesquite trees two miles west of the S-Tec facilities in Mineral Wells, Texas. S-Tec bought the helicopter from Air Logistics three and one-half years ago and planned to begin autopilot testing operations with it.
BOMBARDIER AEROSPACE delivered the first of 15 70-seat Q400 turboprops to Horizon Air, the North American launch customer for the airplane. Horizon is expected to take delivery of all 15 Q400s on order by yearend. The first aircraft is expected to go into service in February. The carrier, based in Portland, Ore., also holds options on 15 Q400s.
The number of accidents involving U.S. registered business jet and turboprop aircraft increased last year, according to information collected by Robert E. Breiling Associates of Boca Raton, Fla. The number of accidents increased by three to 51 and fatal accidents rose from 14 in 1999 to 16 last year. The number of fatalities increased from 51 in 1999 to 56 last year.
Model PC-7 airplanes (Docket No. 2000-CE-46-AD) - proposes to supersede AD 98-08-22, which currently requires inspecting the elevator and rudder attachment brackets for cracks and corrosion, and replacing any found cracked or corrosion-damaged. AD 98-08-22 resulted from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for Switzerland. Since the issuance of AD 98-08-22, Pilatus has redesigned the brackets. Installation of these brackets should eliminate the cause of corrosion, which resulted in cracks or corrosion damage.
RAYTHEON Beech Models A36, B36TC, and 58 airplanes (Docket No. 2000-CE-06-AD; Amendment 39-12011; AD 2000-24-04) - requires inspection for misrouted rudder control cables; replacement of any worn or damaged guard pins; replacement of any pulley brackets that are damaged or worn; and replacement of any misrouted rudder control cables. This action is prompted by three reports of misrouted cables. The actions specified by this AD are intended to correct the misrouted rudder control cable and consequent guard pin wear or fraying of the cables with loss of rudder control.
Federal Aviation Administration this month launched its new Automatic Dependent Surveillance (ADS-B) technology in the Bethel area of Alaska, beginning what it called "one of the most innovative air traffic tracking technology advancements since the advent of radar." ADS-B will enable air traffic controllers to provide a number of ATC services to small aircraft that operate in remote regions where such services have not been available (BA, Sept. 4/110).
JANUARY 19 is the deadline to submit applications for a new FAA pilot program that authorizes cost-sharing for certain air traffic modernization projects. Airports, groups of airports or air carriers who would like to see specific avionics improvements at particular airports can seek early approval for such projects. Under the pilot program, FAA would pay one-third of the cost, and sponsors would pay two-thirds.
ASTRAL AVIATION, which operates Skyway Airlines for Midwest Express, named James P. Rankin, 37, president and chief executive officer. Rankin joined Midwest Express in 1995 as assistant chief pilot and an MD-80 captain and before that served as a pilot, director of flight operations and chief pilot at Skyway from 1990-1995. "With his working knowledge of both Midwest Express and Skyway Airlines, Jim is a tremendous asset to Skyway," said David C. Reeve, chairman of the board of Astral Aviation.
Docket No.: 26649 Section of the 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 25.562(b)(2) Description of Relief Sought: To permit flight deck seats on the Boeing Models 777-200LR and 777-300ER airplanes, without complying with the floor pitch and roll requirements of 25.562(b)(2) (Amendment 25-64).
Docket No.: 29820 Section of the 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 25.785(b) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To provide relief from the general occupant protection requirements for occupants of multiple place side-facing seats that are occupied during takeoff and landing for Bombardier Global Model BD-7001A10 airplanes manufactured prior to January 1, 2004. Partial Grant, Nov. 17, 2000, Exemption No. 7120A
FAA also has delayed until July 16 the effective date for a final rule modifying service difficulty reporting requirements for air carriers and repair stations. FAA delayed the rule to give the agency more time to review concerns provided by various commenters as well as to disseminate guidance to help with compliance. The requirements originally were to take effect Jan. 16.
NEW PIPER PA-31 series airplanes (Docket No. 96-CE-69-AD; Amendment 39-12035; AD 2000-25-01) - supersedes AD 80-26-05, which currently requires repetitive inspections of the main landing gear inboard door hinges and attachment angles for cracks. AD 80-26-05 also requires replacement of any cracked MLG inboard door hinge or attachment angle with improved parts.
Teledyne Technologies Inc. completed the sale last month of its aerospace castings business, Teledyne Cast Parts, to CP Acquisition Corp., an affiliate of California-based Consolidated Foundries, Inc. Teledyne Cast Parts, based in Pomona, Calif., employs about 200 workers.
AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION launched a new online service to help members follow up on special issuance medical applications. AOPA placed a "status request form" on its members-only section that allows members to provide basic medical information confidentially to AOPA's medical certification staff. The staff will use that information to track applications within FAA. "Currently, the FAA is several months behind in processing special issuance medical applications," said Gary Crump, AOPA director of medical certification.
President-elect George W. Bush drew universal support for his selection Tuesday of Commerce Secretary Norman Mineta to head the Department of Transportation, with many industry and government leaders agreeing that he is arguably the most qualified person ever nominated for the slot. Mineta, who has served at the helm of the Commerce Department for little more than six months, is well known in aviation and transportation circles for his work setting transportation policy in Congress and on the National Civil Aviation Review Commission (see related article below).
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION Thursday officially delayed until April 1 new routes for air tour operators over Grand Canyon National Park (BA, Dec. 4/260). FAA originally delayed the implementation of the routes until Dec. 28 pending a review of operator complaints that the new routes posed a safety risk. "The FAA has completed its investigation and based on that investigation is delaying the Airspace Modification final rule pending resolution of some safety issues," the agency said.
