Attorneys representing Grand Canyon air tour operators asked the U.S. Court of Appeals to stay new FAA regulations that the operators claim pose "a significant and serious risk of death and serious bodily injury as well as of substantial economic loss."
Beech Models 60, A60, and B60 airplanes (Docket No. 99-CE-74-AD) - proposes to require an 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. The proposed 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 the proposed AD are intended to detect and correct wing bolts that do not meet strength requirements.
DANIEL FULGHAM was named group vice president for Wall Colmonoy Corporation's Process Business Units. Formerly vice president/general manager at Bristol Aviation Services, Fulgham has more than 22 years of aviation industry experience.
JAMES RASH was appointed vice president of engineering and marketing for aviation/government product lines for Scott Aviation in Lancaster, N.Y. Rash, most recently director of aviation/government product lines, will be responsible for business and product development, engineering and strategic planning.
Model AS332C, L, and L1 helicopters (Docket No. 99-SW-35-AD; Amendment 39-11929; AD 2000-20-17) - requires inspecting the horizontal stabilizer spar tube for corrosion, hardness, cracks, and scratches, and if necessary, replacing any unairworthy spar tube and bushing with an airworthy spar tube and bushing. This amendment is prompted by the loss of a horizontal stabilizer in flight due to a spar tube failure.
AVIDYNE is offering its FlightMax flight situation displays with AirCell cellular-based datalink capability. FlightMax owners can use AirCell phones to receive weather data, including radar maps that will overlay on the FlightMax moving map display. FlightMax displays offer text and graphical depictions of weather data. Avidyne expects to win certification of the AirCell interface in the second half of 2001 and will offer datalink upgrades for existing FlightMax systems for $500.
ONLY SEVEN of the 10 presidential nominees to the MAC have been confirmed. The nominations of David Plavin, president of the Airports Council International-North America, and Arthenia Joyner, an attorney, have cleared the Senate Commerce Committee and are awaiting action by the full Senate. The nomination of AOPA President Phil Boyer appears dead because of opposition from Commerce Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.).
FLIGHT OPTIONS, the Cleveland, Ohio-based fractional ownership program, is launching service in Europe through a partnership with the United Kingdom charter and management company, Chauffair. Flight Options initially will provide service with a Hawker 800 and then offer fractional ownership in a Citation Excel in August. Chauffair ordered seven Citation Excels and placed options for two more for the fractional program. The aircraft will be outfitted under the Flight Options livery.
SAFIRE AIRCRAFT COMPANY claimed last week it has customer deposits for more than 700 of its $800,000, S-26 entry-level business jets, a backlog valued at more than $560 million.
COMMANDER AIRCRAFT COMPANY named Airborne Sarl, based at Geneva International Airport, its exclusive Commander authorized sales and service center in Switzerland. Airborne Sarl, an FAA-authorized flight training facility, has a Commander 114B and 115TC and soon expects to receive a new 115AT visual flight simulator.
CL-604 variant of Model Canadair CL-600-2B16 series airplanes modified in accordance with supplemental type certificate SA8060NM-D, SA8072NM-D, or SA8086NM-D (Docket No. 2000-NM-80-AD) - proposes to supersede an existing AD that currently requires that the fuel service panel maintenance light on the fuel service panel be disconnected. This action would require modification of the wiring of the fuel port flood light (which is the name given to the fuel service panel maintenance light in the service bulletin that describes the wiring modification).
Cessna Aircraft Company plans to incorporate a number of enhancements, including increases in gross weight and engine thrust, on Citation X business jets slated for delivery after Jan. 1, 2002, the Wichita manufacturer announced this month. The changes, beginning with Serial Number 173, include a five percent increase in thrust in the Rolls-Royce AE 3007C-1 engines from 6,442 pounds to 6,764 pounds, which the company said will improve takeoff distance to 4,020 feet at 32,000 pounds takeoff weight. Currently, takeoff distance at 32,000 pounds is 4,220 feet.
TI GROUP PLC completed the acquisition of Impervia, SA, a French specialty aerospace sealing company, for approximately $15.5 million. Based in Paris and Conde-sur-Noireau, Impervia is the second largest manufacturer of aerospace seals in France, with anticipated sales this year of $8.6 million. TI Group Specialty Polymer Products will incorporate Impervia within Shamban, its recently formed business that focuses on providing aerospace customers with a total polymer sealing service.
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION approved creation of Airbus Integrated Company (AIC), which will manage the Airbus aircraft business of BAE Systems and the European Aeronautic, Defense and Space Company (EADS). "The operation raises no concerns with respect to material and immediate vertical effects on the market for product suppliers to Airbus programs," the Commission said in a statement Wednesday.
FAA was given $55.3 million for its contract tower program for fiscal 2001. The report to the appropriations bill barred the agency from reprogramming the contract tower funding to any other activity or reducing funding to cover budget shortfalls. The report language comes after FAA considered eliminating funding for the program this year when it ran short of money in its operations budget (BA, Feb. 28/95). Those plans eventually were dropped after meeting substantial opposition from the airport community.
Docket No.: 30070 Section of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 47.65 Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit Lancair to obtain a Dealer's Aircraft Registration Certificate without meeting citizenship requirements. Grant, Aug. 30, 2000, Exemption No. 7330
Model G-IV series airplanes (Docket No. 2000-NM-101-AD) - proposes to require installation of an additional indicator located on the pilot's instrument panel in primary view of the flight crew. The indicator would inform the flight crew that the airplane main batteries are powering the direct current (DC) essential bus, which supplies power to vital communication and navigation equipment. For certain other airplanes, this proposal would require the EICAS (Engine Instruments/Caution Advisory System) to be used for this indication.
Atlanta, Ga.-based Corporate Air Partners last week began service with a BAe Jetstream 32EP that will be operated for charter and a time-share program. Corporate Air Partners (CAP), financed through a "broad-based group of investors," ordered 10 used Jetstream 32s for its time-share program and placed options for 10 more. BAE Systems, which holds about a 20 percent equity stake in the new venture, has begun delivery of the aircraft and will continue through next summer. CAP expects to have four aircraft in service by the end of the year.
RANDY SCHNEIDER was appointed chief pilot for Pilatus Business Aircraft. Schneider has served with Pilatus for four years as a demonstration pilot and has accrued more than 12,000 hours with ratings in the U.S., Switzerland and Canada.
The New Jersey Aviation Association was formed this month "to protect and promote the interests of the multi-faceted industry as a key component of New Jersey's intermodal transportation system."
RAISBECK ENGINEERING added eight dealers to its international network that handles its Learjet and King Air modification products. Raisbeck appointed Executive Turbine Lanseria in South Africa; Mercury Air Center in Birmingham, Ala.; Hangar One in Atlanta, Ga.; Raytheon Aircraft Services in Toluca, Mexico; Hawker Pacific in Singapore and Piedmont Hawthorne Aviation in Rochester, N.Y. to handle its King Air Raisbeck systems.
CHC HELICOPTER CORP., St. John's, Newfoundland, said its Scandinavian subsidiary won a major contract. CHC Helikopter Service won a renewal of its existing crew-change contract with Norsk Hydro for two major oil fields. The crew-change component involves two Sikorsky S-61Ns and a Super Puma L1 in Bergen, Norway, as well as additional capacity for the Super Puma fleet based in Stavanger. The contract, valued at $26 million annually, is for three years with a three-year option.
JET AVIATION SINGAPORE won a contract from FAA to provide technical support for the agency's flight inspection aircraft operating in the Pacific and Southeast Asia. FAA operates a Bombardier Challenger 601 and Raytheon Hawker 800 series aircraft in those areas to calibrate airways and land-based navigational aids at the request of foreign governments. Jet Aviation Singapore, established in late 1995, is an authorized service center for Gulfstream, Cessna Citation and Bombardier Learjet and Challenger aircraft.
CONGRESS directed the Department of Transportation to conduct an 18-month demonstration fractional ownership evaluation for administrative flight support missions.The provision, included in the report to the fiscal 2001 transportation appropriations bill, said the demo should determine whether fractional ownership could provide cost savings, increased operational flexibility and aircraft availability.
