FAA has awarded Harris Corporation a seven-year, $331 million contract to provide air/ ground data communications (datacomm) services in the national airspace system, a key element in the transformation of the air traffic control system from voice to automated air traffic management. The NextGen contract includes 10, one-year options that could extend the duration of the program to 2029.
FAA, citing a need to keep rulemaking transparent, has restored language on an engine component vibration testing rule that triggered industry opposition after being adopted without public comment. Opposition to the change came from the Modification and Replacement Parts Association, which filed a suit seeking to have the July 5 revision dropped. That change would have required on-engine tests as part of certification process “surveys” for components, such as fan blades. FAA last week formally reverted to the previous rule.
CORY HANKINS was named West Coast regional sales manager for Constant Aviation, a maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility headquartered at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. Hankins previously was business development manager for the Western U.S. for Universal Aviation. He also has sold maintenance, avionics, interiors and engine agreements for Pentastar Aviation.
THIELERT TAE 125-02-99 and TAE 125-02-114 reciprocating engines [Docket No. FAA-2012-0885; Directorate Identifier 2012-NE-18-AD] – proposes to require inspection of the oil filler plug vent hole at the next scheduled maintenance or within 110 flight hours after the effective date of this AD. If chips are found to be blocking the vent hole, additional corrective action is required before next flight. This proposed AD was prompted by an inflight shutdown of an airplane equipped with a TAE 125-02-99 engine.
Hawker Beechcraft, hoping to bolster its case for the $355 million U.S. Air Force Light Air Support (LAS) contract, has completed a weapons assessment that involved the launch of laser-guided rockets and bombs. The Phase III weapons assessment, at Eglin AFB, Fla., involved more than 265 bombs and rockets and 3,000 rounds from AT-6 .50-caliber guns.
The Carlyle Group is set to retake ownership of one of the nation’s largest fixed-base operation chains that it helped create over nearly three decades. But its reacquisition of Landmark Aviation is coming at a price that is believed to be $200 million more than when Carlyle sold the chain five years ago.
Associated Air Center reached an agreement to conduct maintenance and interior refurbishment work on a Boeing Business Jet for a West African head of state.
Piper Aircraft struck an agreement with Aircraft Technical Publishers to provide customer access to all Piper maintenance publications and regulatory documents through ATP’s Aviation Hub online service and NavigatorV desktop platform beginning Dec. 5. Until then, Piper customers will access Piper manuals through Avantext.
HONEYWELL Models TFE731-4, -4R, -5, -5R, -5AR, and -5BR series turbofan engines. [Docket No. FAA-2011-1045; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-32-AD; Amendment 39-17168; AD 2012-17-05] – requires replacing affected LPT1 rotor assemblies. This AD was prompted by a report of a rim/web separation of a first stage low-pressure. FAA is issuing this AD to prevent uncontained disk separation, engine failure, and damage to the airplane. FAA estimates the will affect 1,550 engines installed on U.S.-registered airplanes at a cost of $35.2 million per year. The AD takes effect Oct. 2.
ADA FURANO was named vice president of finance for Key Air. Furano has a background in accounting management, accounting systems and integrations in the aviation industry. She spent 20 years with Wayfarer Aviation as accounting supervisor and later served as director of accounting for TAG Aviation.
China’s HNA Group is outlining ambitious plans to expand its Hongkong Jet business aircraft management operations to fill what its sees as a void in service and quality in the emerging Chinese market. China’s business aircraft management companies have begun to proliferate, thanks to easier regulation and a growing awareness among the country’s wealthy and big companies that private jets are attainable and useful. But service quality has not matched that of Western standards with a number of carriers.
Comlux America’s opening of its new facility in Indianapolis marks a rapid expansion that helps cement the company among the major completion centers for Airbus Corporate Jets and Boeing Business Jets. The company held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Sept. 12 to formally open the 129,000-sq.-ft. facility, a celebration that occurred a little more than four years after Comlux established a presence in the U.S. to get into the completions business.
Tom Hendricks, who completed his first weeks at the helm of the National Air Transportation Association (NATA), is picking up a common theme that general aviation leaders have stressed in recent years: the vital importance of working together to educate the public on the value of aviation. But Hendricks has a slightly different perspective, having just left his position as senior vice president, safety, security and operations at Airlines for America (A4A) to succeed James Coyne as president and CEO of NATA.
FAA is creating a new Fuels Program Office to coordinate aviation fuels activity, including efforts to transition to an unleaded aviation gasoline, FAA acting Administrator Michael Huerta says.
House General Aviation Caucus co-Chair Sam Graves (R-Mo.) is hoping to ensure that the White House’s $100-per-flight user fee proposal remains derailed, holding a House Small Business Committee hearing last week to underscore the damage such proposals could inflict on general aviation.
HUGHES HELICOPTERS, MCDONNELL DOUGLAS HELICOPTER SYSTEMS Model 369D, 369E, 369F, and 369FF helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2012-0890; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-019-AD] -- proposes to require measuring the distance from the aft face of the station 209.78 frame ring to the center of rivet No. 1 and rivet No. 2 at the four locations where the frame ring attaches to the tailboom longeron. The proposal also will require immediate modification, if necessary. This proposed AD is prompted by the discovery of short-edge margin conditions on two tailboom assemblies.
A new round of proclamations from several state governors has increased to 45 the number of states that have formally recognized the value of aviation to the national and local economy, according to the Alliance for Aviation Across America. The latest proclamations have come from Utah Governor Gary Herbert, Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy and Michigan Governor Rick Snyder. Herbert named September “Aviation Appreciation Month” in Utah, and the state estimates that general aviation contributes $815 million to the state’s economy and supports 9,257 jobs in the state.
Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) is calling on the U.S. government to adopt its national aviation policy, which, unlike one proposed by airline trade group Airlines for America, covers airlines, airports, general aviation, organized labor and aerospace manufacturers. ACI-NA’s board approved a policy for submission to the government at Airports Council International’s global meeting Sept. 10 in Calgary, British Columbia. “The aviation industry as a whole is interconnected,” says Jane Calderwood, ACI-NA vice president government and political affairs.
Germany’s ADAC will purchase 17 new helicopters from Eurocopter for its emergency medical service in a deal worth €130 million. The 14 EC 145 T2 and three EC-135 multipurpose helicopters will be delivered by 2017 as ADAC modernizes its fleet.
GOODYEAR AVIATION TIRES Part Number 299K63-1 (Brazilian made new tires only), installed on various transport category airplanes, including Bombardier Mdoel CL-600-2B19 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0881; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-029-AD; Amendment 39-17164; AD 2012-17-01] – requires replacement of affected tires.
JEFF TROCCOLO joined Key Air as chief pilot. Troccolo has more than 15 years of aviation experience. He has 15 years of aviation experience, most recently as director of flight operations for Polygon Air Corp. There, he managed aircraft and crews flying for both Part 91 and Part 135 operations. He also was a client aviation manager for TAG Aviation.
FAA plans to withdraw a recently issued engine component vibration testing rule change that has triggered sharp industry protest and a legal challenge from the Modification and Replacement Parts Association (Marpa). Sources confirm that the agency will pull the rule, issued July 5. Marpa on this month filed a Notice of Appeal with the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia Circuit, arguing that the rule should be withdrawn because the FAA failed to give the public a chance to comment.
BOMBARDIER Model DHC-8-102, -103, -106, -201, -202, -301, -311, and -315 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0861; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-074-AD] – proposes to require modification of the wiring and changes to existing airworthiness limitations. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of the loss of the fixed frequency system, leading to the loss of power to the left and right buses and all systems serviced by these buses.
KURT EDWARDS was appointed as director general of the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC). Edwards joins IBAC with a strong policy background, previously holding roles with the FAA International Affairs and Environment Offices. He also led FAA outreach while based in Brussels and Paris, as well as at ICAO on environmental matters. Edwards replaces Donald Spruston, the previous director general who held the role since 1999.
