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.
A significant portion of the FAA budget will be exempt from mandatory sequestration cuts, set to take effect on Jan. 3, according to data released late Friday by the White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB). An Aviation Week analysis of the report shows that 30% of the FAA’s operations account is exempt, a large percentage compared with exemptions applied to other government agencies.
AG US TA Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters with a certain wire strike protection system (WSPS) top cable cutter assembly installed [Docket No. FAA-2012-0886; Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-067-AD] – proposes to require reworking or replacing the top cable-cutter assembly to increase clearance between the WSPS and the M/R blades This proposed AD is prompted by a report of in-flight contact between the top cable cutter assembly and two main rotor (M/R) blades.
While industry indicators appear to be at their strongest in a long time – deliveries are up, the used aircraft market is improving and the North America market has ticked up – industry analyst JP Morgan is cautioning that deliveries are poised to flatten during the remainder of the year and recovery is “not yet imminent.”
A senior Transportation Security Administration official maintains that TSA is “aggressively pursuing” the release of a final repair station rule, but cannot give any guarantees that it will by out by yearend. TSA Administrator John Pistole earlier this year had told industry leaders TSA hoped to get the rule out by the end of the year, but Deputy Administrator John Halinski told the House transportation security subcommittee last week that he can’t give a timeline.
House lawmakers are faulting the Transportation Security Administration for dragging its feet on significant rulemakings and other initiatives covering repair station security, the Large Aircraft Security Program (LASP) and flight student vetting, among others. In a report released by the majority staff of the House Committee on Homeland Security’s transportation security panel, the lawmakers note, “TSA has become infamous for publishing notices of proposed rulemaking but later failing to issue final rules in an expeditious manner.”
Airlines for America (A4A) is reorganizing its communications department to “better align our people and resources against the work in A4A ’s strategic plan and our public relations and media relations campaign for a National Airline Policy,” the U.S. trade group says in a message to members. The move results in the departure of Vice President-Communications Steven Lott, who joined the group at the beginning of 2011, and Managing Director of Communications Kimberly Roberts, who has been with the association for 16 years.
RUAG Aviation has sold a Dornier 228NG to an unidentified Asian customer, and plans to deliver the aircraft with a passenger configuration in the second half of next year. This deal, unveiled at the 2012 ILA Berlin air show, brings to six the number of orders RUAG has received for the type since launching production of the upgraded aircraft two years ago. At the end of August, RUAG delivered a Dornier 228NG to Germany’s naval squadron 3 “Graf Zeppelin” in Nordholz.
A Dassault Falcon 20 jet owned by the National Research Council of Canada will be the first civil jet to fly on 100% biofuel meeting petroleum jet fuel specifications. Tests to date have typically used a 50-50 blend of biofuel and regular kerosene jet fuel. The ReadiJet fuel, derived from mustard oilseeds, is made by Applied Research Associates (ARA) and Chevron Lummus Global (CLG). The two companies announced the tests at the ILA Berlin Air Show, where they are exhibiting in the Alternative Aviation Fuels Pavilion. The fuel was made under contract to the U.S.
At least one U.S. senator has placed a hold on a bill that would prohibit U.S. operators from participating in the EU’s emissions trading system (ETS), preventing a vote on the contentious issue. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va) says the committee provided “broad support” for the bill. Still, “a couple of people don’t like it,” Rockefeller tells Aviation Week. “One of them might be holding it up.”
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) hired Jena Longo to serve as director of communications. Longo has been deputy communications director for the Senate Commerce Committee since 2009, where she handled press operations for aviation and other issue areas. She also has served as communications director for the Government Affairs Office of Clear Channel Communications, and has served in the offices of former Sens. John Breaux (D-La.) and Ben Nelson (R-Colo.).
Signature Flight Support Sept. 19 is planning to hold a grand opening ceremony of its new facility at Chicago O’Hare International Airport. The ceremony comes less than a week after Signature broke ground on a new terminal at Palm Beach International Airport that will be dedicated to NetJets. Signature and NetJets announced a year ago that they had signed an agreement for a terminal that would be solely for NetJets’ use. The facility will be customized to NetJets’ specification and its owner preferences.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection recently opened a facility at Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport. Signature Flight Support, which worked with Yellowstone authorities to bring the Customs service to the airport, celebrated the facility’s opening on Sept. 7. The office is open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursdays through Mondays, but appointments can be arranged outside those hours. Signature Flight Support Bozeman/Yellowstone Jet Center will be able to coordinate clearances with the CBP.
DAREN REMMERT was promoted to avionics installation manager for Pro Star Aviation. Remmert will oversee both in-house and on-the-road avionics installations. Remmert has 30 years of aviation experience, including inflight operations, aircraft maintenance and avionics.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model EC155B and EC155B1 helicopters with a VIP four-seat bench [Docket No. FAA-2012-0177; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-59-AD; Amendment 39-17149; AD 2012-16-02] – requires revising the Limitations section of the Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) and converting the VIP four-seat bench into a three-seat configuration. This AD was prompted by the determination that the load strength of the seat attachment hardware of the seat installation does not meet certification specifications.
