House and Senate lawmakers are negotiating a comprehensive funding bill that includes a measure essentially calling for the reinstatement of the Block Aircraft Registration Request program (BARR). House and Senate negotiators on Nov. 3 kicked off a conference to hash out their respective differences on a “minibus” appropriations bill that includes fiscal 2012 spending for several federal agencies, including the Department of Transportation (and the BARR measure). The conference follows Senate passage of the bill earlier last week.
RICHARD SKASICK was promoted to plant manager for Custom Aircraft Cabinets (CAC). Skasick, who joined CAC in 1997, has served as assistant plant manager since 2006. In that role, he was responsible for floor production and quality control.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating last week’s accident involving a Gulfstream G150 (N480JJ) owned by NASCAR racing team Hendrick Motorsports. The twinjet ran off the end of a runway after experiencing braking issues upon landing at Key West International Airport (KEYW) in Key West, Fla. on Monday, Oct. 31.
BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON Model 407 and 427 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2011-1035; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-038-AD; Amendment 39-16817; AD 2011-15-51] – Inspect certain hydraulic servo actuators to determine whether the shaft turns independently of the nut or the clevis assembly. If the shaft turns independently, replace the servo with an airworthy servo.
SOCATA TBM 700 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-1139; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-021-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to inspect the aileron control cables in the left and right wings for proper installation, per the instructions of Daher-Socata Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 70-191-27 (dated April 2011). If any discrepancies were found, operators would need to properly reinstall the cables in accordance with the approved design configuration.
GRAHAM EVITT was appointed Rolls-Royce M250 regional sales manager at H+S Aviation, a BBA Aviation Engine Repair and Overhaul unit. Evitt will oversee sales of engine, accessory and component repair and overhaul services for Rolls-Royce M250 engines operating in Europe. He joined H+S Aviation in 1990 as a technician on the M250 engine and most recently was a commercial engineer for the engine.
Bell Helicopter recently delivered three Bell 412s to Heliservicio Campeche for use in the company’s oil and gas support operations in the Gulf of Mexico. Heliservicio operates a fleet that includes 22 Bell 412s. “The Bell 412 is the workhorse in our fleet and meets the demands of our oil and gas operations with excellent dependability,” says Alfredo Miguel Bejos, CEO of Heliservicio Campeche.
GINA KVITKOVICH was named director of publications and media for Helicopter Association International. Kvitkovich has 25 years of experience working with publications and media. She held positions with firms that worked with government clients, including FAA, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Defense. She most recently was director of communications for GAMA International, an association for managers in the insurance industry.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council has accepted – over the objections of European members – the tenets of the Delhi Declaration opposing the inclusion of international aviation in the Emissions Trading System (ETS) of the European Union (EU). The declaration says the inclusion of international aviation “violates the cardinal principle of state sovereignty laid down in Article 1 of the Chicago Convention.” This provision recognizes that each country has “complete and exclusive sovereignty over the airspace above its territory.”
Universal Avionics has helped upgrade a low-time private DC-9 to make the VIP airliner’s cockpit NextGen-compliant. The flight deck package includes four EFI-890R flat-panel integrated, high-definition flight displays; two UNS-1Fw flight management systems with 5-in. flat-panel control display units; two radio control units and two application server units. Universal Avionics officials say the supplemental type certificated upgrade gives DC-9 operators “a new option for advanced flight deck upgrades for the aircraft.”
Flexjet has submitted a letter of intent to FAA for approval to use the iPad 2 as an electronic flight bag (EFB). Full approval, expected by mid-2012, would cover iPad 2 use for viewing navigational charts, aircraft publications and other flight documents. Flexjet is hoping to obtain interim authorization early next year. “While the interest in electronic flight bags has been under constant evaluation for several years, technology and industry support has finally made the transition from paper cost-effective,” says David Gross, Flexjet vice president of operations.
BOMBARDIER CL-215, CL-215T and CL-415 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-1096; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-185-AD; Amendment 39-16848; AD 2011-22-06] – Perform repetitive eddy current inspections for cracks on the forward lug of the main landing gear (MLG) upper member. If any cracks are found, replace the forward lug of the MLG upper member with a new forward lug. Also before further flight perform a one-time fluorescent-penetrant inspection for cracks on the forward lug of the MLG upper member.
TIM REESNES was promoted to vice president of production for Custom Aircraft Cabinets (CAC). Reesnes joined CAC in 1997 and has served as plant manager, where he oversaw a facility that has grown from less than 2,000 sq. ft. to more than 46,000 sq. ft.
FAA last week directed operators of the Cessna CJ4 aircraft to replace certain lithium-ion batteries installed as the main aircraft battery within the next 10 hr. (time in service) or seven days. The AD, released as an emergency AD and effective Nov. 1, stemmed from a reported battery fire that broke out after an energized ground power unit was connected to a CJ4. The directive calls for replacement with either a Ni-Cad or lead-acid battery. FAA estimates the AD affects 43 aircraft on the U.S. Registry at a cost of nearly $195,000.
House General Aviation Caucus Co-Chair Sam Graves (R-Mo.) is appealing to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to hold off on any approval of LightSquared’s proposed ground-based broadband network until testing demonstrates that the network will not interfere with any type of GPS device. Graves, chairman of the Small Business Committee, authored a letter signed by eight other committee members expressing fear that LightSquared’s plan to utilize frequency bands close to the GPS band could have a significant impact on general aviation.
Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) has acquired a new RedBird SD flight-training device to prepare its pilots to operate in challenging conditions in remote parts of the world. The FAA-approved trainer uses wrap-around visuals, along with realistic flight controls. “This new RedBird enables us to do a lot of training that we couldn’t do before,” says Paul Bergen, MAF’s aviation training manager.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is moving ahead with its assessments of foreign airports’ security capabilities, but shortages of staff and funding pose limits to its operations, and the agency could do a better job analyzing its amassed information, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports.
CHRIS DANCY has joined Helicopter Association International as director of communications and public relations. Dancy previously spent nearly 10 years as the media relations director for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, where he responded to events such as the Cory Lidle accident and the midair collision over the Hudson River. He also coordinated AOPA’s external communications on issues such as the Transportation Security Administration’s Large Aircraft Security Program. Before that, he spent more than 20 years in local and network television news.
Jeppesen received an FAA Type 1 Letter of Acceptance endorsement for its processing of navigation obstacle data. The endorsement letter, the first for navigational obstacle data processing, notes that Jeppesen complies with FAA Advisory Circular 20-153A Acceptance of Aeronautical Data Processes and Associated Databases, as well as RTCA/DO-200A Standards for Processing Aeronautical Data. The Jeppesen obstacle database contains about 750,000 obstacle data points worldwide.
Former FAA Administrator Jane Garvey has been selected to receive the Aero Club of Washington’s Donald D. Engen Aero Club Trophy for aviation excellence. The trophy will be presented Nov. 14 during the Aero Club’s luncheon at the Capital Hilton. Garvey led FAA from 1997-2000, guiding the agency through the Year-2000 (Y2K) transition and upgrade, as well as during the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. Before becoming FAA administrator, Garvey was director of Boston’s Logan International Airport and acting administrator of the Federal Highway Administration.
Congressional opposition to the White House’s $100 per flight air traffic control user fee proposal continues to grow as nearly one-quarter of the Senate signed a letter to President Obama against the proposal. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), who is a member of the Senate General Aviation Caucus, and 22 fellow senators sent a letter Nov. 2 saying, “Increasing taxes on corporate jets and other general aviation aircraft will only further stifle economic recovery.”
Dassault Falcon has launched Falcon Dispatch Plus, a new package of service bulletins and applicable new parts for all models of the Falcon 900 and 2000. The program, developed in partnership with Dassault Falcon authorized service centers, is based on a thorough fleet analysis of more than 900 Falcon jets. As a result of that study, Dassault determined which modifications and improvements were most effective in reducing costs and downtime.
Lower-than-expected deliveries of executive aircraft are forcing Embraer to moderate its earnings guidance, although the situation is cushioned by strong regional jet and defense activities.
Embraer has been subpoenaed by the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) as part of an investigation into possible violations of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, but company executives last week were confident the aircraft maker would be exonerated.
