Diamond Aircraft’s DA20-C1 was granted expanded European Aviation Safety Agency type certification to include approval for night VFR operations, significantly increasing the aircraft’s use in the European market, the company says.
The FBI and the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) have established the first airport-based office in the U.S. dedicated to the Joint Terrorism Task Force, a federal, state and local law-enforcement body. The FBI proposed establishing the airport annex, which was opened in July by FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III.
Eagle Creek Aviation Services handed over the first of two refurbished Grand Renaissance Twin Commanders ordered by the Colombian Army. Indianapolis-based Eagle Creek provides Twin Commander sales and service, in addition to the Grand Renaissance refurbishment program. The project for the Colombian Army required eight months and more than 7,000 man-hours to complete, including new paint and interior.
AGUSTA A109A, A109AII, A109C and A109K2 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2011-0823; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-018-AD; Amendment 39-16765; AD 2011-17-01] – Inspect the main-rotor scissor fitting assembly to determine if there are two washers installed under the head of each main-rotor scissor fitting assembly fixing bolt. If there are not two washers installed, replace each fixing bolt and install two washers under the head of each fixing bolt.
BOMBARDIER DHC-8-400 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0910; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-151-AD; Amendment 39-16797; AD 2011-18-15] – Perform repetitive torque checks to determine if the bolt preload is correct for the barrel nuts located at the front spar locations of the wing-to-fuselage attachment joints. If necessary, conduct a detailed inspection of the barrel nuts and cradle for cracking, pitting and corrosion, replacing hardware if needed, per the instructions of Bombardier Alert Service Bulletin A84-57-25 (dated July 20, 2011).
SAAB 2000 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0476; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-247-AD; Amendment 39-16787; AD 2011-18-05] – Conduct a detailed corrosion inspection of the aft pressure bulkhead at the bottom outboard flange. Also, determine if there is a drain hole on the left-hand side, inboard of the ventral fin. If any corrosion is found, repair it before further flight. Also, if no drain hole is found, drill a drain hole before further flight, per the instructions of Saab Service Bulletin 2000-53-048, Rev. 01 (dated Sept. 3, 2009).
JOE KOLO has been promoted to vice president and general manager at engine repair and overhaul company Prime Turbines, Inc. He was previously vice president of sales and marketing and has held senior positions with Atlantic Turbines (Vector Aerospace) and Dallas Airmotive.
Some 17,000 Cessna 150s and 152s are affected by a revised airworthiness directive (AD) issued by FAA. The earlier directive (AD 2009-10-09 R1) had required operators to either install a placard prohibiting spins and other acrobatic maneuvers in the airplane, or install a rudder stop modification kit, which involves replacing the rudder stop, the rudder stop bumper and associated attachment hardware. The new directive (AD 2009-10-09 R2) was prompted by reports from operators who have had difficulty in obtaining full rudder travel with the existing modification kit.
The National Transportation Safety Board has scheduled a public forum Sept. 21-22 on airplane fuselage structural integrity. The forum will cover fuselage design, certification of fuselage structures, production quality-assurance systems, in-service inspection programs and the future of nondestructive examination technologies. The forum will be held at the NTSB’s Board Room and Conference Center in Washington.
FlairJet, the U.K. charter company based at England’s London Oxford Airport, is opening two new bases at East Midlands and Dublin, where it will base two Embraer Phenom 100s. FlairJet says the addition of an aircraft at the East Midlands location will enable the company to offer round-the-clock Phenom service and open up the potential for freight and air medical flights. FlairJet recently acquired a Phenom 100 (G-NUDD), which was expected to be positioned at the location in early September.
John Frasca has taken the reins of flight training device provider Frasca International as president and CEO, succeeding his father and founder of the company, Rudy Frasca. The elder Frasca retired from active management, but still serves as chairman of the board. John Frasca has served as vice president of the company since 2003 and has gradually assumed more of his father’s duties. He began working for the family-owned business in 1972, performing various tasks around the factory after school.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE EC120B helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2011-0859 ; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-052-AD; Amendment 39-16777; AD 2011-17-13] – Insert an emergency procedure appendix into the Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) and modify the emergency switch electrical wiring, performing tests to ensure correct operation of the switch, per Eurocopter France Emergency Alert Service Bulletin No. 24A012 (dated April 22, 2010).
VIKING AIR LIMITED (DE HAVILLAND) DHC-3 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0597; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-019-AD; Amendment 39-16793; AD 2011-18-11] – Repetitively inspect the elevator control tabs for discrepancies, taking corrective actions to bring all discrepancies within acceptable tolerances before further flight. This new directive supersedes AD 2011-05-02, retaining the actions required in the earlier AD, but changing its applicability. FAA estimates that this AD will affect 65 airplanes on the U.S. Registry and cost U.S. operators $85 per inspection cycle.
President Obama last week urged Congress to pass a “clean extension” of the FAA bill that would provide back pay for workers laid off during the August shutdown before the current bill expires. Obama, who was joined by Transportation Department Secretary Ray LaHood at a White House Rose Garden speech, also endorsed the idea of getting the private sector “more involved” in transportation projects. The current FAA extension expires Sept. 16. Responding to the president, Rep.
Air Line Pilots Association President Lee Moak says groups opposing the proposed new crew rest rules are seeking a “new set of science” and suggested a compromise of sorts: implement a final rule now with a provision for reassessing it later. Congress passed a bill in 2010 that ordered FAA to establish new rules by Aug. 1, 2011, based on the best available scientific information, and to that end FAA established an aviation rulemaking committee to draft recommendations.
Business aviation intelligence consultancy Jetnet has reached an agreement to offer the Aircraft Cost Calculator (ACC) program to its customers at a discount. ACC’s program enables aircraft owners, prospective owners and operators to calculate the costs of full ownership, fractional ownership, ownership through leasing, or a combination of all of these.
FAA is imposing a two-year waiting period before a certificate holder can hire certain former FAA inspectors for jobs that would require interaction with the agency. The rule, which takes effect Oct. 21, applies to both scheduled and non-scheduled carriers, factional ownership providers, maintenance organizations, flight training organizations and other certificate holders.
Women in Aerospace will hold a forum Sept. 8 to discuss how safety and security has changed for both commercial and general aviation since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The forum is being held at Washington Reagan National Airport’s Terminal A from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The panel will be moderated by Lillian Ryals, executive director, next generation air transportation system for The MITRE Corp., which along with Boeing is sponsoring the event.
MONTREAL—Interiors and heavy maintenance company Avianor is considering breaking into the aircraft recycling business by building a multimillion-dollar facility at Montreal Mirabel International Airport in Quebec.
RICHARD EFFORD was named assistant vice president of legislative affairs for the Aerospace Industries Association. Efford formerly served as a staff member on the House Appropriations Committee, where he helped develop Transportation Department appropriations legislation. He also oversaw elements of the Navy budget, including aircraft procurement. Efford most recently was a partner at Flagship Government Relations of Arlington, Va., where he focused on defense, homeland security and transportation issues.
Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) has begun working with owner clubs to establish a user-friendly, operations data-sharing service. NIAR is rolling out the effort after working with the American Bonanza Society (ABS) on a pilot program.
West Star Aviation’s facility in East Alton, Ill., was appointed an authorized service center for Embraer Phenom 100 and 300 aircraft. West Star Aviation’s St. Louis location also is covered by the appointment. They join West Star Aviation’s Dallas and Grand Junction, Colo. facilities, which were among the initial Phenom service centers appointed by Embraer 2006.
Rockwell Collins is in talks with Inmarsat to become the sole lead to develop, produce and distribute user terminals for the satellite communications provider’s proposed Ka-band inflight connectivity system. The system, dubbed Global Xpress (GX), is scheduled for rollout in 2014, a year after the launch of the first Inmarsat-5 satellite, which is scheduled for mid-2013. The two companies, meanwhile, expect their agreement in principle to become a definitive deal later this year.
The list of approved gateway locations for direct business aircraft flights to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) continues to expand with the recent Transportation Security Administration approval of Cutter Aviation’s facility at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Cutter Aviation is the second fixed-base operation in Arizona to be approved to serve as a gateway as part of the DCA Access Standard Security Program. The addition pushed the total approved gateways to nearly 80 facilities nationwide. The approval was formally granted Aug.
California’s Senate followed an Assembly vote last week and approved a bill to exempt state flight training organizations from fees and reporting requirements recently implemented by the Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education. The California Senate approved its version of the bill, SB 619, back in May, but had to vote on a version of the bill that included some technical corrections, including a clause making the bill effective immediately after being signed by Gov. Jerry Brown (D).
