U.S. Transportation Security Administration chief John Pistole says a long overdue repair station security rule has been forwarded to the White House’s Office of Management and Budget for review, although the OMB on March 15 had yet to acknowledge receipt. Upon receipt of the rule, OMB will initiate a 60- to 90-day review, which usually is the final hurdle before a rule can be issued.
The Senate today will resume its consideration of a short-term, government-wide funding bill that aviation groups are hoping will serve as the vehicle for an amendment designed to prevent mass closings of contract air traffic control towers. The FAA has stated plans to shutter up to 189 contract towers, about 75% of the program, with the bulk of the closings to occur April 7.
Boeing Commercial Airplanes named Bob Feldman VP and general manager of 777X development and Keith Leverkuhn VP and general manager of the 737 MAX program.
CESSNA Model 750 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0720; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-059-AD; Amendment 39-17360; AD 2013-04-03] – requires inspecting certain logic modules to determine if certain cabin altitude/pitot static heater module assemblies are installed and replacing those assemblies with a new assembly; and revising the Non-Normal Procedures Section of the airplane flight manual (AFM) to include procedures for resetting the pitot switch in the event of pitot heater failure and for total loss of airspeed indication.
After cutting its workforce nearly in half in recent years, Cessna Aircraft is now looking at expansion: it wants to increase its sales force by 50%. The move comes as the Wichita airframer is in the throes of bringing six new or upgraded aircraft to market this year. The first of which, the more powerful Caravan, has already entered service.
The FAA is gauging the interest of aerospace companies in the development of upgrades to the ground-based portions of its wide-area augmentation system (WAAS) in advance of dual-frequency GPS operations for the aviation community later this decade. WAAS uses a network of ground-based reference and control stations, as well as three geostationary satellites, to boost the accuracy of GPS signals to enable satellite-based instrument approaches and precision navigation operations in North America.
Dassault, citing encouraging signs for the large business jet market, is expecting to see a boost in Falcon sales in 2013 and to slightly increase deliveries to 70 Falcon business jets. The improving sales would follow a year in which Dassault’s Falcon net order intake (minus cancellations) increased by more than 50%, from 36 in 2011 to 58 last year. The orders in 2011 and 2012 mark a dramatic swing from the two previous years, when cancellations outpaced orders by nine aircraft in 2010 and 163 in 2009.
Quest Aircraft Company named SkyQuest International as an authorized dealer for the company’s Kodiak single-turboprop. SkyQuest will represent the company’s sales activities in Africa. Founded in 1999, SkyQuest provides sales and marketing, acquisitions, appraisals, and consulting services.
The U.S. Air Force instructed Sierra Nevada Corp. (SNC) to restart work to deliver 20 Embraer A-29 Super Tucano Light Air Support (LAS) aircraft to the Afghan air force early in 2014, overriding the stop-work order it was required by law to issue after losing bidder Beechcraft protested the award of the $427 million contract.
JONATHAN DEUTSCH is representing Jet Support Services, Inc. (JSSI) in emerging markets. Deutsch will be responsible for expanding the company’s presence throughout Africa and in parts of Asia. He previously developed a used aircraft business at a facility where he learned to fly.
Jet Aviation Geneva has received FAA approval to provide line and maintenance to Gulfstream G650 aircraft. The FAA approval follows European Aviation Safety Agency approval in December.
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Chairman Bill Trimble, in a letter to members, says the association has begun a national search for a fifth leader of the association to succeed departing President Craig Fuller. Trimble outlines the qualifications – strong in advocacy, business experience and, not surprisingly, a pilot.
BAE SYSTEMS Model BAe 146 and Avro 146-RJ series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-1157; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-061-AD; Amendment 39-17371; AD 2013-04-13] – requires a one-time insulation resistance test of ceramic terminal blocks, and if necessary, replacement of the blocks.
COSTRUZIONI AERONAUTICHE TECNAM Model P2006T airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-1173; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-038-AD; Amendment 39-17367; AD 2013-04-09] – requires inspections for crack on all aileron hinge supports and corrective actions, if necessary. This AD stems from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency, which cites reports of multiple cracks found on the outboard aileron hinge support of a P2006T airplane during an inspection. FAA estimates that AD will affect seven aircraft on the U.S.
While the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) early March 15 hadn’t yet acknowledged its receipt of the long-overdue repair station security rule, Transportation Security Administration chief John Pistole says the rule has been forwarded to OMB for the beginning of a 60- to 90-day review. OMB review is usually the final hurdle before a rule can be issued. “For the first time in a while, we are making progress,” Pistole told the House transportation security subcommittee during a March 14 hearing when asked for an update on the rule.
The Senate Monday will resume its consideration of a short-term, government-wide funding bill that aviation groups are hoping will serve as the vehicle for an amendment designed to prevent mass closings of contract towers. FAA has stated plans to shutter up to 189 contract air traffic control towers, or roughly 75% in the program, with the bulk of the closings to occur on April 7.
