FOKKER Model F.27 Mark 050 and F.28 Mark 0070 and 0100 airplanes. [Docket No. FAA-2011-1067; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-034-AD; Amendment 39-16944; AD 2012-03-03] – requires a detailed inspection of tritium exit signs and emergency lighting strips, and replacement if necessary. This AD was prompted by reports that the brightness of the tritium exit signs and lighting strips deteriorated below accepted levels.
MOONEY Models M20R and M20TN airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0182; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-005-AD; Amendment 39-16958; AD 2012-03-52] – publishes an emergency AD that was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of these airplanes. This AD requires inspecting the tail pitch trim assembly for correct positioning and proper attachment and inspecting the Huck Bolt fasteners for proper security with repair as necessary. The AD also requires sending the inspection results to FAA and Mooney.
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) declared March as General Aviation Appreciation Month. The Indiana Department of Transportation estimates general aviation contributes more than $4.9 billion in economic activity to the state, supporting more than 18,000 jobs.
John Sheehan, secretary general of the International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Associations (IAOPA), is retiring, effective May 1. Sheehan has more than 40 years of experience in military, commercial and general aviation and has served as IAOPA secretary general since 1997. Craig Spence, vice president of operations and international affairs for AOPA, will serve as acting secretary general.
DOUG NICHOLS was named COO for Aerion Corp. Nichols will be responsible for all operating, financial, business development and marketing activities of Aerion, including partnerships and collaborations related to development of the supersonic business jet. Before joining Aerion, Nichols spent 30 years with Boeing, holding financial, operating and corporate development positions.
TREVOR ESLING has joined Gulfstream Aerospace as regional senior vice president, international sales, Europe, Middle East and Africa. Esling has more than 25 years of aviation industry experience, most recently as senior vice president of international sales for Cessna Aircraft. He also has served with British Aerospace Commercial Aircraft, BAe Corporate Jets and Raytheon Aircraft.
Iridium CEO Matt Desch says his company will announce an agreement by June with global air traffic monitoring authorities to place automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) terminals on its Iridium Next second-generation satellite constellation, which is scheduled to be fully operational by 2017.
Adding its voice to the growing call for science-based, flight crew flight-time limitations (FTL) for all operators, the U.K. pilots union, the Independent Pilots Association (IPA), has produced a DVD, “Pilot Fatigue” that it is sending to every U.K. lord, member of Parliament and “aviation-interested party” on the ongoing issue of crew fatigue.
The FCC is extending the comment period until March 16 on a recent notice that LightSquared had not met the conditions set by the agency to begin operational deployment of a high-powered terrestrial 4G voice and data network in the L band. Citing concerns that the network would pose aviation safety risks by interfering with GPS units, the FCC last month indefinitely suspended LightSquared’s conditional waiver to operate the network in bands adjacent to those used by GPS.
JOHN CLAWSON was promoted to vice president and general manager of Nordam’s Thrust Reverser Division. In addition to leading this division, Clawson will oversee sales, marketing, quality and business systems for the company’s manufacturing effort. He has served with Nordam for 17 years, and previously worked with Lockheed Martin, McDonnell Douglas and Boeing.
FAA is predicting that the number of sport-pilot certificates will more than triple over the next 20 years. The certificate was created in 2005 and 4,066 have since been issued. In its latest 20-year forecast, FAA says it expects that number will grow to 13,900 certificates by 2032. See article on Page 2.
Russian maintenance, repair and overhaul provider Engineering LLC is buying Epic Aircraft, the Bend, Ore. producer of the Escape and Epic LT turboprop kit aircraft. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Epic Aircraft CEO Douglas King will retain his position under the new ownership, and Engineering LLC has assembled a board of industry executives to help manage the transition.
FAA is soliciting advice on a congressionally mandated pilot program to integrate unmanned aerial systems (UAS) into the national airspace. The mandate was adopted as part of the recently passed FAA reauthorization bill, along with the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that was signed by President Barack Obama late last year. Congress directed the agency to establish six UAS test sites to help FAA safely and efficiently integrate civil, public and military UAS into the same airspace with manned airplanes by 2015.
Helicopter Association International is trying to block progress on Sen. Charles Schumer’s (D-N.Y.) amendment to mandate helicopter routes over Los Angeles County and Long Island, saying the provision could set a national precedent of legislating local noise issues at the federal level. Schumer is hoping to offer the amendment as part of the highway bill that is pending before Congress.
Fantasy of Flight, which maintains one of the largest private collections of vintage aircraft, has joined the Lindbergh Foundation’s Aviation Green Alliance as a founding member. The Lindbergh Foundation launched the alliance in spring 2011 to support and encourage organizations that are proactively addressing aviation environmental challenges. The alliance is creating multiple platforms for members to share strategies, findings, progress and ideas on aviation environmental challenges.
March 15-16 — Aviation Week Innovation Challenge Showcase, Orlando, Fla., www.aviationweek.com/events March 19-21—International Academy of Astronautics/American Astronautical Society’s Conference on Dynamics & Control of Space Systems, Hotel Ipanema, Porto, Portugal, www.astrodynamics.org.pt/ March 19-22—Practical Aeronautics Short Course: “Introduction to Aeronautics—A Practical Perspective,” National Institute of Aerospace, Hampton, Va., (970) 887-3155, www.practicalaero.com
The Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS) named Richard Sherlock CEO. He also will serve as CEO of MedEvac Foundation International. Sherlock has a background in strategic planning, operations, training, resource management and human resource management, as well as rotor-wing aviation operations, maintenance, and safety programs. He retired from the U.S. Army as a major general, most recently serving as the chief of staff and the director of strategy, plans, and programs for U.S. Africa Command in Stuttgart, Germany.
Click here to view the pdf General Aviation Aircraft Fuel Consumption,(In Millions of Gallons) General Aviation Aircraft Fuel Consumption, (In Millions of Gallons) CalendarYear Fixed Wing Rotorcraft Exp
Another environmental group is intensifying pressure on the federal government to get leaded aviation fuel off the market, filing a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to act on the issue. The Friends of the Earth lawsuit claims EPA failed to respond to its 2006 petition asking for the regulation of lead emissions from general aviation under the Clean Air Act.
Icing has been a threat to aviation since the dawn of the aeronautic age, and as manufacturers pursue efficiency improvements measured in fractions of a percent, the power demanded to protect aircraft—whether by bleed air or electrical heating—is coming under attack. At the same time, unmanned-aircraft developers see the need to operate in all weather conditions, but cannot afford the power and weight penalties associated with traditional anti-icing systems. Nanotechnology may hold the answer, at both ends of the spectrum.
Abu Dhabi Airports Company's (ADAC) Air Navigation Services (ANS) has signed an MoU with Airbus airspace design subsidiary Quovadis to design new standard terminal arrival routes (STARs) and required navigation performance authorization required (RNP-AR) approaches for Al Bateen Executive Airport.
Dubai-based aircraft charter and leasing company, Air Charter International (ACI) has launched SkySearch Universal Portal, a new B2B product developed for the travel and aviation industry.
