DOWTY PROPELLERS R408 series propellers [Docket No. FAA-2008-1088; Directorate Identifier 2008-NE-15-AD; Amendment 39-15691; AD 2008-21-07] – Within the next 50 flight hours or within one month after the effective date, this AD requires inspections of all propeller blade assemblies for which the bonded metallic leading-edge guard has accumulated 1,200 or fewer flight hours since being installed, per the instructions of Dowty Propellers Alert Service Bulletin D8400-61-A69, Rev. 1 (dated Sept. 18, 2007).
EUROCOPTER signed a contract to provide two EC145 helicopters to the Ukraine’s Ministry of Emergencies. The aircraft, to be delivered next year and based in Kiev, will be used for rescue, emergency medical evacuation and firefighting missions. The contract marks the first time the Ukraine government has issued a tender offer to Western helicopter manufacturers. The EC145 can carry two pilots and up to nine passengers.
WHILE NOT YET PUBLISHED in the Federal Register, the Transportation Security Administration’s proposal to impose a new security regimen on all “large” aircraft operators, including those flying under the provisions of Part 91 of the FARs, already has generated more member input that any other issue this year, according to a senior General Aviation Manufacturers Association official.
ED CHEVRESTT was appointed vice president and general manager of Executive Beechcraft, which is owned by BBA Aviation. In his new capacity, Chevrestt will be responsible for the oversight of Executive Beechcraft’s full range of FBO services and aircraft sales, maintenance, charter and related support operations at the company’s four facilities: Kansas City Downtown Airport (MKC); Kansas City International Airport (MCI); New Century Air Center (IXD); and Spirit of St. Louis Airport (SUS).
JEPPESEN is partnering with Dassault to develop new performance software and services that will be incorporated in Electronic Flight Bags in Falcon business jets. The software will facilitate takeoff and landing calculations and run on Windows operating systems. Dassault will furnish updated performance data and computation modules and Jeppesen will provide and update information on airports, runways and obstacles.
EMBRAER EMB-135BJ airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-1080; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-118-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to revise the “Airworthiness Limitations” section of the “Instructions for Continued Airworthiness” to incorporate new maintenance inspections of the aircraft’s fuel tank system. This proposal, which resulted from an MCAI originated by the aviation authority of Brazil, is designed to prevent ignition sources inside the fuel tanks. The FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 41 aircraft on the U.S. Registry and cost U.S.
The Regional Airline Association and the Air Transport Association are protesting a U.S. Transportation Department rule on drug and alcohol testing that they say “borders on harrassment.” A new DOT rule that goes into effect on November 1 requires employees to be directly observed when submitting urine samples for drug and alcohol tests. Due to protests, DOT delayed final implementation of the rule. But the two associations want the rule permanently withdrawn or restricted to situations in which the risk of specimen tampering is high.
AIR TRACTOR, INC. AT-402, AT-402A and AT-402B airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0749; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-044-AD; Amendment 39-15692; AD 2008-21-08] – Requires operators to conduct repetitive visual inspections of the rudder and vertical fin hinge-attaching structure for loose fasteners, per Snow Engineering’s Service Letter 247 (revised June 2, 2008) and Snow Engineering’s Process Specification Number 145 (dated Dec. 6, 1991). Also, inspect the rudder or vertical fin skins, spars, hinges or brackets for cracks and/or corrosion.
JENNIFER MITCHELL was appointed regional sales director for California for Mooney Airplane Company. Mitchell, who has a background in ultrasound equipment sales and is a licensed sonographer, flew a Mooney Ovation 2GX for business as she visited hospitals and imaging centers statewide. She began her career as a sonographer at Kaiser Permanente and founded her own company, Powering Imaging, in 2000 and grew her business to become one of the top sonography services and equipment sales companies in California.
WEST STAR AVIATION is expanding to the East Coast with the opening of a new facility near Columbia, S.C. The facility, based at Columbia Metropolitan Airport (KCAE), will provide maintenance and refurbishment services for corporate aircraft. West Star is beginning construction this month and plans to complete the facility by mid-2009. The company estimates the facility will employ 105 workers. The project includes a 37,500-square-foot hangar and a two-story, 24,500-square-foot office and shop building.
National Transportation Safety Board investigators were on the scene of yet another fatal emergency medical services (EMS) helicopter crash in Aurora, Ill. last week, the ninth fatal EMS accident in the past year and the second in less than a month.
MD HELICOPTERS, INC. Model 600N helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2008-0835; Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-34-AD; Amendment 39-15684; AD 2008-20-05] – This AD supersedes an existing directive (AD 2008-05-17) that requires modifying the fuselage aft section within the next 24 months to strengthen the tailboom attachment fittings and upper longerons.
MORE PEOPLE were killed in rail and recreational boating accidents last year than in general aviation, the National Transportation Safety Board said last week. See chart on Page 184.
“THESE ARE UNPRECEDENTED TIMES in the U.S. financial markets and around the world,” Textron Chairman Lewis Campbell told financial analysts last week. The effects are already being felt at Textron’s Cessna Aircraft unit, which booked new orders for only 47 business jets in the quarter, while delivering 124 new jets to customers. “The [new aircraft] order downturn has arrived more quickly than what we anticipated,” Campbell said.
PIPER AIRCRAFT, INC. PA-46-350P, PA-46R-350T and PA-46-500TP airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-1085; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-057-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to install a stall-warning heat control modification kit, following the instructions of Piper Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 1192 (dated Sept. 15, 2008). This proposal, which resulted from ice forming on the stall vane heater during flights into icing conditions with the landing gear down, is designed to prevent such icing from causing the stall warning system to fail.
DER delegation in Avionics Systems and Equipment. At least 8 years experience in direct contact with FAA Aircraft Certification Offices working specific FAA projects. At least 15 years experience with increasing responsibility in engineering tasks related to avionics systems and equipment. Thorough working knowledge of DAS/ODA procedures. For a complete job description and to apply online, go to www.falconjet.com
Responsible for performance of Mechanical Engineering Department, Interior Installation Business Units and Flightline. Fundamental role is to insure all department activity properly supports the timely delivery of the aircraft. Must have 15 years experience in aircraft production industry with a minimum of 5 years at the senior management level. Fax resume to 501-210-0469 or email to [email protected]
SAAB/SAAB-FAIRCHILD SF340A and 340B airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-1044; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-095-AD] – This proposal would require operators to conduct repetitive functional checks of the landing gear emergency extension valve, per the instructions of Saab Service Bulletin 340-32-136 (dated Jan. 9, 2008). If any discrepancy is found, repair the valve using an FAA-approved method before further flight.
Cessna is taking several steps to expand its worldwide support network as international customers continue to fill the Wichita manufacturer’s orderbook. The company recently decided to add a second European Citation Service Center to augment the Citation Service Center at Le Bourget Airport outside Paris, France. Cessna signed a letter of intent with Aeropuertos Espanoles y Navegacion Aerea in Madrid to build the center in Spain. Cessna is hoping to begin construction in 2009 and open the facility in late 2010.
Hangar space for lease at the Van Nuys Airport. Maguire Aviation is in the process of developing 460,000 sq. ft. of hangar and offices for single and multiple tenant occupancy. Please contact Mike McDaniel or Tim Wray for more information at 800-451-7270. Click here to view the pdf
THE INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION ORGANIZATION is expected to make a series of recommendations next year on aviation emission standards, but Congress is taking steps to develop its own new emission regulations. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-Mich.) released a “discussion draft” of legislation that would create an emissions cap-and-trade program for power plants; petroleum, fossil fuel and gas producers and importers; large industrial facilities and geologic sequestration sites.
Business aviation advocates expect the nation’s airlines to renew their efforts to increase taxes on business jets once the new Congress convenes early next year. The existing tax structure and the Federal Aviation Administration authorization is slated to continue until the end of March under the seventh short-term extension that Congress passed last month (BA, Sept. 29/141).
Lufthansa Technik is expanding its support and completion capabilities in Switzerland and Tulsa, Okla. in a shift that will allow the company to focus on VIP widebody airliners at its center in Hamburg, Germany. Lufthansa Technik has experienced a significant uptick of VIP business with available capacity filled through 2012 and longer-term contracts and letters of intent extending through 2018, company executives said.
