BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA Model 222, 222B, 222U, 230 and 430 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2008-0449; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-10-AD; Amendment 39-15669; AD 2008-19-02] – This AD, which supersedes an existing directive (AD 2001-01-51), requires visually inspecting the main-rotor hydraulic actuator support to verify the presence of all dowel pins and sealant between the support and transmission. It also mandates verifying the proper torque of each attaching nut.
PILATUS AIRCRAFT LTD. PC-6 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0990; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-060-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to inspect the brake pedals for full and free movement. If any stiffness or limited movement of a brake pedal is found, operators would need to perform the corrective actions detailed in Pilatus PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 32-002, Rev. 2 (dated April 29, 2008) before further flight.
The Federal Aviation Administration faced a new round of accusations of “cozy relationships” with industry as key transportation leaders in the House questioned the validity of the type certificate and production certificate issued to Eclipse Aviation Corp. for its Eclipse EA-500 Very Light Jet. The chairmen of the House aviation subcommittee and Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Wednesday presided over a nearly six-hour hearing on whether senior FAA officials “rushed” the certification of the Eclipse over the objections of agency inspections and test pilots.
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FLIGHTCRAFT completed a $1.5 million Business Aviation Terminal at the company’s facility in Eugene, Ore. The 3,800-square-foot remodeled facility is more than double the size of Flightcraft’s former terminal. The new facility includes executive luggage service, improved catering facilities, two conference rooms, wireless Internet, ramp and parking lot security cameras, as well as a pilot lounge with a flight planning center, private shower and bathroom, and snooze room.
BOMBARIDER will hold its 12th annual Safety Standdown next month at The Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City, Mo., the first time the manufacturer has moved the domestic version of the Safety Standdown outside of Wichita. The Oct.
October 6-8 – National Business Aviation Association, 61st Annual Meeting & Convention (NBAA2008), Orlando, Fla. For more information, contact NBAA www.nbaa.org/2008 October 16-18 – Chevron Global Aviation Advanced Safety Training, Richmond, Calif. Contact Chevron Customer Service at (866) 557-3456 or e-mail to [email protected] October 22-24 – International Aviation Womens Association (IAWA) 20th Anniversary and the Accomplishments of Women in the Aviation and Aerospace Industries, Chicago. Contact: Karen Griggs at [email protected]
SEBASTIEN CAIRE was named vice president, Asia and Australasia for CAE. Based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Caire will be responsible for CAE’s civil aviation training and services activities in all of Asia and Australasia, except India and the Middle East. Caire joined CAE in 2001 and has held a number of management posts, including his most recent position of general manager for the CAE Madrid training center.
Brazilian manufacturer Embraer held grand opening ceremonies last week for its new Southwest business jet service center, part of a $100 million investment the company is making in infrastructure in the U.S.
CESSNA’S prototype Light Sport Aircraft, The SkyCatcher, crashed last week during a flight test in Kansas. The engineering test pilot was able to get out of the aircraft and parachuted to the ground, escaping injury. See article on Page 131.
DART HELICOPTER SERVICES (DHS), of Piney Flats, Tenn., acquired Canam Aerospace as well as a 50 percent interest in Cargo Net Innovations. Both companies are based in Vancouver, British Columbia and provide cargo hook/net and other products for a variety of helicopter models. The equipment is used in applications that range from logging and construction to seismic exploration. DHS, which has 14 locations around the world, provides parts and accessories for AgustaWestland, Bell, Eurocopter, MD, Robinson, Sikorsky, Schweizer and Hiller helicopters.
Very Light Jet air taxi startup DayJet notified the Federal Aviation Administration Friday that it planned to halt its air taxi operations for economic reasons, the agency confirmed late last week. DayJet called the Washington Flight Standards District Office at noon Friday to inform officials there of the company’s decision to stop flying 27 of 28 Eclipse EA-500 VLJs in the DayJet fleet. The 28th aircraft will be used for company purposes, an FAA spokesman said.
SERVICEELEMENTS, of Scottsdale, Ariz., is offering a new Service Delivery Audit program for business, general aviation and other aerospace entities. The program is designed to identify service and delivery issues and develop solutions for the problems. ServiceElements began developing the audit program more than three years ago in response to its work with aerospace, business and general aviation organizations.
Cessna’s prototype SkyCatcher Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) crashed Thursday near Douglass, Kan., after it went into a spin and the engineering test pilot parachuted to safety.
A project aimed at developing an advanced light twin-turboprop to replace aging utility aircraft in the Dornier 228 class is finally moving forward, reflecting a new surge of interest in this long-neglected market segment.
BOMBARDIER did an abrupt about-face last week, dropping Grob Aerospace from the Learjet 85 program and saying it will now do in-house the composite work Grob had been contracted to perform. See article on Page 132.
JOE DEL BALZO , a former senior FAA official who founded and serves as president of the aviation consultancy JDA Solutions, was selected to serve on the FAA’s Research, Engineering and Development Advisory Committee. Del Balzo will chair the Aircraft Safety subcommittee. The committee is tasked with providing recommendations on the needs, objectives, plans and accomplishments of FAA’s aviation research program.
International sales have been a driving force behind record business jet backlogs, but one industry market observer predicts that a strengthening dollar likely will help cool off the worldwide market and make the industry vulnerable to a steeper downturn. “Unfortunately the next delivery trough will be more pronounced than generally accepted and the recovery much longer,” said Brian Foley, a long-time Dassault Falcon Jet executive who now heads the business aviation market research and consultancy Brian Foley Associates.
ROCKWELL COLLINS teamed with King Schools to offer online computer-based training. King Schools will provide Rockwell Collins OEM avionics training modules beginning with Pro Line 21 courses for the King Air and Hawker 800.
EMBRAER EMB-135BJ airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0416; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-297-AD; Amendment 39-15656; AD 2008-17-18] – Using a borescope, inspect the aileron control system inside the wings to ensure that all cable guard pins are installed. If any cable guard pin is missing, install a new one, following the instructions of Embraer Service Bulletin 145LEG-27-0023 (dated Jan. 24, 2006).
DIAMOND AIRCRAFT INDUSTRIES GMBH Model DA 42 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0991; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-054-AD] – This proposed directive would mandate repetitive inspections and correction of the fastening torque of certain engine mounting bolts, per the instructions of Diamond Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin No. MSB-42-058 (dated May 21, 2008) and Diamond Aircraft Work Instruction WI-MSB-42-058 (dated March 12, 2008).
ENGINE COMPONENTS, INC. (ECI) reciprocating engine cylinder assemblies [Docket No. FAA-2008-0052; Directorate Identifier 2008-NE-01-AD; Amendment 39-15672; AD 2008-19-05] – Conduct visual inspections and compression tests to detect cracks at the head-to-barrel interface of certain cylinder assemblies in Lycoming Model 320, 360 and 540 series engines installed in Beech Cessna, Piper and other general aviation aircraft. Replace any cracked cylinder assemblies, and replace certain cylinder assemblies at new, reduced times in service.
Bombardier Aerospace abruptly changed course last week, announcing Thursday that Grob Aerospace – which filed for insolvency in Germany late last month (BA, Aug. 25/87) – will no longer be involved in development of the composite-fuselage Learjet 85 business jet program. Instead, the Canadian manufacturer said it will do the composite work in-house.
