SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION Model S-76A, S-76B and S-76C helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2008-0609; Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-24-AD] – This proposed rule would require inspections of the tail-rotor vertical stabilizer aft-spar assembly for cracks, loose or working fasteners and corrosion. If any of those defects were found, the vertical stabilizer forward spar assembly also would need to be inspected. Any defective components in those two assemblies would need to be repaired or replaced before further flight.
GLOBAL IMPLICATIONS of the next generation air traffic control system will be the focus of a joint Air Traffic Control Association/FAA/NASA Technical Symposium to be held this week in Atlantic City, N.J. Technical symposium discussion will examine infrastructure, aircraft, airports, the environment and airspace technologies will be part of the evolution.
CIRRUS DESIGN CORPORATION Model SR20 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0284; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-006-AD; Amendment 39-15541] – Following the instructions of Cirrus Service Bulletin SB 2X-78-07 R1, Rev. 1 (dated Dec. 18, 2007), operators must conduct a pressurization check of the heat exchanger and replace it if needed. The FAA issued this AD in order to detect and prevent leaks in the exhaust system, which could result in carbon monoxide entering the cabin through the cabin heating system and incapacitating the pilot.
STEMME GMBH & CO. KG Model S10-VT powered sailplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0598; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-031-AD; Amendment 39-15543; AD 2008-11-20] – Following the instructions of STEMME Service Bulletin A31-10-083 (dated Feb. 26, 2008), operators must inspect the fuel system for possible leakage. If any leaks are found, repair the leak and replace all single-ear clamps in the fuel system with new single-ear clamps. This AD, which supersedes an existing directive (AD 2007-0315-E), resulted from an MCAI issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency.
AIR TRACTOR, INC. AT-200, AT-300, AT-400, AT-500, AT-600 and AT-800 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0247; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-003-AD; Amendment 39-15540] – This AD, which supersedes an earlier directive (AD 2002-25-09), requires installation of a modified skid-plate kit or modification of skid-plate kits already installed. The new AD was issued to prevent the front and rear connections of the overturn skid plate from breaking, which could enable foreign debris to enter the cockpit during an airplane overturn.
HAWKER BEECHCRAFT is planning a new $14 million aircraft maintenance and service facility at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport in Mesa, Ariz. The facility will provide support to customers in the Southwest U.S. Hawker Beechcraft is leasing 5.1 acres at the airport and retained an option to expand the leasehold to 10.7 acres. Hawker Beechcraft also acquired a newly built 26,000-square-foot hangar and plans to add a 20,000-square-foot hangar and 22,000-square-foot administrative building.
June 9-11 – Florida Aviation Trades Association, 62nd Annual Meeting & Trade Show, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Contact Paula Raeburn at (407) 383-8619 June 9-14 – International Council of Aircraft Owners and Pilots Associations, 24th World Assembly, Athens, Greece. Contact IAOPA at (301) 695-2200 June 16-19 – Canadian Business Aviation Association, 47th Annual Convention, Trade Show & Static Display, Toronto, Ontario. Contact Janet Maslin at CBAA, (613) 236-5611
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THE REACTION to the Eclipse 500 price hike from customers has been “pretty mixed” so far, a spokeswoman told BA last week. “We’ve had a few cancellations, but not many.” Customers have 90 days to seek a refund of their deposits if they decide to cancel their orders because of the price hike.
DAYJET CHIEF Ed Iacobucci noted the “enormous impact” soaring fuel prices have had on the transportation sector, but said the increased prices have not been as much of a factor for his Very Light Jet air taxi operation. “We’ve been able to adjust prices to keep up with fuel costs,” he said. While the increased prices may have slowed growth in customer demand, Iacobucci stressed the carrier is still growing. And he suggested the sharply higher fuel prices may ultimately work in DayJet’s favor.
A PIPER MALIBU MIRAGE was destroyed last month in France after it was struck by lightning while in cruise flight. The PA-46-350P, with U.S. registration of N9245D, “subsequently broke up” and crashed into terrain near Leguillac de Cercles, according to a brief report by NTSB. The pilot and single passenger were killed. Weather in the area at the time of the May 25 accident included mostly cloudy skies, six miles visibility and winds of 16 knots, with a temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit and a dew point of 55 degrees.
ANDREW JOHNSTON was appointed vice president-commercial for Project Phoenix, the Dubai-based company that is converting Bombardier CRJ-200 regional airliners into a business jet configuration for customers. Johnston will report to President Mike Cappuccitti. Johnston’s role will be to ensure that converted aircraft are legally compliant with applicable airworthiness regulations, meet international standards and that contracts are in order. Johnston also will be structuring the after-sales support programs for the Phoenix CRJ.
RTI International Metals, Inc. announced a reorganization of the company to create a third operating division. Under the new structure, RTI is separating its fabrication and distribution businesses, an effort to “better position the company to produce and offer customers a full range of value-added mill products.” Effective July 1, RTI will have three operating units: Distribution Group; Fabrication Group; and, Titanium Group, each of which will report to Michael Wellham, president and chief operating officer.
SCOTT TAYLOR was appointed business aviation business development leader for Standard Aero. Based in Tempe, Ariz., Taylor will be responsible for developing a long-term strategy for the business aviation sector and an approach for expanding the market for existing products and services. Taylor previously was general manager, Business & Regional Aviation Marketing, for General Electric Aviation and managed sales and marketing operations for Honeywell Aerospace.
ARINC DIRECT expanded services at its Scottsdale, Ariz. facility to offer complete interior modification work on-site for corporate aircraft. ARINC Direct began an expansion in November with a custom cabinetry shop and most recently added offices for an in-house interior designer and engineering specialist. The facility offers interior design consultation that includes cabin furnishings, colors, materials, textures, and floor plans. The facility allows customers to view designs with electronic renderings.
JAHID FAZAL-KARIM was named managing director of Jetcraft Trading and joined the board of directors of Jetcraft Corp. as a new shareholder. Jetcraft Trading is the aircraft sales and acquisition services joint venture between Jetcraft Corp. and Jet Aviation Group. Jetcraft called Fazal-Karim “one of the industry’s most successful sales executives,” and said he would add a new dimension to the alliance formed last year. He joined Bombardier Aerospace Business Aircraft in 2001 and most recently was senior vice president responsible for worldwide sales.
ECLIPSE also announced a price boost for the twin-engine Eclipse 500. The new price is $2.15 million, a jump of $555,000 effective immediately. The company said its cost-driven pricing model “requires Eclipse to re-examine aircraft pricing if actual costs change significantly from projections. The new Eclipse 500 price has been set based on a number of factors, including higher manufacturing costs and a slower than anticipated production ramp rate,” the company said, adding that the cost changes necessitated a corresponding shift in aircraft pricing.
NATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION’S 2008 Air Charter Summit, which will be held June 9-11 at the Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles Hotel in Chantilly, Va., will include a special session on the emerging threats that the illegal drug trade poses to charter operators. William Brown, special agent in charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency’s Aviation Division, will discuss the DEA’s growing focus on air charter during a luncheon on June 10. Brown also will advise how operators can protect themselves from becoming targets of drug runners.
BOMBARDIER Model DHC-8-400, -401 and -402 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0586; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-043-AD] – This proposed rule would require operators to replace all elevator-centering torsion springs with new springs in accordance with Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-27-31 (dated April 27, 2007). This proposal, which resulted from an MCAI originated by Transport Canada Civil Aviation, follows the reported failure of an elevator-centering torsion spring.
The Safety Committee of the Regional Air Cargo Carriers Association has developed a new Safety Management System it has dubbed “SMS Lite.” The new system is based upon a boilerplate safety manual published in Microsoft Word format and available to RACCA members on the organization’s Web site. The manual and SMS Lite incorporate the four major elements of safety management systems – policy, risk management, safety assurance and safety culture.
BILL SCHILLHAMMER was named director of international sales for Avidyne. Schillhammer will oversee growth of Avidyne’s international presence. He joined Avidyne in 2005, helped establish Avidyne-Europe and worked with DAC International to facilitate aftermarket sales in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Pacific Rim. Before joining Avidyne, he held management positions in high-technology display semiconductor and product sales, including as vice president of sales for FOCUS Enhancements. He also served in sales for Intel Corp.
CATCHING UP ON SOME OLD NEWS, The Washington Post opined in the May 28 issue about FAA reauthorization being “stuck on the legislative tarmac” because of all the non-aviation provisions that got dumped into the pot during Senate consideration of the bill last month (BA, May 12/211).
Gunter Kappler, an aircraft engine expert with an extensive background in manufacturing and academia, has joined the management advisory team at Thielert Aircraft Engines GmbH (TAE) to “provide support...in continuing the company’s operative business,” according to a May 23 statement from Bruno Kubler, the insolvency administrator overseeing the company’s affairs.
Bombardier Aerospace said Thursday it will build the composite structure for its new Learjet 85 business jet, along with other major portions of the aircraft, at its facility in Queretaro, Mexico. Use of Mexican manufacturing facilities by U.S. and Canadian business jet makers has become a growing trend in recent years, but Bombardier is believed to be the first company to have such a large portion of a new aircraft model built in Mexico.
TWO PASSENGERS in a de Havilland DHC-2 MK I amphibious Beaver aircraft were killed May 17 when the aircraft flipped over while the pilot was attempting to land on Lake Chelan near Stehekin, Wash., with the landing gear wheels extended. The aircraft, N9558Q, was operated by Lake Chelan Air Service, Inc., doing business as Chelan Airways. The airplane, which was operating as a Part 135 air taxi, had departed from the paved Runway 20 at Lake Chelan for the 40-nautical-mile flight to Stehekin.
