– The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating two April 5 accidents involving Robinson R-44 helicopters that resulted in substantial damage to the aircraft. Just after midnight CDT one R-44 (N402PD) operated by the Topeka, Kan. Police Department was substantially damaged when it hit a light pole in a parking lot in that city while the pilot was attempting to make a precautionary landing. The pilot told FAA investigators that the engine overspeed warning light had illuminated and he started to execute an autorotation.
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) is expected to meet with Sen. Rockefeller soon to renew discussions on the stalled FAA reauthorization bill. Baucus and Rockefeller have been at odds over the future of the aviation excise taxes, and Senate Commerce Committee leaders had indicated it could be as late as September 2009 before a comprehensive reauthorization bill is passed.
Honeywell Aerospace achieved a major breakthrough for its aircraft propulsion program last week as Embraer announced that a new version of Honeywell’s HTF7000 turbofan will power both the new Midsize Jet (MSJ) and Midlight Jet (MLJ) that the Brazilian manufacturer is developing. Rockwell Collins was selected to supply its Pro Line Fusion integrated avionics systems for the new business jets.
PILATUS AIRCRAFT LTD. PC-12, PC-12/45 and PC-12/47 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0070; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-098-AD; Amendment 39-15452; AD 2008-07-11] – This AD calls for the establishment of new life limits for the pitch-trim actuator and pitch-trim actuator attachment parts to ensure that these components do not fail. The FAA estimates that this AD will affect 500 airplanes on the U.S. Registry and cost U.S. operators $40 per aircraft to perform the inspections and another $12,240 per aircraft to take remedial actions. This AD becomes effective May 9.
JET SOURCE, based at McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad, Calif., added a Bombardier Challenger 601 to its charter feet. The aircraft seats up to 10 passengers and has a range of more than 3,400 miles.
WOODLAND AVIATION was approved as an authorized Cessna service facility for all models of Cessna single-engine aircraft as well as for Diamond Aircraft. Woodland, an Avfuel dealer, operates at Watts/Woodland airport in California. It was acquired in June 2007 by the owners of Davis Flight Support in Sacramento. Woodland provides repairs and inspection of turbine and piston aircraft. Davis Flight Support was recently renovated to provide newly designed office space, showers, flight planning, sleep rooms, catering, a recreation area and executive conference area.
DORNIER 328-100 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0297; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-330-AD] – This proposal would require operators to install a drain hole in the lower skin of the left-hand and right-hand elevator horns in accordance with the instructions of Avcraft Dornier Service Bulletin SB-328-55-450, Rev. 1 (dated Nov. 19, 2003).
The National Park Service is taking initial steps to seek curbs on aircraft that fly above 18,000 feet mean sea level over Grand Canyon National Park (GCNP). NPS last week released a notice clarifying the definition of “substantial restoration of natural quiet” at GCNP. Park officials are working with the Federal Aviation Administration to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) covering the Special Flight Rules Area surrounding GCNP.
HAWKER BEECHCRAFT CORPORATION B200, B200GT, B300 and B300C airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0392; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-022-AD; Amendment 39-15451; AD 2008-07-10] – Following the instructions of Hawker Beechcraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 30-3889 (dated March 2008), operators must install a placard incorporating information that limits operation of the aircraft when there is known or forecast icing. Also, replace a section of the pneumatic supply tube for the tail-deice system with a new tube made from different material.
CESSNA AIRCRAFT announced this month that it will build a new plant in Wichita, Kan. to manufacture the Citation Columbus. The announcement came after the Kansas state legislature agreed to provide $33 million in incentives to keep the program in the state. The Wichita plane-maker said the Citation Columbus project will create 1,010 new direct jobs.
TURBOMECA Arriel 1B, 1D, 1D1 and 1S1 engines [Docket No. FAA-2005-21242; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-09-AD; Amendment 39-15442; AD 2008-07-01] – This directive, which supersedes an existing AD that requires checks and replacement of gas generator second-stage turbine blades, adds a 3,000-hour life limit for Arriel 1B second-stage turbine blades. The FAA issued this directive to prevent failures of the blades, which could result in an uncommanded inflight engine shutdown and a subsequent forced autorotation landing or accident.
Rockwell Collins, working with Bristow Eastern Hemisphere and Shell Aircraft, secured the first operational approval for use of a Traffic Alert Collision Avoidance System (TCAS II) aboard a helicopter. The European Aviation Safety Agency granted a supplemental type certificate for installation of the Rockwell Collins TCAS II aboard a Bristow Super Puma helicopter. Shell Aircraft worked with Rockwell Collins to install, test and certify the unit.
ROLLS-ROYCE DEUTSCHLAND BR700-715A1-30, B1-30 and C1-30 engines [Docket No. FAA-2008-0224; Directorate Identifier 2007-NE-44-AD] – This proposed AD, which resulted from an MCAI provided by the aviation authority of Germany, would lower the life limits of the high-pressure turbine Stage 1 and Stage 2 rotor discs. The proposal is intended to prevent rotating parts that may have exceeded their low-cycle fatigue-life limits from failing, which could result in uncontained engine failure and subsequent damage to the airplane.
XOJET, the private aviation services provider that ordered 110 Bombardier and Citation business jets valued at $2.5 billion during last fall’s National Business Aviation Association annual meeting and convention (BA, Oct. 1/146), reported that flight hours surged 240 percent in the first quarter of 2008, compared with a year earlier. XOJET said it also experienced a 60 percent increase in the sale of its fleet ownership segment designed for high-volume private jet travelers.
CHEVRON GLOBAL AVIATION has turned to the Disney Institute to provide training for Chevron- and Texaco-branded fixed-base operators. Chevron will offer a two-day course that introduces FBOs to Disney’s approach to service culture. The course will cover quality service, customer loyalty, employee training and finding and retaining talent. The courses will be offered May 8-9 in Orlando, Fla. and Sept. 18-19 in Anaheim, Calif.
WEST STAR AVIATION is working with Avidyne Corp. to seek Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum approval for customers with the Avidyne Envision/Alliant retrofit. The flight deck can be integrated on the Cessna 441 Conquest II, which can operate above 29,000 feet. The companies have developed an Alliant package for the Conquest II that includes dual-redundant Avidyne EXP5000 10.4-inch primary flight displays, Avidyne EX500 or EX5000 multifunction display, the S-TEC IntelliFlight 2100 digital autopilot and Mid-Continent two-inch standby instruments.
AMPARO CALATAYUD was named assistant manager of FlightSafety International’s Dallas/Fort Worth learning center. Calatayud joined the U.S. Army in 1975, earning ratings in both fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, and served as an instructor pilot and maintenance test pilot evaluator before retiring as a commissioned officer after 20 years of service. She originally joined FSI in 1997 as an instructor and was promoted to assistant manager the following year.
GARMIN INTERNATIONAL won FAA supplemental type certification for its Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT) that will integrate with the Garmin G1000 avionics suite. The SVT will provide a three-dimensional depiction of terrain, obstacles and traffic on the G1000 primary flight display. The SVT will create and display real-time three-dimensional images of the aircraft position that is combined with topographic databases. SVT will alert pilots of potential ground hazards by displaying terrain and obstacles that are shaded with TAWS alert coloring.
MICHAEL MOORE was appointed senior vice president of Associated Air Center. Moore most recently was vice president of production, planning and supply chain. Before joining AAC, he was vice president and general manager of an aviation services company, where he managed sales, quality assurance, materials, operations and human resources for MRO providers.
GENERAL ELECTRIC CT7-8A engines [Docket No. FAA-2006-24261; Directorate Identifier 2006-NE-12-AD] – The FAA has proposed superseding an existing AD that requires inspections of the electrical chip detectors for the No. 3 bearing. The agency would instead require operators to remove certain engines within 6,200 cycles since new. This proposal resulted from an investigation of the root causes of two failures of the No. 3 bearing. The agency is concerned that failure of the No.
HONEYWELL EXECUTIVES won the contract to power the Bombardier Challenger 300, and then spent five years trying to find another aircraft platform for its HTF7000 engine line before Embraer selected the HTF7005-E for the new Embraer MSJ and MLJ business jets. But Rob Wilson, president of Honeywell’s Business and General Aviation unit, expressed confidence last week that other OEM contracts are in the offing. “There will be more,” he said with a broad smile.
AVIDYNE CORPORATION is developing a new Entegra flight management system, the FMS900W, that is WAAS-enabled and designed to reduce workload for single-pilot IFR operations. The FMS900W provides redundant VHF and TSC146b Gamma 3-compliant turbine class FMS capabilities. The FMS900W includes single or dual remote-mount LRUs, each with Avidyne’s GPS723 WAAS/RNP GPS sensor and a DVX740 VHF NAV/COM module and optional ACD215 Control/Display Units. The system uses a modular architecture and large-format displays.
SHELLY SIMI, who formerly managed media relations and external communications for Adam Aircraft, is joining Jeppesen as a communications strategist for the company’s business and general aviation business. Simi will be responsible for expanding business and general aviation external communications and will, interface with media and assist with marketing, branding and internal communications. Simi has nearly 20 years of aviation experience. She joined Adam in 2005 after serving with the General Aviation Manufacturers Association for 16 years.
DAVID YEOMAN was named senior director of enterprise communications for Rockwell Collins. Yeoman will lead all internal and external communications for the company. He has 15 years of marketing and corporate communications experience with Rockwell Collins, most recently as director of corporate communications, where he was responsible for brand management, media relations and Web management activities.
