EXECUTIVE BEECHCRAFT delivered the first King Air C90 retrofitted with the Garmin G1000 avionics suite. Executive Beechcraft worked with Garmin International to complete the installation for Data Systems International. The G1000 avionics suite integrates primary flight, navigation, communication, terrain, traffic, weather, and engine instrumentation on high-definition LCDs. Executive Beechcraft won supplemental type certification approval for installation of the G1000 avionics package on King C90 series aircraft.
EMB-120, -120ER, -120FC, -120QC and -120RT airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-28855; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-098-AD; Amendment 39-15323; AD 2007-26-21] - Requires modification of certain electrical wiring and replacement of the current stall-warning computers with new improved ones in accordance with the procedures described in EMBRAER Service Bulletin 120-27-0092, Revision 01 (dated Dec. 29, 2006).
March 10-11 - Federal Aviation Administration, 33rd Annual Aviation Forecast Conference, Washington, D.C. Contact Linda Baranovics at (202) 267-5370; or e-mail [email protected] March 10-12 - Flight Safety Foundation 20th European Aviation Safety Seminar - EASS, Bucharest, Romania; Contact FSF at (703) 739-6700 March 13-15 - Aeronautical Repair Station Association, Annual Repair Symposium, Washington, D.C.; Contact ARSA at (703) 739-9543
Compact Series propellers [Docket No. FAA-2007-28876; Directorate Identifier 2000-NE-08-AD; Amendment 39-15311; AD 2007-26-09] - This AD supersedes an existing directive (AD 2002-09-08) applicable to all Hartzell Compact Series props with Y-shank aluminum blades. Like the earlier AD, this rule requires initial inspections of prop blades; rework of the blades, including cold rolling of the blade-shank retention radius, blade replacement and modification of pitch-change mechanisms for certain models; and changing the airplane operating limitations of specific prop models.
ADAM AIRCRAFT is laying off workers while it attempts to raise more capital to ramp up production on the A500 and finish certification work on the A700. See article below.
SCHUBACH AVIATION, based at Palomar Airport in Carlsbad, Calif., added a Challenger 601 to its on-demand fleet. The Challenger was renovated with fresh paint and a newly designed interior that can accommodate 12 passengers. The aircraft joins a fleet of 16 aircraft that includes another Challenger 601, two King Air 200s, a King Air C90, three Citation CJ1s, a Citation 1SP, a Citation SII, a King Air 350, two Hawker 800s, a Hawker 700 and two Hawker 600s.
ANDREW BROOM, who has headed media relations for Eclipse Aviation for the past five years, will join Hawker Beechcraft Corp. in Wichita, Kan. next week as director of media and public relations. Broom will work closely with Jackie Berger, vice president communications and public affairs for HBC. A graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Broom worked for the General Aviation Manufacturers Association in Washington, D.C. before joining Eclipse.
The recently formed Air Taxi Association (ATXA) in the U.S. launched a European counterpart with the election of a slate of officers to steer the new organization. ATXA, founded by eight fleet operators last spring to unify and raise the visibility of the emerging air taxi industry, most of which will use new-generation Very Light Jets (VLJs) (BA, June 25/282), announced plans last year to form ATXA Europe, and 15 existing and emerging operators already have joined the new organization.
The president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association issued a stern warning last week that retirements of experienced air traffic controllers and required overtime shifts for those that remain on the job are resulting in increasing numbers of operational errors in the National Airspace System.
AIRNET SYSTEMS of Columbus, Ohio won two new contracts from the Federal Reserve System's transportation group and has commenced service. The contracts run through Dec. 31, 2009 and are expected to generate approximately $3 million in total revenue over the two-year period. The primary contract covers weekend transportation of shipments between Federal Reserve check processing sites.
The chairman of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), last week expressed concern that the Bush Administration has not taken steps to curb greenhouse gas emissions and questioned whether the Environmental Protection Agency would support regulating greenhouse gases from aircraft. Combustion of aviation fuels was responsible for about three percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2005, Markey said in a Jan. 8 letter to EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson.
Tay 611-8 and -8C, 620-15, 650-15 and 651-54 engines [Docket No. FAA-2007-27811; Directorate Identifier 2004-NE-11-AD; Amendment 39-15321; AD 2007-26-19] - This AD supersedes an existing directive that requires repetitive visual inspections of all ice-impact panels and fillers in the low-pressure compressor case and replacement of those panels, as needed. The new AD requires the same actions, but it provides the terminating action to repetitive inspections--installation of newly designed LP compressor case ice-impact panels.
SF340A and B airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-0333; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-236-AD] - Requires installation of Modification 3162, which involves stowing the existing wiring to the Fuel Quantity Indication System (FQIS), installing new wires with shields to the FQIS, and conducting operational and functional tests of the rewired system, following the instructions of Saab Service Bulletin 340-28-024, Revision 01 (dated May 21, 2007).
ECLIPSE AVIATION plans to hold a press conference today (Jan. 14) to provide information on "an important financing development and discuss an exciting new opportunity to grow the Eclipse 500 market." The manufacturer said last month it had received "a very good response" from customers to an offer to freeze the total price of the Eclipse 500 Very Light Jet they have on order in return for an immediate $625,000 payment to Eclipse to help get the company through a cash flow bind (BA, Dec. 17/273).
MEDAIRE, INC., which provides worldwide crewmember medical training, medical advisory services and medical kits for aviation and maritime operators, designated Remote Diagnostic Technologies Ltd. as a "preferred provider" for remote vital sign monitoring devices. The vital sign monitoring units transmit data on pulse rates, blood pressure, video images and EKG results directly to physicians at MedAire's 24/7 MedLink Global Response Center in Phoenix, Ariz.
At the behest of the Small Business Administration, the Federal Aviation Administration last month clarified that its Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast proposal would have a "significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities." FAA in October proposed requiring installation of ADS-B compatible equipment on all aircraft that fly above 10,000 feet mean sea level or in certain terminal airspace by 2020 (BA, Oct. 8/158).
THE CONTROLLERS UNION ratcheted up the rhetoric last week, claiming that it is "unsafe to fly" into some large U.S. airports at certain times of the day because the continuing exodus of veteran controllers has left key FAA ATC facilities woefully short of fully trained controllers. See article on Page 14.
CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0413; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-341-AD] - This proposed AD would require operators to revise the "Airworthiness Limitations" section of the "Instructions for Continued Airworthiness" to incorporate new limitations for fuel tank systems. This proposed AD, which resulted from an MCAI originated by Transport Canada Civil Aviation, is designed to prevent potential ignition sources inside the fuel system, which could result in a fuel tank explosion.
ERA HELICOPTERS is building a new flight training facility in Lake Charles, La. The new building is expected to be operational by the end of the first quarter and will include two Frasca International flight training devices for the Eurocopter AS350B2 and EC135 helicopters, built by Frasca International.
The Federal Aviation Administration plans to expand improved taxiway centerline marking requirements to all certificated airports as part of an effort to reduce runway incursions, the agency announced last week. FAA also is recommending regular recurrent driver training for people with access to the movement and ramp areas at certificated airports.
CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-0335; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-292-AD] - Requires replacement of certain fuel tube couplings with redesigned couplings. For certain couplings, the replacement includes a detailed inspection for wear of the sleeve and coupling and applicable corrective actions, including installing new O-rings and sleeves.
CLAYTON M. JONES, chairman, president and chief executive of Rockwell Collins, was elected chairman of the board of governors for the Aerospace Industries Association for 2008. Robert J. Stevens, chairman, president and chief executive of Lockheed Martin Corp., was named vice chairman. Marion Blakey, former FAA Administrator, took over late last year as president and CEO of AIA.
The Air Transport Association predicts an industry-wide profit of $3.5 billion to $4.5 billion this year, the first time the U.S. airline industry has reported three consecutive profitable years in eight years. The industry will be profitable despite rising fuel and non-fuel expenses and a softening economy, ATA chief economist John Heimlich noted in the 2008 Economic Outlook. Passenger and cargo revenue strength will continue to sustain the industry this year, the report said.
Gulfstream Aerospace won approval from FAA for four of the company's business jet models to fly special Required Navigation Performance Special Aircraft and Aircrew Authorized Required (RNP SAAAR) airport approaches. The approval follows a year-long effort by Gulfstream, fractional operator NetJets and Honeywell International to gain approval for the companies' Gulfstream Planeview-equipped aircraft to fly the specialized approaches.
