Model 680 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-0379; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-331-AD; Amendment 39-15318; AD 2007-26-16] - Requires inspecting the routing of the aft fairing wire bundle assembly for adequate separation between the wiring and the nearby hydraulic line. The AD also says technicians should look for chafing or damage of the wire bundle assembly and damage to the hydraulic line and perform corrective actions, if necessary.
BOB BLOUIN will join Hawker Beechcraft Corp. (HBC) in Wichita next month as Vice President of Flight Operations. Blouin previously spent seven years as senior vice president-operations for the National Business Aviation Association and before that spent many years with Short Brothers/Bombardier. He has more than 30 years of aircraft operations and management experience. Since resigning from NBAA in 2004, Blouin has headed his own consulting service, The Sky Group, which is headquartered at Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA).
Embraer has set a company record with 169 commercial aircraft deliveries last year, reaching the high end of its forecast 12 months ago. Also, the airframer says the strong order intake throughout the year continued into the new year, when it added 39 170/190s to its order book, and two ERJ135s for the Thai military.
A KEY CONGRESSMAN asked the Environmental Protection Agency to consider the link between aviation and global warming and questioned whether EPA would support regulating emissions of greenhouse gases from aircraft. Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), the chairman of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, made the inquiry in a Jan. 8 letter to EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson. See article on Page 16.
NOISE PROGRAMS FOR TWO FLORIDA AIRPORTS are being reviewed by FAA following the agency's recent approval of noise-exposure maps for Orlando Executive (ORL) and Ocala (OCF). FAA is seeking comments on Orlando Executive's plan by Feb. 29 and expects to make a decision on the proposed Part 150 noise program by June 28. The agency is accepting comments through Feb. 26 on the Ocala plan and expects to issue a ruling on that airport's program by June 25.
THE AIR CHARTER SAFETY FOUNDATION scheduled a 2008 Air Charter Safety Symposium Feb. 19-20 at the National Transportation Safety Board Training Center in Ashburn, Va. The symposium, "Developing A Healthy Safety Culture," will cover recent Part 135 accidents and factors, NASA safety initiatives, safety tools, safety management systems, and safe management experiences in Canada. Scheduled speakers include NTSB Vice Chairman Robert Sumwalt, along with specialists from FAA, NASA and Transport Canada.
FARNBOROUGH INTERNATIONAL LTD. (FIL) recently moved to new permanent headquarters on the air show site at Farnborough Aerodrome, reflecting the expansion of FIL "and its commitment to developing the Farnborough site for all-year-round events," officials said. The move also frees up exhibition space that will be available during the 2008 air show. The new address is: Farnborough International Ltd., ETPS Road, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 6FD. All telephone and fax numbers remain the same.
Joined Executive AirShare as sales director. Bayless will be based at Fort Worth Meacham International in Texas and will be responsible for expanding Executive AirShare's fractional aircraft ownership program in the Midwest. He formerly was southwest sales director for First Service Networks.
Model F.28 Mark 0070 and 0100 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-0300; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-191-AD] - This proposed AD would require inspection of the wing-to-fuselage fairings for indications of incorrect fit, damage or wear, using the instructions of Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-53-101 (dated Sept. 30, 2005). This proposal, which resulted from an MCAI originated by the Civil Aviation Authority of The Netherlands, was prompted by several reports of pilots having difficulties with the airplane's roll control.
Eclipse installed a new software program that is expected to produce more consistent and transferable manufacturing and maintenance procedures for the company's production facility in Albuquerque and its service centers in the U.S. The software was implemented as the company produced its 100th aircraft, a milestone the company reached one year after the company certified its Eclipse 500 Very Light Jet.
ASSOCIATED AIR CENTER (AAC) delivered an Airbus Corporate Jet with a VIP interior to a customer based in Florida and another ACJ to a customer in Asia, the 10th and 11th ACJs completed by the Dallas, Texas aircraft outfitting and modification center. The 10th aircraft, which AAC said is the first "N" registered VIP ACJ, was completed with a contemporary design with a master bedroom, master lavatory with shower and storage closets. A full Honeywell cabin management system was installed on the aircraft along with the Airshow moving map system.
ARINC is supporting the Rockwell Collins eXchange broadband communications system with its SKYLink satellite service. SKYLink will enable a high-speed network connection for Internet, fax over IP, voice over IP telephone and data service for Wi-Fi enable smartphones. SKYLink will provide coverage for eXchange customers in North America, Europe and the North Atlantic. ARINC plans to expand the coverage to the Caribbean and parts of South and Central America in early 2008 and is considering further expansion to the Middle East and Asia Pacific.
CONGRESS has two more months to complete work on a comprehensive aviation reauthorization bill before the current authorization expires Feb. 29, 2008, but it is unclear when the Senate may take up the measure. The House approved its reauthorization package in September. In December, Congress temporarily extended authorization as part of an omnibus fiscal 2008 appropriations bill that funds most of the federal government through the end of the year. The omnibus bill, which was signed into law Dec.
Sentient Jet Holdings LLC confirmed Friday that it had acquired The Air Group, a long-time California-based business aircraft charter and management company, the latest addition to Sentient's explosive expansion over the past year.
THE PROFESSIONAL AIRWAYS SYSTEMS SPECIALISTS (PASS) union is changing its name, but not its acronym. Union members voted to adopt a new name - Professional Aviation Safety Specialists - that is designed to emphasize the union's role in aviation safety.
January 6-10, 2008 - American Association of Airport Executives, 22nd Annual Aviation Issues Conference, Kona, Hawaii; (703) 824-0500 or e-mail ww.aaae.org/product/allmeetings.html 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
AVIDYNE launched two new dealer support services to provide more access to Avidyne technical support specialists. The services include a TechLine after-hours telephone support line that can provide access to an on-call Avidyne technician or a resource for information about an inquiry. Avidyne also is offering a TechChat instant messaging service to provide an alternative method for quick answers to immediate questions during normal business hours. Both programs are designed to expand and complement Avidyne's current technical support hotline.
TBM 700 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-0349; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-094-AD] - This proposal would require operators to inspect the pilot-door locking stop fittings for correct length and replace any incorrect length pilot-door locking stop fittings found. This proposed AD, which resulted from an MCAI originated by the aviation authority of France, is designed to prevent depressurization of the airplane. The FAA estimates that this proposal would affect 157 aircraft on the U.S. Registry and cost U.S. operators a total of $58,875, or $375 per airplane.
CLIFFORD DEVELOPMENT appointed Central Flying Service as a service center for Clifford's Citation II and SII re-engining programs. Based in Little Rock, Ark., Central Flying Service operates a 500,000-square-foot facility that provides airframe and engine maintenance, paint, interior and avionics work for Cessna Citation, Hawker and Beechcraft products. Clifford Development is working on parallel supplemental type certificates to re-engine the Citation II and SII with Williams International FJ44-3A engines.
CONKLIN & DE DECKER is releasing its 2008 State Tax Guide for General Aviation this month, covering the latest taxes and fees imposed on general aviation in all 50 states. The guide permits users to search by exemption, tax type or by state, and a new feature this year permits side-by-side comparison of taxes in three states. A one-year subscription is $275, which includes a CD ROM and downloadable updates throughout the year. For more information, contact Conklin & de Decker at (508) 255-5975 or via fax at (508) 255-9380.
Arriel 2S1 and 2S2 turboshaft engines [Docket No. FAA-2007-28125; Directorate Identifier 2007-NE-17-AD; Amendment 39-15276; AD 2007-24-10] - Requires replacement of the fuel-filter drain screw with a new one, tightened to an effective torque of 6.5 Nm in accordance with the instructions contained in Turbomeca Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 292 73 2824 (dated Feb. 1, 2007).
HOMELAND SECURITY officials continue to wait for the Office and Management and Budget to complete its review of a proposal to establish a security program for large private aircraft similar to the so-called Twelve-Five program already in effect for commercial operators. DHS officials hope to get the proposal published within about two months. The Transportation Security Administration estimates that some 9,000 general aviation aircraft operators use airplanes that weigh more than 12,500 pounds and would be subject to the requirements of the proposed rule.
Was appointed Learjet sales director, central U.S., for Bombardier and will sell new Learjet business aircraft in Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Nebraska and Colorado. Moir has served with Bombardier for eight years, most recently as contract manager for the Challenger 850. He also was responsible for strategic sourcing on new development programs, including the Learjet 40 and 45 XR and Challenger 300. Moir is based in Wichita, Kan.
REP. JOHN MICA (R-Fla.) charged that "Democrats appear to be blocking the appointment of the FAA nominee in an attempt to appease special interests at the expense of the traveling public." Mica, the ranking Republican on the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, said the failure to get Sturgell confirmed in a timely fashion leaves FAA without a "critical position key to aiding our system at this important juncture." See article on Page 2. a
