SATWEST won FAA supplemental type certification for installation of the SatWest L-1 Satcom Kit for Learjet 31, 31A, 35, 35A, 36 and 36A models. Installation will be completed through a service agreement with DC Aerospace, LLC. The Satcom kit uses the Iridium satellite network, providing voice and data communication, two-way short-wave messaging and security.
WORKERS represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) at Pratt & Whitney's Connecticut plant voted to ratify a three-year contract that includes annual pay raises of 3.5 percent, as well as a 16 percent improvement in pension benefits. The contract covers about 4,100 workers, who voted 2,831 to 326 in favor of the deal.
SF340A and 340B airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-29331; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-136-AD] - This notice reopens the comment period on an FAA proposal that would require operators to conduct repetitive ultrasonic inspections to detect cracking in the axle adaptor, replace the axle adaptor if necessary, and ultimately perform the terminating action of inspecting and modifying the main landing gear shock strut and axle adaptors. The FAA determined that the public was not provided adequate opportunity to submit comments on this proposed rule.
ICF INTERNATIONAL closed its $51 million purchase of Simat Helliesen & Eichner, Inc. (SH&E), creating one of the largest transportation consultancies worldwide (BA, Nov. 19/230). SH&E brings a strong aviation industry background that will work with ICF's expertise in climate change strategies, ICF said. ICF will keep the management team and employment base intact at SH&E and SH&E President David Treitel will serve as a senior vice president of ICF.
Pratt & Whitney Canada is adding production workers and opening a new line to build helicopter engines, part of growth across all the company's major markets.
KAREN C. TRIPP joined L-3 Communications this month as vice president, corporate communications. Tripp, a veteran aerospace industry public relations and advertising executive, most recently was general manager of global communications for General Electric's Aviation unit. Before GE, Tripp was vice president of corporate communications for Rockwell Collins.
WESTERN AIRCRAFT was recognized by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) for its safety and training efforts. Western was one of only eight companies in Idaho to earn the SHARP recognition, and achieved the recognition for the second year in a row. The SHARP program provides incentives and support to employers that demonstrate continuous improvement in their safety and health management systems. Under SHARP, Western Aircraft can forego regularly scheduled OSHA inspections.
THE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION will not set an "artificial timeline" for release of a proposed rule to expand the Twelve-Five program now in place for Part 135 operators to private operators of aircraft weighing 12,500 pounds or more, Kip Hawley, TSA Administrator, told Aviation Week editors last week. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff previously announced plans to release a proposal to impose new security requirements, but the proposal has been under review at the Office of Management and Budget for months (BA, Nov. 12/218).
ATR received a contract and memorandum of understanding from Malaysia Airlines (MAS) for a total of 20 ATR 72-500s. The contract includes an order for 10 ATRs and options for 10 more that will be operated by MAS subsidiary Firefly. The MOU calls for the purchase of 10 ATRs and options for five more to be operated by MAS subsidiary MASwings. ATR valued the deal at $650 million, including options for both Firefly and MASwings. ATR will deliver the first of the aircraft to Firefly in 2008. Deliveries of the MASwings order will begin in 2009.
Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.) called on Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar (D-Minn.) to work with him to change pilot retirement age provisions this year. "It is very clear that legislation to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration will not be signed into law before the end of this year," Mica wrote in a letter to Oberstar. "I strongly believe it is our obligation and this committee's responsibility to see to it that our most experienced pilots are permitted to continue flying commercial aircraft."
ROCKWELL COLLINS won the avionics supply contract for the Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ), with the aircraft featuring the Collins Pro Line Fusion system. Rockwell Collins also plans to serve as the avionics system integrator for the aircraft program.
Model F27 Mark 50 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-0268; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-129-AD; Amendment 39-15286; AD 2007-25-04] - Requires perform a one-time inspection of the engine mount tubing and end fittings for corrosion, reporting the inspection results to Fokker Services and taking corrective action, if necessary. This AD, which resulted from an MCAI issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Netherlands, is intended to prevent excessive corrosion of the engine mount frames, which, if not corrected, could lead to failure of the frames.
CESSNA AIRCRAFT COMPANY finalized its purchase of "select assets" of Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing Company Dec. 4, including the type certificate for the Columbia 350 and 400 low-wing, turbocharged, composite construction aircraft, which will now be known as the Cessna 350 and 400 (BA, Dec. 3/251).
Model DHC-8-102, -103, -106, -201, -202, -301, -311, -315 and -400 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-0213; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-233-AD] - This proposed AD would require operators to replace certain carbon-molded, resistive-element potentiometers used in the pilot, copilot and observer utility lights with wire-wound-type potentiometers, following the instructions contained in either Bombardier Service Bulletin 8-33-53, Revision A or 84-33-10, Revision A (both dated March 14, 2007).
EMIRATES-CAE FLIGHT TRAINING (ECFT) received a three-year contract to provide helicopter training for Global Vectra Helicorp, India's largest offshore helicopter operator. ECFT will provide initial and recurrent training to Global Vectra pilots using a Bell Helicopter 412 full flight simulator at ECFT's facility in Dubai. ECFT became an authorized Bell 412 training facility in 2006 for operators in the Middle East and Asia. Global Vectra provides air logistics services to the Indian oil and gas exploration and production market.
India's central cabinet has approved a flying and aviation training institute to be set up as a joint venture between the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and CAE, Canada.
Joined Midcoast Aviation as vice president, engineering. Reid formerly served as vice president, engineering, certification and interior design for Associated Air Center, where he was responsible for all interior completions, including Boeing BBJ and Airbus ACJ programs. He also served as the G200 final phase engineering manager for Gulfstream Aerospace in Dallas.
INNOTECH AVIATION began construction of a 41,000-square-foot, twin-bay aircraft paint facility at Montreal's Pierre Trudeau International Airport in Dorval, Quebec. The new facility, which is scheduled for completion by May, will be able to accommodate aircraft as large as the Bombardier Global XRS business jet.
Model 400A airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-28883; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-106-AD; Amendment 39-15267; AD 2007-24-01] - Requires inspecting the galley cabinets to determine if certain parts and a certain type of wire are installed, and, if they are, taking corrective actions, following the instructions of Raytheon Service Bulletin SB 25-3758 (dated June 2006). This directive, which resulted from reports of undersized wire in the galley cabinets, is designed to prevent overheating of wire insulation and consequent fire or smoke in the cabin.
Execaire, the aircraft management arm of the Innotech-Execaire Aviation Group, named George Nader to lead its senior sales and marketing management team. Nader will report to Glenn MacDonald, vice president and general manager of Execaire. Nader formerly worked for Air Canada Technical Services and Pratt & Whitney Canada, having responsibility for the aftermarket sales and customer service teams worldwide for the engine maker.
EMB-135ER, -135KE, -135KL -135LR, -145, -145ER, -145MR, -145LR, -145XR, -145MP and -145EP airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-28987; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-127-AD; Amendment 39-15269; AD 2007-24-03] - Requires the addition of two reinforcements to the forward fuselage skin on the left-hand and right-hand sides between Frames 9 to 10 and 10 to 11, and Stringers 12 to 15. Also, install supports to the reinforcements and stringers, as well as new fasteners to the reinforcements and supports, and reroute the electrical wiring in the affected area.
ARINC selected Columbus, Ohio-based MyAirplane.com to provide product support and marketing for ARINC's eFlyBook. MyAirplane.com will market and provide support services for the general aviation market. ARINC introduced eFlyBook in 2006 as an electronic flight bag that uses an "electronic paper" to display navigation charters and document. The units are sold with a subscription for navigation chart updates and flighty information. EDMO Distributors will continue to distribute eFlyBook.
The Federal Aviation Administration will form an Aviation Rulemaking Committee to develop recommended requirements for aircraft landing distance performance assessments prior to landing.
