A CESSNA CARAVAN Model 208B crashed in Mexico Nov. 5 after it lost power during its initial climb after taking off near Culiacan in the Mexican state of Sinaloa. The commercial pilot and two passengers were seriously injured and 12 other passengers sustained minor injuries. The airplane, XA-UBC, was Serial No. 208B1046 and was operated by Aerocalafia, a Mexican air taxi operator. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The aircraft was supposed to make a cross-country flight to Los Cabos.
DHC-8-102, -103, -106, -201, -202, -301, -311 and -315 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-29066; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-147-AD; Amendment 39-15250; AD 2007-23-04] - Conduct a one-time inspection of the left- and right-hand elevator spring tab mechanism hardware for correct installation, and, prior to further flight, replace any hardware that is incorrectly installed, using the instructions contained in Bombardier Service Bulletin 8-27-106 (dated Feb. 7, 2006). FAA estimates that this AD will affect 150 airplanes on the U.S. Registry and cost U.S.
The Federal Aviation Administration has announced its intention to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for a possible replacement airfield for Hailey, Idaho's Friedman Memorial Airport (SUN), which serves the resort communities of Sun Valley and Ketchum. The Friedman Memorial Airport Authority, which is sponsoring the project, has proposed to construct and operate a replacement airport within Blaine County. The federal government's Bureau of Land Management is involved in the project because alternative sites may be located on its land.
The parent company of TAG Aviation USA and a 49 percent stakeholder in AMI Jet Charter agreed to pay the Federal Aviation Administration $10 million last week to end an enforcement action and help clear the way for TAG Holding of Geneva, Switzerland to complete the sale of the U.S. entities to Sentient Flight Group, the latest in a series of events that have roiled the domestic charter industry in recent months. Industry reaction to the settlement agreement - which will be the largest in FAA's history - ranged from "unbelievable" to "extortion."
Model F.28 Mark 0070 and 0100 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-29064; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-128-AD; Amendment 39-15249; AD 2007-23-03] - Inspect the nuts on shuttle valves in the APU compartment in accordance with the instructions of Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-26-019 (dated Jan. 6, 2006). If incorrectly installed or tightened nuts, or signs of leakage, damage or corrosion are found, before the next flight, tighten or replace the affected nuts or replace the shuttle valves, as applicable.
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has declared the Bombardier Q400 fit to fly, following its investigation of a series of landing gear incidents involving the large twin turboprop and after meeting last week with Bombardier, landing gear maker Goodrich, and regulators from Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Canada.
Joined Gulfstream Aerospace as director of composite technology, responsible for the design, testing and manufacture of composite aircraft components. Hornick previously was engineering and technology director for GKN Aerospace in Tallassee, Ala., where he was responsible for development of composite aircraft assemblies. He also spent six years with Pratt & Whitney in East Hartford, Conn., where he was cost and weight manager for the Joint Strike Fighter and a commercial composites part facility manager. He holds various patents in composite design.
NETJETS and Marquis Jet are trying to win exposure in the New York theater crowd, signing on as "the exclusive private aviation partners" of Mel Brooks' new Broadway musical production Young Frankenstein, which opened Nov. 8. The two aviation firms hosted an opening night party at the Empire State Building. The two companies said NetJets and Marquis Jet Card owners "will have access to Mr.
Promoted to director, mechanical systems for Gulfstream Aerospace, where he will manage the design, development, certification and service support for Gulfstream aircraft flight decks, flight controls, hydraulics and other mechanical systems. Ireland has served with Gulfstream since1992, holding engineering management posts on the GV Development Program and various special mission programs. Most recently, Ireland served as manager of the Conformal Airborne Early Warning (CAEW) special mission aircraft program.
JET AVIATION BASEL received letters of intent to complete nine wide- and narrow-body aircraft - two Airbus A340s, four Boeing BBJs and three B787 aircraft. The completions will continue through 2014. The latest contracts come as Jet Aviation began construction on a new 9,600-square-meter hangar to accommodate wide-body aircraft with long wingspans and very tall tails. The new hangar will be completed in the first half of next year. The new hangar will accommodate 200 new employees.
TWO SENIOR officers in the Civil Air Patrol were killed last week when their aircraft crashed. Col. Edwin W. Lewis, Jr., director of operations for CAP's Pacific Region, and Col. Dion E. DeCamp, commander of CAP's Nevada wing, died Thursday evening when their CAP plane crashed south of Las Vegas, Nev. Lewis had flown to Las Vegas to drop off another CAP airplane to be used in an airshow display. He and DeCamp were apparently enroute to Lewis' home in Rosamond, Calif. when the accident occurred. Both pilots had enjoyed long careers in the U.S. Air Force and the CAP.
MCCAULEY PROPELLER SYSTEMS B5JFR36C1101/114GCA-0, C5JFR36C1102/L114GCA-0, B5JFR36C1103/114HCA-0 and C5JFR36C1104/L114HCA-0 propellers [Docket No. FAA-2006-25173; Directorate Identifier 2006-NE-24-AD] - This proposal would supersede several current directives that require fluorescent penetrant inspections and eddy current inspections of propeller blades for cracks and removal of blades from service if cracks are found.
Business aviation will have to comply with several new Department of Homeland Security requirements, DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff said last week, including one that will require international business jet flights to be screened at designated overseas airports before departing for the U.S.
AMETEK continued to expand its third-party maintenance, repair and overhaul services with the completion of the $74 million acquisition of the United Kingdom-based repair and overhaul unit of Umeco plc (Umeco R&O). Umeco R&O reported $58 million in sales in 2007. Ametek executives said the acquisition will provide the company with a strong presence in the European RO market. The addition of Umeco followed Ametek's recent acquisitions of Southern Aeroparts and B&S Aircraft Parts. Umeco R&O will be added to Ametek's Aerospace and Defense division.
HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY Michael Chertoff today will kick off the National Air Transportation Association's 2007 Aviation Business Roundtable, which is drawing more than 50 of the aviation services industry's top executives.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association has turned to its members to create a letter-writing campaign in opposition to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection proposal that would require advance notice and approval for general aviation international flights. The National Business Aviation Association, meanwhile, has joined AOPA in appealing for an extension of the deadline for comments on the proposal.
A NUMBER of changes in the airline market led to a "steep reduction in the national noise exposure" in recent years, said Carl Burleson, director of FAA's Office of Environment and Energy. These changes included a 70 percent reduction of older hushkitted aircraft since 2000.
November 8 - National Business Aviation Association Regional Forum, Oakland, Calif. International Airport (OAK). For more information, contact NBAA at (202) 783-9000 November 28 - FAA 4th Annual International Aviation Safety Forum, Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Chantilly, Va. (202) 267-3883 December 10 - American Association of Airport Executives, Seventh Annual Aviation Security Summit, Arlington, Va., Contact Carter Morris at (703) 824-0500 or e-mail [email protected]
The European Commission has unveiled new rules which increase the number of frequencies available for air-ground communications in air traffic management, last week in Brussels. As a part of a raft of legislation aiming at creating a seamless, more efficient single sky in Europe, the new regulation on "voice channel spacing" foresees a reduction of the channel spacing from 25 kHz to 8.33 kHz.
Hawker Beechcraft Corp., which already builds a substantial portion of the Hawker 400XP business jet at its Salina, Kan. facility, is moving more work there. HBC currently builds the wings for piston, turboprop and some jet models plus the nose, cockpit, empennage and engine nacelles for the Hawker 400XP in Salina and now will be doing some of the fuselage work there, a move that will boost the company's total number of employees in Salina to more than 400.
THE THIRD GROB SPN flew for the first time last week from the company's airfield at Tussenhausen-Mattsies, Germany, where the new light jet is being developed. D-CSPJ actually flew twice on October 29, during which systems were checked and the airplane's stability and control were evaluated. Total flying time was 1 hour and 26 minutes. Niall Olver, Grob Aerospace's chief executive, said three more of the Williams FJ44-3A-powered aircraft eventually will join the flight test program.
DHC-8-400 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-29235; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-232-AD; Amendment 39-15245; AD 2007-22-09] - Before further flight, do a visual inspection to detect discrepancies in the main landing gear. Specifically, examine the jam nut of the retract actuator to ensure the wire lock is in place and the nut is secured. Also, inspect the retract actuator for any signs of corrosion or wear, and conduct applicable related investigative and corrective actions if necessary.
Model HP.137 Jetstream Mk.1, Jetstream Series 200, Jetstream Series 3101 and Jetstream Model 3201 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-28115 Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-045-AD; Amendment 39-15235; AD 2007-21-17] - Inspect the main landing gear radius rod forged cylinder flashline, following the instructions of British Aerospace Jetstream Series 3100 and 3200 Service Bulletin 32-JA060741 (dated Nov. 1, 2006). If cracks are found, replace the radius rod assembly with a serviceable unit before further flight.
