TBM 700 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-28645; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-059-AD; Amendment 39-15228; AD 2007-21-10] - Before each flight, check the access door handle lock using the instructions of EADS SOCATA Mandatory TBM Aircraft Service Bulletin SB 70-150 (dated May 2007). If any discrepancy is found, before further flight install a placard that only allows flight with the pilot seats occupied.
Model 206A and 206B helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2007-0055; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-12-AD; Amendment 39-15237; AD 2007-22-01] - Requires replacing certain spindles with an airworthy spindle. This directive resulted from a Transportation Safety Board of Canada accident investigation, which revealed that a spindle repaired by Cadorath Aerospace Inc. failed during flight, resulting in loss of control of the helicopter. A similar repair was performed by H-S Tools & Parts Inc.
EAGLE COPTERS LTD. has won Transport Canada approval for installation of the Honeywell T5317BCV in the Bell 205A-1. The T5317BCV, which is the latest version of T53, features a four-year/2,000-hour factory warranty from the manufacturer. Calgary, Canada-based Eagle recently delivered its first Eagle Single, a single-engine application of the T5317BCV in the Bell 212.
Sentient Flight Group last week began hashing out an agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration on the transfer of nearly 75 aircraft to its operating certificate after the company reached an agreement in principle to buy the operations of TAG Aviation USA and its affiliate AMI Jet Charter. The announcement of the agreement with TAG/AMI JC came as Sentient completed the acquisition of Hawker Beechcraft's aircraft management and charter unit under a separate deal.
BOMBARDIER recently logged two more fleet orders for its Q400 turboprop. Qantas Airways is finalizing an agreement with Bombardier for acquisition of up to 36 of the 72-seat aircraft, which would be used in the QantasLink regional airline operation in Australia. The agreement is expected to include firm orders for 12 aircraft and options and purchase rights for an additional 24. The airline currently operates seven Q400s, and in January 2007 the carrier ordered another two aircraft that are to be delivered in January 2008.
A FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION proposal released last week would impose new limits on campaign travel using noncommercial aircraft. The FEC is seeking comments by Nov. 13 on the proposed changes, which stem from provisions of the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 (BA, Aug. 13/61). The proposal would restrict and, in some cases, prohibit federal candidates and their political committees from spending campaign funds for noncommercial air travel. The commission plans to hold a public hearing on the subject on Nov. 15 at 10 a.m.
FAA says the 75 largest U.S. airports responded well to its call to accelerate the introduction of improved taxiway markings to help reduce runway incursions, and in another effort to attack the same problem, FAA is speeding up deployment of new airport surveillance technology.
HOUSE aviation leaders are enthusiastic that the prospects for the new Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) technology are "enormous," but they caution that the technology is not the sole answer to the nation's congestion problems, particularly in the near term.
THE GULFSTREAM IV FLEET now has amassed 3 million flight hours. In service for 20 years, the long-range G-IV/G-IVSP has been one of the best-selling large-cabin, long-range business jets, with 535 aircraft sold, according to Gulfstream. The G-IV was certified by FAA on April 22, 1987, and entered service on June 8, 1987. In September 1992, Gulfstream introduced the "special performance" G-IVSP, which featured an updated landing package and increased takeoff and landing weight that allowed for heavier payloads and more flexibility in outfitting.
Saab hopes to win European Aviation Safety Agency approval by the end of next year for its Civil Aircraft Missile Protection System (CAMPS), which is designed to protect business aircraft from man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS).
Appointed executive director, regulatory compliance for FlightSafety International. Gallagher will serve as the liaison between FlightSafety and aviation regulation authorities worldwide. He will steer the company's quality management system, regulatory and standards compliance and qualification of simulators. He joined FlightSafety in 1999 and most recently was manager of the learning center in San Antonio, Texas, as well as the company's representative to the Transportation Security Administration.
FLIGHT OPTIONS executives are encouraged that H.I.G. Capital - a private equity firm that has reached agreement to buy the Cleveland, Ohio fractional ownership aircraft provider - is committed to providing the necessary capital to grow the company and upgrade its fleet. "As part of this combined growth strategy...Flight Options is in final negotiations with Embraer on a long-term aircraft supply agreement that will continue to modernize our fleet and provide our customers with best-in-class aircraft," said Flight Options CEO S. Michael Scheeringa.
THREE AIRBUS CORPORATE JETLINERS have been ordered by VistaJet, the Swiss-based charter company that has operations in Austria and Germany. VistaJet has not yet specified the type of engine or completion center for its new ACJs. VistaJet's fleet, which currently includes medium and ultra-long-range business jets that are, on average, only two years old, will grow to 31 aircraft with the acquisition of the ACJs. The charter operator plans to use the large aircraft to help expand its business in Russia and Asia. Total sales of the ACJ family now exceed 100 aircraft.
JET AVIATION was selected by Belair to provide ground-handling services for the Swiss airline at Zurich International Airport beginning on Nov. 1. Services to be provided by Jet Aviation include passenger check-in, gate services, baggage sorting, cabin cleaning and preparation, as well as ramp and station control. Jet Aviation Handling employs more than 1,100 people at the airports in Zurich and Geneva and serves more than 60 airlines at those locations.
Model EMB-120, -120ER, -120FC, -120QC and -120RT airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-0075; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-171-AD] - This proposal calls for revision of the "Airworthiness Limitations" section of the "Instructions for Continued Airworthiness" to incorporate maintenance tasks related to fuel systems limitations. FAA proposed this AD, which resulted from an MCAI originated by the airworthiness authority for Brazil, to mitigate the potential for fuel tank explosions. FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 109 airplanes on the U.S. Registry and cost U.S.
Named manager of the MRO/avionics division for Landmark Aviation's facility in Winston-Salem, N.C. (INT). Sunda has served with Landmark for 14 years, most recently as manager of the avionics division. He also has held management positions with Eastern Metro Airlines and Duncan Aviation.
Corporate aviation is continuing to maintain a level of safety that rivals the level of scheduled airlines, National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Mark Rosenker said. But he added that several recent accidents have underscored the importance of operators emphasizing professionalism, training and fatigue countermeasures.
ELLIOTT AVIATION received supplemental type certification from the Federal Aviation Administration for the Rockwell Collins Integrated Flight Information System (IFIS) on Pro Line 21-equipped King Air B200 and 350 turboprops. Elliott also has applied for European Aviation Safety Agency validation of the retrofit. The Rockwell Collins IFIS expands capabilities to include electronic charts, graphical weather and enhanced map displays. The charting provides approach procedures, airport diagrams and Notices to Airmen (NOTAMS).
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association is urging the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency to extend the deadline for comments on a proposal requiring advance electronic submission of flight and passenger manifest information before international travel, saying the proposal could present "major obstacles" for the general aviation community.
Appointed to the board of directors of Liberty Aerospace. Arvai serves as chief executive of the aviation consulting firm, The Arvai Group. He holds a master's degree in information assurance from the Tepper School at Carnegie-Mellon University and a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering from the University of Michigan. He also is a Certified Public Accountant and an instrument-rated pilot. In addition to the duties at his consultancy, Arvai serves as an adjunct faculty member at Daniel Webster College.
EXCEL-JET filed a lawsuit against FAA for the June 22, 2006 crash of the company's Sport-Jet prototype. Excel-Jet alleges that the aircraft was cleared for takeoff behind a de Havilland Dash 8 turboprop in violation of mandatory separation requirements.
ENGINE BIRD-INGESTION CRITERIA have changed, thanks to a new FAA rule that amends powerplant type certification standards to better address the threat flocking birds pose to turbine-powered aircraft. The changes, which go into effect on Nov. 16, will harmonize bird-ingestion standards for turbine engines type certificated by the U.S. and European Aviation Safety Agency countries and simplify airworthiness approvals for engine import and export. In 2000, FAA adopted new regulations to better address the overall bird ingestion threat to turbine-powered aircraft.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION Friday proposed to lift flight limitations on early model Eclipse 500 Very Light Jets once a modification that Eclipse developed for the pitot/angle-of-attack (AOA) is incorporated. Eclipse is incorporating the modification into production airplanes beginning with Serial Number 000065, and the proposed airworthiness directive would apply to Eclipse 500s with earlier serial numbers. The AD would supersede a previous AD that limits the Eclipse 500 to day visual flight rule flight. The AD also requires two pilots.
