Model R2160 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-26491 Directorate Identifier 2006 CE-076-AD; Amendment 39-15218; AD 2007-20-08] - Requires inspecting the bronze/brass hollow threaded fuel-line fittings for leaks, per Avions Pierre Robin Service Bulletin No. 86 (dated July 1980), and replacing leaking Type 1 fuel-line fittings with Type 2 fittings before further flight. The FAA estimates that this AD will affect 10 aircraft on the U.S. Registry and will cost U.S. operators a total of $1,800, or $180 per airplane.
PATS AIRCRAFT and Jet Aviation signed an agreement under which Jet Aviation will be retrofitting PATS' auxiliary fuel systems in Boeing Business Jets in Europe and the Middle East. As a result of fuel tank recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board following its investigation of the wing center tank explosion aboard TWA Flight 800 in 1996, FAA is requiring manufacturers of aircraft of 30 seats and over to modify fuel tanks to remove potential ignition sources according to the provisions of Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) 88.
An industry-based Aviation Rulemaking Committee this month urged the Federal Aviation Administration to consider wide-ranging financial incentives for aircraft operators to encourage them to equip their aircraft with Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) systems well before the proposed 2020 deadline. FAA Oct. 5 issued a notice of proposed rulemaking that would require operators that fly above 10,000 feet mean sea level or in certain terminal airspace to equip their aircraft with ADS-B systems by 2020 (BA, Oct. 8/158).
October 15 -- Greater Washington Business Aviation Association, Third Annual Golf Classic, Herndon, Va. Centennial Golf Course, [email protected] October 22-25 -- Bombardier Safety Standdown, Wichita, Kan. Contact Dawn Pepperd at Bombardier at (316) 946-2020; or [email protected] October 28-31 -- 52nd Air Traffic Control Association Conference & Exposition, Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Washington, D.C.; (703) 299-2430 or e-mail [email protected]
The Federal Aviation Administration has strengthened its oversight in response to the problem-plagued Flight Service Station (FSS) transition to private sector operation, but that response came after thousands of complaints flowed in from pilots who experienced problems with the service. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association gave flight services a "failing grade." AOPA President Phil Boyer told a House aviation subcommittee hearing last week, "My members hate this.
NATIONAL AIRCRAFT RESALE ASSOCIATION (NARA) named its board members and officers for 2008 during the organization's meeting held just prior to the NBAA convention last month in Atlanta, Ga. Phil Jordan of Business Air will serve as NARA chairman next year, while Michael O'Keeffe of Banyan Air Service will be the organization's vice chairman. Mike Zabkar of U.S. Jet Search will serve as treasurer, and Mike Ellis of Mike Ellis & Associates will be the secretary. Jim Markel of Apex Aviation Corporation will be the immediate past chairman.
Model SF340A and 340B airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-29331; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-136-AD] - This proposed AD, which resulted from an MCAI originated by the European Aviation Safety Agency, would require repetitive ultrasonic inspections to detect cracking in axle adaptors; replacing axle adaptors, if necessary; and ultimately performing the terminating action of inspecting and modifying the main landing gear shock strut and axle adaptors.
YINGLING AVIATION updated the cabin interior for the Oasis Caravan modification. The new interior includes two-tone executive seats, leather upholstered crew seats, and a dual position divan certified for occupancy during takeoff and landing. Yingling completed 18 Oasis interiors in the past year and expects to take nearly two dozen orders in the next 12 months. Seventy-five Caravan Oasis aircraft are in service.
BOMBARDIER AEROSPACE received an order from Aero Toy Store of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. for two Learjet 60 XR aircraft, and a Global Express XRS equipped with a Global Vision flight deck. Aero Toy Store provides sales and purchase, financing, and modification services for new and used aircraft. The company operates fixed-base operations and sales centers in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Montreal as well as a facility at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, Nev.
General aviation groups are encouraged that the Federal Aviation Administration plans to give a 2020 deadline for mandatory installation of Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) avionics, but the groups say that the agency's 100-page ADS-B equipage proposal leaves a few key technical questions unanswered. FAA Friday formally published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that would require ADS-B equipment on aircraft that fly above 10,000 feet mean sea level or in certain terminal airspace by 2020.
Robert E. Breiling, who has compiled safety data and statistics on business aviation for decades, was honored recently by the International Business Aviation Council. Breiling was presented with a glass plaque by IBAC Chairman Rui Aquino and President Don Spruston at an international dinner Sept. 27 at the conclusion of the NBAA convention in Atlanta, Ga. The award was presented on behalf of "Members of Business Aviation Associations Worldwide" in recognition of Breiling's "lifetime contributions and dedication to business aviation safety."
AVIDYNE CORPORATION teamed with San Diego, Calif.-based Crownair Aviation to develop a supplemental type certificate for the retrofit of Cessna 210 and T210 Centurion single-engine piston aircraft with the Envision integrated flight deck. Crownair also will refurbish the aircraft with new paint, interior and engine modifications. Avidyne estimated that 8,400 Cessna 210 and T210 aircraft were built between 1959 and 1985.
THE SCHEDULED AIRLINES spent more than $11 million during the first six months of 2007 in the user fee battle over FAA reauthorization legislation, according to Roll Call, a newspaper that covers Capitol Hill. The paper said the carriers and their trade group, the Air Transport Association, spent $11.3 million through June, reportedly the largest such expenditure for a six-month period for that segment of the industry.
ECLIPSE AVIATION President Vern Raburn said the company will make a decision on whether to proceed with development of the single-engine "Concept Jet," which was unveiled at the Experimental Aircraft Association AirVenture in July, "in early 2008."
Promoted to executive vice president of maintenance and operations for Avantair, Inc., the Clearwater, Fla.-based provider of fractional aircraft services. Beitzel joined Avantair in 2005 and most recently was vice president of maintenance. In his new role he will be responsible for leading the company's maintenance and operations departments. He has more than 20 years of aviation experience, previously working for Pan American World Airways and US Airways before joining Avantair.
CAE'S flight training center at Burgess Hill in the United Kingdom earned Part 142 certification from the Federal Aviation Administration. The certification clears the facility to provide training, testing and type rating certification for the Falcon 7X, 900EX EASy and 2000EX EASy. CAE in 2004 won a contract from Dassault to provide Falcon 7X training. CAE provides the training at the Burgess Hill and new North East Training Center near Morristown, N.J.
The Timken Company is working to complete the acquisition of The Purdy Corp., a precision manufacturer and systems integrator for military and commercial aviation customers, for $200 million. The agreement, announced last month, "will further expand the growing range of power-transmission products and capabilities Timken provides to the aerospace market," the Canton, Ohio manufacturer said.
Model DHC-7 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-28619; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-004-AD; Amendment 39-15212; AD 2007-20-02] - Inspect SM-200 servo drive units for certain markings, conduct related investigative action (if necessary) and modify those units (if needed). This AD results from a report that some SM-200 servo drive units that were not in configuration MOD H are installed on Model DHC-7 airplanes. MOD H prevents the internal clutch fasteners from backing out.
Eclipse Aviation, which had expected to have hundreds of its Eclipse 500 Very Light Jets in the hands of customers by this point, is continuing to push toward high-rate production of the airplane while attempting to win FAA approval of additional systems, officials said at last month's NBAA convention in Atlanta, Ga.
Adam Aircraft partnered with SAFERjett to provide pilot and maintenance training for both the A500 and A700 aircraft. SAFERjett is building a 50,000-square-foot training facility at Fort Worth Alliance Airport that will be open for training in late 2008. (BA, Sept. 17/121). The facility will be equipped with an A700 full motion Level D simulator that SAFERjett is building with Aerosim and Mechtronix along with an advanced aviation training device and virtual flight deck.
