The Federal Aviation Administration last week lifted several limitations on Quest Aircraft's Kodiak, clearing the way for the new plane-maker to begin delivery of the 10-place single-engine turboprop utility aircraft later this quarter. Quest quietly secured type certification for the Kodiak in late May, but that TC came with nine restrictions, including day-only flight under visual flight rules. FAA last week lifted all but a couple of those restrictions - one involving airframe fatigue life and one involving cold weather operation.
THALES launched a Universal Access Transceiver (UAT) radio that augments the company's Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) product line. Thales, a partner on the ITT team bidding for the U.S. ADS-B program, said the development of the UAT comes from the investment in the U.S. program. The UAT radio expands the Thales ADS-B capabilities to provide broadcast services for en route, terminal and surface applications.
Model 750XL airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-27863 Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-037-AD; Amendment 39-15126; AD 2007-14-04] - Conduct initial and repetitive inspections of the rudder trim tab upper pivot for any lateral movement of the bushing. If any lateral movement is detected, install, before further flight, modification PAC/XL/0267, following the instructions set forth in Pacific Aerospaceís Mandatory Service Bulletin PACSB/XL/023 (dated February 15, 2007) and Pacific Aerospace Ltd Drawing No. 11-03131, Drawing (dated February 17, 2007).
Honda Aero, Inc. will construct a $27 million facility in Burlington, N.C. to build engines developed and marketed by GE Honda Aero Engines LLC, the joint venture established in 2004 to build a family of small jet engines in the 1,000 pounds to 3,500 pounds of thrust class.
Appointed fueling business manager for U.S. Bank Corporate Payment Systems. During the past five years, U.S. Bank has purchased several companies that specialize in providing fuel-related services in the automotive and aviation industries, including Multi Service Aviation and Voyager Fleet Systems. "We see exciting opportunity for growth and synergy among our fuel products," said Wilkins. "I look forward to leveraging the bank's scale and resources in payments." Wilkins has been with U.S. Bank since 1992, most recently as large money market manager for U.S.
SIGMA-TEK INSTRUMENTS is introducing a new electric attitude indicator, the Sigma-Tek 5000EG, at this week's Experimental Aircraft Association AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis. The 5000EG is certified by FAA as a primary or standby gyro, approved to replace turn coordinators, available in both 14- and 28-volt models, the company said. The new unit retails for $2,850, but the manufacturer said it will provide a $175 incentive for buyers at Oshkosh.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION raised the aviation safety rating for Guatemala from Category 2 to Category 1, saying that country now meets the international safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization following a recent reassessment.
AEROEXPO, the European general aviation show, will be held June 13-15, 2008 at Wycombe Air Park just outside London. This year's event drew 11,514 visitors, more than double the number that attended in 2006, and attracted 136 exhibitors and featured 52 aircraft on static display.
KANSAS CITY AVIATION CENTER (KCAC) was named a regional distribution center for Diamond Aircraft Industries line of aircraft. KCAC is based at the Johnson County Airport in the Kansas City metropolitan area and recently opened a second Part 145 repair station and sales facility at the Spirit of St. Louis Airport. The Diamond Aircraft product line runs from the two-seat, single-engine DA20 to the five-seat, single-engine D-Jet, which is currently in development.
Saying that "demand is off the charts" for the Falcon winglets introduced by Aviation Partners earlier this year, Joe Clark, the company's CEO, predicted recently that his Seattle-based firm could eventually provide its range-enhancing, fuel-saving airfoils for as many as 800 Falcon business jets. Clark added that his company, which has provided winglets for more than 1,600 airliners through a joint venture with Boeing, also could apply its patented technology to as many as 20 additional types of business aircraft, including possibly some turboprops.
BACK AVIATION SOLUTIONS, in partnership with the Official Airline Guide, recently developed a new Carbon Emissions Calculator designed to allow airlines to "calculate their carbon footprints by equipment type, airline, airport, route, country or world region." A carbon footprint is defined as the amount of greenhouse gases - measured in units of carbon dioxide (CO2) - released by an activity or entity such as airline flights.
Models SR20 and SR22 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-27976; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-042-AD; Amendment 39-15125; AD 2007-14-03] - Replace the pick-up collar support and nylon screws of the airplane parachute system with a newly designed pick-up collar support and custom tension screws. This AD results from a report of an inflight parachute system activation in which the parachute failed to deploy properly. The FAA issued this AD to prevent the possible premature separation of the collar, which could result in the parachute failing to deploy successfully.
Model F33, G33, V35B, A36, A36TC, B36TC, 95-B55, D55, E55, A56TC, 58, and G58 airplanes and Raytheon Aircraft Company Model 58P, 58TC and 77 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-28434; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-053-AD] - This proposed AD would require operators to replace certain circuit-breaker toggle switches with improved switches. This proposed directive, which resulted from reports that some switches have overheated, is designed to prevent switch failure, which could result in smoke in the cockpit and the inability to turn off the switch.
Promoted to worldwide director of sales for the Universal Avionics product line for DAC International. For the past 10 years Hernandez was responsible for all Latin American sales for DAC, including Universal products.
Appointed senior vice president, U.S. sales for Dassault Falcon. Habib most recently was vice president, Western U.S. sales for the French plane-maker. He joined Dassault Falcon in 1993 as a demonstration pilot after serving as a naval aviator for eight years. He was named district sales manager, Far East in 1995 and then was promoted to director of sales, North Asia in 1997. In 1999, Habib became vice president, international sales and was named to his most recent post in 2004.
The House aviation subcommittee is scheduled to hold a hearing July 24 to examine the need to improve worker conditions in FAA's older ATC facilities. This issue gained traction earlier this year after a couple of incidents at FAA facilities when controllers became ill after noxious fumes entered work areas. Carbon monoxide affected controllers at the New York terminal radar approach control (TRACON) in April, and the same problem occurred at the Washington Dulles tower in May.
SUN 'N FUN's board of directors decided to shorten the 2008 Fly-In by one day to April 8-13. The event in recent years had ended with a half-day on Monday that culminated with an airshow. "From a financial standpoint," said Chairman Bill Eickhoff, "Sun 'n Fun was financially responsible for services that were being underutilized during that final half-day period."
Model CL-600, -601, -601-3A, -601-3R and CL-604 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-26353; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-189-AD; Amendment 39-15124; AD 2007-14-02] - Identify the part number and serial number of the selector valves of the nose landing gear and the nose gear door, and perform related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This AD results from reports of uncommanded partial retractions of the nose landing gear. This directive affects 502 airplanes on the U.S. Registry and will cost operators a total of $40,160, or $80 per aircraft.
SHADIN AVIONICS recently completed renovation of its 22,000-square-foot headquarters and manufacturing facility in St. Louis Park, Minn. The new layout is designed to promote efficient communication, handle the workflow for Shadin processes and permit future growth, the company said.
PRECISION CASTPARTS CORP. is proceeding with the acquisition of Caledonian Alloys Group Ltd., which was announced last month. Precision Castparts, a diversified manufacturer of complex metal components and products, said Caledonian is "the market leader in providing nickel superalloy and titanium revert management solutions for the aerospace and industrial turbine industries." Revert includes metal chips, casting gating, bar ends, forging flash and other byproducts from casting, forging and fastener manufacturing processes that can be remelted and reused.
METALCRAFT TECHNOLOGIES INC. cut the first metal for the fuselage of Utilicraft Aerospace Industries prototype FF-1080 aircraft. The FF-1080 Freight Feeder twin-engine utility airplane is designed to carry standard aviation industry containers on short- to medium-range flights.
NATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION'S Lindsey McFarren was tapped to serve as the director of the newly formed Air Charter Safety Foundation, which was established to improve air charter safety and security (BA, June 4/249). The nonprofit foundation will be involved in research, education and collaborative initiatives that promote charter industry standards, best practices and safety management systems. McFarren joined NATA in September 2005 as manager, research and special projects.
