Model F.28 Mark 0070 and 0100 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-24959; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-258-AD; Amendment 39-14737; AD 2006-17-16] - Requires a one-time detailed inspection to detect corrosion on the wing rear spar lower girder, and related investigative and applicable corrective actions if necessary. This AD results from reports of corrosion of the wing rear spar lower girder between wing station (STA) 8700 and wing STA 9200.
MARTI MONEY joined Truman Arnold Companies as marketing director. Money will manage marketing efforts for TAC's aviation services, wholesale petroleum, petroleum distribution and convenience stores. Money has seven years of marketing, communications and public relations experience, most recently as director of marketing/communications for United Way of Salt Lake.
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE'S GV long-range business jet was selected as the test bed for the U.S. Air Force Air Combat Command C4ISR Operational Networks program. STG-MELE is the prime contractor on the program. MELE Associates of Rockville, Md. and subcontractor Magnus Aviation will provide the staff, equipment and material to integrate the necessary systems on the aircraft and evaluate the program.
EMBRAER received an order from Brazilian charter operator ABC Taxi Aereo for one Phenom 100 and one Phenom 300 jet, marking the first sale of the Phenom business jets to a Latin American charter company. ABC Taxi Aereo, a subsidiary of the Algar Group, has operated Embraer aircraft since 1978 and is an authorized service center for Embraer turboprop aircraft. The operator currently flies three Embraer Xingu twin-turboprop airplanes. Embraer will deliver the Phenoms in 2009 and 2010.
A software upgrade available on a widely used Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System might have prevented the pilots of Comair Flight 5191 from taking off on the wrong runway, Honeywell officials suggested last week. The Comair flight was taking off before dawn from Lexington, Ky. and had been cleared for departure on Runway 22, which is 7,003 feet long. The flightcrew, however, inadvertently turned onto 3,500-foot-long Runway 26 and the airplane ran off the end of the runway, crashed and burned, killing 49 of the 50 people on board.
September 25 - Greater Washington Business Aviation Association Golf Tournament, Herndon, Va., Centennial Golf Course, email: [email protected] October 17-19 - National Business Aviation Association 59th Annual Meeting & Convention, Orlando, Fla., (202) 783-9000 October 27 - 64th annual Wings Club Dinner-Dance honoring Al Ueltschi, Chairman FlightSafety International, Inc. with its Distinguished Achievement Award; Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York, 212-867-1770, email: [email protected].
A recent policy change is expected to ease the paperwork burden for small-aircraft repair stations that work on older aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration released guidance that would permit repair stations to use FAA-approved data for major repairs on unpressurized areas of airplanes that weigh less than 12,500 pounds. The guidance essentially eliminates the requirement for repair stations to obtain field approvals for repair data on small aircraft that were type certificated before Jan. 1, 1980.
A MITSUBISHI MU-2 crashed near Daytona Beach, Fla. Aug. 26, killing both occupants of the twin-turboprop. The aircraft, N171MA, had departed from Bloomington, Ind. and was headed for the Bahamas when the pilot encountered thunderstorms over Florida. He told controllers he was unable to hold altitude shortly before the airplane disappeared from radar.
George Ferito, a veteran helicopter pilot with broad operational and training experience, was named to the newly created position of director, business development for Rotor Wing Aircraft by FlightSafety International. Ferito joined FSI in 2001 as director of training at the company's Dallas/Fort Worth learning center. He was promoted to assistant manager and most recently served as manager for both the Dallas/Fort Worth and Bell Helicopter learning centers. Ferito will continue as manager of the Bell Helicopter training center.
DANIEL MACLELLAN was promoted to center manager of FlightSafety International's Dallas/Fort Worth Learning Center. Since joining FSI in 1994, MacLellan has held several different job assignments, including sales director at FlightSafety Boeing, regional marketing director and most recently as assistant manager of the Greater Philadelphia/Wilmington Learning Center. He holds a bachelor's degree in marketing from Suffolk University and a commercial pilot's license.
MU-2B series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-23883; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-12-AD; Amendment 39-14722; AD 2006-17-01] - Requires incorporating power assurance charts into the Limitations Section of the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM), inspecting the engine torque indication system, and recalibrating the torque pressure transducers as required.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION last month issued a policy notice that it is eliminating duplicate mailings of emergency airworthiness directives (ADs) and is no longer mailing corrections to ADs or special airworthiness information bulletins (SAIBs). FAA further is limiting the mailing of engine ADs only to owners and operators who have registered the engine and is limiting the content of an AD mailing to just the text of the requirements. All ADs and SAIBs will be available via the Web.
THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION Friday issued an emergency airworthiness directive to owners of Raytheon Model 1900, 1900C and 1900D aircraft requiring a one-time visual inspection before further flight of the left- and right-wing rear spar lower caps for cracking or damage. The AD stems from reports of cracks found in the wings of two 1900D airplanes. One of the airplanes also was missing fasteners. The agency said such a condition could cause the wing to separate from the airplane.
Cessna Aircraft, which already has a small flock of different light jet models at the bottom end of its product line, plans to add another next month -- the CitationJet 4 -- during the National Business Aviation Association convention in Orlando, Fla.
CAE won a four-year contract extension valued at $30 million (U.S.) to provide pilot training for Flight Options through 2010. Flight Options will send its pilots to the CAE SimuFlite training center at Dallas/Fort Worth in Texas. The training will cover the entire Flight Options fleet, which includes the Beechjet 400A, Hawker 400XP, Hawker 800XP, Citation X and Legacy aircraft.
CESSNA AIRCRAFT says feedback was "extremely positive" from the approximately 4,000 people who filled out surveys assessing the proof-of-concept Light Sport Aircraft Cessna displayed at July's Experimental Aircraft Association Airventure (BA, July 31/43). The LSA drew throngs of interested viewers in Oshkosh, and a Cessna spokesman told BA Friday the responses indicated people "really liked the airplane" and were "very supportive" of the entire LSA concept.
Address: Comments may be submitted via the Web: http://dms.dot.gov; by fax: (202) 493-2251; or by mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street S.W., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, Washington, D.C. 20590. Identify docket number. Petitions for Exemption Docket No.: 2006-25538 Petitioner: Avantair, Inc Section of 14 CFR Affected: 135.247(a)(2).
BRIAN REID was named vice president of aircraft certification for Associated Air Center, the Landmark Aviation completion center at Dallas Love Field. Reid has more than 29 years of industry experience, previously holding engineering positions with Gulfstream Aerospace, Lockheed, Northrop Grumman, Martin Marietta and British Aerospace. In his new role, he will oversee the certification department and Designated Alteration Station efforts.
DEIDRE CUSACK was appointed vice president and general manager, measurement and power systems for AMETEK Aerospace and Defense. Cusack first joined AMETEK's Aerospace unit in 1992 as technical team leader for next-generation flame detection sensors. She left to become product manager for flame detection characterization sensors for Meggitt Avionics in 1997 and rejoined AMETEK in 2000 as division vice president of power instruments. Cusack was promoted in 2004 to division vice president, sensors and fluid management systems.
Model DHC-8-100, DHC-8-200, and DHC-8-300 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-24290; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-243-AD; Amendment 39-14731; AD 2006-17-10] - Requires repetitive inspections of the fluorescent light tube assemblies of the cabin, lavatory, and sidewall, and corrective actions if necessary. This AD also provides for optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This AD results from reports of overheating due to arcing between the fluorescent tube pins and the lamp holder contacts. The tubes had not been properly seated during installation.
EMBRAER and BNP Paribas signed a line-of-credit agreement valued at $500 million that is designed to permit the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer to reduce its overall debt load.
Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-25657; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-187-AD; Amendment 39-14735; AD 2006-17-14] - Supersedes an existing AD that requires inspecting contactors 1K4XD, 2K4XD, and K4XA to determine the type of terminal base plate, and applying sealant on the terminal base plates, if necessary. This new AD revises the effective date of the existing AD. This AD results from incidents of short circuit failures of certain alternating current (AC) contactors located in the avionics bay.
COLUMBIA AIRCRAFT SALES, based in Groton, Conn., was named an exclusive distributor for Diamond aircraft in New England, New York and New Jersey. Diamond produces the DA20 trainer, the DA40 Diamond Star that is equipped with a Garmin G1000 glass cockpit and the turbo-diesel DA42 Twin Star. Diamond also is developing a five-place personal jet, the D-JET.
Brazilian manufacturer Embraer announced an agreement valued at nearly $3 billion to provide a Chinese carrier with a fleet of regional jets, half of which will be built in China.
