NetJets is expected to finalize an agreement soon with Rockwell Collins to begin installing elements of the avionics manufacturer's eFlight products in at least one aircraft type in the NetJets' fleet. Collins officials are touting eFlight as a big step toward a truly paperless cockpit and are targeting air carriers and other large fleet operators with marketing and sales efforts. See article below.
Embraer CEO Mauricio Botelho plans to relinquish that role in April 2007, but will remain as the company's chairman to ensure the airframer successfully revamps its corporate structure. The company won approval from its board of directors late last week to create a new company that would eliminate preferred shares and instead offer all common shares.
General Aviation advocates are awaiting release of FAA's proposal on a future funding mechanism (BA, Dec. 12/271). FAA has indicated that it is targeting late February or early March for release. Senior FAA officials have repeatedly stated that they want to tie the agency's revenues to costs, which GA groups fear could be FAA's attempt to transition to a user-fee system.
The National Transportation Safety Board, participating in two foreign accident investigations in which Cessna Caravans crashed after icing up, recommended pilots of the single-engine turboprops take additional precautions to avoid icing-related accidents.
Penny Young joined the Flight Safety Foundation as chief financial officer. Young, a certified public accountant, has more than 20 years of accounting experience. She most recently was chief financial officer at the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors National Association. She is a University of Maryland graduate.
TAG Aviation USA, Inc. named George Suttler, a veteran pilot with both Air Force and airline experience, vice president of flight operations. Suttler will be based at the company's U.S. headquarters in Burlingame, Calif. He is responsible for the safe and efficient operations of TAG's managed fleet of corporate jets, as well as management and training of TAG's flight crews. Suttler reports to J.W.C. (Jake) Cartwright, president and chief executive officer.
Weber Aircraft, the Gainesville, Texas manufacturer of aircraft seats, promoted Adri Ruiter to president. Ruiter most recently was vice president and general manager, engineering and marketing. He succeeds Michel Labarre, who moved to C&D Zodiac, a sister company that specializes in aircraft cabin interiors. Weber, a subsidiary of Zodiac, also named Alain Peraudeau director of European and Middle East Operations. Peraudeau will remain based in Toulouse, France, where he previously served as director of relations for Zodiac at Airbus.
The Safety Board also issued three "Urgent" recommendations last week urging FAA to mandate specific operating procedures for pilots of Cessna Caravan utility turboprops when operating in icing conditions. The Caravan fleet also is the subject of an earlier airworthiness directive from FAA designed to protect against icing accidents. See articles below.
Michael Todd was named manager of support sales for Mooney Aerospace. Todd, who has two decades of aviation experience, most recently was Southwest regional sales manager for Bombardier Aerospace Business Aircraft Services. He joined Bombardier's Flight Test Center in Wichita, Kan. in 1991 as a liaison between flight operations, engineering, maintenance and outside vendors.
FRAKES AVIATION (Gulfstream American) Model G-73 (Mallard) series airplanes and Model G-73 Airplanes converted to have turbine engines [Docket No. FAA-2005-23440; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-256-AD; Amendment 39-14452; AD 2006-01-51] - publishes an amendment previously sent by individual notices to affected operators.
Harbin Embraer, the joint venture between Embraer and China Aviation Industry Corporation II, won an order from China Eastern Airlines Wuhan Ltd. for five 50-seat ERJ 145 LR aircraft. The order is in addition to the five ERJ 145s that China Eastern Airlines Jiangsu Ltd. acquired earlier. Deliveries of the most recent order to China Eastern Wuhan are expected between November 2006 and June 2007. Harbin Embraer, which has delivered the first three aircraft on order to China Eastern Jiangsu, will deliver the remaining two this year.
ARMY CANCELS LOCKHEED MARTIN'S AERIAL COMMON SENSOR CONTRACT - The Army has chosen to cancel Lockheed Martin's $879 million Aerial Common Sensor development contract rather than switch aircraft platforms to Bombardier's Global Express business jet, the service announced Jan. 12.
Bombardier Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-22403; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-144-AD; Amendment 39-14426; AD 2005-26-05] - requires an inspection of the laminated shims for cracks, damage, or extrusion between the forward attachment fittings of the horizontal stabilizer and the top rib of the vertical stabilizer; a torque check of the attachment bolts in the attachment fittings of the front, middle, and rear spars; and corrective actions if necessary.
FLORIDA AIRSPACE REDESIGN SLASHES HOLIDAY FLIGHT DELAYS, FAA SAYS - The Florida airspace redesign that FAA completed last year succeeded in cutting holiday season delays dramatically at the South Florida airports that caused major headaches for airlines last winter, FAA officials said.
FAA DROPS ALTITUDE CHANGE FOR MANDATORY OXYGEN MASKS - The Federal Aviation Administration last week shelved a rule easing Part 121 oxygen requirements after the National Transportation Safety Board warned that the rule was based on faulty data and could jeopardize safety. In November, FAA raised the altitude at which a pilot must don an oxygen mask when the other pilot leaves the cockpit. Pilots left alone at the controls must use their masks at altitudes above Flight Level 250, but the November rule would have changed that to FL350.
Max Allen was named Rolls-Royce program director for Dallas Airmotive's Forest Park facility in Dallas, Texas. Allen will manage Rolls-Royce engine programs, including planning, administration and overall profit and loss. Allen joined Dallas Airmotive in 2004 as director of engine operations at Forest Park. He previously served as manager of quality and engineering and interim plant manager for General Electric's aircraft engine overhaul facility at Dallas Love Field.
Thales' new air traffic management system has become fully operational in China. Thales won the contract from the Chinese North East and South Area Control Center in September 2001 and installed integrated Eurocat air traffic management systems in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. The systems control up to 60 percent of the current air traffic in China.
Business Aviation operators destined for Las Vegas Friday were warned to call ahead to fixed-base operators when planning to land at McCarran International Airport. "LAS has experienced severe ramp congestion over the past several weekends. This has resulted in a few instances of the airport being closed to GA and aircraft being diverted to other airports," the National Business Aviation Association told members.
Ballistic Recovery Systems won FAA supplemental type certification for installation of its whole-airplane parachute recovery system aboard Symphony SA 160 airplanes. The system will be offered as a factory installed option on the Symphony aircraft. BRS worked with Symphony engineers to design the system so that it would be lighter in weight and optimize center of gravity, BRS said. The system also is standard equipment on Cirrus aircraft.
Pilots at fractional aircraft operator Flight Options, having seen the lucrative contract that Teamsters union negotiators won for pilots at NetJets last year, have filed a petition seeking representation by the Teamsters. See article below.
MOONEY AEROSPACE BOARD ELECTS NEW CHAIRMAN - The Mooney Aerospace Board of Directors elected Steven Karol chairman, the company announced last week. Karol succeeds Walt Catlow, who resigned from the post earlier this month to devote his time to other interests. "I have enjoyed our professional relationship during 2005...taking Mooney to unparalleled stature in the field of personal air transportation," Catlow said.
Engine Components Inc. reciprocating engine cylinder assemblies [Docket No. FAA-2005-22358; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-20-AD; Amendment 39-14431; AD 2005-26-10] - requires replacement of ECi "Classic Cast" cylinder assemblies, Part Number (P/N) AEL65102. This AD results from reports of about 30 failures of the subject cylinder assemblies marketed by ECi. FAA is issuing this AD to prevent loss of engine power due to cracks in the cylinder assemblies and possible engine failure caused by separation of a cylinder head.
Embraer Model ERJ 170 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-23475; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-117-AD] - proposes to require revising the Airworthiness Limitations section (ALS) of the airplane maintenance manual (AMM) to include new, specific maintenance tasks related to the incorporation of a new horizontal stabilizer actuator. This proposed AD also would require revising the ALS of the AMM to include revised repetitive inspection intervals for certain tasks in the maintenance plan related to the aileron and flap/slat flight controls system.
Bob Kane was appointed director of sales, Canada, for Dassault Falcon. Kane, previously responsible for concept sales in the Western U.S. for Falcon, will oversee sales and marketing for all new Falcon business jets in Canada. He joined Dassault Falcon in 1997 as a demonstration pilot and is type rated in the Falcon 50, 50EX, 900 B/C, 900EX and 2000.
