The American Association of Airport Executives was awarded U.S. Patent Number 6,589,055 for its interactive employee training (IET) technology. The IET system is an automated training system that uses full-screen digital video combined with interactive computer-based training and testing and an application service provider. The system can be customized and updated to meet the specific needs of airports and federal regulatory agencies.
One of the sticking points is language in the House bill prohibiting privatization of the air traffic control system, a provision that the White House Office of Management and Budget has warned would trigger a veto recommendation to President Bush (BA, June 16/274). Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.), chairman of the aviation subcommittee, and Sen. Ernest Hollings (D-S.C.) the senior Democrat on the panel are said to remain confident about finding language that will resolve White House objections to the provision.
Ourplane, Inc., the company that is championing the owner-flown, fractional aircraft ownership program, named Romeo Oscar marketing communications of Montreal as its agency of record. Romeo Oscar (formerly McIntyre Kennedy, Inc.) provides advertising, public relations and strategic marketing counsel to OurPLANE, which is based in London, Ontario, and a number of other aviation clients.
Ascent Technology won a contract at Toronto Pearson International Airport to integrate airport information and systems. The three-phase project will start with enhancement of the resource allocation systems that control airport traffic, which is expected to increase with the addition of a new terminal scheduled to open in late 2003. The second phase will be to install Ascent's ARIS/SmartBus software, which is designed to consolidate all airport data exchange on one platform and support new reporting and flight tracking systems.
SYMPHONY AIRCRAFT TAKES FIRST FLIGHT IN GERMANY - OMF Aircraft's Symphony 135-TDI completed its first flight last month in Neubrandenberg, Germany. Test pilot Frank Hoffman flew the aircraft on the 90-minute flight. "We confirmed that the aircraft has good takeoff performance with a short takeoff roll, and steady climb performance," said Derek Stinnes, OMF managing partner. "It's very quiet on the ground, with sound levels that are appropriate for the aircraft."
CJ Systems Aviation Group delivered a new EC135 T2 helicopter to Airlink, an air ambulance service based in Wilmington, N.C. The delivery was part of a continuing contract with Airlink, and the helicopter replaced a BK117 helicopter that has been in use since Airlink began service in 2001. The new, more efficient and reliable helicopter will support what has become a busy operation - Airlink flies an average of 52 missions a month, serving the coastal North and South Carolina region.
SUMMARY: Pursuant to FAA's rulemaking provisions governing the application, processing, and disposition of petitions for exemption (14 CFR Part 11), this notice contains a summary of certain petitions seeking relief from specified requirements of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR Chapter I), dispositions of certain petitions previously received, and corrections. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities.
Federal Aviation Administration, after receiving requests from organizations that represent large air carriers, aeronautical repair stations and Part 135 operators, has agreed to a 60-day extension of the comment period for its controversial proposal to amend the hazardous materials training requirements for certain air carriers and commercial operators. The proposal also would require certain repair stations to document that personnel handling hazardous materials have received the proper training. The comment deadline, originally July 7, is now Sept.
Bombardier renewed credit lines in Europe for 3.75 billion euros for another year. The new maturity date is July 7, 2004. The Canadian company said that 28 banks extended their facilities. The agent bank is HSBC Bank PLC.
Agusta bought 11 U.S. Global Aerospace radomes for its AB412 series military helicopters for $120,000. The radome fits over the nose of the AB412 to protect the radar antenna. U.S. Global has delivered the first four radomes to Agusta and plans to ship four more by July 25 and the last three by Aug. 4. The AB412 is a 15-seat, twin-turbine-powered helicopter with a four-blade rotor system.
OurPLANE LAUNCHES EXECUTIVE FRACTIONAL OWNERSHIP PROGRAM - Canadian fractional aircraft company OurPLANE is expanding its business with a program that will offer aircraft shares to non-pilots and to pilots who want to fly jet aircraft. With a fleet of piston aircraft and King Air turboprops, OurPLANE is marketing the Executive Fractional Aircraft Ownership Program to business professionals who are not necessarily pilots and need between 75 to 250 hours a year of aircraft use.
Duncan Aviation earned a supplemental type certificate to install a TT-5000 Aero-I Telecommunication System and the accompanying antenna on a Cessna Citation X. The TT-5000 Aero-I provides high-quality communication on multiple channels.
RAYTHEON PLANNING TO TRASH STARSHIP FLEET - Raytheon Aircraft, which spent nearly $1 billion to develop the all-composite Starship turboprop aircraft, plans to scrap the entire fleet because the aircraft is becoming too difficult to support. There were 53 Starships built, including three prototypes. A Raytheon spokesman confirmed last week that the company has acquired 40 of the production airplanes and is in contact with owners of the remaining 10, who have been warned that RAC plans to stop supporting the Starship.
FAA NAMES NEW HEAD OF INTERNAL SECURITY AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS - The Federal Aviation Administration named 24-year FAA veteran Lynne Osmus as assistant administrator for the newly created office of Internal Security and Hazardous Materials. Osmus will manage 450 employees in the new office that will oversee FAA's hazardous materials program, personnel and contractor security investigations and security of FAA facilities. The office also will serve as FAA's liaison to the Department of Homeland Security's Transportation Security Administration.
Nearly two years after Part 135 and Part 91 operators were abruptly barred from using Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport because of federal security concerns in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the leader of one aviation lobbying organization believes there is hope officials may be ready to consider opening the airport to non-airline flights once again.
Thales Air Traffic Management signed a contract with Air Navigation Services of the Czech Republic (ANS CR) for one RSM 970S Mode S Monopulse Secondary Surveillance radar system. The radar, part of the Czech government's ANS CR Mode S implementation program, will be installed at a facility in Pisek.
William H. Swanson, a 31-year veteran of The Raytheon Company, was named president and chief executive officer and was elected to the board of directors. Swanson, 54, has served as president of Raytheon since last July and succeeds Daniel Burnham, 56, who served as Raytheon's chairman and CEO since July 1999. Burnham will continue as chairman for a period of time. He announced his plans to step down in April.
A Federal Aviation Administration hearing officer last week backed the agency's decision to withhold airport grants from Naples, Fla. Municipal Airport, but at the same time said the Naples Airport Authority's (NAA) ban on Stage 2 jet aircraft is not preempted by federal law nor is it unjustly discriminatory. The 57-page decision ruled on an appeal by the city of Naples for FAA to restore its airport grants. FAA revoked the airport's grants in March on the grounds that the Stage 2 jet ban was unreasonable, unjustly discriminatory and pre-empted by federal law.
FAA PONDERS AIRPORT ACCESS RESTRICTIONS BASED ON PAVEMENT CONCERNS - The Federal Aviation Administration last week proposed to clarify its policy on when an airport can restrict access based upon pavement design. The proposal is an attempt to develop a "uniform national policy" on weight-based restrictions, the agency said. Some airports have implemented weight-based restrictions to protect pavement not designed for heavier aircraft, bringing into question whether the restrictions were reasonable, FAA said.
AGUSTA Model A109K2 helicopters (Docket No. 2003-SW-26-AD; Amendment 39-13198; AD 2003-12-13) - adopts a new AD that requires a visual check of each tail rotor blade for a crack; a visual inspection of each blade for a crack at specified intervals; and if necessary, a dye-penetrant inspection. Replacing any cracked blade with an airworthy blade before further flight is also required. This amendment is prompted by a report of a crack that occurred in an Agusta Model A109K2 blade.
National Air Transportation Association issued an action call to members Thursday to solicit Senate support for a letter that Sens. John Warner (R-Va.) and George Allen (R-Va.) plan to send to President Bush on the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) access issue. Warner and Allen circulated a "Dear Colleague" letter last month asking fellow senators to sign a letter to Bush urging him to allow approved charter companies to access DCA (BA, June 9/265). See related article below.
Jackson Hole, Wyo. airport officials, who have been carefully watching the proceedings over the Naples, Fla. Municipal Airport Stage 2 jet ban, received a little help from Congress that would allow them to bypass the process Naples used. The Senate included language in its version of an FAA reauthorization bill that authorizes the airport to "impose restrictions on, or prohibit," operation of Stage 2 aircraft weighing less than 75,000 pounds.
