Bombardier handed over the first of two 50-seat CRJ200 regional jets to The Fair Inc. of Tokyo. The Fair Inc. will use the aircraft to expand its system and feed its code-sharing partner All Nippon Airways at Tokyo's Narita International Airport. The airline ordered the aircraft from Bombardier in late 1999 and acquired two others from a European operator in mid-2000. The Fair Inc. is the first CRJ operator in Japan.
Model Mystere-Falcon 50 series airplanes (Docket No. 2000-NM-335-AD; Amendment 39-12690; AD 2002-06-12) - requires repetitive tests of double-skin feeder tanks for fuel leaks, and corrective actions, if necessary. It also requires modification of seals in the feeder tanks, which terminates the repetitive leak tests. This amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign airworthiness authority.
Release of a rule to regulate fractional ownership under a new Subpart K of Part 91 likely won't come until the fall, Cusimano said. FAA published its proposal last July, incorporating nearly all industry recommendations for regulating the fast-growing segment of the industry. Industry representatives were hoping for a quick adoption of the rule. But the focus on the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and changes in Office of Management and Budget requirements that now require a 90-day review, have pushed back the schedule, he said.
Meggitt Aerospace, whose S-TEC division in Mineral Wells, Texas is well known for supplying autopilots for piston-powered singles and twins, is attempting to expand its market to include the turboprop fleet. Officials are targeting Piper Cheyennes and older King Airs as candidates for new autopilots, electronics and instruments. The manufacturer holds hundreds of supplemental type certificates (STCs) from FAA for installation of new equipment on piston-powered aircraft.
Federal Aviation Administration promised it would lift temporary flight restrictions over the city of Chicago after the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association became concerned that the no-fly zone would remain intact indefinitely, the association said last week. The TFR, originally encompassing a three-mile arc around Chicago's Sears Tower, first took effect last fall after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Alcoa Inc. completed its acquisition of the aluminum extrusion assets of Dooray Air Metal Co. Ltd. of Changwon, Korea. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The Changwon facility produces hard alloy extrusions for defense, aerospace, industrial and transportation markets.
FAA PROMISES TO LIFT CHICAGO RESTRICTIONS - Federal Aviation Administration promised it would lift temporary flight restrictions over the city of Chicago after the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association became concerned that the no-fly zone would remain intact indefinitely, the association said last week. The TFR, originally encompassing a three-mile arc around Chicago's Sears Tower, first took effect last fall after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
LANCAIR last week unveiled a new version of its Columbia line, the Columbia 350, equipped with an "all-electric" package that eliminates the dual vacuum pumps. The Columbia 350 will have a dual bus, dual battery electrical system. "All-electric is the way industry is headed," said Lancair Vice President Ron Wright. "It's been the standard in turbine aircraft for some time and the technology is now within reach of the piston-aircraft market." Lancair hopes to win certification and begin delivery of the Columbia 350 in late summer.
Hoping to boost the Mid-Atlantic region's role in aerospace-related technology development, Rep. Curt Weldon (R-Pa.) said April 3 that he is pushing to create a cutting-edge rotorcraft research center near the Boeing Company's rotorcraft plant in suburban Philadelphia. Weldon, a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, told BA affiliate Aerospace Daily he hopes to raise $50 million to $60 million from the region's state governments to launch the International Center for Rotorcraft Innovation, which would do research for next-generation rotorcraft.
Model Galaxy Airplanes and Model Gulfstream 200 series airplanes (Docket No. 2002-NM-65-AD; Amendment 39-12696; AD 2002-07-02) - requires repetitive inspections of the main landing gear actuators for leakage of hydraulic fluid, a one-time inspection of the MLG actuators for internal abrasions or scratches, and replacement of the MLG actuator with a new or serviceable or new, improved actuator, if necessary. This action also provides an optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections.
AVFUEL continued to expand its nationwide dealer network with the addition of Mesquite Airport in Mesquite, Nev.; Turf Soaring School in Peoria, Ariz.; and Lancair Jet Center in San Diego, Calif. Avfuel has more than 800 branded dealers and 2,500 other aviation customers nationwide.
Avfuel continued to expand its nationwide dealer network with the addition of Mesquite Airport in Mesquite, Nev.; Turf Soaring School in Peoria, Ariz.; and Lancair Jet Center in San Diego, Calif. Avfuel has more than 800 branded dealers and 2,500 other aviation customers nationwide.
FORMER SECRETARY of Transportation James Burnley joined the Washington legislative practice of the law firm Venable. Burnley previously was a partner in the Washington office of Winston&Strawn, where he represented clients including American Airlines on transportation issues before Congress and regulatory agencies. Burnely became general counsel for the Department of Transportation in 1983 and subsequently was named deputy secretary of transportation.
Model CL-600-2B19 series airplanes (Docket No. 2001-NM-250-AD) - revises an earlier AD that would have required replacement of the existing smoke detectors in the cargo compartment with new, improved smoke detectors. This new action revises the proposed rule by specifying compliance per corrected service information. The actions specified by this new proposed AD are intended to prevent false smoke warnings from the smoke detectors in the cargo compartment.
CESSNA hopes to continue to penetrate the Latin American market with plans for expanding its Cessna Pilot Centers (CPCs) into Mexico, Brazil and other key areas, the company said. It recently added CPCs in Mexico, Jamaica and Puerto Rico.
BORGE BOESKOV, the veteran Boeing executive who most recently served as president of Boeing Business Jets, officially retired from the aircraft manufacturer last week. Boeskov, who joined Boeing in 1965 and held a variety of senior posts in sales and marketing, was named president of Boeing Business Jets in July 1996. The company announced last year that Lee Monson had been selected to succeed him when Boeskov retired (BA, June 25/295).
Federal Aviation Administration proposed a series of civil penalties totaling more than $250,000 against the Boeing Commercial Airplane Group for allegedly failing to maintain its quality control system in accordance with approved data and procedures in its production certificate.
DON EHLER was named manager of sales for Thunder Aviation. He was previously a marketing and sales executive for Alliance Systems and Programming, Inc.
All four people aboard a Cessna 340 were killed March 24 when the pilot encountered problems while attempting to land at Centennial Airport (APA) in Englewood, Colo. The aircraft, N341DM, was being operated by Lear 171 Inc. of Billings, Mont. under Part 91 of the FARs. The flight had departed Gunnison, Colo. at 1540 local time under an instrument flight plan and about 50 minutes later was cleared to land on Runway 35R at APA. The local controller said that about 90 seconds after receiving landing clearance the pilot reported he had lost an engine.
A Gulfstream V operated by the NetJets fractional program was slightly damaged last week at New York's La Guardia Airport. FAA said the airplane, N509QS, "was on a non-movement area making a right turn when wingtip struck a fence."
Salvage crews recovered a recently restored Boeing 307 Stratoliner from Elliott Bay in Seattle last week after the crew ditched the vintage airliner when they encountered power problems during a test and training flight a few days earlier. The airplane, one of only 10 of its type built and the last remaining, is owned by the National Air & Space Museum and is destined to be housed in the museum's new facility at Dulles International Airport. It had been restored by a 30-member team of Boeing volunteers over the past six years.
A group of workers under threat of losing their jobs at Raytheon Aircraft banded with management to find ways to cut costs and improve productivity, and their efforts have proved so successful that the initiative is being expanded into other areas of the company. Raytheon Aircraft Chairman and CEO James Schuster warned employees several months ago that the company was considering outsourcing its wire harness work to Mexico to cut costs. Such a move put 320 jobs at risk.
MICHAEL MCCONNELL was appointed vice president of customer and product support at Eclipse Aviation. He was most recently senior vice president of strategic planning for Mooney Aircraft. McConnell also worked for Dell Computer Corporation for 12 years with positions in marketing and management.
AVFUEL CORPORATION added Brownwood Regional Airport in Texas (BWD) to its network of dealers. The company has more than 800 Avfuel-branded dealers in the nation.
THE EUROPEAN UNION Parliament last week adopted a new noise rule that effectively repeals a controversial ban on hushkitted aircraft. That ban was the subject of an international dispute that culminated in the U.S.
