NATIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION has developed a security proposal under which corporate and business aircraft operators who met a series of conditions and pre-approvals could obtain "letters of agreement" (LOAs) from FAA officials. Holders of the LOAs would be permitted to operate under Part 91 during periods of intensified security if the scheduled airlines were flying. The NBAA proposal also includes procedures to permit Part 91 operations into Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA).
AGUSTA Model A109C, A109E, and A109K2 helicopters (Docket No. 2001-SW-15-AD; Amendment 39-12523; AD 2001-24-07) - supersedes an existing AD that applies to Agusta Model A109C, A109E, and A109K2 helicopters and currently requires inspecting the main rotor blade tip cap for bonding separation and a crack.
The Federal Aviation Administration lifted Enhanced Class B airspace restrictions over 30 major metropolitan areas last week, and also said VFR flights could resume in New York, Boston and Washington, D.C. A series of notices to airmen, issued Dec. 19, reduced the size of the no-fly zones around New York City and Washington, D.C. and added a temporary flight restriction around a propane facility near Boston Logan Airport.
CIRRUS Design Corporation Models SR20 and SR22 airplanes (Docket No. 2001-CE-46-AD; Amendment 39-12556; AD 2001-25-03) - requires a one-time inspection for understrength rivets on the elevator torque tube and rudder hinge and replacement of any understrength rivets. This AD is the result of CDC notifying FAA that understrength rivets were mixed in production supplies. The actions specified by this AD are intended to detect and replace understrength rivets in the elevator and rudder, which could result in failure of the control surfaces.
A $30 MILLION INVESTMENT in a state-of-the-art information technology (IT) network is a key element in Avolar's planning. The system will give single-call capability to customers and permit Avolar to stay in close contact with its vendors, officials say. One of the biggest complaints Avolar heard from potential vendors about other fractional and charter providers is that they don't call ahead or provide updates when plans/schedules change, Lin said, making it difficult for service providers to balance staffing levels with demand.
BOMBARDIER restructured the international sales teams for its business aircraft division. Three regional teams for Europe, the Americas and the Middle East/Africa/Asia were formed. Each team will be led by a regional vice president: Alain Ledoux will continue to head the European team; Jahid Fazal-Karim will be responsible for the Americas; and Michael Fahey will lead aircraft sales in the Middle East/Africa/Asian division.
Hamilton Sundstrand, already one of the largest suppliers of aerospace actuation equipment, has acquired an Italian provider of actuation equipment. Hamilton Sundstrand, headquartered in Windsor Locks, Conn., bought Magnaghi Hydraulics Systems Division, of Brugherio, Italy. The unit, which had been part of Magnaghi Aerospace, has more than 200 employees and revenues of about $20 million per year.
HONEYWELL'S AS907 engine program checked off more certification milestones, completing bird ingestion, fan vibration, icing, ice and hail ingestion and oil interruption tests.
AIR METHODS won a series of contracts that total more than $5 million in business for the company. The orders come from eight different customers including original equipment manufacturers, hospitals, aeromedical service providers and government agencies. Air Methods will supply emergency medical service, multi-mission interior systems, avionics systems and airframe accessories. The orders include the contract with Sikorsky for five HH-60L multi-mission medevac systems.
Detroit Metro Wayne County Airport opened a fourth parallel runway last month, the only new runway to open at a major U.S. airport in 2001. The 10,000-foot, $225 million Runway 4L/22R, dedicated by FAA Administrator Jane Garvey, gives the airport six jet runways. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association hailed the new runway, estimating it will provide a capacity increase of 25 percent more takeoffs and landings in good weather and 17 percent more in bad weather.
Docket No.: FAA-2001-10357 Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 135.152. Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit EAL to operate its 1975 Gulfstream American Gulfstream II airplane (Serial No. 173) under Part 135 without the airplane being equipped with an approved digital flight data recorder. Grant, 10/16/2001, Exemption No. 7643
Docket No.: FAA-2001-10231 Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR Sec. 145.47(b) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit GE VARIG to use the calibration standards of the Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Normalizacao e Qualidade Industrial in lieu of the calibration standards of the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology to test its inspection and test equipment. Grant, 10/24/2001, Exemption No. 6709B
BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON Model 205A, 205A-1, 205B, 212, 412, 412EP, and 412CF helicopters (Docket No. 2001-SW-37-AD) - proposes to require inspecting each affected tail rotor blade forward tip weight retention block (tip block) and the aft tip closure (tip closure) for adhesive bond voids and removing any tail rotor blade with an excessive void from service. The AD also would require modifying certain tail rotor blades by installing shear pins and tip closure rivets.
Bombardier received firm orders for two Bombardier Q400 aircraft from Hydro-Quebec to replace two of four of the electric company's Convair 580 turboprops. The Canadian utility company will use the two 72-seat aircraft as "employees' shuttles between Montreal and airfields serving hydro-electric generating sites in Northern Quebec," said Bombardier.
WEXFORD CAPITAL of Greenwich, Conn. exercised an option for eight 44-seat ERJ 140 regional jets from Embraer. The aircraft will be operated by Chautauqua Airlines under a code sharing agreement with American Airlines. Embraer said Wexford has placed firm orders for 53 aircraft and taken options for 20 more, of which 41 have been delivered - 37 ERJ 145s and four ERJ 140s.
WESLEY G. BUSH was appointed executive vice president at TRW Aeronautical Systems. Bush will work as executive vice president for a two-month transition period and succeed Ken MacIver as president and CEO of the company on Feb. 27, 2001.
FOKKER Model F.28 Mark 0100 series airplanes (Docket No. 2001-NM-327-AD; Amendment 39-12527; AD 2001-24-10) - requires repetitive inspections of certain main landing gear main fittings to detect forging defects, and rework of the main fittings, if necessary. This action is necessary to detect forging defects of the MLG main fittings, which could lead to cracking and result in significant structural damage to the airplane and possible injury to the occupants. The rule is effective Dec. 20, but FAA will accept comments for inclusion in the docket until Jan. 4.
JET AVIATION BASEL broke ground on a new customer and administration building last month. The $8 million project is scheduled to be completed in October 2002.
AB NORRLANDSFLYG contracted with Keystone Helicopter Corp., West Chester, Pa., to purchase a medically configured Keystone Medallion Sikorsky S-76A helicopter. It is the fifth Keystone Medallion model purchased by the Gallivare, Sweden, operator.
The National Air Transportation Association bought Aviation Testing Institute from Aviation Resource Group International in a move to lower ground services training costs for smaller fixed-base operators.
BOTH PILOTS were killed in the crash of a Model 24D Learjet cargo flight in El Paso, Texas early on the morning of Dec. 11. Investigators said the aircraft was on approach when controllers lost radar and radio contact. The 1970 model Learjet, N997TD, was owned and operated by Air Cargo Express, Inc., of Ft. Wayne, Ind.
IBIS AEROSPACE named three new distributors for its Ae270 propjet, raising the number of Ibis Sales Centers to eight. Field Aviation Sales Ltd. of Mississauga, Ontario will represent Ibis in Canada; Cutter Aviation of Phoenix, Ariz. will oversee the Southwestern region; and Woodland Aviation of Woodland, California will be responsible for the West Coast. Ibis also previously selected as distributors, Elliot Aviation, Piedmont-Hawthorne, Stevens Aviation, Ibis Aircraft Sales, Pty. Ltd. in Australia, and CDC Aviation in South Africa.
INSURANCE AVAILABILITY and sharply rising prices for coverage continue to worry aviation interests (BA, Dec. 3/255). "As of Dec. 31, it's going to be really difficult to get insurance," said Richard Belas, the new chairman of the National Business Aviation Association's Government Affairs Committee.
FRANK W. MILIAN was named vice president of business development, northeastern region for Executive Jet Management. He has more than 25 years' experience in business aviation and was most recently senior vice president at Atlantic Aviation Corporation in Teterboro, N.J.
