CFE COMPANY Model CFE738-1-1B turbofan engines (Docket No. 2001-NE-04-AD) - proposes to require replacing the high-pressure turbine (HPT) Stage 1 aft cooling plate and HPT Stage 2 disk at or before they reach new reduced life cycle limits. This proposal is prompted by analysis of the existing life cycle limits by the engine manufacturer. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent failure of the HPT Stage 1 aft cooling plate and HPT Stage 2 disk, which could result in an uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane.
Despite reports to the contrary, the bottom is not falling out of the U.S. aerospace industry as a result of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, John Douglass, president and CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association, said Dec. 12 during the organization's Year End Review and Forecast luncheon. Douglass presented charts showing that projected industry sales for 2001 will total about $151 billion, some $5 billion more than 2000 sales.
JET ASSOCIATES, an aircraft sales and service company, opened its South American sales office in San Isidro, Argentina, a suburb of Buenos Aires. Raymond A. Santa, vice president, international sales at Jet Associates, will head up the new office. "We are very positive about the global aviation market and believe it can be served most efficiently and effectively through localized representation. We anticipate similar developments in other areas in the near future," said J. Philip Jordan, Jet Associates president.
John Magaw, former director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Secret Service and former acting director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is President Bush's choice for Under Secretary of the new Transportation Safety Administration (TSA). Magaw, who began his law enforcement career in 1959 as a state trooper in Ohio, was director of the Secret Service and took control of ATF following the Oklahoma City bombing.
General aviation relief efforts took a step forward last week when the House aviation subcommittee approved by voice vote legislation to provide up to $2.5 billion in direct compensation and $5 billion in loan guarantees to small aviation businesses ravaged in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The subcommittee left the bill, H.R.3347, basically intact as introduced by Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.), but added a measure that places stronger controls on the distribution of the funds and expands the applicability to include general aviation airports.
BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA Model 427 helicopters (Docket No. 2001-SW-43-AD) - proposes to require modifying each auxiliary fin by relocating the upper tuning weights to a lower position. This proposal is prompted by several incidents of main rotor blades contacting the top of the fin. The upper tuning weights are located such that a main rotor contact with the fin may result in an upper tuning weight becoming loose.
EUROCOPTER Model AS350B, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350BA, AS350C, AS350D, AS350D1, AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, and AS355N helicopters (Docket No. 2001-SW-20-AD) - proposes to require replacing the tail rotor hub pitch change plate "SNR" bearing. This proposal is prompted by fatigue cracks found in the bearings. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent seizure of the bearing, loss of tail rotor effectiveness, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 514 helicopters on the U.S.
BOMBARDIER OFFICIALS plan to convert their Flexjet fractional aircraft business to a Part 135 operation as soon as the necessary approvals can be obtained from FAA. Robert Greenhill, president of Bombardier International, said the move is being made so Flexjet will be able to offer service to customers without regard to any new restrictions that may be imposed on general aviation operations.Flexjet was essentially grounded, along with other Part 91 operators, for four days following the Sept.
DERCO AEROSPACE signed a five-year, sole worldwide distribution agreement with Honeywell for all military fixed-wing aircraft. The agreement makes Derco the "only global supplier" of Honeywell's military products and allows Honeywell to focus on aftermarket support and customer needs, said Derco. Honeywell and Derco began their business relationship in 1991 and the deal is the latest of several between the two companies, including a 10-year licensing agreement signed in June for the repair and distribution of military aircraft cooling turbines.
Bombardier Aerospace launched a new program using charter operators in the Pacific and Far East to provide easy access for travelers in those regions. At the same time, it confirmed plans to roll back and restructure its Flexjet Europe operations (BA, Dec. 10/265).
JOHN TAYLOR was named FSR delivery specialist based in Little Rock, Ark. for Dassault Falcon Jet. Taylor will represent DFJ customer service at all new aircraft deliveries at the completion and service center in Little Rock. He has worked at DFJ since 1987 and was most recently program manager for the Falcon 900/900EX production line in Little Rock.
PILATUS BRITTEN-NORMAN LIMITED BN-2, BN-2A, BN-2B, and BN-2T series airplanes (Docket No. 2001-CE-38-AD) - proposes to require repetitive inspection of the inboard brackets of the elevator outboard hinge for loose rivets, structural damage, or cracks and replacement of any suspect bracket. The proposed AD also would require replacement of the hinge bracket at a certain time if no discrepancies are found. This replacement includes modifying the area and installing modified brackets.
ROLLS-ROYCE Tay Model 650-15 and 651-54 turbofan engines (Docket No. 2001-NE-36-AD) - proposes to require revisions to the Airworthiness Limitations Section of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness in the Time Limits Section of the Engine Manual for Rolls-Royce Tay Model 650-15 and 651-54 series turbofan engines will require enhanced inspection of selected critical life-limited parts at each piece-part exposure. An FAA study of in-service events involving uncontained failures of critical rotating engine parts has indicated the need for mandatory inspections.
EMS TECHNOLOGIES is partnering with Teledyne Controls to market high-speed data service and equipment for business aircraft. Under a new agreement, EMS will be the "sole design authority" for a new family of airborne data terminals which will support Inmarsat's high-speed data service for satellite communication on aircraft. Teledyne will be responsible for the marketing, sales, customer support and repair and servicing.
FAIRCHILD DORNIER appointed Doug Oliver director of customer relations. Based at the company's headquarters in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany, Oliver will work with the customer business team to manage customer service. He has more than 15 years' experience in aerospace public and customer relations and was previously media relations director for the company.
BOB LEATHERS was named field service representative in Columbus, Ohio for Dassault Falcon Jet. He was most recently chief of aircraft maintenance at Wendy's International and managed a fleet of Falcon 10s and Citation VIIs. Leathers has more than 25 years' experience in maintenance.
THE DECISION to make the switch to Part 135 by Bombardier reflects the widespread concern among companies and individuals who operate under Part 91 about the possibility of another grounding of the GA fleet in the event of more terrorist activity in this country or the threat of more attacks. Given the attitude by government security agents that aircraft pose a major risk, many general aviation officials fear the GA fleet is "just one NOTAM away" from being parked again.
HIGHER PILOT costs and lower traffic are making major airlines more dependent than ever on their regional partners, which is a good incentive for majors to stick with terms in their regional contracts, contends ABN-Amro analyst Ray Neidl. Majors, tempted to cut regionals' margins during tough times, "may not want to upset current operations."
ROLLS-ROYCE 250-C20 series turboshaft and 250-B17 series turboprop engines (Docket No. 2001-NE-38-AD; Amendment 39-12529; AD 2001-24-12) - supersedes an emergency AD that was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of Rolls-Royce Corp. (formerly Allison Engine Company) Models 250-C20, -C20B, -C20F, -C20R, -C20R/1, -C20R/2, -C20S, and -C20W turboshaft engines, and 250-B17, -B17C, -B17D, -B17E, -B17F, -B17F/1, and -B17F/2 turboprop engines by individual letters.
The Federal Aviation Administration designated the American Association of Airport Executives as the clearinghouse for criminal record checks of persons with access to the secured areas of airports who have not previously been checked. About 750,000 employees with airport access will have to undergo the checks. Under the public-private partnership, airlines and airports will submit employee fingerprints and a $31 per person fee to AAAE, which will forward them to the FBI for the criminal record checks.
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 (MLG) 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 AD is effective Dec. 20, but FAA will accept comments for inclusion in the docket until Jan. 4.
PRATT&WHITNEY CANADA CORP. opened a new quick-turnaround, heavy maintenance (HEMA) line at its St. Hubert, Quebec service center. A second facility will open in January at the company's Bridgeport Service Center in West Virginia. The HEMA facilities are designed to reduce turn-times and reduce customers' operating costs. Each facility will be staffed with a team of 20 specialists.
FLIGHT ENVIRONMENTS is developing a new audio flight simulator. The acoustic and thermal insulation manufacturer will use the simulator to demonstrate how its products work to quiet corporate and VIP-configured aircraft. The simulator is part of a new interactive trade show booth built for the company by Omnigroup, Inc. of Houston.
BOMBARDIER Model DHC-8-100, -200, and -300 series airplanes (Docket No. 2001-NM-129-AD; Amendment 39-12522; AD 2001-24-06) - requires installation of a backup pressure regulating valve on the oil pump of the propeller control unit (PCU) on both engines. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent a build-up of oil pressure in the oil pump of the PCU should the existing valve fail.
LAST WEEK'S rescheduled NBAA convention drew 11,738 registered attendees, just about 40 percent of the 29,421 who attended the 2000 show in New Orleans. Before NBAA officials were forced to postpone this year's meeting in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks, they had commitments from more than 1,000 exhibitors for approximately one million square feet of exhibit space. Last week's event drew 678 exhibitors, but many of those downsized their booth space so the exhibit area covered about 350,000 square feet.
