Iridium Satellite and Icarus Instruments say that a new satellite-based aeronautical voice and data communications system that provides aircraft crew and passengers with "reliable, worldwide communications in the air and on the ground" is now commercially available.
Peter Edwards, a veteran of more than 20 years of aircraft marketing experience, was named president and chief operating officer of Bombardier's Business Aircraft division. Edwards succeeds Pierre Beaudoin, who had been serving in that capacity in addition to serving as president of the company's entire Aerospace unit since October (BA, Oct. 22/187).
House transportation leaders last week introduced a bill that would provide the general aviation community with up to $7.5 billion in compensation for losses incurred in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The most sweeping general aviation compensation package yet, the General Aviation Industry Reparations Act of 2001, H.R.3347, would provide general aviation businesses up to $5 billion in loans and $2.5 billion in direct compensation for documented losses stemming from the terrorist attacks (BA, Nov. 12/221).
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION Friday reopened the comment period until Jan. 29 for its rewrite of the Part 145 rule that governs repair stations. The agency issued the final rule Aug. 6, but originally accepted comments through Oct. 5 on the recordkeeping requirements. Several organizations requested the reopening of the docket, citing the need for more time in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. "The petitioners indicated that the recent events devastated its member companies," the agency said.
PILATUS Models PC-12 and PC-12/45 airplanes (Docket No. 2001-CE-24-AD; Amendment 39-12494; AD 2001-22-15) - requires an inspection of the cargo doors to identify front and rear end frames with plain lightening holes and installation of reinforcing plates on any frame with plain lightening holes. This AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the air worthiness authority for Switzerland.
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS acquired 65.8 percent of SPAR Aerospace shares and replaced five members of SPAR's board of directors with its nominees. Chairman Eric Rosenfeld, Michael Martino, James McDonald, James Doak and Robert Poile left the board and were replaced by L-3 Communications executives Frank C. Lanza, Robert V. LaPenta, Christopher C. Cambria, Michael T. Strianese and Jimmie Adams. Lanza was appointed the new chairman.
- this proposed AD would require installation of a new strainer draining system in the cabin fuselage. This proposed AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for France. The actions specified by this proposed AD are intended to prevent water from accumulating in the fuselage, then freezing and interfering with or causing the elevator controls to seize. This could result in loss of elevator control with consequent loss of airplane control.
INSURANCE PREMIUMS for all classes of aviation users are expected to show average increases of more than 100 percent. Even more alarming are the projections for war risk hull insurance, where cost increases of more than 700 percent are anticipated, according to a recent market overview by global insurance broker Willis Group. Willis said rates are rising in most industry segments while market capacity shrinks.
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.
Airbus announced Thursday that it has selected Wichita, home of 45,000 aviation workers and more than 130 aviation-related companies, as the home for its new engineering facility. Airbus will hire 60 structural and stress design engineers and plans to open the new facility early next year in Wichita's Old Town section. Mayor Bob Knight said there is "no other place in the world where a company could find the quantity or quality of aviation engineers than in Wichita.
JET AVIATION HANDLING was contracted by Thai Airways to take over import and export cargo services for the airline at Zurich's International Airport. The agreement includes cargo handling for daily flights to and from Bangkok. The new contract will boost cargo-handling volume by about 8,000 tons a year at Zurich Airport, a 20 percent increase from last year, said Hans-Peter Moor, Jet Aviation Handling's cargo manager.
PIEDMONT HAWTHORNE was selected by the Miami-Dade Aviation Department to open a new fixed-base facility in Miami. The company will take over the former Miami Aircraft location at Opa-Locka Airport. The facility includes more than 65,000 square feet of terminal, hangar and office space. The FBO also is undergoing a $3.5 million renovation that will add new amenities such as a weather/flight planning room, conference room, pilot's lounge, snooze room and car/limousine rental and tie-downs.
GE Engine Services signed a 16-year agreement with regional carrier Skywest Airlines to perform engine maintenance on the carrier's fleet of Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ) aircraft manufactured by Bombardier. The deal, valued at $1 billion by GE over the life of the contract, covers Skywest's fleet of 40 CF34-3A1 and -3B1 powered CRJs, along with other CRJs on firm order that will be delivered through 2004, a total of 140 aircraft according to the engine manufacturer.
BOMBARDIER OFFICIALS expect their Flexjet fractional program to keep growing at 10 to 15 percent per year. Flexjet now has 560 share owners, Beaudoin said, and plans to introduce the first Global Express in Flexjet service in the first quarter of 2002. About 15 to 20 percent of Bombardier's business jet production next year is slated for the Flexjet fleet.
EXECUTIVE JET renewed its agreement with Air Security International to provide security for its NetJets fractional aircraft ownership program. ASI will offer services such as risk and threat assessments for overseas locations, 24-hour consultations with ASI regional analysts and global monitoring. Additionally, ASI will provide aircraft guards, crew and passenger transportation for international destinations and Flitebriefs, customized intelligence reports for flight crews, Executive Jet said.
BAE Systems, which along with its predecessor companies has been involved in airliner manufacturing for decades, is shutting down its regional airliner manufacturing operations and exiting that part of the market, officials said last week.
ACTOR JOHN TRAVOLTA donated a Canadair CL41 Tutor to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. The gift, including spare parts, is valued at more than $700,000. Embry-Riddle will use the plane in its aircraft maintenance technology program. "Our goal is to keep it in airworthy condition and perhaps fly it occasionally for demonstration purposes," said Stan Mackiewicz, director of aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul technology at the university.
National Transportation Safety Board investigators were unable to find any early indication of why a Model 25B Learjet suddenly swerved off a runway at Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT), crashed through a sign and a fence and burned last month, killing both pilots.
SHORT BROTHERS Model SD3 series airplanes (Docket No. 2001-NM-175-AD; Amendment 39-12484; AD 2001-22-05) - requires an inspection to find discrepancies of the hydraulic pipelines to the 7P panel and adjacent electrical wiring harnesses, and corrective action, if necessary. This action is necessary to find and fix such discrepancies, which could result in electrical arcing between the hydraulic lines and adjacent wiring, and cause a fire. FAA estimates that this AD will affect 75 airplanes on the U.S. Registry at a cost of $4,500, or $60 per airplane.
Ralph E. Alberto, a veteran AlliedSignal and Honeywell employee who had headed customer support operations for the manufacturer, joined Dallas Airmotive as vice president-sales and marketing.
Following last year's contract to supply four air traffic control (ATC) monopulse secondary surveillance radar (MSSR) units to China, United Kingdom Raytheon Systems Ltd. (RSL) announced the award Nov. 28 of a similar order to help modernize China's ATC systems. The four MSSR units in the initial contract, signed in early 2000, for the Beijing to Guangzhou airway system, are now fully operational at Wuhan, Shaoguan, Shi Jia Zhuang and Zhoukou.
THE HOUSE Friday passed a $59 billion transportation appropriations package for fiscal 2002, providing $13.3 billion for the Federal Aviation Administration. The package won the approval of a House/Senate conference committee Thursday after a dispute over Mexican trucking held up the bill for months. The legislation, H.R.2299, boosts FAA's budget by $584 million, or 4.5 percent, over fiscal 2001, and includes $292 million for aviation security initiatives.
RTS SERVICES launched two new programs designed to provide purchasing support for turbine aircraft operators. The Supplemental Purchasing Support and Component Repair Management programs "are designed to support turbine aircraft owners and operators by offering alternatives that help them lower operating expenses by reducing their staffing requirements," said Roger T. Sickler, RTS Services president.
PILATUS BRITTEN-NORMAN BN-2, BN-2A, BN-2B, BN-2T, BN-2T-4, and BN2A MK. III series airplanes (Docket No. 2000-CE-47-AD) - proposes to require repetitive inspections of the throttle friction-shaft and replacement of the shaft if it is damaged. This proposed AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for the United Kingdom. The actions specified by this proposed AD are intended to detect and correct loosening of the throttle friction adjustment beyond its normal limits.
