The Federal Aviation Administration continued its quest to assess international overflight fees with a new rule that lowers the charges for the services the agency provides to aircraft that transit through U.S.-controlled airspace, but neither take off from, nor land in, the U.S. The rule, issued in late August, comes a little more than a month after an appeals court ordered the agency to reconsider the fees imposed by an interim final rule.
AVIONICS MANUFACTURER GARMIN anticipates some reduction in deliveries to original equipment manufacturers as aircraft build rates decline, but company executives say "phenomenal things are happening in the retrofit marketplace" where owners of everything from "very light single-engine aircraft all the way up to jets" are installing Garmin's avionics. Due to what it terms its "outstanding success in the aftermarket," Garmin said field sales are continuing to grow.
An arbitrator last week ordered FAA to raise the pay of its computer specialists to the same level other government computer specialists received in early January and to make the raise retroactive plus interest. The employees are members of the Professional Airways Systems Specialists (PASS). The arbitrator also said FAA must "cease and desist" making any changes to working conditions without negotiating with the union.
BAE SYSTEMS Model Avro 146-RJ series airplanes (Docket No. 2001-NM-90-AD) - proposes to require a one-time inspection of the S4 and S5 static pipes of the pitot static system for discrepancies, and follow-on corrective actions, if necessary. This action is necessary to prevent such discrepancies, which could result in holes in the static pipes, erroneous input to the instrumentation and warning systems associated with the pilot's instruments, and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane. FAA estimates that 42 airplanes on the U.S.
HONEYWELL AEROSPACE plans to deliver the 10,000th TFE731 engine at this month's NBAA convention in New Orleans and while the venerable 731 line is expected to remain in service for decades, Honeywell engineers are a year into development of a new engine series in the same power range.As part of the AS900 family of engines - the 7,000-pound-thrust AS977 powers the BAe RJX airliner, while the 7,000-pound-thrust AS907 is on the Bombardier Continental business jet - the AS904 demonstrator designed to lead the way to engines in the 3,000- to 6,000-pound thrust range, Johnson sa
Docket No.: FAA-2001-8933 Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR Secs. 25.857(c) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit PIVA's three Model SD3-60 airplanes to operate through April 15, 2002, or through the 30th day after delivery to PIVA of the aircraft modification kits by the aircraft manufacturer, whichever is sooner. Grant, 06/18/2001, Exemption No. 7465A
INVESTIGATORS are focusing on the load aboard a Cessna 402 that crashed Aug. 26 while attempting to take off from Great Abaco Island in the Bahamas for a flight to Opa Locka, Fla. The crash killed all nine aboard, including the pilot, singer/actress Aaliyah and seven members of her entourage. Published reports say the aircraft was carrying a large amount of sound and recording equipment that had been used to film a music video.
The business aviation community suffered its second legal defeat over a municipal noise restriction, in less than a month when a federal judge in Los Angeles upheld a Stage 2 noise restriction at Van Nuys Airport (VNY) in California. In a four-page ruling, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California determined that a noise ordinance banning operators from basing Stage 2 aircraft at Van Nuys airport is lawful.
DIAMOND AIRCRAFT's new four-seat DA 40 Diamond Star has received FAA IFR certification. The aircraft received initial FAA type certification in April and deliveries started last month. The DA 40 Diamond Star, priced at $189,000 equipped for IFR flight, is powered by a Lycoming 180-horsepower IO-360 engine and a choice of Bendix King or Garmin avionics is offered.
WHILE A NUMBER of associations last week took their battle to save Chicago's Meigs Airport to the state of Illinois, Helicopter Association International appealed to Congress for help. HAI wrote key House and Senate leaders last week, urging them to preserve an amendment to the fiscal 2001 transportation appropriations bill designed to protect Chicago-area reliever airports. Illinois Sens.
FAA'S VOLPE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM CENTER is issuing a broad agency announcement (BAA) to solicit research proposals on a competitive basis to demonstrate technology and systems that can reduce runway incursions and improve overall safety on the airport surface. The proposed Runway Status Lights System will enhance airport safety through the use of surveillance-based, automatically controlled status lights to alert pilots or ground vehicle operators that a runway is unsafe for entry, crossing or departure.
Docket No.: FAA-2001-9860 Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 135.143(c)(2) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit TDL to operate certain aircraft under Part 135 without a TSO-C112 (Mode S) transponder installed in the aircraft. Grant, 07/09/2001, Exemption No. 7568
ENVIRONMENTAL TECTONICS CORP. delivered a GAT-II general aviation trainer to FlightSafety International Pilot Training Academy at Vero Beach, Fla. The GAT-II simulates all cockpit controls and interactive visual displays in both visual flight rules and instrument flight rules environments. The device also provides spatial disorientation training on a three-axis motion platform.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-2B19 series airplanes (Docket No. 2001-NM-50-AD) - proposes to require the installation of protective tape on the fire and overheat control unit located in the flight compartment. This action is necessary to prevent fluid contamination inside the fire and overheat control unit, which could result in a false fire alarm and consequent emergency landing. The FAA estimates that this AD would affect 160 airplanes on the U.S. Registry at a cost of $9,600 or $60 per airplane. Send comments in triplicate by Sept.
JAY M. ROEVER was named supervisor of operations support at Midcoast Aviation. Roever, who has worked for 20 years at Midcoast, will oversee day-to-day operations of the accessory department.
MERCURY AIR CENTERS opened its new hangar and tenant office at Hanscom Field Airport in Bedford, Mass. The 38,000-square-foot facility is adjacent to the Mercury Air Centers terminal and can accommodate large business jets, including the Gulfstream V and Global Express. The new facility also includes 8,000 square feet of office and shop space.
BAE SYSTEMS Model Avro 146-RJ85A and 146-RJ100A series airplanes (Docket No. 2001-NM-223-AD; Amendment 39-12384; AD 2001-16-15) - requires replacement of bolts in the wing rear spar at the center fuel tank. This action is prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness information from a foreign civil airworthiness authority. This action is necessary to prevent the failure of bolts in the wing rear spar at the center fuel tank, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane.
REGIONAL AVIATION PARTNERS continued to expand with Great Lakes Aviation and Standard Aero joining the organization. RAP was founded in April to act as an independent voice for the regional airline industry, representing airlines, aircraft manufacturers, parts manufacturers, chambers of commerce, state government agencies and other businesses dependent upon regional airline service. "For the first time air carriers and communities will be partners in the communication process," said Great Lakes Aviation President Doug Voss.
Docket No.: FAA-2001-8807 Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 119.49 Description of Relief Sought: To allow ASA to (1) add or delete aircraft from its operations specifications during nonbusiness hours, weekends, or holidays, and (2) have its certificate management office revise its operations specifications on the next business day.
BOMBARDIER Model DHC-8-102, -103, -106, -201, -202, -301, -311, -314, and -315 series airplanes (Docket No. 2000-NM-45-AD; Amendment 39-12301; AD 2001-13-19) - corrects information in an existing airworthiness directive that applies to all Bombardier Model DHC-8-102, -103, -106, -201, -202, -301, -311, -314, and -315 series airplanes. That AD currently requires revising the Bombardier maintenance program to incorporate repetitive inspections to detect fatigue cracking in certain structures; and corrective actions, if necessary.
JET AVIATION Dallas is offering a reduced fuel price rate of $1.99 per gallon during construction at its Love Field Airport location. The full-service FBO is expanding and upgrading its passenger terminal, executive office building, ramp and infield.
Tom McSweeny, a 28-year veteran of FAA, told colleagues he is resigning as associate administrator for regulation and certification, the senior safety post in the agency with responsibility for aircraft certification and enforcement of the Federal Aviation Regulations. McSweeny said he was offered a higher paying position with Boeing that permits him to remain in the Washington, D.C. area.
Docket No.: FAA-2001-9780 Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR Sec. 25.813(e) Description of Relief Sought: To allow Schwartz to install an interior "hinged'' door between passenger compartments on a Boeing Model 737-700IGW airplane, to be used in a private, not-for-hire, operation.
SOCATA-GROUPE AEROSPATIALE Model TBM 700 airplanes (Docket No. 2001-CE-11-AD) - proposes to require inspection for defective Amendment A fuel tank air vent valves and replacement with parts of improved design. The proposed AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for France.
WALTER RITTENHOUSE was appointed vice president, technical services at Banyan Air Services. Rittenhouse will oversee the maintenance, avionics, turbine and propeller shops. He was most recently vice president of maintenance service at Miller Aviation.
