INTERNATIONAL WATER-GUARD INDUSTRIES received a Supplemental Type Certificate to install its NPS-A3 aircraft potable water treatment units on Bombardier Global Express aircraft. The NPS-A3 unit is designed for aircraft with small-capacity water systems but also can function as a "point-of-use device on larger aircraft," said the company. More than 500 IWG water disinfection units are in use in business aircraft.
Two key congressmen have come out in support of industry's position that FAA's planned two-part rewrite of the repair station rules should not be allowed to continue.
Model ATR 72-101, -201, -102, -202, -211, and -212 series airplanes (Docket No. 2001-NM-38-AD; Amendment 39-12334; AD 2001-14-23) - requires a one-time inspection of harness route 2P and the pitch control cable for wire chafing, corrective action, if necessary; and replacement of the clamp retaining the power supply cable loom of the green circuit hydraulic pump at Frame 28 with a smaller clamp in a different orientation.
THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE told a charter operator this month that the IRS would continue to apply the air transportation segment tax on a per-passenger basis retroactively, but could back off from that approach if the Secretary of the Treasury instructs the agency to do so.The IRS earlier this year issued a technical advice memorandum (TAM) that the segment tax should be applied per passenger, rather than on a per-aircraft basis, and said charter companies should pay the per-passenger tax retroactive to its beginning if they have paid it on a per-aircraft basis (BA, Apr
AVCON AIR CHARTER appointed Ettore Rodaro director of charter sales. Avcon hired Rodaro to "focus exclusively on developing its charter market products and services." Rodaro has more than 10 years business aviation experience.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R-Ariz.) is jumping into the controversy over the new Phoenix Cardinals football stadium, which is supposed to be built less than two miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on the extended centerline for Runway 26 (BA, July 23/38). McCain said Friday he had scheduled a July 30 meeting at the airport that will include himself, FAA Administrator Jane Garvey, Phoenix Mayor Skip Rimsza, Tempe Mayor Neil Guiliano and Ted Ferris, president of the Arizona Tourism and Sports Authority.
Model ATR 42-200, -300, -320, -500, and ATR72 series airplanes (Docket No. 2000-NM-380-AD; Amendment 39-12339; AD 2001-15-05) - requires a revision of the Airplane Flight Manual to add instructions that prohibit the flightcrew from selecting the reverse position on the engines in the event of propeller thrust dissymmetry. The actions specified by this AD are intended to ensure that the flightcrew is advised of the hazard associated with selecting reverse thrust during propeller thrust dissymmetry, which could reduce controllability of the airplane during landing.
AERODYNAMICS, INC. added a Westwind II to its charter aircraft fleet. The eight-passenger aircraft will be based at Detroit, Mich. Metro Airport (DTW).
ADAM AIRCRAFT INDUSTRIES said it has sold 24 delivery positions for its M-309 carbon composite aircraft powered by centerline thrust piston engines, with six aircraft still available at the introductory price of $725,000. The company also announced that the six-place aircraft will be known as the "CarbonAero," the name selected from more than 2,000 suggestions submitted to the company.
ASTRO-AIRE ENTERPRISES in Oakland, Calif. was appointed a Honeywell-Grimes repair center. The company will provide bench check, repair and overhaul or modification services on Grimes aircraft lighting and power supply devices.
ELLIOTT AVIATION is now a full-line distributor and authorized installation center for IceShield de-icing boots. Manufactured by SMR Technologies, IceShield de-icing boots will be distributed by all four Elliott Aviation locations in Moline, Ill., Des Moines, Iowa, Minneapolis, Minn. and Omaha, Neb.
The Senate last week considered a fiscal 2002 transportation appropriations bill that provides more than full funding for Federal Aviation Administration operations and calls on the agency to boost its inspector staff and promote general aviation safety initiatives. The Senate bill would give FAA $13.26 billion in fiscal 2002, including $6.92 billion for operations, compared with the Bush Administration request for $6.87 billion.
CONKLIN&DE DECKER AVIATION INFORMATION promoted Nel Sanders to full partner. The former NBAA aviation tax specialist is now one of five owners in the aviation consulting firm. Sanders specializes in aviation tax and financial matters and will be responsible for new product development and expansion of consulting services.
Mooney Aircraft, facing financial difficulties that include an unpaid local tax bill and slumping aircraft sales, filed for protection under Chapter 11 of federal bankruptcy laws Friday. The court filing follows layoffs of most of the company's production workers earlier this month. In addition, Chris Dopp, who had been president of the Kerrville, Texas manufacturer, left the company two weeks ago.
STEVE DAVIS was named vice president-Boeing Commercial Programs for Vought Aircraft Industries, Inc. Davis will be responsible for gaining new business through the expansion of current programs, new programs, future aircraft derivatives and modifications. Davis was most recently vice president of Vought's Dallas site operations.
The non-profit Foundation for Advancing Science and Technology Education announced July 24 it is developing what it says will be the first piloted aircraft powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. The foundation is converting a French DynAero Lafayette III to electric propulsion and exhibited the airplane last week at the Experimental Aircraft Association AirVenture 2001 show in Oshkosh, Wis.
HONEYWELL'S Bendix/King general aviation avionics business completed the design and development of its data link weather ground station network and installation of its first supercell consisting of seven ground stations. The stations are near Olathe, Independence and Lyons, Kan.; Lincoln, Neb.; Des Moines, Iowa; and Columbia and Springfield, Mo. Additional stations are located in Oshkosh, Wis. and Galesburg, Ill. All are part of a flight information service (FIS) network that will have a total of 200 stations.
SEN. PETER FITZGERALD (R-Ill.) is poised to introduce a measure instructing the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois to draft a plan "preserving and utilizing existing Chicago-area reliever and general aviation airports." While the provision does not explicitly mention Meigs Field, the language was drafted as a means to protect the airport, which Chicago Mayor Richard Daley plans to close next year. The measure adds that if a preservation plan cannot be developed, then the DOT Secretary and FAA Administrator will work with Congress to develop a federal approach.
RICK BRAINARD was named to the modification sales team at McKinney Aerospace. Brainard has more than 18 years of aviation experience and will be responsible for interior modification sales and planning marketing strategy for the company's line of interior refurbishment services.
SEVERAL INDUSTRY groups met with Office of Management and Budget representatives last week to urge them to delay issuance of a rule that would rewrite rules governing repair stations operating under Part 145. The groups want FAA to issue the Part 145 rewrite as a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking rather than a final rule to give them additional time to comment. FAA drew fire when it issued the initial proposal in June 1999, but has indicated that it has substantially changed the final rule to reflect concerns raised. See article on Page 53.
TAC AIR recently opened its newly remodeled and expanded FBO and hangar facility at Denver's Centennial Airport (APA). TAC Air installed a new ramp to accommodate large corporate jets and is now adding a self-fueling avgas facility for piston-powered aircraft. A grand opening event is planned for July 31.
MARATHON FLIGHT SERVICES at Kissimmee, Fla. Airport (ISM) broke ground for a new 8,000-square-foot FBO last week. Marathon also is planning construction of a 16,000-square-foot hangar next to the new FBO. The Kissimmee general aviation airport has had a record-breaking year in air traffic and the new construction will permit the FBO to expand its services.
BUSINESS AVIATION SERVICES started a Share-A-Ride program from its Sioux Falls, S.D. location. Share-A-Ride, which the company touts as like a "car pool in the sky," coordinates a network for customers to share charter flights to destinations without scheduled service. The program has been in operation since January and has five trips scheduled this month. Customers may contact Share-A-Ride through e-mail, fax, or by viewing charter flights being planned on Business Aviation Services' website at http://www.busav.com.
Beech Models 1900, 1900C (C-12J), and 1900D Airplanes (Docket No. 2001-CE-04-AD) - proposes to supersede AD 95-02-18, which currently requires repetitive inspections of the engine truss assemblies for cracks on certain Beech Model 1900, 1900C (C-12J), and 1900D airplanes, repair or replacement of any cracked engine truss assembly, and installation of reinforcement doublers. This proposed AD is the result of continued reports of fatigue cracks found on engine trusses on airplanes in compliance with AD 95-02-18.
Goodrich Corp. and AvroTec, Inc. are jointly developing a synthetic vision system for general aviation aircraft through a partnership with NASA. Under a cooperative research agreement, NASA Langley Research Center is sponsoring the development of an affordable general aviation synthetic vision system that can be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration.
