CESSNA Model 560XL airplanes (Docket No. 2001-NM-146-AD; Amendment 39-12320; AD 2001-14-09) - requires inspection of certain electrical wiring of the landing light switch, associated components, and the aft J-box fairing light relay wire for chafing, discoloration, or damage; rerouting of certain wiring; and corrective follow-on actions, if necessary.
A VETERAN Capitol Hill and Defense Department executive was hired by Boeing to head the company's lobbying operations in Washington, D.C. Rudy R. de Leon, 48, was named senior vice president of operations and he also will serve on Boeing's Executive Council. De Leon "will lead all federal, state and local government operations for Boeing and will report directly to the Office of the Chairman," Boeing said.
BRITISH AEROSPACE H.P. 137 Mk1, Jetstream Series 200, and Jetstream Model 3101 airplanes (Docket No. 2000-CE-58-AD) - proposes to supersede airworthiness directive 98-13-03, which currently requires repetitive inspections of the main landing gear (MLG) hinge fittings, support angles, and attachment bolts on British Aerospace H.P. 137 Mk1, Jetstream series 200, and Jetstream Model 3101 airplanes. This AD also requires eventual installation of improved design MLG hinge fittings as terminating action for the repetitive inspections of the hinge fittings and attachment bolts.
The value of aircraft delivered by members of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association was the highest on record for the first half of 2001, GAMA said Friday. Manufacturers delivered 716 aircraft in the first half, valued at $4.4 billion, an increase of 2.8 percent in billings over the first half of 2000. The increase was sparked by continued strong deliveries of business jets - 303 in the most recent period, compared with 288 in the first six months of 2000.
MIDCOAST AVIATION developed a new composite headliner for Hawker 700 and 800 model aircraft to "improve interior appearance and increase headroom." Seven aircraft have been modified to date.
CHRISTOPHER TANIS was appointed director of charter sales at Atlantic Aviation's Teterboro, N.J. FBO (TEB). Tanis will manage charter operations and customer relations for Atlantic's Flight Services Division. Tanis previously worked in aircraft sales, charter and operations at Swiss-based Aeroleasing.
The Export-Import Bank of the United States is considering modifications to its economic impact procedures. The bank wants to expand the universe of data used to analyze economic impact; and incorporate procedural changes to make the analysis process more transparent and encourage the presentation of economic data by interested parties. The bank plans to hold a public meeting July 31 to discuss the proposed changes. A copy of the proposal can be accessed at the bank's web site at www.exim.gov.
At least two members of the House Armed Services Committee are urging the Defense Department to consider coming up with a backup plan in case the V-22 Osprey doesn't work out.
The U.S. civil aerostructures industry is losing "some of its competitive edge" as a result of consolidation in the large civil aircraft industry (LCA), an independent agency said last week.
GOODRICH CORPORATION received a Supplemental Type Certificate to supply replacement angle of attack sensors to operators of Canadair Regional Jet 100 and 200 aircraft. The angle of attack sensor has a vane dampening system, which helps eliminate mismatches between the left and right sensors during turbulent strong crosswind and low airspeed conditions. The product is interchangeable and intermixable with existing angle-of-attack sensors, allowing single replacement instead of in sets of two. Goodrich has products immediately available.
BRENT HENMAN was appointed vice president of strategic programs and outsourcing at Superior Air Parts, Inc. Henman will oversee Superior's vendor outsourcing programs.
A WAKE VORTEX UPSET is being blamed for the crash of a Cessna Model 402 at Boston's Logan Airport July 8. FAA said the aircraft, N760EA, operated by Cape Air, was taking off from Runway 22R at the Runway 15R intersection. The Cessna "caught a wake turbulence vortice from a previous Boeing 737 aircraft departure and crashed inverted on the east side of Runway 22R, between taxiways C and E," FAA said. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, suffered serious injuries and the aircraft was destroyed.
Following months of negotiations and a recent agreement to sell a fixed-base operation in Orlando, Fla. (BA, July 2/7), BBA Group PLC finally completed its acquisition of Aircraft Service International Group (ASIG) from Ranger Aerospace Corp. As a result, all BBA Aviation commercial airline fueling and handling activities - some of which are provided under the Signature Commercial Services brand - will be consolidated and in the future operate under the ASIG brand, said Bruce Van Allen, North America president and chief executive of BBA Aviation.
Bombardier signed a purchase agreement, valued at $1.68 billion, to sell 75 CRJ440 aircraft to Northwest Airlines. Deliveries are scheduled to start in the third quarter of 2002 and continue until 2005. Northwest also has conditional purchase rights on an additional 175 CRJ400 aircraft and the deal allows the airline to substitute 50-seat CRJ200s. Northwest already bought 54 CRJ200 aircraft in February 1999: 20 aircraft have been delivered and 34 more will be delivered in the next three years.
SIMGRAPH sold the first US-based installation of its C-130 Hercules SBTA software suite to SimuFlite Training International. SimuFlite ordered a four-user license for the Hercules Flight Training Center in Marietta, Ga. The software will be customized to meet the specifications of the L-382 aircraft. This is the second time SimuFlite has contracted Simgraph for courseware for its training facilities.
INSPECTECH AERO SERVICE received orders for "smart" cabin windows for delivery to Bristol, Tenn.-based Edwards&Associates, a subsidiary of Bell Helicopter/Textron. Both passengers and cabin crew can control "smart" windows in an aircraft to lighten or darken them as needed. "We're very pleased to be providing our cutting-edge light control solution to this leading OEM. We now look for a domino effect to take place with the other airframe manufacturers who are in discussion with us at this time," said James Lang, president of InspecTech.
U.S. researchers plan to fly hundreds of samples of coating materials - from paint to lubricants - to the International Space Station this summer to see how the substances withstand a long stretch in extreme temperatures and ultraviolet light.
Concerned that the Federal Aviation Administration's effort to reduce vertical separation standards could burden general aviation operators, National Business Aviation Association President Jack Olcott and General Aviation Manufacturers Association Ed Bolen urged the agency to slow its implementation of new domestic reduced vertical separation minimum standards (DRVSM).
FAA's rulemaking process is inefficient, lacks credibility, and unless fixed, will erode the safety, security and efficiency of the aviation system, the agency's new Management Advisory Council (MAC) concluded. Formed by Congress to provide guidance to FAA, the MAC Wednesday released to the House aviation subcommittee its first findings on agency activities and Thursday met with FAA Administrator Jane Garvey to go over its recommendations.
TOBY BRIGHT was appointed vice president of business strategy and marketing for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Bright will work on marketing future products and services. Bright was previously vice president of sales for Europe and Russia at Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
FOUR MEN aboard a Pilatus PC-12 on an around-the-world flight were plucked from a life raft in the Sea Of Okhotsk last week after the pilot was forced to ditch the aircraft in the chilly waters after encountering an engine overspeed problem. The four, identified as pilot Mike Smith of Boise, Idaho, and three Japanese citizens, managed to don their life jackets and load several days' supply of food in the life raft before the PC-12, N660NR, sank.
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) - requires revising the Bombardier maintenance program to incorporate repetitive inspections to detect fatigue cracking in certain structures; and corrective actions, if necessary. This amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by a foreign airworthiness authority.
Mercury Air Group, Inc. sold its RPA Airline Automated Services business to SITA, the global information and telecommunications provider for the airline industry. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
MARK A. LEE was appointed to the board of directors at World Fuel Services Corporation increasing the board to 10 members. Lee is currently president of Forest Hill Capital, an investment advisory firm. Lee is also a director of Innoflex Inc., qServe Communications and Morgan Keegan Trust Company.
Model DHC-8-102, -103, and -301 series airplanes (Docket No. 2000-NM-328-AD; Amendment 39-12303; AD 2001-13-21) - requires repair of the flight deck angle. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent the flight deck angle from interfering with the clevis of the roll control disconnect cable, which could lead to an uncommanded disconnection of the roll control, resulting in reduced controllability of the airplane. FAA estimates that this AD will affect 42 airplanes on the U.S. Registry at a cost of $10,080, or $240 per airplane. The AD is effective Aug. 10.
