MARK FERGUSON joined Certified Airline Passenger Services as vice president of market development. Ferguson will be responsible for expansion of CAPS into new markets. He formerly spent five years with Alta Colleges, a for-profit education holding company that operates 11 colleges in Denver, Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston. He also has served as president of Test Services, Inc., dba The Princeton Review.
The Lancair Company named former Mooney executive Bing Lantis president. Lantis has served in a consulting role with the Bend, Ore. small plane and kit builder for the past year, helping develop the Lancair sales and service center network. He comes to Lancair with a long history in manufacturing and served as chief executive of general aviation manufacturer Mooney Aircraft in Kerrville, Texas, between 1995 and 1997.
LORD CORPORATION won a contract to supply an active vibration control (AVC) system for the Bell/Agusta 609 tiltrotor aircraft. The system uses a computer to read vibration levels relayed by sensors positioned throughout the aircraft. The single processor then reacts in real time to counteract the vibration by sending signals to actuators strategically located on the rotorcraft. Lord claims its system offers significant weight reductions and provides improved performance over traditional passive vibration absorbers.
BIG MILITARY CONTRACTS have been difficult to come by for business jet manufacturers in recent years, but the U.S. Navy may be about to give the OEMs something to smile about.The Navy is looking at replacing up to 30 transports in its existing fleet. See article below.
Docket No.: 30172 Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 145.61. Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit Raytheon to perform work on U.S. Customs aircraft without retaining a copy of the records of the work performed. Denial, April 19, 2001, Exemption No. 7511
Honeywell won FAA technical standard order approval for two new avionics systems designed to protect pilots from midair collisions with other aircraft and warn them when they are getting too close to nearby terrain.
Docket No.: FAA-2001-9043 Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 121.344(a)(14), (a)(29), (a)(33), (a)(40), (a)(44), and (a)(54). Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit Horizon and all similarly situated air carriers to operate the Bombardier CL-600-2C10 airplane without recording the parameters listed in Sec. 121.344(a)(14), (a)(29), (a)(33), (a)(40), (a)(44), and (a)(54) within the ranges, accuracies, resolutions, and recording intervals specified in Appendix M to Part 121. Denial, April 27, 2001, Exemption No. 7520
The U.S. Navy is considering replacement of its aging T-39 trainers with new production aircraft. The T-39s are versions of the Sabreliner business jet, and the replacement aircraft likely would be a business jet as well. The Naval Air Systems Command wants suggestions from industry by June 22. "We're right at the beginning of this," a NAVAIR spokesman told BA affiliate Aerospace Daily.
The Federal Aviation Administration is weighing whether to phase in or more fully implement new separation standards in domestic airspace by the end of 2004. The agency hopes to have a concrete plan by next month for moving toward domestic reduced vertical separation minimums (DRVSM) with a formal notice of proposed rulemaking in spring 2002, FAA officials told industry representatives last week.
Docket No.: FAA-2001-9166 (previously Docket No. 28828) Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 119.67(a)(1). Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit Edward F. Dascoli to act as the Director of Operations for NAA without holding an airline transport pilot certificate. Grant, April 13, 2001, Exemption No. 7510
Model EMB-135 and -145 series airplanes (Docket No. 2001-NM-116-AD; Amendment 39-12241; AD 2001-10-15) - requires a one-time inspection to detect incorrect wiring of electrical connectors to the pressure switches and cartridges on the fire extinguisher bottles for the engines and the auxiliary power unit (APU); disconnection and reconnection of the wiring, as necessary; and adjustment of the length of the harnesses on the fire extinguisher bottles to avoid future misconnections.
Docket No.: FAA-2001-8871 Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 135.231, 135.255, 135.353, and Appendixes I and J to Part 121. Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit Mentone to conduct sightseeing flights at Fulton County Airport for the one-day Round Barn Festival charitable event in June 2001, for compensation or hire, without complying with certain anti-drug and alcohol misuse prevention requirements of Part 135. Grant, April 12, 2001, Exemption No. 7503
Model 737, 747, 757, 767, and 777 series airplanes (Docket No. 2001-NM-81-AD; Amendment 39-12240; AD 2001-10-14) - requires repetitive inspections of any chemical oxygen generators and/or passenger, attendant, or lavatory service unit assemblies of the passenger oxygen system that have been replaced, to verify correct installation of the release pin in the generator firing mechanism of the oxygen generator; and corrective action, if necessary.
Docket No.: 28855 Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 135.152(a). Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To amend Exemption No. 6714, as amended, which permits Offshore to operate certain helicopters under Part 135 without an approved digital flight data recorder installed on each helicopter by (1) changing the name of the exemption holder from Offshore Logistics, Inc., to Air Logistics, L.L.C., and (2) updating the list of helicopters covered by the exemption. Grant, May 4, 2001, Exemption No. 6714C
The Airport Movement Area Safety program (AMASS), years in the making, finally got a green light last month from FAA, which said it will begin using the system at 34 of the busiest U.S. airports to help prevent runway collisions. FAA, which contracted for the first three AMASS units in June 1996, said that "developing AMASS into a useful, reliable warning system to meet user requirements has been an extremely complex technical challenge."
A COALITION of aviation, communications, and satellite companies and organizations fears that ultra-wideband devices could "cause significant harmful interference" to the global positioning system. In a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell, the coalition urged that the FCC develop a licensing system for the use of such devices based on extensive testing of the operational characteristics. The coalition is particularly concerned that ultra-wideband devices currently are unregulated.
Model S-76A, S-76B, and S-76C helicopters (Docket No. 2001-SW-05-AD; Amendment 39-12232; AD 2001-10-06) - supersedes an AD that requires, before further flight, performing a fluorescent penetrant inspection (FPI) of the main rotor shaft assembly. Also, a recurring FPI and visual inspection for a cracked shaft are required by that AD. That AD also requires replacing the shaft with an airworthy shaft before further flight if a crack is found. This amendment requires replacing certain serial numbered shafts with an airworthy shaft before further flight.
WORLD FUEL SERVICES announced formation of a new division that will provide "comprehensive fuel management services to the airline industry." The new unit will be headed by Patricia Carbaugh, who has more than 18 years of aviation industry experience. "Our fuel management division will offer vital services to domestic and international carriers looking to reduce their cost of processing and leverage their purchasing power in the international market," said Jerrold Blair, chairman of World Fuel.
A Gulfstream IV business jet was damaged May 12 in San Diego when the pilot of a parked helicopter started the engine of his aircraft as the G-IV was being guided past the rotorcraft to a parking spot, causing the helicopter's main rotor blade to strike the business jet's right side winglet.
GE ENGINE SERVICES Company Ltd. in Xiamen, China reached an agreement under which China Eastern Airlines Co. will buy a 30 percent stake, and become a major shareholder, in the engine overhaul joined venture. The Xiamen venture was formed in February 1999 through a teaming agreement between GE Engine Services, Xiamen Aviation Industry Co. and Taikoo Aircraft Engineering Company. The facility is expected to begin operations late next month to overhaul and repair engines made by GE Aircraft Engines and CFM International.
THE COMMERCE COMMITTEE, however, postponed a vote on a bill that would provide for streamlining the environmental review process for airports, lift the cap on the salary of a chief operating officer to manage FAA's air traffic control operations, and allow airlines to consult on scheduling during peak periods at congested airports. The committee was expected to consider an amendment to a bill introduced by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) (BA, May 21/237).
AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION is offering a new Air Safety Foundation Safety Advisor booklet - Collision Avoidance: Strategies and Tactics - to supplement its Collision Avoidance seminars. AOPA said nearly 7,500 pilots have attended the Collision Avoidance seminars in 60 locations throughout the U.S. since they began in October 2000. Pilots unable to attend the seminar can use the booklet as a self-study course.
ROBERT CHIUSANO was named executive vice president and chief operating officer-Government Systems for Rockwell Collins. Chiusano is a 22-year company veteran who most recently was vice president and general manager of Government Systems. As executive vice president and COO, he will have responsibility for all Government Systems businesses, including international subsidiaries and the China Business Development office.
Docket No.: FAA-2001-9010 Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 135.143(c)(2) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit Kitty Hawk to operate certain aircraft under Part 135 without a TSO-C112 (Mode S) transponder installed in the aircraft. Grant, April 16, 2001, Exemption No. 7506
Docket No.: FAA-2001-8741 (previously Docket No. 29218) Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 91.409(b) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit owners and perators of Cessna Model 172R, 172S, and 182S (C-172R, C-172S, and C-182S, respectively) airplanes to use Cessna's PhaseCard Inspection Program rather than completing the required 100-hour inspection. Grant, April 10, 2001, Exemption No. 6901B
