DAIMLERCHYRSLER AVIATION won FAA certification for a series of new avionics installations on Gulfstream aircraft. DaimlerChyrsler received approval for the Honeywell Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System with 210-210 software on the Gulfstream V and a Universal terrain awareness and warning system (TAWS) on Gulfstream III, IIB and III aircraft. DaimlerChrysler expects to win a further certification for installation of TAWS as a display on a flight management system by the third quarter.
Used retail jet and turboprop deliveries inside and outside North America for April 2001 (see related graphs on Pages 247 and 248 of the hard copy of this issue.) Used Retail Deliveries April 1998 April 1999 April 2000 April 2001 L M H L M H L M H L M H Jet North 64 34 28 61 25 25 40 26 24 32 20 12 America
Arrius Models 2B, 2B1, and 2F turboshaft engines (Docket No. 2000-NE-12-AD; Amendment 39-12191; AD 2001-08-14) - requires the replacement of the right injector half manifold, left injector half manifold, and privilege injector pipe. This amendment is prompted by reports from the Direction Generale de L'Aviation Civile (DGAC), the airworthiness authority for France, of partially or totally blocked fuel injection manifolds, which were found during inspections at a repair workshop.
FAA downgraded Panama's civil aviation status, giving it a Category 2 rating under International Civil Aviation Organization safety standards. The ratings are an evaluation of the ability of a country's civil aviation authority to safely oversee aviation operations. Panamanian officials are working with FAA to regain Category 1 status.
Model 150B airplanes (Docket No. 2000-CE-22-AD; Amendment 39-12223; AD 2001-09-16) - requires inspection of the rudder cables for fraying, broken strands, etc. and replacement of any damaged cables. This AD also requires replacement of the rudder cable pulleys with larger diameter pulleys to eliminate the possibility of further damage. This AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for Australia.
A group of seven airlines and the British government was cleared last week by the European Commission to assume joint control over the U.K.'s National Air Traffic Control Services (NATS). The EC's decision was the last obstacle that could have hampered the privatization of the British air traffic control system. The U.K. government first launched the privatization procedure in July 1997. After a lengthy bidding process, a group of airlines in March was chosen as the national authorities' strategic partner in NATS.
CF34 series turbofan engines (Docket No. 99-NE-49-AD; Amendment 39-12228; AD 2000-03-03 R1) - revises an existing AD that requires revisions to the Engine Maintenance Program specified in the manufacturer's Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA). Those revisions require enhanced inspection of selected critical life-limited parts at each piece-part exposure. The existing AD also requires that an air carrier's approved continuous airworthiness maintenance program incorporate these inspection procedures.
SOCIETY OF AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERS scheduled an Aircraft Ground De-Icing Conference&Exhibition July 10-12 at the Hilton in the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla. The conference will cover ground ice detection, runway performance/deterioration, hold over times, facilities, fluids and methods and training. For more information, contact SAE at (724) 772-7131.
FAA has selected four more airports to participate in the Military Airport Program (MAP). The four are Wurthsmith-Oscoda Airport, Oscoda, Minn.; Tipton Airport, Odenton, Md.; Okaloosa Regional Airport, Okaloosa County, Fla.; and Laredo International Airport, Laredo, Texas. MAP is part of the Airport Improvement Program and provides financial assistance to the civilian sponsors of military airfields that are being converted to civil or joint use, or those already converted.
NATIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION scheduled a number of its BASICS (Business Aviation Seminar for Information, Concepts and Solutions) sessions nationwide. The sessions provide a forum for flight department managers to discuss concerns with NBAA representatives. Upcoming sessions are scheduled for June 1 at the Hilton Gardens in St. Louis; June 6 and 7 in Van Nuys/Orange County, Calif., and June 15 and 16 in Dallas/Fort Worth. For more information, contact June DeFontes at (202) 783-9360.
BRIAN HARRINGTON joined Premier Turbines as TFE731 service and support manager in the Central U.S. Harrington will be based in Dallas and responsible for Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. He formerly served with Bombardier, where he helped develop the engine "power by the hour" program.
General aviation leaders are pushing Congress to at least re-examine, if not repeal altogether, a 1994 measure that gives authority to U.S. agents to help foreign countries in drug interdiction efforts that involve shooting down suspect aircraft. Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association is backing a bill, H.R.1818, introduced this month by Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), to eliminate the "shoot down" authority, and last week AOPA sent a letter to every member of Congress urging their support.
NASA has made its TRAJECT automated air traffic management system available for business applications and commercial licensing. Scientists at NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif., developed TRAJECT to improve the scheduling and directing of aircraft, boats, trucks and railroad cars. Atlanta's Hartsfield International Airport was the venue for the first test of the system during the 1996 Olympics, and it has been used there ever since. NASA plans a technology licensing briefing May 30 to discuss potential commercial applications for the system.
Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta and Air Transport Association Senior Vice President Ed Merlis reassured a meeting of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association last week that they are opposed to privatizing the air traffic control system. Both Mineta and Merlis said air traffic control should remain a government function. Tom Chapman, who heads government affairs for Southwest, said recent legislative reforms "obviate" the need to privatize.
DUNCAN AVIATION published a 32-page booklet on FAA's requirements for installation of TAWS. The booklet, Straight Talk About TAWS, discusses the TAWS rule, the differences in the technologies and how it will affect operators and flight departments. For a free copy, contact Duncan Aviation at (800) 228-4277 or e-mail at [email protected].
Model EMB-135 and -145 series airplanes (Docket No. 2001-NM-122-AD; Amendment 39-12227; AD 2001-10-02) - requires applying torque to certain tubing fittings of the fire extinguishing systems of various areas of the airplane, and applying torque paint to the fittings. This action is necessary to ensure that certain tubing fittings of the fire extinguishing systems are properly torqued.
Model 2000 series airplanes (Docket No. 2001-NM-12-AD) - proposes to require testing of certain components of the emergency pitch trim system (EPTS), and corrective action, if necessary. This action is necessary to prevent faulty activation of the emergency pitch trim actuator (EPTA), which could cause damage to the elevator front spar, reducing the structural integrity of the elevator and a non-functioning EPTS. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition. FAA estimates that three airplanes on the U.S.
JOHN J. LEE, chairman and chief executive of Hexcel Corp., Stamford, Conn., stepped down as CEO after being diagnosed with cancer so he can pursue treatment for his illness. He will continue to serve as chairman. Two of the company's board members, Martin L. Solomon and Sanjeev K. Mehra, were named to operate as an Office of the Chief Executive until a successor CEO is appointed. Hexcel provides advanced structural materials to customers in the aerospace, space and defense industries, among others.
THE SENATE Commerce Committee this week is expected to move legislation that will enable federal, state and local officials to streamline environmental reviews for airport development. The committee Thursday will consider legislation introduced by aviation subcommittee Chair Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) that streamlines reviews, allows airlines to consult on scheduling during peak periods at congested airports, and raises the cap on the salary of a chief operating officer to manage FAA's air traffic control operations (BA, April 2/160).
REP. JAMES HANSEN (R-Utah) scheduled a hearing this Wednesday to examine the National Park Service's policy of enacting restrictions denying access by certain classes of vehicles to national parks. The United States Air Tour Association is among the groups expected to testify against the NPS's restrictive policies regarding air tours (BA, May 14/225).
MIKE McGOWAN joined Premier Turbines as TFE731 service and support manager for the West Coast. McGowan, based near Anaheim, Calif., will be responsible for a customer base in Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. McGowan most recently served with C-Tech Engine Limited in Long Beach, Calif., where he was a program manager. Before that, he spent 17 years with Garrett Aviation Services in Los Angeles.
THE MARYLAND AVIATION ADMINISTRATION selected Pan Am affiliate Boston-Maine Airways of Portsmouth, N.H. to provide commuter air service between regional airports at Cumberland and Hagerstown, Md. and the Baltimore-Washington International Airport. The carrier will operate three roundtrips per day with British Aerospace Jetstream 31 aircraft. The state will partially subsidize the new service, and said $5 million has been appropriated for the three-year term of the agreement.
Docket No.: FAA-2001-9141 Section of the 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 135.143(c)(2) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit BAC to operate certain aircraft under Part 135 without a TSO-C112 (Mode S) transponder installed in the aircraft. Grant, April 9, 2001, Exemption No. 7488
NAV CANADA has agreed to help in the fight against air traffic congestion, signing a memorandum of understanding with FAA to open some Canadian airspace to U.S. traffic. The MOU was struck after FAA worked with the Canadian organization on staffing and workload issues, but FAA Administrator Jane Garvey said, "they were very open to it." The MOU, she said, already is paying off: Nav Canada recently accommodated 300 aircraft within Canadian airspace that otherwise would have been stuck on the ground during bad weather.
Docket No.: FAA-2000-8154 Section of the 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 121.623(a) and (d), 121.643, and 121.645(e) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit Champion Air to conduct its supplemental operations within the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia using the flight regulations for alternate airports as required by Sec. 121.619 and fuel reserve requirements as required by Sec. 121.639 that are applicable to domestic operations. Grant, April 10, 2001, Exemption No. 7490
