Model MD-900 helicopters (Docket No. 2000-SW-15-AD; Amendment 39-12175; AD 2001-07-09) - supersedes an existing emergency AD that requires, within six hours time-in-service (TIS), or before further flight after Jan. 31, 2000, whichever came first, inspecting the main rotor upper hub assembly drive plate attachment flange and determining the torque of each flange nut. If a crack is found, the hub assembly must be replaced before further flight. The emergency AD also requires, within 25 hours TIS or before further flight after Jan.
THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION has signed off on FAA's proposal to create a new Subpart K of Part 91 to govern fractional aircraft operations, Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta told the General Aviation Manufacturers Association board last week. FAA finished work on the proposal and shipped it to DOT for review at the end of January (BA, Feb. 5/59). The proposal next heads to the Office of Management and Budget before it is cleared for publication in the Federal Register, but Mineta said it should go through without problems.
SERGIO AGUIRRE joined Securaplane Technologies as director of corporate aviation sales. Aguirre previously was western regional sales manager for AirShow and, before that, was with Gulfstream Aerospace in Long Beach, Calif.
Docket No.: FAA-2001-8616 Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 135.143(c)(2) Description of Relief Sought Disposition: To permit PAI to operate certain aircraft under Part 135 without a TSO-C112 (Mode S) transponder installed in the aircraft. Grant, March 6, 2001, Exemption No. 7453
Model G-1159, G-1159A, G-1159B, G-IV, and G-V series airplanes (Docket No. 2001-NM-83-AD; Amendment 39-12191; AD 2001-08-13) -- requires an inspection to determine if certain door control valves of the landing gear are installed, and modification of the valve, if necessary. This action is necessary to prevent loss of hydraulic system fluid due to failure of the door control valve of the landing gear, which could require the flight crew to use alternate gear extension procedures (landing gear blow down) for landing of all models.
Concerned about the loss of high-yield first-class passengers from its scheduled airline service, United Airlines is moving aggressively to launch a new fractional aircraft ownership program using business jets and plans to brand its new enterprise and begin selling shares next month (BA, April 30/203).
JOHN LOH was appointed manager of field service at Dassault Falcon Jet. Loh joined Dassault Falcon Jet in 1988 as an aircraft technician and was named a field service representative a year later. Most recently he was a senior field service representative.
General Dynamics, aggressively growing its Aerospace Group through acquisitions, plans to acquire Galaxy Aerospace next month for $330 million in cash, a relative bargain since the deal includes a $2 billion order for up to 100 Galaxy business jets from Executive Jet International.
NATIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION scheduled a series of tax forums and aircraft resourcing options workshops. The tax forums will be held May 14 in Teterboro, N.J., July 16 in San Diego, Calif., and Sept. 16-17 in New Orleans. The aircraft resourcing workshops are slated for May 15 in Teteroboro, June 29 in Minneapolis, Minn., July 17 in San Diego and Sept. 21 in New Orleans.
A CALIFORNIA COMPANY, Airstrip America, launched a web site featuring an online airport directory with photographs of runways, approaches and aerial views supplied by pilots and airport managers. The site, AirstripAmerica.com, "is a free site dedicated to establishing an online photography database of the nation's landing facilities, including grass strips, airparks, taxiways and landmarks," according to President David M. Soyka.
FLIGHT SERVICES GROUP added a new charter base at the Monterey, Calif. Peninsula Airport (MRY) and will have three new additions to its Part 135 fleet based there -- a Challenger 600, a Citation III and a King Air 200. The three aircraft added to FSG's certificate boosted the company's total fleet of managed and charter aircraft to more than 50. FSG recently was acquired by PrivatAir, S.A. (BA, Feb. 19/84).
SCOTT BRENNER, former director of communications for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee who served on the White House transition team, was named FAA's assistant administrator for public affairs (APA-1). Brenner replaced Eliot Brenner (no relation) who left the agency earlier this year.
Docket No.: FAA-2000-8352 Section of the 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 61.153(a) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit Abel to obtain an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate before reaching 23 years of age. Denial, March 26, 2001, Exemption No. 7472
Pursuant to FAA's rulemaking provisions governing the application, processing, and disposition of petitions for exemption (14 CFR Part 11), this notice contains a summary of certain petitions seeking relief from specified requirements of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR Chapter I), dispositions of certain petitions previously received, and corrections. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities.
Model Galaxy airplanes (Docket No. 2000-NM-201-AD) - withdraws a proposal that would have required replacement of certain existing fasteners in the aft pickup fittings of the horizontal stabilizer. Since the issuance of the proposal, FAA has received information from Galaxy Aerospace indicating that the replacement already has been carried out on all the affected airplanes, and that the replacement is now standard on all airplanes off the production line. Accordingly, the proposed rule is withdrawn.
The Air Force's Air Education and Training command at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. ordered an operational stand-down of all 180 T-1A Jayhawk training aircraft while the planes undergo an inspection for discrepancies.
Beech Models 35-C33A, E33A, E33C, F33A, F33C, S35, V35, V35A, V35B, 36, and A36 airplanes (Docket No. 99-CE-63-AD; Amendment 39-12185; AD 2001-08-08) -- requires operators to repetitively replace the existing Aeroquip V-band exhaust clamp. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent the tailpipe from detaching from the turbocharger due to failure of the V-band exhaust clamp. Clamp failure could result in the release of high temperature gases inside the engine compartment with the potential for a fire in the engine compartment.
Docket No.: 29742 Section of the 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR section V, paragraph B of Appendix I to Part 121. Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit National employees who perform a safety-sensitive function and who are required to undergo a medical examination under 14 CFR Part 67 to be excluded from periodic drug testing. Denial, March 20, 2001, Exemption No. 7470.
Nick Sabatini, manager of Flight Standards in the Federal Aviation Administration's Eastern Region, this week will take over as director of Flight Standards at FAA headquarter in Washington, D.C., replacing Nick Lacey, who was reassigned. Lacey is to implement an FAA operational evolution plan for airspace management and particularly will be involved in the certification of new equipment. Lacey also will continue his involvement in international safety issues.
Docket No.: FAA-2001-8860. Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 25.853(a) Description of Relief Sought: To provide a four-year extension to Exemption No. 6634A to permit continued testing and interim use of certain adhesives, which do not fully comply with the vertical burn test requirements of Sec. 25.858.3(a), in the manufacture of seat cushion assemblies.
Docket No.: FAA-2000-8182 Section of the 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 61.113(e) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit members of the Washoe County Sheriff's Air Squadron who hold private pilot certificates to continue to be reimbursed for fuel, oil, and maintenance expenses while performing search and location missions for the Sheriff's Office. Grant, March 26, 2001, Exemption No. 7473
Docket No.: FAA-2001-9134 Section of the 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 121.314(c) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To allow operation, until June 20, 2001, of one SD3-30 airplane beyond the cargo compartment modification deadline of March 19, 2001. Partial Grant, March 15, 2001, Exemption No. 7466
OFFICIALLY, Executive Jet International placed a firm order for 50 Galaxy business jets last week and took an option on 50 more, but according to EJI Chairman Richard Santulli there is little doubt his company will take all 100 Galaxys. "We don't buy an airplane [model] unless we're going to buy 100 of them because the economics just don't make sense" otherwise, Santulli said last week. See article below.
SOUTHWEST JET AVIATION added a Citation I-SP to its charter fleet. The new addition will be based at the Scottsdale, Ariz. Municipal Airport (SDL) and will be available at a rate of $1,400 per hour. "This Citation will give our charter customers a cost-effective transition aircraft between the King Air B200 and our Beechjets," said Jeff Schlueter, president of Southwest Jet Aviation.
Docket No.: FAA-2001-8863 (previously Docket No. 25506) Section of the 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 91.215(c) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit the Navy to provide realistic air combat training in airspace defined in the exemption as the "Transponder-Off Area." Grant, March 27, 2001, Exemption No. 6741A
