Docket No.: FAA-2000-8498 Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 45.11(b) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit Sensenich to stamp the part marking information on the propeller hub to meet the requirement for fireproof identification on propellers, instead of attaching a metal tag with the required information.
GARVEY noted that the agency's tools for predicting commercial aviation growth have been fairly reliable, but said she doubted that any of the forecasters anticipated the popularity of the regional jet. In fact, regional airlines have ordered more than 1,000 RJs and placed options for another 1,000, according to Regional Airline Association President Deborah McElroy. McElroy stressed that the majority of those aircraft are used to open new nonstop markets, with fewer than 15 percent replacing turboprops.
JOHN PRUITT was appointed director of TFE731 sales for Dallas Airmotive. Pruitt formerly served as regional manager for engine and airframe sales for the Gulfstream Engine Services Division, formerly K-C Aviation Engine Services, in Dallas, Texas.
FAA's inspection designee program is "spiraling out of control with more than 20,000 designees for FAA inspectors to oversee," charged Robert Kerner, an FAA principal maintenance inspector in the Cleveland Flight Standards District Office. Kerner, who testified before the House transportation appropriations subcommittee last week, said FAA increasingly relies on designated mechanic examiners and airworthiness representatives as it grapples with tight budgets for the inspector work force.
Brazilian manufacturer Embraer, benefiting from sharp increases in regional jet deliveries, posted much improved financial results for the year ended Dec. 31. The company reported net earnings of $302.2 million on revenues of $2.4 billion last year, increases of 58.6 percent and 55 percent over the $193.6 million in net income and $1.58 billion in 1999. Embraer said its EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) was $512.7 million last year, compared with $336.4 million a year ago, an increase of 52.3 percent.
SATURDAY marked two months since FAA Administrator Jane Garvey signed off on the notice of proposed rulemaking that would establish a new Subpart K of Part 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations governing fractional aircraft ownership programs and modify operating rules for Part 135 air taxi companies, and sent the measure to the Transportation Department for a 60-day review. No "show stoppers" have surfaced at DOT, but the transition of the new administration and the need to fill key positions at DOT apparently has delayed the review process.
Docket No.: FAA-2001-8700. Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 121.433(c)(1)(iii), 121.441(a)(1) and (b)(1), and Appendix F to Part 121. Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit TWA to combine recurrent flight and ground training and proficiency checks for TWA's flight crew members in a single annual training and proficiency evaluation program. Grant, Jan. 31, 2001, Exemption No. 6012C
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) late Tuesday introduced legislation to help ease airspace congestion by streamlining the environmental review process for airport expansion, adopting a more thoughtful approach to airline scheduling and studying other initiatives to cut down on airport capacity problems (BA, March 26/143).
Docket No.: 30104 Section of the 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 145.47(b) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit MEI to use the calibration standards of the National Research Laboratory of Metrology (NRLM) and the Electrotechnical Laboratory (ETL) in lieu of the calibration standards of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to test its inspection and test equipment. Grant, Dec. 22, 2000, Exemption No. 7413
Model 430 helicopters (Docket No. 2000-SW-22-AD; Amendment 39-12146; AD 2001-05-09) - requires modifying the electrical system. This amendment is prompted by the loss of electrical power due to design deficiencies discovered during single-pilot instrument flight rules (IFR) flight testing. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent loss of electrical power and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. FAA estimates that three helicopters on the U.S. Registry will be affected by this AD at a cost of $2,100, with manufacturer credit for parts and labor.
Bombardier Aerospace has changed the management of its Flexjet fractional aircraft program, naming a former engine company executive to run the Dallas, Texas-based Flexjet.
NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD is investigating a March 19 icing upset incident involving a Comair Brasilia turboprop on a scheduled flight from Nassau, Bahamas to Orlando, Fla. About 46 minutes after takeoff, the crew encountered instrument meteorological conditions at 18,000 feet that rapidly led to the windscreen being covered by a layer of ice. The crew turned on the ice protection system and the windshield cleared, but the first officer observed ice on the right wing's boots and the right prop's spinner.
Model R381/6-123-F/5 propellers (Docket No. 99-NE-43-AD; Amendment 39-12143; AD 99-18-18 R1) - revises an existing AD that requires initial and repetitive visual and ultrasonic inspections of propeller blades for cracks across the camber face, and, if blades are found cracked, replacement with serviceable blades. This amendment is prompted by an engineering analysis of field service data and certification testing that indicate that the repetitive visual inspection interval can be safely increased and that the ultrasonic inspections can be eliminated.
Docket No.: FAA-2001-8787 Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 135.143(c)(2) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit Yute Air to operate certain aircraft under part 135 without a TSO-C112 (Mode S) transponder installed in the aircraft. Grant, Jan. 29, 2001, Exemption No. 7428
Executive Jet, Inc. is boosting its European NetJets fractional ownership fleet with an order for 50 Cessna Citations valued at $400 million, the company announced last week. The contract calls for 25 Excels, with delivery to NetJets Europe beginning in November, and 25 Bravos with shipment beginning in January.
ALCOA, INC. plans to invest nearly $90 million to expand aerospace plate capacity at its Davenport, Iowa works. The 30 percent increase in sheet and plate facility at the Davenport plant "is an investment in the future that will help us meet the current and anticipated demand for our aerospace alloys in the growing global aerospace market," said John W. Collins, III, vice president of Alcoa and president of Alcoa Mill Products.
BETH CONORD was appointed director of sales for Flight Explorer, a provider of Internet-based real-time flight tracking information. Conord formerly was senior marketing manager of telesales for Cable&Wireless.
R. ERIC WEIMAR joined The Air Group as director of client services in the Denver office. Weimar has nearly 12 years of aviation experience, beginning as a customer service representative at the former AMR Combs fixed-base operation. He also has served as director of sales and marketing for Mile Hi Aviation and charter sales manager for TAG Aviation.
British carrier Virgin Atlantic plans to offer a new service called Virgin Jetset using business jets, according to an AP wire report. The report, which company officials last week maintained was unconfirmed, said plans are in the early stages, but Virgin hopes to fly on routes between London and New York as well as between Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles.
REBEKAH NOTTINGHAM was named vice president of business development for Information and Electronic Warfare Systems in BAE Systems North America's Washington, D.C. office. Nottingham most recently was senior director of Aerospace Electronics Business Development for Lockheed Martin.
The Boeing Company is engaged in a major development program to build an airline transport by the end of the decade that will travel at nearly the speed of sound while carrying up to 250 passengers, officials confirmed Thursday.
Docket No.: FAA-2000-8262 Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 25.785(h)(1), 25.807(c)(7) and 25.813(3). Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit permanent exemption from the requirements of 14 CFR Part 25 pertaining to flight attendant direct view, distance between exits, and installation of interior doors between passenger compartments, for A319 Corporate Jets.
Commercial air carrier and general aviation representatives, working with FAA on parallel initiatives to significantly reduce the number of aviation accidents, believe their efforts already are bearing fruit and will ultimately permit them to achieve some aggressive safety goals.
Skyrocketing first class air fares on airlines are making charter travel the more affordable alternative, concluded a new study commissioned by online booking agent Skyjet. The study, conducted by New York-based Harrell Associates, found that businesses could save thousands of dollars by chartering a business jet rather than purchasing first class air fare for four or more executives. First class tickets jumped 22 percent since early last year, while charter flight costs rose only three percent.
Continental Express established an ab initio pilot training program at Kent State University in Ohio. Continental Express expects the program will help provide a pool of applicants for its operations as well as help prepare Kent State students for a commercial career. Qualified Kent State aeronautics students will be accepted into the program in their sophomore year. The program will cover both classroom and flight instruction and include a summer internship at the Continental Express training facility.
