MICHAEL PRICE was appointed chief operating officer for Associated Aviation Underwriters. Price formerly was chief underwriting officer of Underwriters Reinsurance Company and Swiss Re.
A FALCON 200 sustained minor damage Thursday when the crew lost directional steering after landing at the Shreveport, La. Airport. FAA said the 1985 model aircraft ran off the left side of Runway 32.
KAISER AIR, INC., Oakland, Calif., added two Gulfstream G-IIIs and a Citation Bravo to its charter fleet. The Gulfstreams replace older Gulfstream models, while the 2000 model year Bravo is a new aircraft type in the Kaiser Air fleet. The Okland firm also operates a Gulfstream IV-SP, a Gulfstream IIIB, a Hawker 700, a Citation V and a Citation II.
Model A109E helicopters (Docket No. 2000-SW-65-AD; Amendment 39-12106; AD 2000-25-54) - publishes AD 2000-25-54, which was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of Agusta Model A109E helicopters by individual letters. This AD requires, before each start of the engines, visually checking both sides of each tail rotor blade for a crack and, at specified intervals, inspecting each blade for a crack using a five-power or higher magnifying glass. Dye-penetrant inspection of each blade for a crack also is required at specified time intervals.
Model 206A, B, L, L1, and L3 helicopters (Docket No. 2000-SW-34-AD; Amendment 39-12087; AD 2001-02-03) - requires inspecting the collective lever assembly for a raised forging boss, inspecting the assembly for adequate clearance between the collective lever and the swashplate outer ring, and modifying any assembly with a raised forging boss and inadequate clearance before further flight. This AD is prompted by the discovery that a raised forging boss could result in control system interference.
Industry representatives this week plan to stress the importance of maintaining the field approval process - with a few modifications - as the Federal Aviation Administration continues its review of field approvals at a public meeting in Washington, D.C. FAA has studied its field approval procedures over the past couple of years and plans to receive public input at a day-long meeting Wednesday at its headquarters.
Model BR700-715A1-30, BR700-715B1-30, and BR700-715C1-30 Turbofan Engines (Docket No. 2000-NE-54-AD; Amendment 39-12098; AD 2000-25-51) - publishes an AD that was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of the affected engines. This action requires that certain high pressure turbine (HPT) Stage 1 disks, Part Numbers BRH20009, BRH20010, BRH12167, BRH12168, BRH12466, and BRH12467; and Stage 2 disks, P/Ns BRH19349 and BRH19350, be removed before exceeding the new reduced cyclic limit, and replaced with a serviceable disk.
SEVERAL AVIATION ASSOCIATIONS hope to convince Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta to issue the Part 145 rewrite as a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking rather than a final rule. The rewrite of the repair station regulations was sent to the Office of Management and Budget last month for review, but was held up by the Bush Administration's temporary freeze on all pending rulemaking activities.
Bell Helicopter Textron and Honeywell have formed a strategic alliance to provide repair and overhaul, upgrades and general aftermarket support for the world's operating fleets of more than 3,700 UH-1 "Huey" and AH-1 "Cobra" helicopters.
THE U.S. COAST GUARD plans to ask for $350 million in fiscal 2002 to begin initial contract awards for its Deepwater Project, a 20-year, $10 billion program to replace or modernize its fleet of 92 deepwater ships and 209 aircraft (BA, Feb. 21, 2000/86).
ALTHOUGH the Deepwater Project will generate substantial business for aircraft and helicopter manufacturers, it also is drawing concern from the aviation industry. FAA competes against the Coast Guard and other agencies within the Department of Transportation for operations funds. Although the Office of Management and Budget is expected to increase its request for FAA funding, GAO and the IG both cautioned that FAA's operations could be squeezed this year as budget requests by the Coast Guard and other transportation modes increase. See articles below.
Bombardier Aerospace, which has used an evolutionary development process that transfers technology from one aircraft program to another to reduce costs, has signed an agreement to sell business jets to one of its existing regional jet customers.
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is concerned that a recent agreement between the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Air Traffic Controllers' Association (NATCA) could reduce safety margins and compromise the FAA's quality assurance process.
GENERAL AVIATION groups battling airport restrictions received more good news last week as a federal judge ruled that a lawsuit challenging a Stage 2 non-addition rule at Van Nuys, Calif. Airport should move forward. The judge's decision, setting a May 1 trial date, comes a week after the Naples Airport Authority board of directors agreed to delay enforcement of its Stage 2 aircraft ban at Naples, Fla. Municipal Airport (BA, Feb. 12/77).
Model 407 helicopters (Docket No. 2001-SW-02-AD; Amendment 39-12100; AD 2001-01-52) - publishes AD 2001-01-52, which was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of the affected Model 407 helicopters by individual letters. This AD requires, before further flight, reducing the maximum approved never exceed velocity (Vne); inserting a copy of this AD into the Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM); installing a temporary placard on the flight instrument panel to indicate the reduced Vne limit; and installing a new redline Vne limit on all airspeed indicators.
BRAD PALMER joined CitationShares as regional sales manager. Palmer, who will be based in Cleveland, Ohio, has 15 years of aviation sales, marketing and financing experience. Most recently a regional sales manager in the aircraft finance group of United Bank, he spent eight years with Cessna.
Models 60, A60, and B60 airplanes (Docket No. 99-CE-74-AD; Amendment 39-12094; AD 2001-02-10) - requires inspection for the existence of any lower forward wing bolts with the Mercury Aerospace trademark, and replacement of any such bolt with an FAA-approved bolt without this trademark. This AD is the result of a report that wing bolts supplied by Mercury Aerospace may not meet the required Rockwell hardness specifications. The actions specified by this AD are intended to detect and correct wing bolts that do not meet strength requirements.
JIM DOLLE was named assistant manager for FlightSafety International's learning center in Savannah, Ga. Dolle, a former Naval aviator, most recently was with the North Carolina Division of Occupational Safety and Health.
A BEECH SUPER KING AIR 200 operated by the State of Washington was damaged Feb. 13 while landing on Runway 17L at Olympia, Wash. FAA said the aircraft, N222KA, ran off the end of the runway, damaging the wing, a propeller and the front landing gear. There were 12 people on board, but no injuries were reported.
Hartford County, Md. officials retained a consulting firm to prepare a preliminary feasibility study for the joint-use of Phillips Army Airfield, which is part of the U.S. Army's Aberdeen Proving Ground facility.
A BEECH 1900D operated by Great Lakes Aviation was heavily damaged Feb. 10 during a gear-up landing on Runway 4R at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. The Part 121 flight, which originated in Springfield, Ill., was operating under an active instrument flight plan. Seven of the 15 passengers were evaluated and treated for minor injuries at a local hospital. The two pilots and the other eight passengers were not injured.
