Docket No.: FAA-2000-8497 Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR Sec. 91.205(b)(12). Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit AWX to operate its aircraft over water without at least one pyrotechnic signaling device on board. Denial, Dec. 18, 2000, Exemption No. 7409
SIMUFLITE TRAINING INTERNATIONAL received FAA Level D qualification for its Citation Ultra full flight simulator. The simulator, manufactured by CAE in Montreal, is equipped with a Primus 1000 integrated avionics system, Primus 870 weather radar system, Honeywell radio management units, TCAS II, GNS-XLS, flight management system and an enhanced ground proximity warning system. SimuFlite expects to fit the simulator this spring with a change-out conversion package for Citation Bravo configuration.
National Air Transportation Association last week began to develop two checklists that the association hopes will assist its members when they obtain insurance. The checklists stem from growing concerns about the dramatic increases in insurance rates and the realization that those rates are not likely to drop anytime in the near future. Aviation businesses last fall reported insurance rates increases of up to 300 percent, a trend that analysts believe was driven in part by the declining number of insurance providers (BA, Oct. 9/165).
Model G-1159A (G-III) series airplanes (Docket No. 2000-NM-144-AD; Amendment 39-12070; AD 2000-26-20) - requires modification of the master caution panel by installing an additional legend labeled "BATT ON BUS" and associated wiring to indicate when the airplane batteries are powering the direct current (DC) essential bus. This action is necessary to ensure that the flight crew is aware that an electrical system failure has occurred and that the main airplane batteries are powering the essential DC bus.
TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY Norman Mineta last week said he has no problem with streamlining the process for certification of new products, "as long as we're not sacrificing safety and environmental concerns." Mineta's comments came in response to concerns expressed by Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), who noted the "often Byzantine approval process" manufacturers must go through to achieve certification.
CONSOLIDATED FUEL SYSTEMS, INC., acquired the Garrett aircraft turbocharger product line from Honeywell Engine Boosting Systems in Torrance, Calif. Consolidated Fuel, a unit of Kelly Aerospace, moved design, development and manufacturing of the Garrett production line from California to its Montgomery, Ala. plant. Consolidated will market the original Garrett-designed turbocharger under Kelly's RAJAY trademark.
DAIMLERCHRYSLER AVIATION opened a new passenger terminal that includes a commercial jetway at its facility at Oakland County International Airport in Waterford, Mich.
TRICIA FINCH was appointed a director of marketing and sales for Indigo. Finch formerly served with Boston Coach, a ground transportation services provider. She also has served in sales and customer support capacities with American Limousine and US West.
LISA CHEREPON was named a director of marketing and sales for Indigo, the new business air service that operates corporate jets on regular schedules. Cherepon formerly was director of hotel consulting services and hotel programs for American Express One. She has more than 20 years of experience in the travel industry, also serving with Hertz Corp., UTA French Airlines and Rosenbluth Travel, Inc.
Model Falcon 10 and Model Mystere-Falcon 50 Series airplanes (Docket No. 98-NM-325-AD; Amendment 39-12075; AD 2001-01-05) - requires, for certain airplanes, modification of the aircraft wiring to illuminate the "T/O CONFIG" red warning light on the cockpit warning panel.
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE will deliver a C-37A (a Gulfstream V) to the U.S. Coast Guard in the second quarter of 2002, an order the company received in December 2000. The Coast Guard has been operating Gulfstream aircraft since 1963 when it purchased a Gulfstream I turboprop.
Docket No.: FAA-2000-8165 Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 25.813(e) Description of Relief Sought: To permit The Jet Center, Garrett Aviation Services, to install doors in partitions between passenger compartments on Bombardier Model BD-700-1A10 airplanes used for corporate transportation.
JET AVIATION named Anthony Johns of West Palm Beach, Fla., as the company's Southeast regional sales manager. Johns previously worked at ExcelAire of Long Island, N.Y. as vice president of helicopter operations and before that he worked with Liberty Helicopters of New York.
MARK HARRIS was named vice president, maintenance operations for Rockwell Collins. Harris succeeds Kent Statler, who was appointed vice president-lean electronics (BA, Jan. 22/44). Harris will manage and direct all Collins Aviation Services maintenance operations, including avionics, in-flight entertainment equipment and on-board services.
DASSAULT FALCON JET sold 90 aircraft last year, noting that "78 of our 90 orders were commercial (non-fractional), which is a record number for the company." DFJ said sales were particularly strong in the western U.S. last year, but added that even though the U.S. market remains the largest, international customers accounted for approximately 40 percent of new Falcon sales last year. Also, DFJ said "concept customers" or first-time jet buyers accounted for "a full 20 percent of sales this year.
AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURERS, who've enjoyed strong market demand for their turbine-powered products in recent years, appear to have more good years ahead of them.Cessna, Gulfstream and Raytheon last week reported a combined backlog of $14.5 billion in orders for new aircraft. See article below.
GmbH Models BR700-710A1-10 and BR700-710A2-20 turbofan engines with oil filter differential pressure switch part number (P/N) 21SN04-419 or P/N 21SN04-431 installed (Docket No. 2000-NE-44-AD; Amendment 39-12071; AD 2001-01-01) - requires inspections of oil filter differential pressure switches, and replacement if necessary, in accordance with Rolls-Royce Service Bulletin No. SB-BR700-79-900215, Revision 2, dated Aug. 2, 2000. This amendment is prompted by a report of severe engine oil loss, caused by oil leakage from a defective oil filter differential pressure switch.
Docket No.: FAA-2000-8096 Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR Sec. 61.83(a) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit Gidwani to obtain a student pilot certificate for operation of an aircraft other than a glider or balloon. Denial, Dec. 18, 2000, Exemption No. 7408
Summary: 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.
CESSNA Aircraft delivered its 400th Model 525 Cessna Citation, a CJ1, to international trade and distribution company, E. Boyd&Associates, based in Raleigh, N.C.
Model S-76A, S-76B, and S-76C helicopters (Docket No. 2000-SW-52-AD; Amendment 39-12074; AD 2001-01-04) - requires initial and repetitive inspections of the main landing gear positioning rod assembly and the side brace rod end for corrosion. If any corrosion is found, this AD requires replacing any part that is corroded with an airworthy part before further flight. This amendment is prompted by a landing gear collapse caused by corrosion due to dissimilar metals in the landing gear rod end.
ASSAD KOTAITE, president of the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization, announced an agreement Wednesday on a new air route structure over the North Pole that will reduce flight distances from North America and Europe to Asia and the Pacific region. Kotaite's announcement followed the fourth meeting of ICAO's Informal Trans-Asia/Trans-Siberia/Cross Polar Routes High Level Steering Group (ITASPS) in Paris, France. ITASPS was established in 1998.
SEN. KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON (R-Texas), the likely next chairwoman of the Senate aviation subcommittee, said she was "very concerned" about the effort to move toward a new performance-based organization to manage FAA's air traffic control system. The Clinton Administration formally unveiled its plans for a performance-based air traffic organization in December (BA, Dec. 11/267). "I hope that we will be able to monitor it closely and work out kinks, if we find them, quickly," Hutchison said.
