Federal Aviation Administration this month launched its new Automatic Dependent Surveillance (ADS-B) technology in the Bethel area of Alaska, beginning what it called "one of the most innovative air traffic tracking technology advancements since the advent of radar." ADS-B will enable air traffic controllers to provide a number of ATC services to small aircraft that operate in remote regions where such services have not been available (BA, Sept. 4/110).
JANUARY 19 is the deadline to submit applications for a new FAA pilot program that authorizes cost-sharing for certain air traffic modernization projects. Airports, groups of airports or air carriers who would like to see specific avionics improvements at particular airports can seek early approval for such projects. Under the pilot program, FAA would pay one-third of the cost, and sponsors would pay two-thirds.
ASTRAL AVIATION, which operates Skyway Airlines for Midwest Express, named James P. Rankin, 37, president and chief executive officer. Rankin joined Midwest Express in 1995 as assistant chief pilot and an MD-80 captain and before that served as a pilot, director of flight operations and chief pilot at Skyway from 1990-1995. "With his working knowledge of both Midwest Express and Skyway Airlines, Jim is a tremendous asset to Skyway," said David C. Reeve, chairman of the board of Astral Aviation.
Docket No.: 26649 Section of the 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 25.562(b)(2) Description of Relief Sought: To permit flight deck seats on the Boeing Models 777-200LR and 777-300ER airplanes, without complying with the floor pitch and roll requirements of 25.562(b)(2) (Amendment 25-64).
Docket No.: 29820 Section of the 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 25.785(b) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To provide relief from the general occupant protection requirements for occupants of multiple place side-facing seats that are occupied during takeoff and landing for Bombardier Global Model BD-7001A10 airplanes manufactured prior to January 1, 2004. Partial Grant, Nov. 17, 2000, Exemption No. 7120A
FAA also has delayed until July 16 the effective date for a final rule modifying service difficulty reporting requirements for air carriers and repair stations. FAA delayed the rule to give the agency more time to review concerns provided by various commenters as well as to disseminate guidance to help with compliance. The requirements originally were to take effect Jan. 16.
NEW PIPER PA-31 series airplanes (Docket No. 96-CE-69-AD; Amendment 39-12035; AD 2000-25-01) - supersedes AD 80-26-05, which currently requires repetitive inspections of the main landing gear inboard door hinges and attachment angles for cracks. AD 80-26-05 also requires replacement of any cracked MLG inboard door hinge or attachment angle with improved parts.
Teledyne Technologies Inc. completed the sale last month of its aerospace castings business, Teledyne Cast Parts, to CP Acquisition Corp., an affiliate of California-based Consolidated Foundries, Inc. Teledyne Cast Parts, based in Pomona, Calif., employs about 200 workers.
AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION launched a new online service to help members follow up on special issuance medical applications. AOPA placed a "status request form" on its members-only section that allows members to provide basic medical information confidentially to AOPA's medical certification staff. The staff will use that information to track applications within FAA. "Currently, the FAA is several months behind in processing special issuance medical applications," said Gary Crump, AOPA director of medical certification.
President-elect George W. Bush drew universal support for his selection Tuesday of Commerce Secretary Norman Mineta to head the Department of Transportation, with many industry and government leaders agreeing that he is arguably the most qualified person ever nominated for the slot. Mineta, who has served at the helm of the Commerce Department for little more than six months, is well known in aviation and transportation circles for his work setting transportation policy in Congress and on the National Civil Aviation Review Commission (see related article below).
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION Thursday officially delayed until April 1 new routes for air tour operators over Grand Canyon National Park (BA, Dec. 4/260). FAA originally delayed the implementation of the routes until Dec. 28 pending a review of operator complaints that the new routes posed a safety risk. "The FAA has completed its investigation and based on that investigation is delaying the Airspace Modification final rule pending resolution of some safety issues," the agency said.
Docket No.: 30155 Section of the 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 141.36(b)(2)(i), (c)(3)(i), and (d)(1) Description of Relief Sought: To allow ODA to (1) use an assistant chief instructor who has not had at least one year of flight training experience, (2) use an assistant chief instructor who has not had at least one year of instrument flight instructor experience, and (3) use an assistant chief instructor who has had at least 700 hours rather than 1,000 hours of experience as a pilot-in-command.
Docket No.: 30162 Section of the 14 CFR Affected: Paragraphs 4(a) and 4(b) of Appendix A to 14 CFR Part 91 Description of Relief Sought: To allow Emerson to operate its aircraft, with Honeywell and Collins avionics installed, in an "on-condition" maintenance program in accordance with the equipment manufacturer's recommendations for on-aircraft ground or flight check, rather than meeting the bench check requirements of paragraphs 4(a) and 4(b) of Appendix A of Part 91.
DOUGLAS WAGNER was named manager of media relations for Rockwell Collins. He previously was strategic marketing manager for Five Transportation and Parking. He also spent three and one-half years as press secretary for Rep. Jim Leach (R-Iowa).
GALE NORTON, Bush's nominee to head the Interior Department (BA, Jan. 1/1), has aviation roots. Her father, Dale, was an accident investigator for Beech Aircraft, ran the maintenance shop for Combs-Gates in Denver and then organized and ran the contract maintenance program at Learjet for the 80 C-21As (Model 35As) that the manufacturer leased, and later sold, to the U.S. Air Force. Norton ultimately retired from Learjet in Wichita, where he and his wife still reside.
Docket No.: 23495 Section of the 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 91.209(a)(1) and (2) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit the Army to conduct certain military training operations at night without lighted aircraft position lights. Grant, Nov. 20, 2000, Exemption No. 3946F
REP. JAMES HANSEN (R-Utah), the new chairman of the House Resources Committee, is seeking help from the new administration to roll back some of the land use policies promulgated by the Clinton Administration. Hansen reportedly wrote a letter to President-elect George W. Bush late last month, seeking the incoming administration's support in overturning some initiatives, including a series of restrictions on air tour operators flying near national parks.
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.
The International Civil Aviation Organization's Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP) opens a nine-day session in Montreal this week that will address a number of issues, including adoption of new Stage 4 aircraft noise standards.
JOHN DORNAN was named director of worldwide sales for Cessna Aircraft's Caravan Division. He will be responsible for providing direction to all Caravan regional sales managers. Dornan previously was director of single-engine sales and single-engine international sales manager for Cessna and before that he owned and operated a fixed-base operation in Texas.
Docket No.: FAA-2000-7945 Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 61.57(a) and (b) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit Boeing production and engineering flight test pilots to use any type of Boeing airplane or Level B, C, or D simulator that represents any type of Boeing airplane to meet the takeoff and landing recency of experience requirements of Sec. 61.57 without Boeing holding a 14 CFR Part 142 certificate. Grant, Nov. 20, 2000, Exemption No. 6843A
JET AVIATION added a Gulfstream V business jet to its U.S. managed fleet. The aircraft will be available to charter customers through Jet's partner, New World Jet. The aircraft will be based in Portland, Ore. The aircraft, outfitted for 16 passengers, is equipped with an enhanced vision system, a head-up display and an enhanced ground proximity warning system.
RAYTHEON Model Hawker 800A (U-125A) and Hawker 800XP series airplanes (Docket No. 2000-NM-03-AD; Amendment 39-12032; AD 2000-24-25) - requires inspecting the roller clearance in the nose landing gear drag stay and making any necessary adjustments. This amendment is prompted by reports indicating multiple findings of roller clearances that are in excess of specifications. The actions specified by this AD are intended to ensure that the nose landing gear will extend. FAA estimates that 50 airplanes on the U.S.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations would be applicable to aviation industry employees under the provisions of a report just completed pursuant to an earlier memorandum of understanding among FAA, DOT, OSHA and the Labor Department.
