The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association warned the Federal Communications Commission that the GPS navigation system could be threatened by new low-power devices using Ultra-Wideband Transmission Systems (UWB) technology. In comments to the FCC's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking FCC 00-163, AOPA asked the commission to allow "adequate time for testing and analysis of new devices using UWB," and said such devices should be licensed or controlled to minimize interference with GPS signals.
BRAZILIAN AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURER Embraer now bills itself as "the world's fourth largest airliner manufacturer and Brazil's largest exporter, with $23.3 billion in logged sales, of which $11 billion are firm orders and $12.3 billion are options." The company said last week that development work on the ERJ 170 regional airliner "is strictly adhering to schedule and the first flight should occur during the second half of 2001." Delivery of the first production ERJ 170 is expected at the end of 2002.
Docket No.: 29213 Section of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 135.143(c)(2) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit Elliott to operate certain aircraft under Part 135 without a TSO-C112 (Mode S)transponder installed on those aircraft. Grant, Sept. 12, 2000, Exemption No. 7347
Federal Aviation Administration recently proposed new guidance for its inspectors that would provide temporary relief to Part 135 operators flying converted business jets to carry cargo. The proposed guidance, called "a step forward" by National Air Transportation Association Vice President Andrew Cebula, would set aside certain operating specifications the agency drafted for operators of Part 25 transport category aircraft that previously were modified via field approval for cargo use.
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.
Docket No.: 30151 Section of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 25.785(b) Description of Relief Sought: To permit side-facing divans to be installed for "private, not-for-hire" use on a Boeing Model 777-200 airplane.
Docket No.: 28361 Section of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 91.203(a) and (b) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit AirTran to operate temporarily its aircraft following incidental loss or mutilation of an aircraft's airworthiness or registration certificate. Grant, Sept. 11, 2000, Exemption No. 7348
REGARDLESS OF the outcome of the presidential election, Jane Garvey continues her resolve to fulfill her five-year term as FAA Administrator. Garvey reassured industry groups at various events recently - including the agency's demonstration of Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B) late last month in Memphis - that she plans to serve out the final two years of her term. She reiterated those statements during an FAA staff meeting last week and asked those attending to maintain focus on their agency work despite the impending transition.
TRIUMPH GROUP recently increased its borrowing capacity by expanding a revolving credit facility from $250 million to $350 million. The credit package will continue to be led by PNC Bank, N.A. The additional credit line "gives us the resources to continue to execute our strategy of adding products and services, expanding operating capacity and acquiring aggressively while maintaining our commitment to a strong balance sheet," a Triumph official said.
Docket No.: 30132 Section of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 61.109(d)(2)(i) and 61.109(d)(3) Description of Relief Sought: To permit Daniel to obtain a private pilot certificate with gyroplane class rating without meeting the cross-country night flight training requirements.
INDIGO, the Chicago-based carrier that is offering regular service between Chicago and New York on Falcon 20 business jets, has begun accepting online bookings through its website www.flyindigo.com. Indigo has priced a one-way ticket between Chicago Midway Airport and Teterboro at $629 plus taxes of up to $5.50. Indigo expects to launch service soon to White Plains, N.Y. and Minneapolis, Minn. and plans later to expand the Atlanta, Boston and Washington, D.C. markets.
FLIGHT SAFETY FOUNDATION elected Carl Vogt chairman of the FSF Board of Governors for a three-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2001. The election returns FSF to its traditional leadership structure, which has separate responsibilities for the president, who oversees day-to-day oversight and management, and the chairman, who serves in a non-executive capacity. Stuart Matthews had served as chairman since 1991 but added the title of president when he retired in 1994 as chairman of Fokker Aircraft. Matthews will continue to serve as president and chief executive.
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE is nearing completion of an Integrated Test Facility that will be used to test the hardware and avionics systems to be installed in the new PlaneView cockpit suite of the new Gulfstream V-SP. Actual tests are expected to begin later this year. The PlaneView suite will integrate a Honeywell visual guidance system (HUD), enhanced vision system (EVS), a cursor control device and Honeywell's Primus Epic flight instrumentation system (BA, Oct. 16/177).
Models PC-12 and PC-12/45 airplanes (Docket No. 2000-CE-03-AD; Amendment 39-11946; AD 2000-21-14) - requires a one-time inspection for abrasion damage, distortion, and proper clearance of the torque oil-pressure tubes and py pressure pipe, and if necessary, adjustment and replacement of these components. This AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for Switzerland. The actions specified by this AD are intended to correct abrasive damage from rubbing pipes and consequent loss of engine oil.
JERRY KEIZER was named technical services sales manager for Elliott Aviation's Omaha, Neb. location. Keizer, who has 26 years of aviation experience, previously was director of avionics sales and product support at West Star Aviation.
JET AVIATION plans to begin construction early next year on a four-story multipurpose structure at its facility in Basel, Switzerland. The new building will be attached to an existing customer complex that will receive an additional story of space. The old and new buildings will be connected by a glass and steel roof. The additional space will include room for customer offices, a large lounge, conference rooms with high-tech audio-visual capability and a range of amenities for pilots, including snooze rooms, changing rooms and a fitness center.
GENERAL AVIATION does not participate in the Flight Operational Quality Assurance (FOQA) safety data-sharing program, but some industry leaders fear that a collapse of the program - because FAA will not provide immunity to participants - could have a rippleeffect on other self-disclosure programs involving GA groups. FAA promotes self-disclosure as a way to improve compliance through education rather than enforcement, industry observers note, but some groups who have used such means have faced enforcement anyway.
Model BAe 146 and Model Avro 146-RJ series airplanes (Docket No. 99-NM-190-AD) - proposes to require revising the airworthiness limitations section of the instructions for continued airworthiness to incorporate life limits for certain items and inspections for fatigue cracking in certain structures. This proposal is prompted by issuance of a revision to the airworthiness limitations of the BAe/Avro 146 Aircraft Maintenance Manual, which specifies new inspections and compliance times for inspection and replacement actions.
FAA ADMINISTRATOR JANE GARVEY will be the keynote speaker at the 12th annual International Women in Aviation Conference March 22-24 at the Reno Hilton in Reno, Nev. The conference will include more than 42 hours of educational sessions. Other invited speakers include Elizabeth Haskins, president and chief executive of Signature Flight Support; Moya Lear, aviation pioneer and former chair of Lear Avia; Deborah McElroy, Regional Airline Association president; and Karen Tripp, vice president of business communications for Rockwell Collins, among others.
FINDING A WAY to quiet the noise of sonic booms is seen as a key prerequisite of any supersonic business jet development program so SSBJs will be able to fly over land without generating protests from residents.
A QUIETER, GENTLER SST? Northrop Grumman Corp. won a $2.5 million contract from the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for initial studies and technology development for the Quiet Supersonic Platform (QSP) program.
