The American Association of Airport Executives is concerned that initial White House fiscal 2015 budget documents do not indicate a request for guaranteed funding for the Contract Tower Program. Congress included $140 million for the program in fiscal 2014, and the airports group had hoped to see that increase to $149 million. While the program has substantial support on Capitol Hill and likely would receive funding, the Obama administration last year attempted to slash funding for more than half of the program.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-215-6B11 (CL-215T Variant), and CL-215-6B11 (CL-415 Variant) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2014-0120; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-056-AD] – proposes to require a general visual inspection of the left and right nacelle upper strut bushings; installation of the bolts and preload indicating (PLI) washers, if necessary; and replacement of the bushing or repair of the bushing installation, if necessary. This proposed AD was prompted by several reports indicating that shorter nacelle strut bushings were inadvertently installed on certain airplanes.
Bombardier Aerospace dedicated a Learjet 45 to its Customer Response Team (CRT) to be dispatched for aircraft on ground/unscheduled maintenance events in the U.S. The aircraft will be based at Chicago Executive Airport (PWK) in Palwaukee, Ill., close to its parts hub and Chicago CRT truck.
GKN Aerospace’s new business jet engine integration facility in Phoenix recently completed its first delivery, Honeywell HTF7250 engines integrated into GKN Aerospace nacelle systems for the Gulfstream G280. Based next to Honeywell’s factory, the 24,000-sq.-ft. facility will pod HTF7000 series engines for the Bombardier CL350 and Embraer Legacy 450/500, in addition to the G280. The facility currently employs 30, but will expand to 50 workers. GKN expects that at capacity, the facility will assemble 28 complete power systems per month.
MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES Models MU-2B-30, MU-2B-35, MU-2B-36, MU-2B-36A, and MU-2B-60 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2014-0108; Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-052-AD] – proposes to require inspecting the side and lower frame at frame station (STA) 4610 and 5605 for cracks and corrosion and making all necessary repairs and replacements.
LUIS COREANO was appointed general manager of PAS Technologies in Kansas City, Mo. He joined the company in 2013 as director of operations. He has 13 years of aviation engine experience in engineering, operations and customer service.
National Air Transportation Association named Gary Dempsey, president, flight services – the Americas for Jet Aviation Holdings USA, as its next chairman of the board of directors. Priester Aviation President and CEO Andy Priester will serve as vice chairman and Pentastar Aviation President and CEO Gregory Schmidt was elected treasurer.
SAAB Model 2000 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2014-0056; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-160-AD] – proposes to require deactivating the potable water system, or alternatively filling and activating the potable water system. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of a rudder pedal restriction which was the result of water leakage at the inlet tubing of an in-line heater in the lower part of the forward fuselage.
Bell Helicopter received letters of intent and orders for nearly 200 aircraft at the recent Helicopter Association International Heli-Expo in Anaheim, Calif. The commitments came as Bell detailed plans for its new 505 Jet Ranger X and unveiled an updated mock-up of its new Bell 525 Relentless helicopter. The signings included 171 letters of intent for the Bell 505 Jet Ranger X, 10 letters of intent for the 525, eight orders for the Bell 407GX, five orders for the Bell 412EP and two orders for the Bell 429.
Milestone Aviation Group’s fleet has grown to encompass 143 aircraft valued at $2.2 billion, but is set to continue to expand significantly with several new orders. Co-founded by fractional ownership pioneer Richard Santulli, Milestone was one of the first companies dedicated to the leasing business and was established in August 2010 just as the oil and gas industry was set to take off.
JOAN POMPA was appointed interior/paint project manager for West Star Aviation’s facility in East Alton, Ill. Pompa joined West Star in 2013 as interior/paint project manager at the Grand Junction, Colo. facility. She will continue to support that work at Grand Junction while she transitions to the East Alton facility. She joins West Star with 13 years of sales experience in interior, paint and refurbishment projects.
HARRY MITCHEL was promoted to chief operating officer for Executive AirShare. Mitchel joined the fractional ownership operation in 2013 as vice president of operations.
DASSAULT Model Falcon 2000 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0466; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-156-AD; Amendment 39-17749; AD 2014-03-12] – supersedes AD 2002-23-19, which required repetitive operational tests, repetitive measurements, and repetitive replacement of certain jackscrews. This new AD requires revising the maintenance program to incorporate new or revised maintenance requirements and airworthiness limitations. This AD was prompted by the manufacturer revising the airplane maintenance manual (AMM) maintenance requirements and airworthiness limitations.
FAA will soon launch the contract process for a major tower-based air traffic management initiative that has been delayed significantly in the past. The tower flight data manager (TFDM) program will upgrade the backbone operating system for the agency’s control towers nationwide. It is the equivalent of high-profile automation upgrades that have previously been launched in the terminal and en route environments. Most of the major manufacturers active in the ATM field are expected to compete in various teams. TFDM has been under discussion for years.
DIAMOND Models DA 42 NG and DA 42 M-NG airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0937; Directorate Identifier 2013-CE-029-AD; Amendment 39-17762; AD 2014-04-04] – requires installation of an additional independent alternator fail caution trigger. This AD was promoted by reports that during maintenance troubleshooting, a DA 42 NG alternator indication system did not give a warning indication when one alternator was inoperative.
FAA is banning more than 4,200 older Cessna twin pistons from flight into known icing, a move the agency says is necessary because the aircraft were not certified for such operations and have exhibited unusual flight characteristics when encountering icing.
Despite a relatively flat year in 2013, BBA Aviation is continuing to aggressively build up its Signature Flight Support business to position it to capitalize on the market as it gradually grows.
Dallas Airmotive is consolidating portions of its turbine engine repair and overhaul activities in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and planning a new test facility near Dallas-Fort Worth. The company says the moves, which will occur in phases, are part of a long-term strategy to expand its operations. The company is moving several of its product lines from its Forest Park overhaul center in Dallas, where it has been located for more than 60 years, into its newer facilities at Heritage Park near Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, as well as at Dallas Love Field.
Textron is hoping to close on its planned $1.4 billion acquisition of Beechcraft this month after receiving a key regulatory clearance from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC agreed to an early termination of the requisite waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, paving the way for a first-quarter closing, Textron said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
A strong fourth quarter in which Dassault delivered nearly half of all the Falcons shipped in 2013 led the French airframer to a 17% improvement in sales for the year. Dassault Aviation will report its full 2013 results on March 13, but in an interim report the company credits a jump in Falcon sales along with its unmanned combat air vehicle program for the increase in yearlong sales to €4.593 billion ($6.321 billion).
Citing concerns of the potential ramifications on the safety of the national airspace system, FAA is appealing a National Transportation Safety Board administrative law judge’s decision to dismiss a proposed civil penalty for unauthorized use of an unmanned aircraft system. The law judge’s determination puts the penalty on hold while the agency appeals the case to the full NTSB.
Boeing’s Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA) demonstrator, a modified Bombardier Challenger 604 business jet, has been flown to Boeing’s Yuma, Ariz. facility for initial certification flight tests following extensive conversion work by Ontario, Canada-based Field Aviation.
The city of Santa Monica, Calif., is continuing to explore all options to close Santa Monica Airport (SMO), including a possible new policy that would permit the city to lease airport property only to non-aviation entities such as art galleries and small shops.
