In a rare unanimous vote, the U.S. Senate has confirmed Charlotte, N.C., Mayor Anthony Foxx to become the next U.S. transportation secretary. Senators today voted 100-0 to confirm President Barack Obama’s nominee to head the Cabinet department that oversees the FAA, the Maritime Administration and numerous other related federal agencies.
The budget crunch and sequestration cuts are setting the stage for a potential renewed debate on user fees. National Business Aviation Association President and CEO Ed Bolen and Airlines for America President and CEO Nick Calio broached the topic at a recent conference on the next generation air transportation system.
GE Aviation has begun certification testing of its Passport engine that will power the Bombardier Global 7000 and 8000 business jets. The Passport engine, developed under a joint venture between GE, IHI of Japan and TechSpace Aero of Belgium, began ground testing on June 24, running for more than 3 hr., and reaching more than 18,000 lb. of standard day sea-level takeoff thrust, GE says. The engine will be certified to produce 16,500 lbst on the Bombardier aircraft, and meet Stage 4 noise regulations. First run occurred at GE Aviation’s Peebles Testing Operation in Ohio.
CLOVIS MARTINS has joined Vector Aerospace Engines Services –Atlantic as sales and service manager for Brazil. Martins has nine year of aviation industry experience. He formerly has served with Synerjet, Premier Aviation and Linford Aviation.
JOHN MULDER was promoted to director of operations for TWC Aviation. Mulder has spent seven years with TWC, serving as chief pilot, director of training and line pilot. He has also served as director of operations and chief pilot for other Part 135 operators, along with assistant aviation commander for the Washington State Patrol and a U.S. Navy jet flight instructor.
Duncan Aviation was named the exclusive worldwide distributor of Safran Power UK & Safran Power USA’s Learjet 60 replacement starter generator. Duncan houses generator inventories at its Lincoln, Neb., facility and ships units worldwide.
Nepal’s Shree Airlines has placed an order for eight helicopters from Eurocopter, with deliveries scheduled to begin early next year. With the order of five AS350 B3e and three EC130 T2, the Himalayan nation will become one of the largest operators of Ecureuil helicopters in South Asia. Financial details were not disclosed. Shree Airlines currently operates an AS350 B3e for emergency relief operations. The EC130 T2s, however, will be used for commercial operations.
MARISA ALKIN was appointed charter coordinator for Cutter Aviation. Alkin has served with Cutter since May 2012 in the customer service department. She also has previous experience in both the aviation and customer service industries.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701, & 702) airplanes, Model CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705) airplanes, Model CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes, and Model CL-600-2E25 (Regional Jet Series 1000) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0459; Directorate Identifier 2013-NM-044-AD] – proposes to require repetitive replacement of the bellcrank supports on the inner rear spar of the horizontal stabilizer with new, improved bellcrank supports.
ROBERT MULLINS was named executive vice president, corporate strategy and mergers & acquisitions for Cobham. Mullins was formerly senior vice president, corporate strategy for Alliant Techsystems, an aerospace, defense and commercial products company. Mullins has also served with Northrop Grumman in a number of executives positions, including vice president of operations strategy and development for Northrop’s ISR Systems Division.
San Francisco-based Lam Aviation completed another round of flight tests using a Lancair Columbia fitted with its Lam Aileron, confirming a number of performance improvements that range from 30% improved fuel consumption to a 50% increase in rate of climb over the in-production aircraft, the company says.
DASSAULT Model Falcon 900 and 900EX airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-1322; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-155-AD; Amendment 39-17466; AD 2013-11-06] – requires modifying the tail strobe power supply wire routing. This AD was prompted by reports of chafing between the tail strobe power supply and a hydraulic line.
Although the House and Senate have drafted substantially different FAA funding bills, both chambers are providing full funding to preserve the contract tower program in their respective 2014 budget bills. The House would provide $140 million for the program; the Senate $140.35 million. The funding is designed to shield the program from the sequestration cuts that had threatened it this spring. The U.S.
SAAB Model 340B airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2013-0460; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-222-AD] – proposes to require an inspection of the stick pusher rigging and an adjustment to the correct setting if necessary. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that the elevator position quoted in an aircraft maintenance manual is incorrect for the Saab 340B airplane.
The Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA), exasperated by the continued delay in the release of the congressionally mandated aircraft repair station security rule, is urging Congress to reverse course on the penalty it imposed in 2008 after TSA failed to produce the rule. Congress nearly five years ago banned FAA from certifying any new foreign repair station until the rule is released. ARSA is receiving indications of support in the House for a bill to overturn the ban and is hopeful that a measure will be introduced in upcoming weeks.
July 11—National Business Aviation Association, Business Aviation Regional Forum, Denver, Colo., (703) 783-9000, www.nbaa.org July 29-Aug. 4—2013 EAA Airventure Oshkosh, Wittman Regional Airport, Oshkosh, Wis., www.airventure.org Aug. 12-13—Aircraft Electronics Association Regional Meeting, Sao Paulo, Brazil, www.aea.net/events.asp Aug. 27-28—Aircraft Electronics Association Regional Meeting, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, www.aea.net/events.asp
BELL Model 214B, 214B-1 and 214ST helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0470; Directorate Identifier 2013-SW-008-AD; Amendment 39-17465; AD 2013-11-05] – requires inspecting the bearing to determine whether an incorrectly manufactured seal material is installed on the bearing. This AD is prompted by a report that certain bearings were manufactured with an incorrect seal material that does not meet Bell specifications. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent loss of bearing grease, failure of the bearing, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
Signature Flight Support, which teamed with Montreal-based fixed-base operator Starlink Aviation in 2010 under a licensing agreement, is acquiring a majority share of the FBO operations in a move that provides Signature its first majority-owned base in Canada. Under an agreement that is expected to close in the third quarter, Starlink will continue to own and operate the real estate in Montreal, along with its aircraft management, maintenance, corporate shuttle and charter businesses.
The Customs and Border Protection Agency (CBP) is easing a border-crossing process for business and general aviation aircraft, even as the agency has stepped up its interdiction efforts involving light planes by making unannounced, extensive searches.
The International Business Aviation Council’s (IBAC) International Standards for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) has topped 700 registered operators. IS-BAO was launched 11 years ago to provide a series of standards and best practices that operators can demonstrate. The standard, which includes a safety management system program developed by the International Civil Aviation Safety Organization, has since become internationally accepted.
CESSNA Model 500, 501, 550, 551, S550, 560, 560XL, and 650 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-1001; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-020-AD; Amendment 39-17453; AD 2013-09-11] – requires inspecting to determine if certain air conditioning (A/C) compressor motors are installed and to determine the accumulated hours on certain A/C drive motor assemblies; repetitive replacement of the brushes in the drive motor assembly, or, as an option to the brush replacement, deactivation of the A/C system and placard installation; and return of replaced brushes to Cessna.
TAC Air’s Keystone Aviation facility at Aurora State Airport in Aurora, Ore., was named a Cirrus authorized service center. The addition of the Cirrus capabilities comes as the facility works to expand its line of aviation products and services. Keystone’s Aurora site also is approved as a service center for Daher-Socata. A Part 145 repair station, Keystone also provides charter, maintenance, management and sales and brokerage services in Aurora. In addition to Aurora, Keystone operates facilities in Salt Lake City and Provo, Utah.
BOMBARDIER Model BD-100-1A10 (Challenger 300) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0930; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-251-AD; Amendment 39-17472; AD 2013-11-12] – requires inspecting for the correct serial number of a certain hydraulic system accumulator, and replacing affected hydraulic system accumulators with new or serviceable accumulators.
SIKORSKY Model S-65E helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2013-0454; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-081-AD] – proposes to supersede an AD that currently requires inspecting and reworking the main gearbox (MGB) assembly second stage lower planetary plate. This action would establish or reduce the life limits for certain flight-critical components, remove from service various parts, require repetitive inspections and other corrective actions, and require replacing any cracked part discovered during an inspection.
