EMBRAER ERJ 170 and ERJ 190 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0799; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-157-AD; Amendment 39-16414; AD 2010-18-01] – Revise the “Limitations” section of the Airplane Flight Manual to inform operators about the possibility of having an engine stall after the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) becomes the active bleed source for the left side and to specify the condition where APU bleed must not be used.
BOMBARDIER DHC-8-300 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0805; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-042-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to install a new aileron-input quadrant support bracket by incorporating MODSUM 8Q101250, per the instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 8-57-43, Rev. B (dated Oct. 7, 2009). This proposal, which resulted from an MCAI originated by Transport Canada, was prompted by several cases of fatigue failure of the support bracket for the aileron terminal quadrant.
STEVE FLEEMAN joined West Star Aviation, Inc. as accessory sales manager. Fleeman will be based at the company’s Grand Junction, Colo., facility and be responsible for expanding West Star’s accessory program business. He has more than 20 years of aviation experience, formerly with the U.S. Air Force and then in positions of increasing responsibility with Midcoast Aviation.
The Trasportation Security Administration (TSA) is altering its rules so as to make it easier for foreign pilots to take recurrent training in the U.S. The new policy is expected to take effect this week. Currently, active foreign pilots with type ratings in large (>12,500 lb MTOW) aircraft must undergo a vetting process each time they want to come into the country for training. Thus, pilots with dual type ratings might have to go through the process twice or more annually.
The first CAE 3000 series helicopter mission simulator has been qualified for training by FAA. The Eurocopter AS350B2 simulator, which is located at a Phoenix facility near Sky Harbor International Airport, has been qualified for Level 7 flight training device credits. The CAE 3000 series simulator features CAE’s TroposTM-6000 advanced visual system with direct projection dome, high-definition commercial off-the-shelf projectors, and up to a 220-degree horizontal by 80-degree vertical field of view display system with full chin-window coverage.
Al Jaber Aviation has become the first Middle East customer to offer an Airbus aircraft for VVIP charter flights, following the delivery of its first A318 Elite. It has another three A318 Elites and two Airbus Corporate Jetliners on order, which will make it the largest operator of Airbus corporate jets in the region.
The U.S. Navy is urging the Environmental Protection Agency to “consider potential implications of future regulations” that would be driven by an “endangerment finding” of the use of lead in aviation gasoline. In comments on the EPA’s advance notice of proposed rulemaking on the use of lead in avgas, the Navy stressed ongoing research, but expressed concern how restricting the use without an alternative could impact military applications. The General Aviation Avgas Coalition further told the EPA that it did not believe the endangerment finding is warranted.
U.K-based aviation service company PremiAir has added a Learjet 45 to its air operator’s certificate, which is now available for charter. PremiAir bases its Learjets throughout Europe and maintains the aircraft at its London Biggin Hill facility.
StandardAero’s business aviation services facility in Springfield, Ill. will receive a facility site-improvement investment worth $500,000. Work is expected to be completed over the next six months. The project involves repainting of the facility’s hangar floors and walls, in addition to the installation of large-facility ventilation fans and new energy-efficient lighting.
Although President Obama wants to use a new round of stimulus money to help fund the the NextGen air traffic control system, the leading Republic legislator on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee said yesterday that he’ll oppose any such move.
DAVIS FORD was named vice president of aircraft manufacturing and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) for Erickson Air-Crane (EAC). Based at Erickson Air-Crane’s manufacturing and MRO facilities in Central Point, Ore., Ford will oversee the team that builds, modifies and maintains the Erickson S-64 helicopter. He has more than 30 years of management experience in the aerospace industry, most recently as general manager of Sikorsky Global Helicopter.
Miami-based engine maintenance provider AeroThrus is auctioning off its assets after failing to find a buyer that met its expectations. Heritage Global Partners, which is working with Hilco Industrial and Counsel RB Capital to manage the sale, says potential buyers in the Middle East, U.S., and South America have expressed “tremendous interest” in many big-ticket items, such as Pratt & Whitney JT8D and CFM International CFM56 engines, components and tooling.
While business jet demand sputtered in the summer, the industry will see a recovery as consumer confidence increases, according to a Morgan Stanley report release at its recent Global Industrials Unplugged Conference. “Broadly speaking, cautiously optimistic management commentary was viewed positively given heavily bearish investor sentiment heading into the conference,” it says. Gulfstream Aerospace remains upbeat, seeing recovery in mid sized cabins, whereas the leader in the niche just below – Cessna – saw a big slowdown through the summer, says the report.
NICK CHANTORN was appointed senior scheduler, product support for Gulfstream Aerospace’s Long Beach, Calif., facility. Chantorn is responsible for the day-to-day scheduling activities for the Gulfstream product support team, in addition to coordinating scheduling assistance with the General Dynamics Aviation Services site in Las Vegas and supporting the Gulfstream western region product support sales and field service teams. He has seven years of industry experience, most recently serving as owner services representative, client services, for NetJets.
BOMBARDIER Regional Jet Series 700, 701, 702 and 900 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-1110; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-116-AD; Amendment 39-16421; AD 2010-18-08] – Repetitively check the outflow valve’s (OFV) manual-mode motor and altitude-limitation functions. If the OFV does not operate properly, replace the valve with a new or serviceable valve before further flight.
CitationAir by Cessna has formed a partnership with London-based Air Partner plc to provide customers with its services in the United States and Europe. Under the partnership, CitationAir customers can use Air Partner for flights within its European service area at a fixed, all-inclusive price with guaranteed fleet availability on a trip-by-trip basis. And Air Partner JetCard customers gain guaranteed access to CitationAir’s fleet of 80 Cessna Citation jets and service within its North American service area.
FAA is proposing a sweeping overhaul to the pilot fatigue regulations that would ensure that pilots get nine hours of rest – not including commuting time – between duty periods and would restrict duty hours to between nine and thirteen hours at a stretch. Although the proposal will not apply to Part 135 operators, FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt says the agency is providing information on the proposed rule to Part 135 operators. “We’re putting them on notice that this could be coming to their neighborhood too,” he warns.
Sandel’s HeliTAWS has won TSO approval from the FAA. The helicopter terrain safety system incorporates Sandel Avionics’ proprietary TrueAlert technology, which is designed to eliminate nuisance alerts, a significant problem with existing terrain-warning products that limits their usefulness in helicopter operations. With TrueAlert, Sandel claims that pilots can safely take off, cruise, hover and land at off-airport locations without triggering nuisance alerts, while still receiving the benefits of Class-A terrain warnings during the entire flight. The Vista, Calif.
Air Service Basel has received FAA repair station approval. Based at the Eurairport Basel-Mulhouse in Switzerland, the Air Service Basel facility is authorized to provide line and base maintenance on Hawker 700 through 1000 series, Learjets, and Cessna Citation 500s, 525s, 550s and 560s. Air Service Basel also has a mobile avionics team to provide periodic avionics checks for customers throughout Europe.
BOMBARDIER Regional Jet Series 100 and 440 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0482; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-225-AD; Amendment 39-16411; AD 2010-17-17] – Revise the first-flight-of-the-day check of the stall-protection system to detect degradation of the stick-pusher function. Also, perform a new repetitive-maintenance task to limit exposure to dormant failure of the stick-pusher capstan shaft.
The first IFR approval of a synthetic vision system in a helicopter occurred in August. Arrow Aviation received a supplemental type certificate for the installation of a Cobham electronic flight instrument system in a Bell 412 operated by the search and rescue unit of North Slope Borough, Alaska.
The business jet inventory for sale in July was down 2.8 points to 14.9% from the peak of 17.7% in July 2009, but used aircraft sales have remained slow this year, according to the latest report from Jetnet.
The Transportation Security Administration is hoping to visit at least 30% of the general aviation airfields this year in an outreach mission to share best practices, says Brian Delauter, general manager of general aviation for TSA. TSA recently surveyed GA airports on their use of security measures such as fencing, cameras, biometrics and lighting, and Delauter tells BA that the report currently is being validated (BA, Aug. 30/4). Delauter calls the visits a top priority.
JAMIE SMITH was named service center coordinator for the General Dynamics Aviation Services facility in West Palm Beach, Fla. Smith is responsible for coordinating aircraft visits from pre-planning to post-service. He previously spent 14 years with aviation companies, serving with Midcoast Aviation in Savannah, Ga., Hawker Beechcraft and Gulfstream Aerospace. Smith also has been an avionics supervisor and inspector in the U.S. Army.
The National Air Transportation Association has partnered with AIC Title Service to offer a web-based aircraft re-registration service designed to help members comply with new registration regulations. The service will enable the operator to specify where the registration certificate will be delivered and to track the status of the fleet online. The service, priced at $45 per aircraft, can be accessed at www.nata.aero/aic.
