FAA launched a new Web site designed to serve as a resource for safety management systems (SMS). The Web site is designed to help educate the public about SMS and provide guidance on implementing SMS. The Web site has links to the background of SMS, a reference library, SMS pilot projects, frequently asked questions, industry specifics, and contact information for FAA offices working with SMS. The agency said it plans to continually update the site, which can be found at http://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/sms/.
LES MCAFEE was appointed regional sales manager for StandardAero’s Business Aviation sector. Based in Houston, McAfee will be responsible for the South Texas sales territory. McAfee has more than 30 years of aviation industry experience with JetEast, AMR Combs, Underwood Instrument Services, E.U.A. Air Support and Turbo Jet Spares. Most recently, he spent seven years as service center business office supervisor for Gulfstream in Dallas.
Hawker Beechcraft’s latest variant of the venerable King Air line, the 350i, has earned certification from FAA and the European Aviation Safety Agency. Delivery of the newest King Air began late last month. Announced during the 2008 National Business Aviation Association annual meeting and convention last fall, the King Air 350i sports a new “FlexCabin” interior that can be configured for the owner’s mission and a quieter cabin that reduces sound levels to an average of 78 dBA.
MARSHALL AEROSPACE is purchasing Slingsby Advanced Composites, with the acquisition intended to complement the Cambridge, England-headquartered firm’s existing capability in metal structures manufacturing for aerospace. The terms of the purchase have not been made public.
ELLIOTT AVIATION received supplemental type certification from FAA to install a digital flight data recorder (DFDR) on a Beechjet 400/400A and Hawker 400XP aircraft. The Beechjet also received a new interior and fresh paint at Elliot’s aircraft refurbishment center at Quad Cities International Airport in Moline, Ill. Elliott Aviation also is seeking European Aviation Safety Agency approval for the DFDR installation.
EXECUJET EUROPE was selected by Berlin Airports to operate the general aviation terminal at Berlin-Schonefeld Airport. ExecuJet will provide VIP passenger handling for all arriving and departing business aircraft. In the fall of 2008 the company opened a refurbished fixed-base operation that includes a two-floor, 400-square-foot facility with crew lounge, operations briefing room, passenger lounges and conference rooms.
January 21 – The Wings Club Luncheon featuring Glenn Tilton, Chairman & CEO, United Airlines, The Yale Club, New York, 212-867-1770, e-mail: [email protected] January 21-23 – Bahrain International Airshow, Sakhir Airbase, www.farnborough.com/site/content/bahrain/ January 25-26 – National Air Transportation Association FBO Leadership Conference, San Antonio, Texas, (800) 808-6282 or visit www.nata.aero/fbolc
BASIL BARIMO was named vice president of global engineering and quality for NORDAM Repair Group. Barimo previously spent six years with the Air Transport Association of America, most recently as vice president for operations and safety. He was responsible for shaping government regulatory policies for the association. Before that, he held executive positions in operations, engineering and quality with Avborne, US Airways and McDonnell Douglas.
NETJETS MIDDLE EAST PROGRAM, provided by National Aviation Services (NAS), has launched a 25-hour jet card. The card is the first of its kind in the Middle East.
AIRCRAFT ASKING PRICES remained flat in December, an improvement over the previous 12 months of decline, analyst JP Morgan reported. But JP Morgan cautioned, “It’s too early, however, to conclude that prices are bottoming, especially since the high level of inventories suggests further declines.” Prices were down 1.1 percent for light jets, but offset by a 0.2 percent increase for medium jets and 0.1 percent increase for heavy jets. Prices last month were down 22 percent when compared with prices a year earlier, the analyst reported.
BOMBARDIER Challenger 604 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-1227; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-119-AD] – This proposed rule would require operators to conduct repetitive fluorescent-penetrant inspections of the Air Driven Generator (ADG) strut in accordance with the instructions contained in Bombardier Service Bulletin A604-24-017, Rev. 01 (dated Jan. 15, 2007) and Service Bulletin 604-24-019 (dated Oct. 1, 2007).
EMBRAER ERJ 170; ERJ 190-100 STD, -100 LR, -100 IGW, -200 STD, -200 LR and -200 IGW airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-1231; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-212-AD] – This proposed rule would require operators to conduct a detailed inspection for gaps, voids or holes in the sealant on the vapor barrier assembly in the wing stub rear box, per the instructions of Embraer Service Bulletin 170-57-0036 (dated March 13, 2009) and 190-57-0027 (dated March 18, 2009). The corrective action would be to apply sealant in any gaps, voids or holes.
Shining a light or laser at an aircraft is now a specific criminal offense in the United Kingdom under a law introduced by the U.K. Civil Aviation Authority. The resulting distraction to crew is a serious safety risk, especially during critical phases of flight such as takeoff and landing, noted the CAA in announcing the rule on Jan. 12. A laser beam could temporarily blind crew members, making it impossible for pilots to see instrument readouts.
The business aviation community mobilized to help the massive relief effort that began last week after a magnitude 7.0 earthquake devastated Haiti. Calls and e-mails from pilots, companies and business aviation businesses began to pour into aviation associations almost immediately after the Jan. 12 earthquake, spokesmen for the National Business Aviation Association and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association said.
BOMBARDIER DHC-8-400 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0785; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-125-AD; Amendment 39-16163; AD 2010-01-06] – Replace all elevator Power Control Units (PCUs), per the instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-27-32, Rev. A (dated Jan. 18, 2008). This new rule, which supersedes an existing directive (AD 2009-12-13), resulted from an MCAI originated by Transport Canada. The directive is designed to prevent the failure of an elevator PCU from adversely impacting the controllability of the aircraft.
PHILLIP DICKERSON was appointed director, business development for Jet Support Services, Inc. (JSSI). Dickerson will be responsible for business in the Southeast U.S. He has more than 13 years of experience in banking and equipment finance. He previously was vice president, senior account manager with GE Capital Solutions, where he managed GE’s light-turbine corporate aircraft market in the Southeast. He also served with Synovus Capital Finance.
WINGS AIR, the regional subsidiary of Indonesia’s Lion Air, has begun operating ATR 72-500s. The first three aircraft, which are configured with 72 seats and powered by twin Pratt & Whitney 127M engines, are part of a 2009 firm order for 15 of the regional turboprops, plus options on 15 ATR 72-600s, valued at $600 million.
THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION has begun reviewing two major rulemakings – one involving requirements designed to prevent widespread fatigue damage and a second that would establish equipment requirements for Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B). FAA submitted the controversial widespread fatigue final rule to DOT at the end of December, and that rule, which calls for “limits of validity” for continued airworthiness of aircraft, is slated for release in late May.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association expressed dismay at the decision of the U.S. Coast Guard to terminate the U.S. Loran-C signal beginning Feb. 8, 2010, without a backup plan for the global positioning system. The Coast Guard this month released a special notice of its intent to terminate signals (BA, Jan. 11/13). The fiscal 2010 Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill calls for the elimination of Loran-C funding if the Coast Guard Commandant certifies that the system is not necessary as a backup for other federal navigation uses.
BBA Aviation Engine Repair and Overhaul Group (ERO) is establishing Centers of Excellence (COE) at its U.S. Dallas Airmotive Forest Park, Premier Turbines and Dallas Airmotive Heritage Park repair and overhaul facilities. Each facility will be a COE dedicated to a major engine product family.
HONEYWELL LTS101-600A, LTS101-700D-2, LTP101-600A-1A and LTP101-700A-1A engines [Docket No. FAA-2009-1185; Directorate Identifier 2009-NE-24-AD] – This proposed AD would require removing certain Power Turbine (PT) blades from service. This proposal, which resulted from reports of fatigue cracks in the airfoil of a PT blade, is intended to prevent fracture of the airfoil, which could result in sudden loss of engine power. FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 25 engines installed on aircraft on the U.S. Registry and cost U.S. operators a total of $1.81 million.
THE HOUSE AVIATION SUBCOMMITTEE later this month will begin to consider reauthorization of the National Transportation Safety Board. The aviation subcommittee scheduled a hearing for Jan. 27.
Senate Republicans heightened their attacks on Transportation Security Administration (TSA) administrator nominee Erroll Southers and last week were penning a letter to the White House expressing their opposition to his confirmation and demanding new answers about his record.
PATRICK DULAC was promoted to manager of FlightSafety International’s center at Paris-LeBourget Airport in France. Dulac joined FlightSafety’s facility in Paris in 1998 as an instructor for the Embraer 120 and ERJ-145 training programs. He since has held positions of increasing responsibility, including program manager and director of training. Most recently, he was assistant center manager. Before joining FlightSafety, Dulac was a captain for the Presidential Air Fleet of Gabon and had served in the French Air Force for 18 years.
