Dettmers Industries of Stuart, Fla., won FAA certification for its new 16G Model 6003 track and swivel executive seat, a product the company said offers several features not previously available on seats that meet the 16G standard.
Docket No.: 30054 Section of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR Sec. 145.45(f) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit DalFort to make its Inspection Procedures Manual (IPM) available electronically to its supervisory, inspection, and other personnel, rather than give a paper copy of the IPM to each of its supervisory and inspection personnel. Grant, July 28, 2000, Exemption No. 7292
AEROSPATIALE Model ATR 42-300, -300, and -320 series airplanes (Docket No. 97-NM-270-AD; Amdt. 39-11883; AD 2000-17-09) - requires revising the Airworthiness Limitations Section of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness to incorporate life limits for certain items and inspections to detect fatigue cracking in certain structures. This amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
LEADERS of the Fractional Ownership Aviation Rulemaking Committee (FOARC) are talking with senior FAA officials to ensure that the agency's proposed rulemaking dealing with fractional aircraft programs and changes to Part 135 does not lose momentum. An economic analysis of the regulation proposed by FOARC is nearly complete, but the FOARC leaders are concerned about the pace of the rulemaking.
Docket No.: 28723 Section of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 91.203 (a) and (b) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit Ryan to operate temporarily its U.S.-registered aircraft following the incidental loss or mutilation of that aircraft's airworthiness certificate or registration certificate, or both. Grant, July 18, 2000, Exemption No. 6571B
Docket No.: 29385 Section of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 125.1(b)(2) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit Charity Airlift to conduct non-common carriage operations using a restricted-category Lockheed C-130 Hercules (C-130) aircraft carrying persons and/or cargo for compensation or hire under the provisions of Part 125. Denial, July 31, 2000, Exemption No. 7280
Docket No.: 30055 Section of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 135.143(c)(2) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit High Adventure to operate certain aircraft under Part 135 without a TSO-C112 (Mode S) transponder installed in the aircraft. Grant, July 31, 2000, Exemption No. 7288
CIRRUS DESIGN CORP., Duluth, Minn., named Peter P. McDermott II chief financial officer and executive vice president, with responsibility for financial management, strategic planning, information technology and facility management. Most recently, McDermott was senior vice president-finance for Blandin Paper Co., Grand Rapids, Minn.
BELL Model 206A, B, L, L1, and L3 helicopters (Docket No. 2000-SW-34-AD) - proposes to require inspecting the collective lever assembly for a raised forging boss, inspecting the assembly for adequate clearance between the collective lever and the swashplate outer ring, and modifying any assembly with a raised forging boss and inadequate clearance before further flight. Modifying any assembly that has a raised forging boss and in adequate clearance would be required before further flight after January 31, 2001.
Advanced Aerodynamics&Structures, Inc. secured $20 million in financing through private investors, the company announced last month, saying the new funding will help move the Jetcruzer 500 pusher-prop plane toward certification and production. AASI reached a Private Equity Line of Credit Agreement under which the investors can purchase up to $20 million in common shares over two years. Under the agreement, AASI can request that the investors purchase a minimum amount of shares (at least $200,000 worth) at a price equal to 92-93 percent of the market price.
Boeing, which acquired a huge production facility in St. Louis as part of the McDonnell Douglas acquisition, last week outlined a plan for the St. Louis plant that calls for investment of $250 million in new facilities, including a final assembly site for the Joint Strike Fighter if it wins that program. At the same time, Boeing said it plans to sell about 1.8 million square feet of space on 81 acres to the St. Louis Airport Authority, which operates the adjacent Lambert-St. Louis International Airport.
The Senate Appropriations Committee Wednesday approved NASA's request for $9 million in seed money to launch its Small Aircraft Transportation System (SATS) research initiative designed to increase availability of small airports and more affordable general aviation aircraft (BA, May 22/237). The $9 million was included as part of the NASA budget in the fiscal 2001 appropriations bill for Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development and independent agencies, H.R.4635.
NATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION released its annual salary survey of general aviation service employees, including pilots, line service personnel and maintenance technicians. The survey breaks down hourly wages by geographic region, size of town in which a company is situated, company gross sales and size of company, NATA said. Association Research Inc., a Rockville, Md. economic research firm, conducted the survey. NATA is offering the survey for $50 for members and $100 for non-members.
Docket No.: 30022 Section of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR Secs. 121.314(c) and 25.858 Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit four Fokker Model F28-0100 airplanes to operate from March 20, 2001, until no later than June 30, 2001 without being fitted with fire suppression equipment. Denial, July 25, 2000, Exemption No. 7284
Docket No.: 26656 Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit MoDOT to use up to $75,000 of Airport Improvement Program block grant funds for program and administrative costs during fiscal 1999 and 2000 Grant, July 26, 2000, Exemption No. 7286
CESSNA Model 500 series airplanes (Docket No. 2000-NM-65-AD) - proposes to require inspection of the piston housing for an "SB" impression stamp; a one-time inspection of the brake assembly to detect cracked or broken brake stator disks; and replacement of the brake assembly with a new or serviceable assembly, if necessary. The proposal is prompted by several reports of wheel lockups that appear to be caused by cracked or broken brake stator disks becoming jammed in the brake assembly and preventing rotation.
BOMBARDIER AEROSPACE opened a new distribution center in Beijing, China this month to support the growing fleet of CRJ200 regional jets and Q400 turboprop airliners in that country. The center will stock some $5 million in rotable and expendable spares for the two aircraft models. Shandon Airlines, Shanghai Airlines and Yunnan Airlines ordered five, three and six CRJ200 airliners, respectively, Bombardier said. An undisclosed carrier ordered 10 CRJ200s and Changan Airlines ordered three Q400s.
Aviation General, Inc., the parent company of Commander Aircraft Company and Strategic Jet Services, (SJS) Inc., named John H. deHavilland president and chief executive of the SJS unit. DeHavilland has more than 20 years' experience in the aviation business, most recently having served as president of deHavilland Aircraft, Inc., which specialized in the refurbishment and brokerage of jet aircraft.
The Senate Commerce Committee Thursday considered two more nominations to the Federal Aviation Management Advisory Council (MAC) - David Plavin, president of the Airports Council International - North America, and Arthenia Joyner, an attorney, civic leader and former member of the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority in Tampa, Fla.
ROBERT F. LEDUC, executive vice president of Pratt&Whitney in East Hartford, Conn., assumed the additional responsibility of chief operating officer. Leduc, 44, will report to President Louis R. Chenevert. Leduc's increased responsibilities will include Pratt&Whitney Canada (which makes engines for business jet and regional aircraft), P&W's large military engine business, space propulsion operations, power systems, aftermarket services and the engineering and manufacturing centers that support them.
BOMBARDIER AEROSPACE sold a Challenger 604 to Kangra Aviation Partnership of South Africa. The 604 business jet, the third Challenger that Kangra will operate, is scheduled for delivery in mid-2001. "We have been delighted with our Challenger fleet to date and have received excellent customer support over the past six years," said Graham Beck, chairman of Kangra Aviation Partnership.
THE COMMERCE DEPARTMENT is offering U.S. firms an opportunity to display sales literature at an Australian air show early next year. The department's Office of Aerospace will sponsor an Aerospace Products Literature Center at the Australian International Airshow 2001, which will be held Feb. 13-18 to celebrate the 100th year of the Australian Federation and the 80th anniversary of the Royal Australian Air Force. Fee to participate is $600. For more information, call Mara Yachnin at (202) 482-6238 or Eric McDonald at (202) 482-1237.
Docket No.: 29979 Section of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 121.434(c)(1)(ii) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit CEA to substitute a qualified and authorized check airman in place of an FAA inspector to observe a qualifying PIC who is completing initial or upgrade training specified in Sec. 121.424 during at least one flight leg that includes a takeoff and a landing. Grant, May 19, 2000, Exemption No. 7288
Docket No.: 24237 Section of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 91.777(a)(2) and 91.179(b)(1) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit the Air Force to conduct low-level operations without complying with en route minimum altitudes for flight under instrument flight rules (IFR) or direction of flight requirements for IFR en route segments in uncontrolled airspace. Grant, July 21, 2000, Exemption No. 4371E
THE METROPOLITAN AIRPORTS COMMISSION, Minn., extended the comment period to Oct. 16 for its proposed noise restrictions at Flying Cloud Airport in Eden Prairie, Minn., FAA announced last week. The commission is proposing to ban Stage 2 operations and maintenance run-ups for all aircraft between 2200 and 0600 local time. For more information, contact Mark Ryan at the Metropolitan Airports Commission at (612) 726-8129; fax: (612) 794-4407.
