Docket No.: 30098 Section of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 135.152(a) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit PHT to operate its two Bell 212 helicopters under Part 135 without each of those helicopters being equipped with an approved digital flight data recorder. Grant, June 29, 2000, Exemption No. 7257
Model MU-300, MU-300-10, 400, 400A, and 400T series Airplanes (Docket No. 2000-NM-60-AD) - proposes to require a one-time inspection to detect hydraulic fluid leakage from the B-nut area, which attaches a hydraulic tube to the anti-skid valve assembly, and corrective actions, if necessary; and installation of an additional support for the hydraulic tube. This action is necessary to prevent an asymmetric braking condition and a longer stopping distance due to sudden loss of normal braking to the left wheel.
Model EMB-145 series airplanes (Docket No. 2000-NM-129-AD) - proposes to require replacement of defective hydraulic tubing in the left and right wings with new hydraulic tubing. This proposal is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority. The action specified by the proposed AD is intended to prevent the loss of hydraulic pressure, which could reduce controllability of the airplane. FAA estimates that this proposal would affect three airplanes on the U.S. Registry at a cost of up to $5,040.
KISSIMMEE AIRPORT in Kissimmee, Fla. named Terry Lloyd interim director of aviation. Lloyd has more than 11 years of airport management experience, serving as airport manager of Patrick Air Force Base in Cocoa Beach, Fla. and Kunsan-Si in the Republic of Korea. He also was superintendent of operations at two airfields and an assistant quality assurance evaluator.
MIKE STUDHOLME was promoted to used-avionics sales manger at Elliott Aviation's headquarters in Moline, Ill. Studholme joined Elliott in 1995 and most recently was an avionics inventory clerk in Moline.
Docket No.: 29911 Section of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 135.143(c)(2. Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit AAL to operate certain aircraft under Part 135 without a TSO-C112 (Mode S) transponder installed in the aircraft. Grant, May 12, 2000, Exemption No. 7201
THOMAS SARAMA was named vice president-engineering for Raytheon Aircraft. Sarama previously spent 18 years with Lockheed Martin, beginning as a structural designer and most recently as vice president-engineering, aeronautical systems.
FAA has received more than 200 letters from residents near Centennial Airport in Englewood, Colo., complaining that the agency's proposed rules to require small commercial airports to obtain Part 139 certification leaves a loophole that would allow public charter operations at the airport.
National Transportation Safety Board is hosting a two-day symposium to discuss general aviation accident trends and safety issues. The seminar, scheduled Sept. 21-22 at the NTSB board room and conference center in Washington, D.C., will review GA accident investigations with analysis of the causes, factors and preventative measures. The symposium will include a series of panels led by government and industry officials representing associations, flight training organizations and universities, original equipment manufacturers, fixed-base operators and publications.
JET AVIATION is renovating its West Palm Beach, Fla. fixed-base operation. The company is refurbishing the entire interior, including the main lobby, pilot's lounge, flight planning area and conference rooms. In addition, Jet Aviation is expanding its night and weekend services. The renovations, part of an $11 million upgrade project throughout the administrative, maintenance, completions and hangar facilities, are slated for completion by October.
The Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), which suffered major delays and cost escalations after failing key integrity tests earlier this year, successfully completed a 21-day stability test, prompting FAA to declare the system signal available for non-aviation uses as well as for "increasing situational awareness" in visual flight rules conditions.
PIEDMONT HAWTHORNE appointed M. Mark Urbania vice president and chief financial officer. Urbania will oversee all financial and accounting matters, the management information systems and human resources for Piedmont Hawthorne. He has more than 15 years of financial management experience, serving as chief financial officer of i360 Inc. in Tucson, Ariz. and director of corporate finance and administration for TK Holdings, Inc.
Model DHC-7-100, and DHC-8-100, -200, and -300 series airplanes (Docket No. 2000-NM-90-AD; Amdt. 39-11857; AD 2000-16-03) - requires a one-time inspection of maintenance records to determine the method used during the most recent weight and balance check of the airplane and, if necessary, accomplishment of a weight and balance check. This amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
Bombardier Inc., driven by "excellent performance" in the aerospace segment, turned in strong earnings for the second quarter of fiscal 2000, meeting Wall Street estimates and proving the company is on track to hit its annual goal. "We remain confident of achieving the earnings per share growth of 30 percent to 40 percent set for the current fiscal year," said Bombardier President and CEO Robert E. Brown.
ANDY PARRISH was promoted to assistant manager of FlightSafety International's learning center in Savannah, Ga. Parrish, who has served at the Savannah center since 1995, previously was product marketing manager. He also has served as a Gulfstream instructor, standards instructor and enrichment programs manager.
General aviation officials have joined a working group that - at the request of the Federal Aviation Administration - is developing recommendations for regulating long-range operations and extended-range twin-engine operations (ETOPS) for all commercially flown aircraft. The working group, part of the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee, is charged with drafting a proposal that would codify a series of informal policies governing ETOPS and other long-range operations under Parts 25, 33, 121 and 135.
Experimental Aircraft Association is working with Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) to clarify language in a military authorization bill, H.R.4205, that requires demilitarization of surplus military equipment. The language, EAA said, contains no time limit, alarming owners of warbird aircraft that it "could force aircraft owners to make the airplanes unflyable to comply with the regulation." Demilitarization would require owners to render their airplanes inoperable.
Model 430 helicopters (Docket No. 2000-SW-22-AD) - proposes to require modifying the electrical system. This proposal is prompted by the loss of electrical power due to design deficiencies discovered during single-pilot instrument flight rules flight testing. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent loss of electrical power and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. FAA estimates that three helicopters on the U.S. Registry would be affected by this proposed AD at a cost of $2,100 assuming the manufacturer warranty credit for parts and labor.
Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport officials have agreed to accept a smaller terminal project than originally planned in hopes of securing its future before the property on which it would be built is sold. The new 250,000-square-foot terminal is smaller than a 330,000-square-foot building that both parties - the airport and the City of Burbank - had agreed to as part of a complicated pact called the Framework For Settlement.
UNITED STATES AIRCRAFT INSURANCE GROUP will conduct a half-day Safety Conference for corporate operators Sept. 21 at the Airtel Plaza Hotel in Van Nuys, Calif. The free conference will cover ground handling, current aviation safety issues, safety surveys and responses to major corporate aircraft accidents. To register, contact Lynda Joyce at (212) 859-3701.
MIDCOAST AVIATION broke ground on a $2.9 million expansion at its facilities at St. Louis Downtown-Parks Airport. The project, slated for completion in October, will include an additional 31,000 square feet of shop space, increasing the total floor space of the facility to 112,000 square feet. Midcoast said the expansion will double its space for the cabinet shop, upholstery shop and stockroom with additional room for the machine shop and offices for the engineering, production, and sales and marketing departments.
Model 430 helicopters (Docket No. 2000-SW-11-AD) - proposes to require calibration of the fuel quantity indicating system. This proposal is prompted by an operator report of an inaccurate fuel quantity indicating system. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent an inaccurate fuel quantity indicating system reading, engine flameout due to fuel starvation, and a subsequent forced landing. FAA estimates that this proposal would affect 50 helicopters on the U.S. Registry at a cost of $6,000. Send comments in triplicate by Oct.
AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION expanded its Legal Services Plan benefits to provide coverage for U.S. Customs enforcement matters and aircraft purchase and sales transactions. AOPA initiated its Legal Services Plan in 1983 to offer personal legal counsel in FAA enforcement cases and aircraft accidents. The plan's maximum rate for attorneys' fees was increased to $140 per hour and the hours covered for initial stages of an FAA enforcement cases were expanded to 10 hours.
GENERAL AVIATION leaders met last week with Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater as part of an industry-wide summit to address continued problems with air congestion.Slater initially met with scheduled airlines, announcing a new commission to develop recommendations to ease congestion and deal with seven "choke points" in the air traffic control system. GA officials were satisfied last week that the primary thrust of the commission will be geared toward reducing airline delays.
HARTZELL PROPELLER was selected to supply its Compact Series 78-inch-diameter three-bladed propeller on Micco Aircraft Company's SP26 aircraft. The propeller uses aluminum Scimitar blades that combine tip sweep and a series of airfoils at the tip sections that lower transonic drag, providing quieter performance. The SP26 sport utility aircraft is the follow-on to Micco's SP20 aircraft that was certified in January (BA, Jan. 10/14). The SP26 is powered by a 260-horsepower Lycoming IO-540 engine.
