Model 737-600, -700, and -800 series airplanes (Docket No. 2000-NM-88-AD; Amdt. 39-11694; AD 2000-08-08) - requires a one-time inspection to detect cracking of the rear spar stiffeners in the wing center section; and modification of crack-free stiffeners, or repair of cracked stiffeners. This amendment is prompted by a report of severed rear spar stiffeners of the center wing, which resulted in cracking in the adjacent keel beam structure. The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent failure of the keel beam structure.
RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT leased two Beech 1900C turboprops to Mountain Air PVT Ltd. of Kathmandu, Nepal. The 19-passenger aircraft will be used to provide regional services to several cities as well as to Mount Everest.
250-C18 and -C20 series turboshaft engines (Docket No. 99-NE-47-AD) - proposes to require a one-time visual inspection of the fuel nozzle screen for contamination. If contamination is found, this proposal would require, prior to further flight, replacement of the fuel nozzle screen with a serviceable screen, visual inspection of the entire fuel system for contamination, and repair, if necessary. In addition, this proposal would require reporting the results of the one-time inspection to FAA to determine if repetitive inspections should be required by future rulemaking.
DAVE CASPERSON was promoted to manager of FlightSafety International's Citation learning center in Wichita, Kan. Casperson joined the Citation learning center in 1990 as director of training and most recently served as assistant manager.
CESSNA AIRCRAFT won FAA certification for its Model 560 Citation Encore business jet, the successor to the Citation Ultra. The aircraft is powered by twin Pratt&Whitney PW 535A turbofans, each providing 3,400 pounds of thrust.
NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD'S latest edition of its "Most Wanted" transportation safety improvements calls for action on airframe structural icing. NTSB said FAA needs to "revise icing criteria and certification testing requirements" and "research and develop on-board aircraft ice protection and detection systems."
RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT selected The BFGoodrich Company to supply a potable water system as standard equipment for the Hawker Horizon. BFGoodrich has developed a modular potable water system that can fit in varied airplane configurations. The pressurized system uses ECS/APU bleed air to supply heated water to galley and lavatory areas.
Piedmont Hawthorne, one of the fastest growing fixed-base operation chains in the U.S., expanded its reach with three more acquisitions announced last week. Piedmont Hawthorne acquired the Signature Flight Support FBO at the Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and plans to finalize its purchase next week of both the Gen-Aero and AVSAT facilities from Fairchild Aerospace at the San Antonio, Texas International Airport. The acquisitions will boost the total number of Piedmont Hawthorne facilities to 34.
Model Falcon 2000, Mystere-Falcon 900, Falcon 900EX, Fan Jet Falcon, Mystere-Falcon 50, Mystere-Falcon 20, Mystere-Falcon 200, and Falcon 10 Series Airplanes (Docket No. 2000-NM-56-AD) - proposes to require repetitive tests and inspections to detect discrepancies of the overwing emergency exit; and corrective action, if necessary. This proposal is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
ECLIPSE AVIATION CORP., the company developing the Eclipse 500 entry level business jet powered by two Williams International EJ-22 turbofans (BA, March 6/107), is expected to announce today where it will locate its headquarters and manufacturing facility. The company currently is headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz. while most of the development work is centered at Williams headquarters in Walled Lake, Mich.
BOTH PILOTS aboard a Model 35 Learjet were killed May 2 when the aircraft crashed while attempting to land at the airport in Lyon, France. The crew had reported engine trouble and the plane hit nose first. Three passengers, Formula One race driver David Coulthard, his fiancee, fashion model Heidi Wichlinski, and Coulthard's personal trainer, Andrew Matthews suffered only minor injuries. The 1988 model aircraft, G-MURI, was operated by Northern Executive Aviation, Ltd., Manchester, England.
Federal Aviation Administration is calling for modifications and, in some cases, immediate replacement of the tailboom on some 1,500 Bell Helicopter Textron Model 206L, L-1, L-3 and L-4 helicopters in a proposal that could cost up to $40 million. The agency proposed late last month to supersede an existing airworthiness directive that mandates regular inspections and preflight checks for cracks around the horizontal stabilizer opening. A number of cracks were found during those mandatory inspections, spurring FAA to propose additional safety measures.
Most Americans favor commercial and general aviation airport improvements with less than 15 percent expressing opposition to their local airport, according to a survey released last week by the National Air Transportation Association. NATA, which two years ago unveiled its American Aviation Access Initiative to increase general aviation access to airports around the nation, sponsored a nationwide study on attitudes toward airports. The study, conducted by Ryan McGinn Samples Research, Inc.
Model SA-366G1 helicopters (Docket No. 99-SW-14-AD; Amdt. 39-11692; AD 2000-08-06) - requires replacing certain electrical modules with airworthy electrical modules. This amendment is prompted by the discovery of several defective electrical modules. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent loss of electrical continuity, which could cause loss of critical systems and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. FAA estimates that 94 helicopters on the U.S. Registry will be affected by this AD at a cost of $564,000.
CHRIS DAVIS, a top financial executive at Gulfstream Aerospace for the past seven years, is joining ONI Systems Corp. this month. Davis was instrumental in launching Gulfstream's initial public stock offering three and one-half years ago (BA, Oct. 14, 1996/168), and served as executive vice president, chief financial and administrative officer. She will hold the same titles at ONI, which develops and markets all-optical networking equipment to address bandwidth and service limitations of regional and metropolitan networks.
FAA plans to assess a $195,000 civil penalty against Grand Aire Express, Inc., Toledo, Ohio, charging that the company operated an aircraft without complying with a required maintenance test. The agency said that between Feb. 16, 1999 and Aug. 19, 1999 the Part 135 cargo carrier violated the FARs by failing to conduct a required ground and in-flight maintenance test after removal and replacement of an engine on one of the carrier's Fairchild Swearingen SA226TC aircraft.
EUROPEAN JOINT AVIATION AUTHORITIES officials this week are expected to formally review comments and make a recommendation on a proposal to permit 180-minute extended-range twin-engine operations (ETOPS) for commercial business jets that meet "best industry practices." The JAA committee review of the proposal was originally expected in March. The proposal drew 157 comments that mostly supported the 180-minute ETOPS threshold (BA, Dec. 6/255).
Federal Aviation Administration needs to become more sensible and businesslike and the creation of the Federal Aviation Management Advisory Council (MAC) goes a long way toward achieving that goal, Robert Baker, vice chairman of American Airlines and nominee to the council, testified last week.
ECLIPSE AVIATION CORP. named Chris Finnoff vice president of sales. Finnoff has been president and chief executive of Pilatus Business Aircraft Ltd., of Jefferson County Airport in Broomfield, Colo. where he was responsible for the successful introduction of the Pilatus PC-12 aircraft in the U.S. Eclipse also hired Jack Harrington as vice president of business affairs. Harrington has been an aviation lawyer in private practice since 1986, representing aircraft and parts manufacturers, among his client base.
FLIGHT SAFETY FOUNDATION presented its Business Aviation Meritorious Service Award to business aviation veteran Peter Ginocchio during its 45th Annual Corporate Aviation Safety Seminar late last month in San Antonio, Texas. The award, established in 1975, recognizes outstanding service and contribution to corporate aviation safety. Ginocchio retired in April from Dassault Falcon Jet after a 40-year career in aviation.
FAIRCHILD AEROSPACE sold nine used Metro 23 airliners to Alta Flights [Charters] Inc., of Edmonton, Alberta. The Canadian company is a division of Telford Resources, Ltd., and is a lessor of aircraft to other operators. Alta Flights currently has a mixed fleet of 20 aircraft, including Metro IIIs, Beech King Airs, Cessna Grand Caravans and Cessna 400 Series aircraft. Four of the Metro 23s will replace the Metro IIIs in the current fleet and the remaining 23s will be refurbished for sale or lease.
Model BAe 125-800A and BAe 125-800B, Model Hawker 800, and Model Hawker 800XP series airplanes (Docket No. 99-NM-13-AD; Amdt. 39-11693; AD 2000-08-07) - supersedes an existing AD that requires the filling of two tooling holes on the firewalls of the left and right engine pylons with firewall sealant. This amendment requires the sealing of all unused (open) tooling holes on the firewalls of the left and right engine pylons, and expands the applicability to include additional airplanes.
Title VII -- Miscellaneous Provisions Section 752. Permits U.S. to release any restriction on land at the former Pollock Army Airfield, La., provided that U.S. has access to the lands in the event of a national emergency. Requires that if the land is sold, fair market value must be received for land and any money received must be used for airport purposes
MANX/BRITISH REGIONAL AIRLINES is the Jetstream 41 launch customer for BAE Systems Regional Aircraft's Material and Component Repair and Overhaul (MACRO) program. BAE Systems said the 13 Jetstream 41 turboprops in the Manx fleet will be covered by MACRO, which is designed to provide operators with a fixed maintenance cost, including comprehensive spares support for a single fixed rate per aircraft flight hour. BAE began the MACRO program in 1996 and Manx is the tenth Jetstream operator to enroll.
