The Federal Aviation Administration has not changed the timeline for its major rulemakings, but did release for the fuel tank flammability final rule. FAA had hoped to release the rule at the end of May. The Office of Management and Budget extended its review of the rule. OMB finally released the rule July 9 and it was published July 21. The FAA will require incorporation of flammability reduction means into existing and new aircraft.
Pratt & Whitney , to install Pratt & Whitney Global Material Solutions CFM56-3 low pressure turbine module, high pressure turbine module and fan/booster module, STCs SE00035EN, SE00034EN and SE00032EN
Aircraft Technical Development , amended STCs to install an Aerocon Engineering Co. airstair and stowage cabinets on Boeing 757-200 series, STCs ST00473LA and ST02140LA
The Federal Aviation Administration has made strides in its effort to overhaul the agency’s air carrier oversight procedures, but the Department of Transportation Inspector General believes that the agency still must do more.
Aviation Fabricators , amended STCs to install standard or deluxe three-place aft couches on Cessna 500, 501, 550 and 551 aircraft, STCs SA117RM and SA58RM
Alaska Airlines began using ground-based air units as a replacement for onboard auxiliary power units (APU) to vent, cool and heat aircraft near its gates at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in late June. It also retrofitted all of its Boeing 737 aircraft eligible with blended winglets as part of its efforts to conserve fuel and reduce emissions.
Innovative Solutions & Support upgraded its Pilatus PC-12 avionics program. Enhancements to the IS&S flat panel display system include a single-sided cockpit option, wide area augmentation system programming and group reduced vertical separation minimum certification.
Helicopter Transport Services , to remove the components from the hydraulic sled at Station 380 and install on the sled at Station 435.5, and remove the sled at Station 380 on Helicopter Transport Services CH-54B helicopters, STC SR01839SE
LONDON—“What people are now realizing is that what we can see, we can manipulate,” observed Dr. Barry Park, COO of U.K. nano-technology company Oxonica. In this context, he means the molecular structures revealed by electron microscopes. “The electronics industry has been exploiting nano-technology for a number of years now,” he said, “but they just haven’t called it that. Yet the real growth in nano-technology has occurred in the past 15 years, thanks to our ability to see, play with and produce materials in a nano particle form."
Japan Airlines International implemented Enigma’s e-maintenance solution to support around 150 Boeing aircraft on the flight line and in its maintenance shops. Various aspects of the system are designed to help JAL’s more than 5,000 technicians better control critical data, share maintenance information and quickly identify parts.
Older IFE systems have long been problematic for maintenance personnel, and current pressures to reduce airline-operating costs across the board has prompted one carrier to remove aging IFE units from its fleet of Airbus narrowbodies. US Airways expects to save $10 million annually by taking IFE systems out of about 200 Airbus A320 series aircraft that fly domestically. Some IFE units were originally installed in former America West aircraft in the early 1990s, while other systems were installed in US Airways airplanes about 10 years ago.
The European Community and the U.S. signed an agreement June 30 aimed at harmonizing aviation safety procedures and cutting costs associated with overlapping activities. The pact, known as a bilateral aviation safety agreement or BASA, had been delayed for more than a year, with the U.S. refusing to sign because of the fee structure established by the EC for the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). [For more on U.S. manufacturers’ points of contention, see Washington in Action, p. 19.]
Standard Aero , reissued STC to install a Collins Pro Line 21 Continuum retrofit integrated avionics system on various Dassault Falcon 50, 20, 200 and Fan Jet aircraft, STC ST01578CH-D and ST01576CH-D
Garmin AT , amended STC to install GTX 32 (mode C), GTX 33 (mode S) or GTX 33D (Mode S with diversity) remote transponders on multiple models of general aviation aircraft, STC SA01473SE
MTU Maintenance Zhuhai named Holger Sindemann president and CEO, succeeding Walter Strakosch , who became SVP business development MRO at MTU. Sindermann had served MTU Aero Engines as SVP corporate development since 2006.
U.S. Naval Air Systems Command, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., announced Lt. Col. Paul M. Riegert assumed command of the H-46 Program Office (PMA226) in early July. Riegert will lead a team of 150 acquisition professionals and oversee the life cycle management of 198 helicopters deployed in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
Airweld , reissued STCs to install of ground auxiliary air conditioning system and auxiliary power units on various McDonnell Douglas DC-8, Boeing 707, 720, STCs SA2460SO, SA1392NM and SA1387NM
