An emergency AD issued Friday requires that before further flight operators perform a “detailed visual inspection to detect repairs, cracking or corrosion” of the wing spars and other structural components in Frakes Aviation turboprop-converted Mallard seaplanes. The directive follows the December 19 fatal crash of a Chalk’s Ocean Airways’ turboprop-converted Mallard when the right wing separated from the fuselage on takeoff.
AINalerts
January 11, 2007 - 6:43am
The NTSB recovered the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) from the Learjet 35A that crashed while on final approach to Truckee Tahoe Airport, Calif., on the afternoon of December 28, but there was no immediate word as to its condition or the presence of useful information. Pilots Jonathan Martin, 40, and Brett Karpy, 34, were killed in the accident.
January 11, 2007 - 6:41am
As expected, the FAA is withdrawing a delayed final rule that amended the service difficulty reporting (SDR) requirements for air carriers and repair stations certified under FAR Part 121, 135 and/or 145. The effective date of the rule, adopted in September 2000, has been delayed several times.
January 11, 2007 - 6:39am
On Thursday, Raytheon closed an agreement with minority shareholders Brantley Partners, Brantley Capital and Monitor Clipper Equity Partners to purchase their remaining interest in Cleveland-based fractional provider Flight Options LLC. Terms were not immediately disclosed.
January 11, 2007 - 6:37am
New regulations regarding aircraft thermal and acoustic insulation have been amended in response to concerns raised by the business aviation industry that the requirements–effective Sept. 2, 2005-applied to a much broader range of components in in-service airplanes than was originally intended.
January 11, 2007 - 6:32am
An airworthiness directive published last month requiring replacement of Shadin ADC-2000 computers only affects aircraft owners with “Quick Start” models or those who participated in Alaska’s Capstone project. The AD, not effective until January 23, was prompted by the discovery of potential errors in some units that could cause them to display incorrect altitude information on their Chelton FlightLogic EFIS displays.
January 11, 2007 - 6:28am
Sikorsky reported Tuesday that it received FAA certification for its S-76C++ helicopter, an improved version of the S-76C+. The inaugural C++ went to PHI (formerly Petroleum Helicopters), where it will be used for offshore oil support and employee transfer missions. In total there are more than 60 S-76C++ helicopters on order, according to Sikorsky.
January 11, 2007 - 6:19am
Spokane, Wash.-based Rocket Engineering is developing the Turbine P/Baron in parallel with the Royal Turbine Duke program. The Baron conversion, which fits two PT6A-21 turboprops and Hartzell four-blade full-feathering-reversing metal props to the light twin, costs about $700,000 (airframe additional). The company plans to have an STC in about 12 to 18 months.
January 11, 2007 - 6:18am
All jet and transport-category airplanes (those with an mtow of 12,500 pounds or more) for which application of a new type design is submitted on or after January 1 this year have to meet new noise certification levels. Stage 4 is a cumulative 10 EPNdB (effective perceived noise level in decibels) less than Stage 3 limits. Virtually all in-production business jets will qualify to be recertified under Stage 4.
January 11, 2007 - 6:14am
Bill Boisture, 59, yesterday resigned as president of NetJets Aviation, a position he held since joining the fractional provider in October 2003. Boisture, who recently formed W. Boisture & Associates, has been retained by NetJets as a consultant to “support and assist the company on several strategic projects.” During his two-year tenure he was the company’s front-line negotiator with the pilot and flight attendant unions.
