The FAA has issued an Airworthiness Directive (AD) for Twin Commander 690s, 690As and 690Bs requiring inspection for cracking of the outer fuselage attachments, the lower wing main spar, the vertical channels, the upper picture window channels, aft cabin pressure web, external wing to fuselage fillets and fasteners. It requires modification of the structure with reinforced parts. According to the AD, the condition, if not corrected, could result in structural failure of the airplane.
Aeronautics
May 27, 2013 - 1:35pm
Basic manual and cognitive flying skills decline because of a lack of practice actually flying the aircraft, according to 80 percent of 151 respondents to a European Aviation Safety Agency survey about cockpit automation. That same number also believe pilots’ feel for the airplane can deteriorate significantly when they don’t hand fly the aircraft often enough.
April 2, 2013 - 3:25pm
Last week, the FAA issued a two-year renewal for Exemption 7897, more commonly known as “NBAA’s small aircraft exemption,” which permits NBAA members operating small aircraft “to take advantage of flexibility usually available only to operators of larger, turbine-powered airplanes,” the association said.
March 20, 2013 - 2:10pm
Gardner Aviation Services is offering a general aviation fixed-wing and rotorcraft product support catalog that features avionics, instruments and pilot supplies, including the latest in digital displays, communications and ADS-B technologies. The new catalog serves as a buyer’s guide for selecting equipment designed for both fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft. Product photos and descriptions identify hundreds of items and their function.
March 6, 2013 - 7:25pm
Leading Edge Composites (Booth No. N4535) announced the expansion of its aircraft cabinetry capabilities, “combining the industry experience and success of our formidable composite parts production with innovative cabinet design and finishing service.”
According to director of new product development Paul Norris, expansion at the company’s Oxford, Pa. facilities allows owners, operators and completion centers working with both rotor- and fixed-wing aircraft to enjoy the benefits of working with an integrated design, engineering, production and finishing facility.
March 4, 2013 - 4:15pm
Eighteen of 21 people aboard a tourist balloon ride died in Luxor, Egypt, on February 26 when the aircraft’s gas chamber exploded, sending the balloon falling nearly 1,000 feet to the ground. The crash is believed to have been the deadliest balloon accident in the world over the past 20 years. The local governor of Luxor province banned any further balloon flights until further notice.
March 4, 2013 - 2:35am
If your engine or engines suddenly quit, could you glide safely to the end of a runway? If that does happen, an iPad/iPhone app called Xavion can help point the way to a safe landing in any weather.
Xavion is the latest product from X-Plane simulator developer Austin Meyer’s Laminar Research. The company tested Xavion extensively on X-Plane and used the simulations to hone the program’s algorithms. A side benefit is that you can run Xavion on X-Plane to practice before trying it in a real airplane.
February 11, 2013 - 10:55am
An ATR 72 operated under the Alitalia network by Romanian carrier Carpatair was substantially damaged on February 2 when the crew lost control of the aircraft on landing at Rome Fiumicino Airport in Italy (LIRF). The wind at the time of the accident was approximately 90 degrees to Runway 16, gusting to 41 knots.
Four of the 50 people aboard were injured, two seriously.
July 23, 2012 - 4:20pm
The search for answers continues into what caused the mid-afternoon landing overrun accident of a Gulfstream GIV at Le Castellet Airport (LFMQ), in France, on July 13.
July 8, 2012 - 8:00am
General Electric/Safran joint venture Nexcelle has successfully completed the test program for the thrust reverser on next-generation integrated propulsion systems (IPS).
