The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Twin Commander 690s, 690As and 690Bs. It requires 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; repair or replacement of damaged parts as necessary; and modification of the structure with reinforced parts.
Spar
January 29, 2013 - 2:05pm
Boeing has begun assembling 737NGs at a rate of 38 airplanes per month, the company announced Tuesday. Over the past two years, monthly production of the 737 has risen more than 20 percent, from 31.5 to 38 airplanes. Plans call for the rate to increase again to 42 airplanes a month next year.
December 5, 2012 - 11:55am
Twin Commander Aircraft has launched a training program for technicians who will perform the inspections detailed in Service Bulletin 241. It is for the hardware that attaches the fuselage to the wing main spar in the 690, 690A and 690B, with the exception of certain serial-number 690As and Bs that have already been inspected and modified. Later-model Twin Commanders, the 690C/D and 695A/B, have a different attachment design and are not affected.
April 30, 2012 - 11:05am
The April 27 opening of GKN Aerospace’s new manufacturing and assembly facility for composite wing structures at Bristol in the UK represents a £170 million ($270 million) investment that the company believes will see it significantly boost its presence in the sector over the next 30 to 40 years.
June 26, 2011 - 6:50am
Bombardier is forging ahead with its Learjet 85 program, a company spokeswoman told AIN at the Paris Air Show. Composite component production at the company’s Mexico facility is advancing, with several parts for the first aircraft now produced using a low-pressure, vacuum-bag, oven-cure process. “We are extremely satisfied with the quality of these composite parts and are now focused on refining our production process,” she said.
May 31, 2011 - 10:15am
Bombardier Aerospace’s all-composite Learjet 85 is on track to enter service in 2013, the Canadian aircraft manufacturer announced at Ebace. Development and production teams in Wichita; Montreal; Belfast, Northern Ireland; and Querétaro, Mexico, are actively engaged as work has transitioned from the detail design phase to the build, test and validate phase.
January 30, 2011 - 9:15am
Bombardier Aerospace’s facility in Belfast, Northern Ireland, has been selected to develop and produce the composite wing skin panels and spar components for the Learjet 85. Final assembly of the wings will take place at Bombardier’s production plant in Querétaro, Mexico, as previously announced.
December 29, 2010 - 8:08am
Cessna Citation 510, Upland, Calif., Sept. 17, 2010–While being pre-flighted on the ramp at Cable Airport, the Mustang rolled after the chocks were pulled. It struck a light aircraft with its left wing and finally stopped when the Mustang’s wing hit a concrete pillar, resulting in damage to the wing spar and its wing fuel tank. The Mustang was disassembled and removed by truck, according to an airport representative.o
March 31, 2010 - 6:23am
Falcon operators may now turn to Midcoast Aviation to meet the requirements of an impending airworthiness directive that will require structural modification
of the wing tank fuel bay on the Falcon 50/900/2000.
March 3, 2010 - 11:18am
East Alton, Ill.-based West Star Aviation is offering wing tank dry-bay modifications on Falcon 50s, 900s and 2000s. According to a company spokesman, the mod is designed to comply with the Dassault service bulletin calling for the mandatory modification for all Falcon 50, 900 and 2000 series.
