Some Of The Oldest Deemed Unsafe

The Forest Service and the Department of the Interior Monday terminated contracts with the owners of 33 aging firefighting aircraft, saying their airworthiness can no longer be assured.

Midair Collision Was "Wake-Up Call"

As the FAA investigates a midair collision at Georgetown Municipal Airport (TX), pilots who fly in and out of Georgetown are pointing fingers at the city itself. They say the town had a chance to split the costs of building a control tower 50-50 with the FAA and failed to do so.

Plane Down On California's "Death Mountain"

Two men are dead after their Piper Seminole went down in a rugged gulch near Julian (CA) Monday. While no one yet knows the cause, one nearby resident said winds at the time were clocked at more than 50 mph.

An Evolutionary Step Forward For A Revolutionary Airplane

After an external tour of the new enhancements boasted by CD, I spent a little time going over the airplane and noted a number of subtle fit and finish improvements over year's past (which weren't bad to begin with)… a process that can only improve as CD gains experience with the new manufacturing criteria for the G2.

Tuesday Hearing Finds No Backers

Eighteen individuals spoke against the National Air Tour Safety Standards (FAA-1998-4521) notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) at the FAA’s public hearing held Tuesday, May 11, in Washington (DC). Not one person who testified at the day-long public meeting spoke in favor of the rule.

Mimicking Humpback Whale Flippers May Improve Airplane Wing Design

Wind tunnel tests of scale-model humpback whale flippers have revealed that the scalloped, bumpy flipper is a more efficient wing design than is currently used by the aeronautics industry on airplanes. The tests show that bump-ridged flippers do not stall as quickly and produce more lift and less drag than comparably sized sleek flippers.

Signature Acquires AirKaman/Cecil Field

Signature Flight Support… Signature Flight Support says it's acquired the assets of AirKaman at Cecil Field (VQQ) located in Jacksonville (FL). Cecil Field is located some 15 miles of west downtown Jacksonville and serves as a reliever airport for the Jacksonville Airport Authority (JAA). Cecil Field provides an effective base of operations for corporate aircraft, general aviation, air cargo and military activity.  

NOTAM: 4/4120 Issued: 05/11/2004 14:23 Effective: 05/14/2004 15:30 - 05/14/2004 18:40 State: MO Facility: ZKC - KANSAS CITY (ARTCC),MO. Type: VIP Description: ST. LOUIS, MISSOURRI, MAY 14, 2004.

NOTAM: 4/4098 Issued: 05/11/2004 00:55 Effective: Immediately - Until Further Notice State: AK Facility: ZAN - ANCHORAGE (ARTCC),AK. Type: HAZARDS Description: BIORKA ISLAND, ALASKA.

NOTAM: 4/4091 Issued: 05/10/2004 20:17 Effective: 05/12/2004 16:45 - 05/12/2004 19:15 State: MD Facility: ZDC - WASHINGTON (ARTCC),DC. Type: VIP Description: BETHESDA, MARYLAND, MAY 12, 2004.

NOTAM: 4/4073 Issued: 05/10/2004 19:33 Effective: Immediately - Until Further Notice State: MT Facility: ZLC - SALT LAKE CITY (ARTCC),UT. Type: HAZARDS Description: NW OF BILLINGS, MT.

NOTAM: 4/4122 Issued: 05/11/2004 16:08 Effective: Immediately - Until Further Notice State: VA Facility: ZDC - WASHINGTON (ARTCC),DC. Type: HAZARDS Description: ROANOKE, VA.

"What it's starting to look like, to us anyway, is the perfect storm." Source: Mike Fitzpatrick of the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center in Portland (OR). This, upon word from the Forest Service that it's terminated 33 aerial firefighting contracts because the aircraft involved are too old to be guaranteed airworthy. While the Pentagon has assured firefighters that several C-130 tankers will be available throughout this year's fire season -- which is underway early -- Fitzpatrick says so many military resources are already committed in Iraq and Afghanistan that their availability is in question.

For Sale: Cessna C-182 RG

Cessna 182 RG -- Load hauler and fast! 4 adults, luggage, and 92 gal fuel at 145 knts; 101 STOH, 1100 SMOH, 725 SPH, 3150 TTAF, DME, Autopilot, full IFR, Strikefinder, panel intercom, coupled GPS, leather int, always hangered, annual Mar 04, perfectly maintained.  Exterior Quality: 8, Interior Quality: 8 New, will sell for $129,500.00 (or best offer)

AD NUMBER: 2000-02-07R1 MANUFACTURER: Bombardier SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2000-02-07 R1 SUMMARY: This amendment revises an existing airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to all Bombardier Model DHC-7-100 series airplanes, that currently requires repetitive high frequency eddy current inspections to detect cracks on the locking pin fittings of the baggage door and locking pin housings of the fuselage; repetitive detailed inspections to detect cracks of the inner door structure on all four door locking attachment fittings; and corrective actions if necessary. In lieu of accomplishing the corrective actions, that amendment also provides a temporary option, for certain cases, for revising the Airplane Flight Man

AD NUMBER: 2004-10-01 MANUFACTURER: Pratt & Whitney SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2004-10-01 SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Pratt & Whitney (PW) JT9D-3A, -7,-7A, -7AH, -7H, -7F, -7J, -20, and -20J turbofan engines. This AD clarifies a life limit for certain part numbers of 6th stage low pressure turbine (LPT) air seals, and requires their removal from service before accumulating 15,000 cycles since-new (CSN). This AD results from reports of certain 6th stage LPT air seals possibly not being life tracked due to confusion from updates to the engine manuals. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the 6th stage LPT air seal, which could cause LPT damage

AD NUMBER: 2004-09-22 MANUFACTURER: AvCraft Aerospace GmbH SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2004-09-22 SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Dornier Model 328-300 series airplanes, that requires modification of a certain ground cooling fan. This action is necessary to prevent overheating of the connecting terminals of the ground cooling fan, which could result in smoke or fire in the flight compartment and main cabin. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.

AD NUMBER: 2004-09-34 MANUFACTURER: General Electric SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2004-09-34 SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for General Electric Company (GE) CF6-80E1 model turbofan engines with high pressure turbine (HPT) stage 2 (S2) nozzle guide vanes (NGVs) part number (P/N) 1647M84G09 or 1647M84G10, installed. That AD currently requires flex borescope inspections of HPT S2 NGVs installed in CF6-80E1 model turbofan engines. This AD requires the same actions but at reduced compliance intervals. This AD results from inspection findings of HPT S2 NGVs that show cracks from distress could occur sooner and grow faster than originally predicted. We are issuing this AD to prev

It's Ratings Season... So It's Time To Pick On GA

ANN has been monitoring reports that an Orlando based, NBC affiliated, TV station is about to drop the hammer on GA with yet another bit of sensationalism concerning the supposed security risks of GA. Promos circulated Tuesday night allegedly voiced concerns about dangers proffered by Central Florida GA airports and may have equated the danger of GA airplanes to be on a par with that of a cruise missile. The current web site promo is (thankfully) a mite more restrained... "Tomorrow at 11 p.m.: A WESH NewsChannel 2 Investigation reveals major security problems at most of Central Florida's small airports."

The FAA's proposed charity/sightseeing rule — what they call the National Air Tour Standards proposal — is bad policy, is not justified by safety data, and should be withdrawn. Plain and simple, that was the message AOPA presented on Tuesday at the first of two public meetings the FAA held to hear from pilots on the proposal.