One of my favorite "curses" goes something like "...may you live in interesting times." It can also, occasionally, be looked upon as a blessing. At the well-attended and exquisitely crafted 2004 GA outlook meeting in Washington, DC, GAMA's president Ed Bolen pronounced the 2003 aviation year as "A Challenging Year." The day's brief revealed some pretty dismal numbers...Bizjet sales down 23.4% from the year before... employment down 10.3%, billings down 15.5%... all in all it was GA's worst showing since 1998. About the best anyone could say for 2003 was that it was over... and much better times seemed to be on the horizon thanks to bonus depreciation allowances, better economic times, new and innovative airframes/avionics, and less used aircraft available on the market to co

Austrocontrol AD Number: A-2004-002

Date: February 12, 2004 Applicability: DA40D aeroplanes with the following Serial Numbers: D4.020 to D4.024, D4.026, D4.041, D4.043 to D4.045, D4.049, D4.056, D4.060 to D4.064, D4.066, D4.067 and D4.078 Requirement: 1. Amend the Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM Doc. 6.01.05-( ) by inserting Temporary Revision TR-M�M-40-122 in accordance with Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH Mandatory Service Bulletin No. MSBD4-029 Section 1.8 paragraph a). 2. Carry out an inspection of the Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC)wiring in accordance with MSBD4-029 Section 1.8 paragraph b). Austrocontrol, the Austrian Civil Aviation Administration, has advised that an incorrect wire h

Recommendation #A-04-01 and -02 - Revoked Repair Stations

The National Transportation Safety Board has made a recommendations to the FAA  that applies to applicants for a Part 145 repair station certificate, so the FAA can prevent individuals who have been associated with a previously revoked repair station from continuing to operate through a new repair station. The NTSB recommends that if an air carrier, operating, or repair station certificate is surrendered prior to completion of an enforcement investigation that is based on charges that could be grounds for revocation, the FAA should nonetheless complete the investigation to the extent necessary to document all available facts relating to the fitness of the involved individuals.

AD NUMBER: 2004-03-29

MANUFACTURER: Pacific Aerospace Corporation SUBJECT: Final rule SUMMARY: The FAA adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Pacific Aerospace Corporation, Ltd. Models FU24-954 and FU24A-954 airplanes. This AD requires you to perform repetitive detailed visual inspections of the forward vertical fin base for cracks. If any cracks or discrepancies are found, you must repair the structure before further flight and notify the FAA. This AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for New Zealand. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracks in the vertical fin base, which could result in loss of the fin and loss of ai