This isn't going to look good on somebody's credit report.
Flyi, Inc., parent company of struggling start-up Independence Air,
says one of its creditors repossessed a 50-seat regional jet,
leaving the company with 72 in its fleet.
During GAMA's well-attended Annual Industry Review and 2005
Outlook, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) said
that continuing to improve the margin of safety for general
aviation is its highest priority in 2005,
notwithstanding the fact that the number of general aviation fatal
accidents reached an all time low in
2004.
In Alaska, where the difference between the sky and the mountain
is often less than the width of a single-engine aircraft, seeing is
believing. That's why a lot of pilots in the Great White North are
starting to swear by a new FAA program that literally lets them
eyeball crucial mountain passes along their routes.
The USAF has grounded 30 of its oldest C130 Hercules transports
and has restricted the flight of another 60 after the discovery of
wing stress cracks that were reportedly much more severe than
anticipated.
If You Thought The VHX Marine One Contract Was Big, Just Hang
On...
By ANN Senior Correspondent Kevin "Hognose" O'Brien
Coming out of Heli-Expo, everyone is talking about the way that
European manufacturers have been cleaning American clocks in the
contract stakes. Now, there is a new contract looming on the
horizon, one that is certain to see a European win, as both of the
competitors are largely European. They will put on some American
fig leaves as Agusta-Westland did to win the VHX contract, but
large parts of this contract will go across the pond, no matter who
wins.
It's no secret that controllers whose FSS jobs have been
contracted to Lockheed-Martin are a rather unhappy lot. In fact,
some of them are filing a class action lawsuit against the FAA,
claiming the government is discriminating against them on the basis
of their age.
A Coast Guard helicopter crew is credited with rescuing a downed
pilot in a swamp near Savannah, GA, Sunday, after the pilot's
recently restored Piper Super Cub apparently lost all engine
power.
Lindbergh Awards Going To Bertrand Piccard And Yolanda
Kakabadse
The Charles A. and Anne Morrow Lindbergh Foundation is
celebrating a homecoming this year by holding two very special
events in its home state. On Friday evening, May 20, a hangar party
entitled, "Legends of the Sky: Stories of History-Making Aircraft
and Their Pilots" is planned at the Golden Wings Museum located at
the Anoka County Airport in Blaine. This event is part of the
Blaine Aviation Weekend and features Burt Rutan, widely known for
capturing the $10 million Ansari X Prize for the first civilian
aircraft to reach space twice in a two-week period. Proceeds from
this event will benefit the Lindbergh Foundation, a public
non-profit organization based in Anoka, MN.
20W-50 Intended For Use Prior To Switching To Exxon Elite
ExxonMobil Aviation Lubricants has introduced Exxon Aviation Oil
20W-50, a non-dispersant lubricant for the break-in of new or newly
overhauled aircraft piston engines. The multi-grade oil can be used
year-round, in high- and low-temperature climates, and was designed
for use before switching to Exxon Aviation Oil Elite 20W-50 (Exxon
Elite).
Newark Screener Reassigned After Missing Butcher Knife
A TSA screener at Newark Liberty International Airport has been
reassigned after she apparently allowed a butcher knife contained
in a woman's purse to get past the airport's security
checkpoint.
Apparently Hanged Himself Between Gate And Customs
The Essex County, NJ, medical examiner plans an autopsy this
week after authorities say a 39-year old Maryland man, who had just
returned to the US from Portugal, hanged himself in a janitor's
closet at Newark Liberty International Airport over the
weekend.
The Light Sport Aviation Branch says the following eight
examiner candidates have accepted invitations to attend the second
Sport Pilot Examiner Initial Course to be held in Sebring, FL March
21 to 26.
The sport plane revolution appears to be heading east -- to
India.
The Indian Express reports Indus Aviation plans to open not only a
low-cost training academy in Bangalore, India, but also plans to
start manufacturing Thorpe T-211 aircraft there.
"Looking back on 2004, it is clear that it was the turning point
for both the US economy and the GA industry. A great deal of this
turn-around can be attributed to incentives provided by bonus
depreciation.... All this bodes well for our future."
Source: Trade association GAMA in its annual
report, citing increases in GA deliveries and an overall boost from
Washington in a quick turnaround from last years dismal delivery
numbers.
AD NUMBER: 2005-03-08
MANUFACTURER: Eurocopter France
SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2005-03-08
SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness
directive (AD) for Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) Model AS350B, BA,
B1, B2, B3, C, D, D1, and EC130 B4 helicopters that requires
removing and modifying the fuel bleed lever.
AD NUMBER: 2005-03-12
MANUFACTURER: Airbus
SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2005-03-12
SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness
directive (AD), applicable to certain Airbus Model A330, A340-200,
and A340-300 series airplanes. This AD requires initial and
repetitive inspections of certain frame stiffeners to detect
cracking. If any cracking is found, this AD requires replacement of
the stiffener with a new, reinforced stiffener. Replacement of the
stiffener constitutes terminating action for certain
inspections.
AD NUMBER: 2005-03-09
MANUFACTURER: Eurocopter France
SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2005-03-09
SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness
directive (AD) for the specified Eurocopter France (Eurocopter)
model helicopters. This action requires an initial and repetitive
borescope inspection of the main gearbox (MGB) planet gear carrier
or an initial and repetitive visual inspection of the MGB planet
gear carrier for a crack.
AD NUMBER: 2005-03-15
MANUFACTURER: BAE Systems
SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2005-03-15
SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness
directive (AD) for certain BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model
BAe 146 series airplanes and Model Avro 146-RJ series airplanes.
This AD requires repetitive inspections to detect discrepancies of
the fuselage skin and reinforcing plates along the wing to fuselage
fairing access panels on the left- and right-hand sides of the
airplane, and repair if necessary.
AD NUMBER: 2005-03-16
MANUFACTURER: Raytheon
SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2005-03-16
SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness
directive (AD) for certain Raytheon Model DH.125, HS.125, and
BH.125 series airplanes; BAe.125 series 800A (C-29A and U-125) and
800B airplanes; and Hawker 800 (including variant U-125A) and 800XP
airplanes.
AD NUMBER: 2005-03-14
MANUFACTURER: Airbus
SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2005-03-14
SUMMARY: This amendment supersedes an existing
airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to all Airbus Model A300
B2 and B4 series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires
determining the part and amendment number of the variable lever arm
(VLA) of the rudder control system to verify the parts were
installed using the correct standard, and corrective actions if
necessary.
GAMA Monday released its 2005 forecast -- painting a rosy
picture about the growth of general aviation manufacturing and
looking back on what the association calls "unprecedented
growth."