From the editors of Aviation International News
This
issue sponsored by
Rockwell Collins
and Cutter
Aviation.
August 24, 2006
Hawker
4000 Exemptions Granted with Conditions
The FAA has granted, with conditions, Raytheon
Aircrafts request that the Hawker 4000 be temporarily exempted from having
to meet certain Part 25 fuel tank ignition and hydraulic system performance
amendments to enable the aircraft to receive type certification (TC) by year-end.
Under the conditions of the exemptions, the aircraft will still have to meet
certain provisions of both amendments before the FAA will issue the TC. However,
the company will have until Sept. 1, 2008, to show compliance with the remaining
provisions of the ignition prevention rules (FAR 25.981) and June 1 next year
to demonstrate compliance with the remaining provisions of the hydraulic system
rules (FAR 25.1435). In addition, the FAA said it would not issue new airworthiness
certificates for the type after these dates unless the newly produced airplanes
are in compliance. On May 31, Raytheon Aircraft reached the FAAs five-year
time limit for certification of the Hawker 4000 under Part 25 amendments that
existed at the time of the TC application. In anticipation of not receiving
TC before the deadline, Raytheon applied for an extension on May 11, and the
FAA granted an extension of seven months, to December 31.
Initial Hawker 4000 Customers Might Face Retrofits
Operators that take delivery of Hawker 4000s during the exemption period
face a mandatory retrofit if any design changes are necessary. If design
changes are required to show compliance with the ignition rule, they must
be incorporated on aircraft delivered before Sept. 1, 2008, or they cannot
operate after Sept. 1, 2009. Likewise, if modifications are necessary to
comply with the hydraulic rule, they must be made on airplanes delivered
before June 1 next year or they cannot be operated after June 1, 2008. The
granting of these two exemptions will allow us to proceed with the final
details in obtaining the type certificate for the Hawker 4000, a company
spokesman told AIN. The new requirements have been built into
our plan and we expect no further delays. Customer deliveries are expected
to begin in the fourth quarter. Once we have completed the appropriate analysis
and testing related to the changes in FAA regulations, we will incorporate
the required modifications, as needed, into future deliveries of the aircraft.
FAA Cutting Back Mailing ADs and SAIBs
In what it said is part of our transition to full electronic distribution
of ADs and Special Airworthiness Information Bulletins, the FAA today
began implementing a cutback in the mailing of these documents to affected
owners and operators. Specifically, the agency will no longer mail AD corrections
that dont receive a new amendment number and AD number. ADs requiring
corrections will continue to be published in the Federal Register
and on the FAA Web site.
The FAA will mail ADs applicable to a certain engine model only to the owners
and operators who have registered their engine, not to the registered aircraft
owners and operators referenced in the AD. Mailed ADs will no longer include
the preamble information. The agency will continue to mail or fax emergency
ADs, but the final rule version of these will no longer be mailed. Finally,
the FAA will stop mailing SAIBs. Interested parties can subscribe to an
e-mail service on the FAAs SAIB Web page.
Chicago
OHare Slot Program Final Rule
A long-awaited interim
final rule will be published in the next day or two extending through
at least April 2008 the FAAs mandated flight-reduction program to
ease congestion at Chicago OHare International Airport, including
slot reservations for general aviation operations. Through several six-month
extensions, the program has been in effect continuously since November 2004;
the latest extension was scheduled to expire on October 28. The program
limits all Part 91 and 135 IFR and VFR unscheduled flights to four operations
per hour from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. This final rule is intended to be
an interim measure only, as the FAA anticipates longer-term solutions to
traffic congestion at the airport. Such solutions include plans by the City
of Chicago to modernize the airport and reduce delays. For this reason,
the FAA said this final rule includes provisions allowing for the limits
it imposes to be gradually relaxed, and in any event the regulation
will sunset in 2008.
MagnaStar Customers Weigh Options
It didnt take long for Iridium resellers to start targeting
MagnaStar customers after service provider Verizon Airfone announced plans
to exit the general aviation business. AirCell has introduced Axxess EZ,
a two-channel Iridium satcom system that is intended as a direct replacement
for the old MagnaStar phones. The system uses the same wiring and includes
wireless capability for buyers who also choose to add a broadband satellite
Internet connection. International Communications Group, another Iridium
hardware seller, said it is offering single- and dual-channel satcom systems
that operate with MagnaStar equipment through a MagnaStar avionics interface
unit. Service provider Satcom Direct, meanwhile, introduced PlaneSimple,
an Inmarsat calling plan targeted at the 4,000 MagnaStar customers who will
be without service when Verizon pulls the plug on December 4.
Also Noted...
In
the ever-changing world of security requirements, NBAA now reports
that GA operations can clear customs at several airports in the Dallas area.
An item in Tuesdays AINalerts said GA flights inbound to the
Dallas area must clear customs at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport,
which was correct at the time but no longer the case.
Effective September 1, Nav Canada, the nations ATC service
provider, is withdrawing its average 2-percent service charge implemented
on Aug. 1, 2003. Meanwhile, a new daily charge of $10 per day at seven specific
airports for aircraft with mtows of 6,600 pounds or less goes into effect
March 1, 2008.
The Platinum Wing Alliance, a network of selected charter operators
aimed at improving air-taxi safety and quality, held its second-annual closed-door
executive meeting Tuesday and Wednesday in Boston. Invitees included some
15 operators that are all ARG/US Platinum rated.
Tulsa, Okla.-based Nordam began construction today on a 120,000-sq-ft
aircraft interiors and structures facility in Wichita. When it opens early
next year, the building will triple Nordams current space.
Los Angeles World Airports, which operates Van Nuys Airport,
has accepted a bid for an FBO at the former Garrett Aviation facility. But
Landmark Aviations bid to demolish the facility and build a new
FBO at Van Nuys was rejected. No information about the winner was immediately
available.
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AINalerts is a publication of The Convention News Co., Inc., 214 Franklin Avenue, Midland Park, NJ 07432. Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission from The Convention News Co., Inc., is strictly prohibited. The Convention News Co., Inc., also publishes Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, NBAA Convention News, HAI Convention News, EBACE Convention News, Paris 2007, Dubai 2007, Asian Aerospace 2008 and Farnborough 2008.