Bully Hawk Aero Performance Inc. has developed a Turbo Conversion Kit that company officials say turns the 80-hp Rotax 912 series engine into a turbocharged equivalent of the Rotax 914. It is available either as a kit for $8,495 or through Bully Hawk’s conversion centers. For more information: BullyHawk.ca
Gear collapses on CT
This March 2007 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others. Aircraft: Flight Design CT. Location: Albuquerque. Injuries: 2 Minor. Aircraft damage: Substantial. What reportedly happened: The company’s chief pilot and pilot receiving instruction had performed […]
Gulfstream cuts production, balances 2009-2010 deliveries
General Dynamics said on March 5 that, as a result of deterioration in its Gulfstream order backlog, particularly during the month of February, and continued weak demand, Gulfstream Aerospace has decided to cut large-cabin aircraft production and green-aircraft deliveries from a projected 94 to 73 in 2009. Gulfstream plans to reduce production of its mid-size […]
Pilot without medical crashes 150
The pilot’s improper recovery from a bounced landing.
Aviation Week Laureate Awards winners named
Aviation Week has named the winners of its 52nd Annual Laureate Awards, recognizing exceptional strategy, heroism or leadership in aviation, aerospace and defense. The Laureate honorees have improved their organizations, championed new technologies, and changed aviation history, the publication stated. The Laureate Awards were held March 3 at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, […]
‘Nanostitching’ could strengthen airplane skins, says MIT
MIT engineers are using carbon nanotubes only billionths of a meter thick to stitch together aerospace materials, in work that could make airplane skins some ten times stronger at a nominal increase in cost, according to a March 4 news release from the institute. Advanced composites reinforced with nanotubes also are more than one million […]
FAA clarifies its meaning of ‘current’
FAR 91.409(f)(3) requires aircraft owners and operators to maintain their aircraft in accordance with a “current inspection program recommended by the manufacturer.” In a recent interpretation, an FAA attorney stated that owners and operators are not legally obligated to adhere to the most recent updates to maintenance instructions or inspection programs. Only the maintenance requirements […]
FAA has no plan to ground Eclipse fleet
Addressing the question of what happens when a manufacturer goes bankrupt, the FAA has issued Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-14 examining support issues for the 259 Eclipse 500 very light jets in the field. A March 4 hearing was expected to include a decision on the petition filed last week to move the Eclipse bankruptcy […]
FAA gets unanimous opposition to LASP
An FAA spokeswoman says it’s too early to speculate on the future of the Large Aircraft Security Program, although it drew more than 4,000 responses during its 120-day public comment period. “We’ve just embarked on the review process,” said Lauren Gaches during an interview with Stephanie Mlot of the Frederick News-Post in Maryland. “Our goal […]