FAA Proposal Would Ease GA Interior Restrictions

The FAA has a proposal on the table that would amend the airworthiness standards for private use aircraft by adding new cabin interior criteria. The main categories that would be affected by the proposal are: firm handholds; side-facing seats/divans; flight attendant direct view; passenger information signs; distance between exits; emergency signage and lighting; interior doors; main aisle width; fire alarms; equipment installation, specifically cook tops; and fire extinguishers.

In order to receive a type certificate (TC), transport category aircraft are required to comply with the standards of Title 14 part 25, but GA industry representatives have determined that part 25 is not written with private use (GA) aircraft in mind. Representatives argue that the broad strokes of part 25 should change for the GA community, just like building standards are different for public structures and private homes or cruise ship standards differ for pleasure craft.

Amendments regarding the design requirements vary according to the category, but all deal with loosening standards for private use aircraft. "For hire" or common carriage aircraft cannot operate under this new proposal.

Firm handholds — The FAA’s proposal would allow areas of the passenger cabin to be without firm handholds as long as cabin aisles contain firm handholds.

Side-facing seats/divans — A standard feature in private use aircraft, the FAA issued exemptions with a list of conditions to allow the use of side-facing seats. The FAA is actively researching the injury mechanisms for these seats, but recognizes that research would take years to complete and therefore will continue to allow for installation of the side-facing seats.

Flight attendant direct view — For the sake of privacy, GA aircraft tend to be compartmentalized and do not allow for a full, direct view by flight attendants. Therefore, the FAA has issued exemptions for these aircraft that reduce the flight attendant’s direct view. As long as flight attendant seats face the cabin, the attendant does not need a direct view, as is the case in commercial carriers.

Passenger information signs — Passengers cannot smoke on commercial flights, but the owner/operator decides if people can smoke on their GA aircraft. Therefore, the FAA will allow a single sign prohibiting smoking (if necessary) that would replace the multiple sign requirements of commercial carriers.

Distance between exits — Current FAA requirements state that emergency exits be separated by no more than 60 feet, but GA owners often deactivate exits in order to make the best use of their interior space. The proposal would allow a distance greater than 60 feet between exits in a single instance on each side of the fuselage. However, no seat that is between two exits can be more than 30 feet from an exit.

Emergency signage and lighting — GA owners/operators contend that in creating a unique interior, it is difficult to comply with strict FAA regulations regarding emergency signage and lighting. Therefore, the FAA has made concessions. GA aircraft can use smaller signs, do not need to have specific marking "paths" in the aisles (due to compartmentalization within the aircraft) and will also require fewer lights to engage in the fuselage if there were a crash.

Interior doors — Section 25.813(e) states that no door may be installed in any portion between passenger compartments. Interior doors are a desirable feature in GA aircraft. The FAA proposal would allow these doors with the following exceptions: the door must be kept open by dual means during taxi, takeoff and landing; if installed across a main aisle, the door must contain indicators to the flight crew whether the door is open; and the door must be breakable so nobody can become trapped.

Main aisle width — As previously stated, owners/operators of GA aircraft want the ability to configure the seating as they deem necessary. Therefore, FAA requirements that main aisle width be a specific amount are difficult to adhere to. The proposal would provide a minimum aisle for in-flight emergencies and would allow seats to be moved during flight to positions that would reduce the aisle width below the minimum FAA requirements. The proposal allows for different standards for aisle width for takeoff and landing versus in-flight phases.

Fire alarms — Owners/operators of private use aircraft expressed concern that installing too many fire alarms could crate an increase in false alarms and aborted takeoffs. The FAA’s proposal would still require fire detection systems in any room not suitable for occupancy during taxi, takeoff and landing and that can be closed off from the rest of the cabin by a door, but does not require GA aircraft to address every possible point in a room as a potential fire source as is the case for commercial carriers.

Equipment installations — Cook tops are a somewhat recent addition to GA aircraft and current regulations do not adequately address the various safety concerns associated with its installation and operation. The FAA proposal requires certain design features that will lessen potential hazards. These features include guards to keep containers in place, a spill tray, a fire extinguishing system and other measures.

Fire extinguishers — Not previously addressed, the FAA proposal requires an extinguisher for every pair of exits certified on the original TC, regardless if the exit was deactivated for seating configuration.

These proposed changes don’t compromise safety, maintain those pushing for the reform. They ease the restrictions for private use aircraft while maintaining the occupant’s safety. For a complete proposal and to send comments before October 11, 2007, visit www.faa.gov.

National Aviation Maintenance Technician Day

House Resolution 444, a resolution to create National Aviation Maintenance Technician Day, passed the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and will move to the U.S. House of Representatives for a vote this fall. If the resolution passes, May 24 will honor the life and achievement of Charles Edward Taylor (the Wright brother’s mechanic) and recognize the essential role of aviation maintenance technicians in ensuring the safety of the flying public. The resolution, backed by PAMA, still requires the House to pass it before it moves on to the Senate and eventually the president. To help the resolution pass, PAMA is asking that the aviation industry contact their representatives in the House and ask them to support the resolution to establish National Aviation Maintenance Technician Day on May 24.

Dubai Completes Acquisition

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) acquired both Standard Aero and Landmark Aviation for $1.9 billion and will merge the companies as a business enterprise within its DAE Engineering subsidiary. The two MROs will create a global aviation services network of 12 primary facilities in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Singapore and Australia with 14 more regional facilities. Bob Johnson, CEO of DAE said, "The acquisition of Standard Aero and Landmark Aviation provides a critical platform for DAE to take advantage of growth opportunities in the MRO business around the world."

Landmark’s CEO, Roger Wolfe, will resign this month following a two-year tenure in which he led the company through successful FBO acquisitions, major renovations, a corporate re-branding, and other investments in the business. Paul Soubry Jr. will become president and CEO of the combined companies. As part of the acquisition, DAE will divest the Landmark Aviation Airport Services business, which include 33 FBOs, an aircraft sales, charter and management business, and all MRO operation associated with the FBO sites. An independent board of trustees comprised of former Secretary of Defense James Schlesinger, former Senator Bob Kerrey and former Pentagon Comptroller Dov Zakheim will oversee the operations of Landmark Aviation Airport Services and the sale process.

Lease Bombardier Hangar

The hangar and maintenance facility at the Tucson International Airport in Arizona can be leased for $2.22 million annually, nearly $187,000 a month or the ground lease rights could be purchased for $15.9 million.

The 255,000-square-foot maintenance hangar was built in 1990, has four bays with runway access and two separate office buildings that are single-story and together contain another 20,000 square feet. The site also has back shop space that includes an accessory shop, welding shop and machine shop; there are 12 drive-in doors; three loading docks; and a security entrance. The property sits on 33 acres of airport-owned land. The ground lease with Tucson Airport Authority expires December 31, 2025.

In 2001, Bombardier bought the facility from Lockheed Martin to use for its aircraft completion work. In 2004, Bombardier moved this work to Wichita, Kansas and Montreal. The hangar was being subleased by a start-up that failed, but it is currently empty. Learjet Inc. chose Bourn Partners to market the vacant facility. The Tucson Airport Authority would have to approve any sub-lessor.

Interested parties have begun investigating the hangar’s potential, but contracts have not been discussed. Both the company and the airport would like to see the property leased to an airline, MRO or to an aerospace research firm because the site has the potential to employ hundreds of people, particularly in manufacturing.

Hugh McElroy Accepts the Humanitarian Award

Dallas Airmotive President and CEO, Hugh McElroy, received the award from the Dallas Area Chapter of the American Red Cross. Dallas Airmotive was recognized for its employee and corporate donations to Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, its ongoing support of the Ready When The Time Comes program, and for creating an environment of volunteerism. Pictured from left to right are: American Red Cross Dallas Area Chapter CEO Cheryl Sutterfield-Jones, Hugh McElroy, and Hank Bashore, Dallas Area Chapter chairman of the board.