AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE FOR GLOBAL TWINS
Bombardier says more than one-third of its 147 Global XRS and Global 5000 super-large business jets tied to an emergency airworthiness directive issued on 9 October by Transport Canada have been given a clean bill of health. The mandate came after discovery of a seized bearing and fractured bolt in the mechanism that connects the elevator power control unit (PCU) to the elevator of one aircraft and, on other aircraft, two additional seized bearings but no fractured bolts. The AD calls for inspecting and lubricating the PCU attach joints of the affected aircraft, those with certain actuators that have accumulated more than 1,000h flight time.
ARMSTRONG TO BE MAN ON MOON - PERMANENTLY
US president George Bush has signed into law an order that the US portion of a planned international Moon based, to be constructed in the 2020s, will be called the Neil A. Armstrong Lunar Outpost. Under Bush's vision for space exploration policy the USA will go back to the Moon by 2020. Missions at the Moon base, likely to be located at the south pole, would last more than six months and involve international partners.
IRAQ DELIVERY 'DOES NOT VIOLATE COURT ORDER'
In the latest twist in a long-running battle by Kuwait Airways to secure compensation from Iraqi Airways and the Iraqi government for destruction of its fleet in the 1990-91 Gulf conflict, Bombardier has ferried a CRJ900 NextGen regional jet to Iraq, the first of a batch of 10 destined for the country. Attorneys acting for Kuwait Airways insist the aircraft is liable to seizure, and that Bombardier's action makes it Kuwait Airways' debtor. However, the airframer says that while a seizure order against Iraqi Airways may remain in place, an order against the Iraqi government was lifted this month: "Bombardier's agreement has always been with the government of Iraq."
EASA AWARDS TYPE CERTIFICATION FOR TU-204
European Aviation Safety Agency regulators have formally awarded type certification for the Rolls-Royce RB211-powered Tupolev Tu-204-120CE twinjet freighter. Russia's Interstate Aviation Committee (MAK) says the EASA type certificate is the first such document to be obtained by a Russian aircraft under the framework co-operation agreement signed between the two sides in July 2004. EASA and MAK are jointly working on certification for the Sukhoi Superjet 100 as well as the amphibious Beriev Be-200.
BOEING WINS HUGE 787 ORDER FROM AMERICAN
American Airlines became the biggest North American customer for the Boeing 787 after the carrier ordered 42 787-9s, with deliveries scheduled to begin in September 2012 and continue until 2018. American also has rights to purchase an additional 58 aircraft.
FAA GIVES ROCKET RACERS OK TO FLY IN USA
The Rocket Racing League has obtained an experimental exhibition certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration to fly its liquid oxygen and alcohol rocket engine-powered aircraft at more than 20 venues in the USA. The league will select eight for a 2009 exhibition season, and plans in 2010 to run 10-aircraft races on a 8km ( 5 miles) "Formula One"-like closed circuit aerial raceway at venues including the EAA AirVenture show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
Source: Flight International
