Industry News

Sept. 17, 2010
General Aviation Awards

Here are the winners for 2010

The General Aviation Awards program through the FAA recognizes aviation professionals in the fields of flight instruction, aviation maintenance, avionics, and safety for their contributions to aviation, education, and flight safety.

Administrator Randy Babbitt presented placques to each winner at the Theater in the Woods in Oshkosh and industry sponsors awarded gifts during a luncheon at EAA AirVenture.

Recipients of 2010’s national awards are Neil John Nederfield of Lafayette, NJ, Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) of the Year; Kirk Harold Peterson of Larimore, ND, Avionics Technician of the Year; MCFI Jeffery Robert “Jeff” Moss of Los Angeles, CA, Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI) of the Year; and MCFI Thomas Paul “Tom” Turner of Rose Hill, KS, FAA Safety Team Representative of the Year.

Neil Nederfield has been an A&P technician for 45 years and has held inspection authorization (IA) for 15 of those years. As a lead representative for the FAASTeam in the Teterboro area, he hosts and presents safety programs for mechanics and pilots. Nederfield and his son Sean own C & W Aero Services, an FAA certified repair station, located at Essex County Airport (CDW). C & W Aero Services specializes in aircraft modifications, painting, annual 100-hour inspections, avionics installations, and heavy sheet metal repairs. It is also a factory authorized service center for Hawker Beechcraft, Mooney, and New Piper Aircraft as well as most major avionics manufacturers.

Kirk H. Peterson currently holds a FCC license with radar endorsement, an A&P certificate with IA, a repairman certificate, and has more than 25 years of avionics maintenance and repair experience.

For the past 20 years, Peterson has been employed by the University of North Dakota’s John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences. He is the avionics manager of a Part 145 repair station that maintains more than 100 aircraft ranging from Supercubs to turbine helicopters and turbine aircraft that are used by UND’s flight training department.

Jeff Moss holds five single-pilot jet-type ratings. He is an independent instructor and mentor pilot on the Cessna Citation Mustang and CJ series, Eclipse 500, Embraer Phenom 100/300, and Hawker Beechcraft Premier IA. He specializes in training piston pilots for their initial single-pilot jet-type rating. Moss is a charter member of the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE) and also serves as a FAASTeam lead representative. His company, Flying Like the Pros, produces computer-based avionics training programs.

Tom Turner holds airline transport pilot and flight instructor certificates. He serves as a FAASTeam lead representative in the Wichita area where he conducts WINGS seminars and maintains aviation safety web sites. Currently he is the executive director of the American Bonanza Society which represents approximately 10,000 Beech aircraft owners, mechanics, and enthusiasts around the world. He is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the society as well as all technical and educational member support functions.

Support and sponsorship for the General Aviation Awards program is provided by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA), Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA), AMTSociety, EAA, General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), Helicopter Association International (HAI), the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO), National Air Transportation Association (NATA), National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), Professional Aviation Maintenance Association (PAMA), the Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE), and Women in Aviation International (WAI). AMT

8610-1 mechanic IA application

This from the FAA’s Edward L. Hall: The FAA Form 8610-1 version dated 2-78 has been revised and the current issue is dated 07/2010. The revised application for IA is contained within www.faa.gov -forms section- under Tool and Resources Heading. In addition FAA Order 8900.1/8610-1 links have been so directed to pull the revised 2010 version.

Many existing web sites including FSDO local sites however contain the superseded 8610-1 dated 2-78 so advising your readers of the revised form may benefit new applicants along with existing IAs during the March 2011 renewals in completing the most current 8610-1.

The 8610-1 form remains simple and easily completed (self-explanatory) but better suited to the two-year process for renewal along with an endorsement block “signature and date” to accommodate the initial applicants authorization to test VS utilizing the remarks section as previously was necessary for showing date and ASI signature authority (www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Form/FAA%20Form%208610-1.pdf).

Fume control regulation awareness

Lincoln Electric has introduced phase 2.0 of its “Are You Ready?” fume control regulation awareness campaign. The campaign and its supporting materials are designed to aid fabricators in understanding the effects and requirements associated with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Metal Fabrication Hazardous Air Pollutants (MFHAP) and National Emissions Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) regulation.

The new regulations, scheduled to take effect July 25, 2011, will require metal fabricators to reduce air emissions of metal compounds such as chromium, lead, manganese and nickel from nine metal fabrication and finishing source categories that affect welders and fabricators. These compounds can pose health risks to workers overexposed to fumes, which are emitted from various operations at metal fabrication and finishing plants.

The web site, www.lincolnweldfumecontrol.com, serves as a resource for those seeking more information. Links are provided to a number of documents, and an interactive flow chart guides users through the welding operations portion of the EPA rule as it applies to their specific welding applications. A handy glossary of terms associated with the regulations is also included.

New manual and training for aircraft landing wheel bearings

For aircraft overhaul shops, Timken is now offering its Aircraft Landing Wheel Bearing Maintenance Manual, which details standardized aircraft landing wheel bearings inspection and maintenance procedures. The manual draws on the knowledge Timken engineers have collected throughout the company’s more than 75 years of experience serving the industry.

The manual is included in Timken’s new training designed for the overhaul shops that handle landing wheel bearings. Training includes a review of shop procedures with hands-on instruction about best practices ranging from bearing removal, cleaning and inspection through lubrication, installation, setting/adjustment, and storage areas. Due to the specialized nature of this training, there is a limit of 20 students per session. Interested operators can send an email to [email protected] to set up a training class or visit www.Timken.com/alw to order a manual.

Cygnus Aviation

Cygnus Business Media announces the formation of Cygnus Aviation which will create a new architecture for its aviation properties including Aircraft Maintenance Technology, Airport Business, Ground Support Worldwide, Aviation Industry Expo, and AMTSociety. Patrick Nadler is the newly appointed executive vice president of aviation, Charla Sheffield vice president of marketing, John Infanger vice president of content, and Rick Groth vice president of sales.

“Our new organizational architecture is structured to facilitate a line of sight directly to the customer in all aspects of our industry,” Nadler says. “While innovative, it is vital to engaging industry professionals within a rapidly evolving marketplace that will be completely transformed over the next three decades.”

Avtrak opens Mexico office

Avtrak LLC has opened an office in Toluca, Mexico, in support of its expanding Mexican and Latin American markets. The office is located in the EOLO PLUS, S.A. de C.V. facility on Toluca Airport. The Avtrak staff located in the Toluca office will be managed by Andrew G. Douglas, international sales and support manager. Headquartered in Littleton, CO, Avtrak has offices in Wichita, KS, and Lowell, MA.

Garmin to open tech center in Salem, OR

Once construction is completed in late January, Garmin will lease and occupy a 43,000-square-foot facility located less than three miles from its current Oregon facility at the Salem Municipal Airport. Garmin is hopeful it can open a temporary facility this fall, ahead of the busy holiday season.

Garmin is seeking qualified applicants with technical expertise who want to work in a fun, fast-paced environment. Interested applicants can visit www.garmin.com/careers for more information..

NATA AMT awards

The NATA Aviation Maintenance Technician Employer Recognition Program awards aviation maintenance organizations that encourage and support aviation maintenance technician (AMT) training. The award is meant to complement the FAA’s Aviation Maintenance Technician Award, while providing a special recognition for employers that support training.

The NATA award is based on the percentage of AMTs employed, directly or indirectly, by a maintenance organization that participates in qualified training events. An AMT must complete at least 12 hours of training each year to be counted toward the organization’s award percentage. For more information, visit www.nata.aero/amtaward.

For more up-to-date news visit www.amtonline.com.