A number of NDI techniques have been developed for a specific application or for a particular type of fault. Each requires a particular set of skills as well as equipment and/or materials.
Congressman Steve Rothman (D-N.J.) and a group of state legislators are asking the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to close Teterboro Airport to traffic between 12 midnight and 6 a.m. Rothman, co-chair of the Congressional Air Noise Caucus, cited ``safety concerns'' and ``intolerable noise disruptions'' as justification for the proposed flight ban.
Duncan Aviation added new weekend hours for its Lincoln, Neb., accessory shop. The shop is now open weekdays from 7 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Cessna Aircraft delivered 1,210 aircraft in 1999, including 224 Citations, 87 Caravans and 889 single-engine pistons, representing an 11-percent increase over 1998 figures. Sales activity increased 22 percent in 1999, with 1,394 firm orders, and Cessna's current backlog totals 1,102 aircraft. CitationJets accounted for 59 deliveries in 1999, more than any other Citation model. ``Cessna enjoyed another remarkable year, thanks to the confidence of our customers and the hard work and dedication of our co-workers,'' says Gary Hay, Cessna's CEO.
The departure of Trans States Airlines from US Airways' West Coast markets has led the Crystal City, Va.-based major airline to seek another code-share partner in the West.
Selected content of past and present issues of Business&Commercial Aviation is now available on a new Internet portal called AviationNow.com. The site (www.AviationNow.com) launched January 17, includes a free, continuously updated news feed, content from the entire portfolio of Aviation Week newsletters, magazines and directories, an e-business hub, and a host of other content and services. Access is free, with additional services available to registered users and subscribers.
ASA's two, updated Airframe textbooks are part of a four-book Aviation Maintenance Technician Series to help prospective AMTs prepare for their FAA knowledge exams. They also are a handy reference for basic technical information. Airframe, Volume 1 covers all aspects of aircraft structures, while Airframe, Volume 2 covers aircraft systems and inspection. Other books in the set focus on general aeronautical information and powerplants. Price: $29.95 for Volume 1 or 2; $139.95 for the entire set Aviation Supplies and Academics, Inc.
An ``investment alliance'' led by former Allison Engine owners Clayton, Dubilier&Rice (CD&R) and Allianz Capital Partners (ACP) has acquired Fairchild Aerospace in a cash and debt-financed deal worth $1.2 billion. The much-awaited announcement follows Fairchild's receipt of $350 million in European Commission (EC)-backed loans from German banks, an arrangement contingent upon Fairchild's ability to raise at least $300 million in additional financing.
A coalition of aviation industry trade groups is looking for an ``environmentally friendly'' replacement for 100LL avgas to be phased in over the next few years. Toward this goal, the Aviation Industry Coalition for Piston Aircraft Environmental Strategy -- made up of representatives of AOPA, the Experimental Aircraft Association, GAMA, the National Air Transportation Association and the NBAA -- intends to gather information about existing research efforts and plans, and run cost-benefit analyses of each.
A good number of pilots flying corporate and airline operations today (admittedly nearing the end of their careers) trained in airplanes with minimal electrical systems -- six-volt batteries powering navigation lights. If the airplane's electrical system was truly sophisticated, the battery was recharged in flight by a belt-driven automotive-type generator or, perhaps, a strut-mounted, air-driven generator.
Fastening snow baffles can be an expensive and time-consuming process -- especially if you're flying with them installed when it's not necessary. Paravion's new Dzus Fastener Kit enables operators to fasten and remove snow baffles on Bell 206L-1, L-3, L-4 and 407 helicopters without any tools. Now snow baffles can be stowed until they're needed, saving time and fuel. Price: $550 Paravion Technology, Inc. 2001 Airway Ave. Fort Collins, Colo. 80524 Phone: (970) 224-3989 Fax: (970) 224-3899
The Professional Aviation Maintenance Association (PAMA), Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA) and National Air Transportation Association (NATA) are among the groups fighting proposed changes to FAR Part 145 governing repair stations. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) calls for greater oversight including higher training standards, stiffer pre-employment background checks and greater management oversight. Opponents say the rules are too tough and too costly for smaller repair stations.
Developer Black Eagle Aviation is planning an ambitious expansion of aircraft storage at Willow Run Airport (YIP) in Ypsilanti, Mich., that could provide more hangar space for business aircraft operators. According to Jeffery D. Meek, a managing member of the newly created partnership, the plan is to build an additional 90,000 square feet of hangar space, including T-hangars for small aircraft and box hangars for larger, corporate aircraft.
Proposed new entrant carrier Ozark Air Lines has signed an interline agreement with AMR Corp. affecting Ozark flights serving American Airlines' Dallas-Fort Worth hub. American Eagle will provide passenger check-in, baggage handling and other services for Ozark at DFW, though the flights will operate under the Ozark brand and livery. Ozark is nearing FAA certification, and plans to offer service from Columbia, Mo., to Chicago Midway and DFW with two delivered Fairchild 328JETs. The company holds options on three additional 328JETs.
GE Capital Aviation Training (GECAT) and Cathay Pacific Airlines are teaming up to provide airline flight training at Cathay's Hong Kong International Airport training facility. GECAT will market the facility's excess simulator time as well as add four new simulators in the next two years.
Quality Aviation Services of McMinnville, Ore., received the FAA's Diamond Award for making ongoing training available to its aviation maintenance technicians (AMTs). The FAA also recognized 15 Quality employees for participating in the training. Quality is a division of Evergreen International Aviation.
The FAA has awarded FAR Part 33 type certification to General Electric's CF34-8C1 engine, selected to power the new 70-seat variant of the Bombardier Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ), now in flight test. The event follows three years of exhaustive component and core testing, on the ground and in the air, mated to GE's Boeing 747 flying test-bed aircraft.
Computer systems designer GIRO Inc. is designing a Web-based maintenance tracking system for British Aerospace (BAe) regional aircraft. Initially, the Electronic Fleet Data Management System (EFDMS) will allow operators to monitor maintenance trends via the Web, with future capabilities to include online technical logs, pilot reports and other functions. The basic system should be available in June. BAe sells and leases such regional aircraft as the BAe-146, Avro RJ, ATP and Jetstream.
A U.S. District Court Judge ordered Comair's 1,100 pilots back to work in late December 1999 after an apparent work slowdown. The Cincinnati-based regional was forced to cancel hundreds of flights in December, most due to mechanical irregularities. Comair sources say Richard de Lagarde, the chairman of Comair's Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) chapter, encouraged pilots to be ``especially zealous'' in writing up maintenance items, refuse overtime and even taxi slowly to disrupt the airline's schedule.
Schweizer Aircraft has unveiled a helicopter it says will ``set a new standard'' for light utility, turbine-powered helicopters. Plans call for the new Model 333 to carry four people, cruise at around 105 knots and offer 3.5 hours of endurance. The 333 will have a useful load of 1,340 pounds -- a 220-pound increase over the earlier Model 330SP -- along with a more powerful Rolls-Royce Allison 250-C20W engine and a redesigned rotor system with larger diameter blades.
