Bell Helicopter Textron and Honeywell's commercial avionics unit are among the companies extending price freezes on the purchase of replacement parts through this year. For the second year in a row, Bell will not increase prices for spare parts. In 1994, Bell raised spare parts prices an average of less than 1.5 percent over 1993. In addition, Bell reduced the prices on over 5,800 parts in 1995. Meanwhile, Honeywell is holding the price of spares at June 1993 levels.
Concern over replacement parts has long been a part of aviation, particularly when the source of those parts has been other than the OEM-such as independent parts distributors, repair stations or Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) companies. Indeed, concern particularly over bogus replacement parts issues in the airline industry (not any actual increase in the number of incidents) reached a crescendo when the FAA disclosed plans to tighten up rules and procedures for the manufacturing, distributing and disposal of replacement parts.
Recently, B/CA urged the FAA to look favorably upon an expected NTSB recommendation seeking to assure the free exchange of training and competency information involving applicants for pilot positions. The NTSB's intent is rational: to prevent air carriers from passing along inept pilots from company to company. But, the implementation of such a rule is fraught with potential mischief.
Available from Flitz International is a metal polish and fiberglass cleaner for leading edges, window trim and frames, interior cabin trim and galley appliances, and stainless-steel thrust reversers. Flitz re-stores oxidized or stained paint finishes and can remove stains left by deicing fluids, fuel, insects and exhaust. Price: $39.95 for a two-pound can, $18.68 for a 5.29-ounce tube and $8.60 for a 1.76-ounce tube. Flitz International Ltd., 821 Mohr Ave., Waterford, WI 53185. (414) 534-5898.
2David Siegel has been named president of Continental Express (COEx), replacing Jonathan Ornstein, who recently resigned to pursue new airline ventures. Siegel had served as vice president-route and fleet planning and scheduling for big Continental, where he played a key role in the carrier's operational turnaround, according to Continental President Gordon Bethune. ``Now he will turn his energies to this key subsidiary and optimize the performance of Continental Express for the benefit of customers, employees and stockholders,'' Bethune added.
The Pratt&Whitney Canada PW306A received certification from Transport Canada in December 1995, and FAA approval was expected shortly. The 6,000-pounds-thrust engine is the newest member of the PW300 family and represents the most powerful turbofan ever built by P&WC. The engine is slated to power Israel Aircraft Industries' Galaxy business jet. The PW300 family, in addition to the new PW500 series selected to power the Bravo and Excel versions of the Cessna Citation business jet, are being developed jointly with Germany's MTU.
Royal Jordanian Airlines will operate a leased de Havilland Dash 8-300 over the new historical, first-ever air route between Amman and Tel Aviv. The 50-passenger turboprop also will operate between Amman and the Red Sea port of Aqaba, Jordan. The aircraft will operate from Amman's downtown Marka Airport under the subsidiary name of Royal Wings.
At this juncture, the government has just reopened, having been shut down for nearly a week and affecting 800,000 workers who labor for Uncle Sam. The irony of the situation is that all these folks will be paid for their enforced vacation, so they might just as well have stayed on the job. Part of the blame can be affixed on House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Returning aboard Air Force One from the funeral services for Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, he was relegated to the coach section and enjoined not to use the forward lav.
GAMA (Washington, DC)-The Association's Board of Directors elected Horst A. Bergmann, president and CEO of Jeppesen, as chairman of the board for this year. Fred A. Breidenbach, president and COO of Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, is the new vice chairman.
``More than 75 million served. No, not hamburgers-people.'' That is the way the AMR Eagle press release announced the carrier's 75 millionth passenger in 11 years of operation. The actual number was 75.25 million, which roughly equals one-third of the U.S. population.
United Express carrier Atlantic Coast Airlines has secured a $20-million line of credit with Shawmut Capital Corporation of Boston. The Washington-Dulles-based carrier will use the funds to finance its outstanding receivables, the company said. The three-year arrangement replaces the airline's existing credit line. It will reduce ACA's annual interest expense and other related costs while improving the terms of the carrier's receivable financing, it added.
A Stow, Massachusetts-based company-Cockpit Management Resources (CMR)-takes crew resource management (CRM) a step beyond the one-seminar approach. The company, established in 1979, contracts with corporations to give individualized, year-long training-correspondence-course style-to pilots. ``We don't believe you can change behavior in a short workshop,'' said Bob Mudge, who is a co-president and founder of CMR, along with his son, Gordon.
FAA ceased funding on December 31, 1995 for the continued operation of the control towers at seven low-activity airports, citing the results of an ``exhaustive'' cost versus benefit study. Airports affected are: Wheeling-Ohio County (HLG), Shreveport Downtown (DTN), Monroe County (BMG), Delaware County (MIE), Lake Tahoe (TVL), Greenbriar Valley (LWB) and Cape Girardeau (CGI). The agency said it will work with the airport authorities if they decide to operate control towers themselves. About 35 U.S. cities now operate non-federal towers.
At press time, the FAA gave no indication of when it would re-impose a rule requiring that transponders installed in transport-category aircraft after a certain date be capable of replying to Mode S interrogations. Nearly four years ago, the FAA rescinded such a requirement saying that Mode S ground sensors are not expected to be fully operational until late 1995 and, therefore, it ``will not require Mode S transponders before that time'' (B/CA, July 1992, page 17).
FAA is reviewing an NTSB recommendation to permit turbine-powered, single-engine aircraft to provide revenue passenger service under IFR in Alaska. The recommendation is one of 23 issued as part of an NTSB study of aviation safety in Alaska. Proponents of allowing commercial-passenger operations under IFR in single-engine turbine aircraft are hoping the NTSB's position may spur the FAA to propose a rule allowing such operations throughout the United States. Canada eased single-engine IFR operations early in 1993 (B/CA, July 1995, page 11).
A near-production version of the McDonnell Douglas Helicopter MD 600N, scheduled to enter service in the third quarter, now is in flight test. The No. 2 flight-test aircraft is powered by a single derated 790-shp Allison 250-C47 equipped with a full-authority digital engine control (FADEC) and a six-blade main rotor system. McDonnell Douglas is promising direct operating costs of about $234 per hour. The MD 600N features a NOTAR anti-torque system and a maximum cruise speed of 137 knots. Approximate price is in the ``one-million-dollar range.''
Saab 5123L, confirm that you are a turboprop,'' inquired a Washington Center controller on the day we flew the Saab 2000. His inflection was unmistakable: ``Aren't you actually a jet?'' We imagined that he thumped his aging computer console a couple of times, trying to clear its digital cobwebs, as he watched us climb out of Dulles at 240 KIAS. At 37,000 pounds, the Saab 2000 admittedly was well below its 50,260 pounds MTOW, with only a few passengers on board. The relatively light weight, however, doesn't discount the Saab 2000's performance accomplishments.
Universal Weather&Aviation (Houston)-Fred Towers joined the company as manager of business development. His responsibilities include arranging and marketing domestic and international charter services.
On December 14, 1995, FAR Part 135 commuter airlines operating turbine aircraft with 10 to 30 passenger seats got their first look at the new rule-NPRM 95-5-that requires them to comply with the same regulations that cover Part 121 carriers. Formerly, Part 121 extended only to scheduled flights of aircraft with 31 or more passenger seats. The Regional Airline Association expected the final rule to contain most of the elements of the original proposal, and said it did not object to most of the proposal's contents.
FAA has created an office to coordinate the agency's new initiatives against unapproved parts (B/CA, December 1995, page 17). To help aircraft owners and parts suppliers understand the FAA's intentions with the new office, the National Air Transportation Association is supplying interested parties with copies of the FAA's Unapproved Parts Program Plan that served as the blueprint of the new office. To obtain a copy, contact NATA at (703) 845-9000.
Aviation Research Group/U.S. (Cincinnati, OH)-Joseph J. Lopinto, Jr. was named director of consulting services for this business aviation information and market research firm.
The launch of the Gulfstream V into flight test in November 1995 also marked the initial flight of the its BMW/RR BR710 powerplants. The flight-test program will involve three additional aircraft. Flight-test aircraft No. 2 and No. 3, originally set to fly in mid-December 1995 and January 1996, respectively, now are scheduled to take to the air later this quarter. Test aircraft No. 4 remains on schedule for its flight debut in the second quarter (B/CA, June 1995, page 26).
Next generation radar (NEXRAD) weather graphics is the newest feature of GTE's DUATS Golden Eagle weather and flight-planning services. NEXRAD charts, which are updated every 15 minutes, cost $2 each, including 90 seconds of connect time. Additional connect time is 20 cents per minute. There is no charge for basic DUATS. For more information, contact GTE in Chantilly, Virginia.
For its engine trend-monitoring customers, Turbine Trend Analysis has introduced a Data Collector Unit to reduce chances of human error in recording inflight information. The hand-held DCU features an alphanumeric keypad, backlit display, re-chargeable battery with 20-hour life and an auto-off function. Weighing 13 ounces, the DCU requires no operator programming. An on-screen checklist guides the crew through the data-collection and transmittal process. Data are sent to TTA via the DCU's companion modem.
