PRECISION CASTPARTS BUYS WEST VIRGINIA METALS MANUFACTURER - Precision Castparts Corp. (PCC), continuing its aggressive acquisition strategy, announced a definitive agreement Friday to buy Special Metals Corp. (SMC) of Huntington, W.Va. for about $540 million in cash, including the repayment of SMC's outstanding debt. The deal has been approved by the boards of both companies, as well as by holders of more than 90 percent of the common stock of SMC and is not subject to a financing contingency or approval by PCC shareholders.
THE NEW PIPER AIRCRAFT Models PA-34-200T, PA-34-220T, PA-44-180, and PA-44-180T airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-21590; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-33-AD; Amendment 39-14199; AD 2005-15-10] - supersedes AD 2003-11-14, which applies to certain New Piper Models PA-34-200T, PA-34-220T, PA-44-180, and PA-44-180T airplanes that have a Model 91E92-1 or Model 91E93-1 combustion heater fuel pump installed. AD 2003-11-14 currently requires a one-time inspection of the combustion heater fuel pumps for fuel leakage and if leakage is found, repairing or replacing the fuel pump.
September 10-14 - 74th National Association of State Aviation Officials Annual Convention and Trade Show, Des Moines, Iowa, (301) 588-0587 September 15 - National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Regional Forum, Centennial Airport, Denver, Colo., (202) 783-9000 September 15-16 - National Air Transportation Association Line Service Supervisor Training, Dayton, Ohio, (703) 845-9000
V-22 BEGINS TESTS WITH KC-135 REFUELER - The U.S. Navy-led V-22 Osprey program has begun testing the ability of the Bell-Boeing tiltrotor aircraft to be refueled by the Air Force's KC-135 tanker. The tests, which began Aug. 24 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., initially will try to verify that the two aircraft can safely fly near each other, program spokesman Ward Carroll said. If more tests determine that the refueling mechanism can be safely put in place in the air, the KC-135 will try to send fuel to the V-22.
ROLLS-ROYCE Model BR700-715A1-30, BR700-715B1-30, and BR700-715C1-30 turbofan engines [Docket No. FAA-2005-22070; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-23-AD; Amendment 39-14218; AD 2005-16-12] - requires a one-time inspection of the independent overspeed protection (IOP) unit, P/N 112E9321G2, for 19 specific serial numbers, and removal from service of those units. This AD results from a report that incorrect capacitors were installed in 19 IOP units. The incorrect capacitor in the IOP unit can lead to an inadvertent IOP command resulting in an in-flight engine shutdown.
ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY Model R-22 series helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2005-22026; Directorate Identifier 2005-SW-05-AD; Amendment 39-14210; AD 2005-16-05] - requires inspecting the left-hand door and right-hand door for a crack in the door assembly integral frame, and replacing the door assembly if a crack is found.
RAYTHEON/EADS TEAM CONCERNED ABOUT QUANTITY IN FCA DRAFT RFP - The Raytheon/EADS team vying to build the Army's Future Cargo Aircraft is concerned about the procurement quantity in the service's recent draft request for proposals, which has dropped from an expected 33 to a maximum of 30.
DAVID WHITTEN was appointed director of global marketing for The Nordam Group's Repair Division. Whitten previously served as director of planning and strategy at Goodrich Aerospace's Aircraft, Wheels and Brakes Division in Ohio. He holds a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, a master's in business administration from Carnegie-Mellon University, and a master's in intercultural studies from Columbia International University.
Honeywell Aerospace is combining its business, commercial, military and space customer support functions under one organization, which company executives hope will result in a simpler, more user-friendly approach for customers, said Adrian Paull, who recently was tapped to lead the organization as vice president of customer and product support.
Lufthansa Bombardier Aviation Services (LBAS) won approval from the Federal Civil Aviation Authority of Russia (FCAAR) to perform line and base maintenance on Russian-registered Bombardier aircraft. FCAAR certification covers work done by LBAS technicians at the Berlin facility as well as locations in Russia and elsewhere if required.
Columbia Aircraft has expanded the number of U.S. facilities in its service network, Columbia Aircraft Repair and Maintenance Associates (CARMA), to 70 to improve access to factory-authorized maintenance and repair services. Many of the CARMA facilities are affiliated with the AirBP fixed-base operation chain. The facilities will be trained to perform all routine maintenance, warranty repairs and aircraft upgrades.
LUFTHANSA TECHNIk TO COMPLETE BBJ FOR RUSSIAN CUSTOMER - Lufthansa Technik signed a contract to do the interior completion on a Boeing Business Jet for a customer in Russia. The new contract marks the 18th BBJ for which Lufthansa Technik has agreed to design and install the cabin interior, a project that can easily run to $5 million or more, depending on a customer's specifications.
AVCRAFT DORNIER Model 328-300 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-21054; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-054-AD; Amendment 39-14205; AD 2005-15-16] - requires modifying the electrical wiring of the fuel pumps; installing insulation at the flow control and shut-off valves, and other components of the environmental control system; installing markings at fuel wiring harnesses; replacing the wiring harness of the auxiliary fuel system with a new wiring harness; and installing insulated couplings in the fuel system as applicable.
Raytheon Aircraft Company (RAC) received European Aviation Safety Agency approval for a modification that will enable the Hawker 400XP to fly steep approach paths into London City Airport. The modification involves enhancements to the Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System and annunciator on the 400XP along with changes to the flight manual. RAC is working toward receiving similar approval from FAA. RAC's Hawker Aircraft Services facility in Chester, England will complete the STC work.
Kyle Farley was promoted to vice president of operations for Meggitt/S-TEC. Farley joined S-TEC in April 2000 and previously served as director of manufacturing. In his new position, he will be responsible for all areas of manufacturing operations, including supply chain management.
General Dynamics broke ground in Westminster, Md. this month on a 150,000-square-foot facility that will specialize in robotics. The production and operations facility for General Dynamics Robotic Systems is expected to open in the second quarter of 2006 and create 135 jobs over four years. The facility will consolidate machining and assembly operations from several leased facilities. GD said the facility will provide room to grow as the robotics market continues to expand.
GAMA ADDS ANOTHER OFFSHORE MEMBER - The General Aviation Manufacturers Association, which decided several years ago to admit non-U.S. aviation manufacturers, named another European firm to its ranks this month.
New Piper Aircraft is offering Avidyne's CMax electronic approach charter display and MultiLink services, including XM WX satellite weather capabilities, text messaging and flight tracking, as optional equipment on all Piper entry-level and mid-range aircraft. The packages will be offered on PA-28 aircraft (Warrior III, Archer III and Arrow) and PA-32 aircraft (Saratoga II HP, Saratoga II TC, Piper 6X and Piper 6XT) equipped with Avidyne's FlightMax Entegra integrated flight deck.
Goodrich Corp. appointed Marc Duvall president of its Engine Control Systems business. Duvall has 20 years of experience working for large, multinational corporations, and most recently was vice president and general manager for Honeywell Process Solutions, Americas. He has held a number of positions for Honeywell's industrial and aerospace businesses.
Gulfstream Aerospace is scheduled to deliver a G450 business jet to Speed Jet Chartered, Ltd., next month, which the manufacturer said will be the first G450 to be operated in Asia. The airplane will be based in Hong Kong and managed and operated by Metrojet, a provider of corporate aircraft charter services.
Premier Aircraft Sales, a general aviation sales firm based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and Dallas, Texas, delivered its 200th aircraft sold since the company launched in 2003. The company shipped a 2005 Mooney Ovation equipped with a Garmin G1000 glass cockpit to a retired American Airlines captain. Premier represents Mooney Aircraft in Texas and throughout the Southeast, and Diamond Aircraft in Texas, Alabama and Florida. Premier also is a dealer of late-model Piper aircraft and small jets.
Summary: This notice contains a summary of certain petitions seeking relief from specified requirements of 14 CFR, dispositions of certain petitions previously received, and corrections. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities.
Western Aircraft next month will launch construction of an expansion project that will more than double the fixed-base operation's terminal in Boise, Idaho from 1,450 square feet to 3,600 square feet. The renovation will include the addition of a separate pilot and passenger lounge, customer conference room and flight planning center. Western Aircraft expects the project to be completed by February.
Raytheon Aircraft Company appointed Jim Smith vice president of government business. Smith will be responsible for all government business, including the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System program for the U.S. Air Force and Navy as well as trainer aircraft programs for the international market. He formerly was vice president of precision engagement, strategic business area for Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, Ariz. Before that he was director of Navy C2 Systems for Lockheed Martin. He retired from the U.S. Air Force in October 2002 as a brigadier general.
