LORD Corporation celebrated a 38,000-square-foot addition to its existing 90,000-square-foot facility in Dayton, Ohio, which is one of the primary manufacturing sites for the company's aerospace and defense products. LORD specializes in developing passive and active products for controlling noise and vibration, engineered adhesives and high-performance coatings. Officials say the expansion, which is to be completed in February, will make the operation more efficient by eliminating the need to transport materials between different buildings.
HONEYWELL TFE731-2 and -3 series turbofan engines [Docket No. FAA-2004-18496; Directorate Identifier 2004-NE-04-AD; Amendment 39-14143; AD 2005-13-07] - requires, for Honeywell TFE731-2 and -3 series turbofan engines with certain part numbers (P/Ns) and serial numbers (SNs) of low-pressure (LP) 1st and 2nd Stage turbine rotor discs initially installed, replacing those LP 1st and 2nd stage turbine rotor discs. This AD results from a report of an uncontained failure of an LP 2nd stage turbine rotor disc that resulted in an in-flight engine shutdown.
Daniel Webster College installed upgraded air traffic control simulation equipment at its Nashua, N.H. campus so its air traffic management program can keep pace with the modernization of the National Airspace System. Installed by UFA, Inc., of Woburn, Mass., the ATTower Radar Simulator offers four controller positions with integrated voice recognition, four assistant controller positions, and four supervisor/pilot positions. The positions are equipped with simulated air-to-ground communications capability.
National Transportation Safety Board will be down to three members and lose a significant repository of first-hand safety expertise when Richard F. Healing's resignation as a member takes effect Aug. 1. See article below.
TURBOMECA Arriel 1B, 1D, 1D1 and 1S1 turboshaft engines [Docket No. FAA-2005-21242; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-09-AD] - proposes to require initial and repetitive position checks of the gas generator 2nd stage turbine blades on all Turbomeca Arriel 1B, 1D, 1D1 and 1S1 turboshaft engines, and replacement of 2nd stage turbines on 1B and 1D1 engines only. This proposal is prompted by the release of gas generator 2nd stage turbine blades while in service, with full containment of debris. FAA is proposing this AD to prevent an uncommanded engine in flight shutdown.
Private Jet Mech has expanded its capabilities to offer 24-hour on-call maintenance at more than 100 airports throughout the U.S. The company early last year launched operations to provide aircraft-on-ground or on-call maintenance services through a nationwide network of on-call mobile maintenance providers. That network has grown to include more than 20 providers that can cover more than 100 airports. "For years, people have seen the value of roadside assistance for their cars through companies like AAA," said Private Jet Mech spokesman Kevin Hughes.
ONEX FACILITIES IN WICHITA RENAMED SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS - Canadian conglomerate Onex Corp., which purchased Boeing's commercial manufacturing operations in Wichita, Kan. and Tulsa and McAlester, Okla. in June, has renamed the business Spirit Aerosystems, Inc. The former Boeing facilities had been operating as Mid-Western Aircraft since the sale last month.
Certipath LLC, a joint venture between ARINC, Exostar LLC and SITA SC, has developed a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) bridge software to link international aerospace and defense interests in a secured environment. The Boeing Company, Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, Raytheon and Northrop Grumman have signed on as charter customers of the new program, which combines software, encryption technologies and services to protect the security of communications and business transactions on the Web.
Northern Jet Management of Grand Rapids, Mich. plans to build a 14,700-square-foot hangar that can house as many as nine business jets. The $1 million expansion is scheduled to be finished later this year. Northern Jet Management is the operating arm of The Company Jet.
CESSNA NAMES STANGARONE TO TOP PR POST - Robert Stangarone, a veteran aviation journalist and communicator, took over Friday as vice president of communications for Cessna Aircraft Company in Wichita, Kan., ending a long search by the manufacturer for someone to fill its top public relations post. Reporting to Jack Pelton, Cessna's chairman, president and CEO, Stangarone will be responsible for Cessna's internal and external communications as well as community affairs.
SIKORSKY Model S-92A helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2005-21588; Directorate Identifier 2005-SW-24-AD; Amendment 39-14150; AD 2005-13-13] - requires replacing a certain part-numbered tail gear box output housing that has 600 or more hours time-in-service (TIS) with an airworthy part. Also, this AD revises the Airworthiness Limitations section of the maintenance manual by reducing the life limit of the tail gearbox output housing. This amendment is prompted by the premature failure of the tail gearbox output housing during fatigue testing by the manufacturer.
Liberty Aerospace will open its fifth factory direct sales office Aug. 1 at DuPage County Airport near West Chicago, Ill. Joe Kirkwood, who has 20 years of sales experience and who most recently worked for Tiger Aircraft, will manage the new office and oversee sales in the Midwest for Liberty, which builds the XL2 single-engine aircraft. The address of the new office is 1824 Baltimore Drive, Elk Grove, Village, Ill. 60007, and the telephone number is (847) 524-4820.
General Dynamics traditionally has taken a cautious approach to increasing business jet production at its Gulfstream Aerospace facility in Savannah, Ga., but GD Chairman Nicholas Chabraja told financial analysts Wednesday Gulfstream has "no alternative" but to boost aircraft output because of rising customer demand.
Thales was selected to supply its Eurocat air traffic management for the Republic of Uzebekistan's Navoi airport. The system will include an air traffic management center, STAR 200 primary and RSM 970 secondary surveillance radars and air-to-ground communications, meteorological equipment and navaid systems. The system will be connected to the Tashkent national airspace management system. Thales will provide operational and technical training for Uzbek engineers and air traffic controllers.
Cessna Aircraft Company named a veteran employee to head product development. Andrew H. Kasowski was named vice president-product development, where he will be responsible for program management and product engineering for new product development and sustaining projects. Kasowski, who joined Cessna in 1973, reports to David W. Brant, senior vice president. "Andy has proven himself as a leader time and time again during his 32 years at Cessna," said Jack J. Pelton, chairman, CEO and president.
ARMY SELECTS OFFICER TO HEAD UAV PROGRAM - The U.S. Army named Col. Don Hazelwood to become the service's project manager for unmanned aerial vehicles. Hazelwood, based at Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is replacing Col. John Burke, who was selected to become director of unmanned systems integration for Army operations (G-3). Among the projects Hazelwood will oversee in his new post is the Extended Range Multi-Purpose UAV. That program is in the midst of a competition between General Atomics' Warrior and Northrop Grumman's Hunter II. In another change at Redstone, Col.
Iridium Satellite received a contract to supply services to 200 aircraft operated for the U.S. Forest Service. The aircraft, primarily on contract with the Forest Service, are mostly helicopters and fixed-wing airtankers used for firefighting and other natural resource missions. Iridium partners Blue Sky Network, Latitude Technologies, Sky Connect and SkyTrac Systems provided the equipment and airtime under the Forest Service contract. The Forest Service will use Iridium for aircraft tracking as well as cockpit voice and data communications.
JERRY GARMON was appointed general manager of Garrett/Piedmont Hawthorne/Associated's fixed-based operation in Wichita Falls, Texas. Garmon spent the prior five years as airport manager of Wichita Falls Municipal Airport. He also managed the neighboring Kickapoo Downtown Airport, which is operated by the City of Wichita Falls.
Wencor, the Springville, Utah-based producer of portable in-flight entertainment systems, signed a letter of intent to buy IMS, which produces the PEA (personal entertainment appliance) at its facilities in Anaheim, Calif. The acquisition is slated to be completed in September. Once the acquisition is made final, Wencor will operate offices in both Utah and California and IMS Chairman Joseph Renton will become CEO of the newly combined company. Wencor CEO Brent Wood will become chairman.
The Department of Homeland Security decided to combine the aviation fleets of the Office of Air and Marine Observation (AMO) and the Office of Border Patrol (OBP). But it remains unclear what shape the merger will take. To achieve efficiencies, AMO was recently moved from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which already included OBP. AMO's aircraft modernization plans are on hold while details of its transfer to CBP are worked out.
Carmanah Technologies of Victoria, British Columbia acquired all the issued and outstanding shares of Soltek Powersource Ltd., a manufacturer and supplier of solar power systems for industrial, government, residential and retail applications. Carmanah makes self-contained solar packages and proprietary LED technology. "SPS is a thriving business with an excellent track record, outstanding growth prospects and quality management," said Art Aylesworth, chief executive officer of Carmanah.
NEW PRESIDENTIAL HELO GETS VH-71A DESIGNATION AS FLIGHT TESTING BEGINS - The design series for the next generation of U.S. presidential helicopters will be known as "VH-71A," the U.S. military announced this month. A popular name for the VH-71A still is under consideration by the deputy chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force for plans and policies, which has naming and designating duty for military aerospace vehicles. The VH-71A designation was made July 7.
ONE COMPANY NAMED LANCAIR TO BE KNOWN AS COLUMBIA - In an attempt to differentiate two small Oregon-based aircraft manufacturers named Lancair, one of the firms has changed its name to Columbia. The manufacturer of the Columbia line of FAA-certificated single-engine airplanes, which had been known as The Lancair Company, is now the Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing Corp. (CAM). It is headquartered in Bend, Ore. and builds the Columbia 400 and the Columbia 350, which it has been doing since 1998.
