FOKKER Model F.28 Mark 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 series airplanes (Docket No. 99-NM-220-AD; Amendment 39-12456; AD 2001-20-08) - requires repetitive eddy current inspections to detect cracks in the upper girder of the two main landing gear (MLG) brackets; and repair of a cracked bracket followed by repetitive inspections, or replacement of a cracked MLG bracket with an improved bracket, as applicable. This AD also provides for an optional terminating action for certain requirements of this AD.
NASA ADMINISTRATOR Daniel S. Goldin, the longest serving head of the nation's aeronautics and space agency, announced he will resign effective Nov. 17. Goldin, 61, was appointed NASA Administrator April 1, 1992 by President George H.W. Bush. Despite NASA's ongoing budget problems, Goldin was generally considered to be a strong supporter of the agency's aeronautics programs. Industry officials are anxious to see that Goldin's successor also supports NASA's aeronautics research.
AOPA is claiming success for helping to keep public San Diego's Brown Field Municipal Airport following an 8-0 City Council vote to maintain local control of the airport. The association worked for two years to oppose a privatization plan for the airport, which was scheduled to be leased or sold to a private developer under a congressionally ordered demonstration program, AOPA said.
The National Business Aviation Association dropped its appeal of the U.S. District Court decision upholding a Stage 2 aircraft ban at Naples Municipal Airport in Naples, Fla. The association plans to continue to fight the ban through the Federal Aviation Administration, which earlier this year warned the Naples Airport Authority that the ban could violate its federal grant assurance agreements (BA, Feb.26/99). "We remain opposed to the ban and believe that it is not only unlawful but unwise," said NBAA President Jack Olcott. "However, the events of Sept.
Mesa Air Group will begin training its pilots to carry tasers in the cockpit, the airline announced last week. Mesa is currently developing a training program, subject to Federal Aviation Administration approval, for pilots to use the non-lethal weapon, but a spokeswoman said no timeline has been set for when training programs will start or when pilots will begin carrying tasers. A taser is a stun gun that fires a high voltage shock to immobilize attackers for up to 15 minutes.
Delta Air Lines rebranded its Comair Jet Express corporate aircraft charter and management unit to Delta AirElite Business Jet, tying the Cincinnati-based operation more closely to the parent. Delta AirElite, a 16-year-old business that Delta inherited in its January 2000 acquisition of Comair Holdings, operates a range of Challenger, Learjet, Gulfstream and Cessna aircraft. Delta said the name change expands the operations presence globally and conveys the range of services it can offer customers.
EMBRAER Model EMB-120 series airplanes (Docket No. 2001-NM-298-AD; Amendment 39-12465; AD 2001-20-17) - supersedes an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that currently requires revising the Airplane Flight Manual, installing a placard on the main instrument panel, and removing the "LIGHT-HEAVY" inflation switch of the leading edge deicing boots.
Michael Graff, who headed the highly successful Aerospace unit of Canadian manufacturer Bombardier for nearly three years, left the company last week and was replaced by Pierre Beaudoin, the son of Bombardier's chairman, Laurent Beaudoin. The move surprised most observers, both because of Graff's success in the post and the younger Beaudoin's limited experience on the aerospace side.
Heico Corp., of Hollywood, Fla., has acquired the assets of Avitech Engineering Corp., a maintenance, repair and overhaul provider, as well as Aviation Facilities Inc., an aftermarket commercial parts producer. Terms of the deals, which Heico announced Oct. 16, were not disclosed.
EUROCOPTER France Model SA.315B, SA.316C, SA 3180, SA 318B, SA 318C, SA.319B, SE.3160, and SA.316B helicopters (Docket No. 2001-SW-36-AD; Amendment 39-12467; AD 2001-18-51) - publishes an amendment adopting Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2001-18-51. This AD requires, within 10 hours time-in-service (TIS), inspecting the magnetic drain plug and the main gear box (MGB) filter for a rust-colored deposit, inspecting the MGB to determine the angular displacement on the MGB output flange, and periodically examining oil samples.
JOHN CHRISTOFFERSSON was appointed senior executive, business development at Wilson Logistics Canada in Toronto. He was most recently country manager for Danzas in Canada.
RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT won German certification for its Premier I light business jet last month, clearing the way for deliveries of 26 of the aircraft into that country. The first delivery to a German customer is scheduled for January.
The Federal Aviation Administration warned the town of Islip, N.Y. against enforcing a $50,000 charge for aircraft that land at MacArthur Airport (ISP) after 11 p.m. The Islip Town Council unanimously adopted the landing fee Sept. 10 after hearing testimony from nearly a dozen aviation industry opponents of it. National Air Transportation Association President James Coyne, who testified that evening, was among several industry leaders angered by the action and likened the process to a "kangaroo court."
BOEING is forming a new division to propose safety improvements to prevent hijacking attacks. Boeing Safety and Security Services will help airlines implement aircraft security recommendations by the Department of Transportation safety task force. Building on existing Boeing technology, the company will work on fortifying cockpit doors and adding video surveillance to aircraft.
Aerospace enginemaker Rolls-Royce is cutting 5,000 jobs as a result of a sharp drop in industry demand in the aftermath of terrorist attacks. The manufacturer will lay off 3,800 workers in the U.K. and 1,200 overseas, mostly in the aerospace businesses, by the end of the first quarter in 2002. Also being cut are about 1,000 contract jobs.
W. Stephen Dennis, a 35-year veteran of the aviation industry with extensive experience in fixed-base operations, has joined a British firm to oversee its expansion plans. Dennis was named chairman of Metro Business Aviation Ltd., which has operations at Heathrow, Luton and Stansted airports in the London area, plus the Battersea heliport on the Thames River.
Aviation services company Triumph Group acquired EMCO Fluid Systems of Valencia, Calif. Under Triumph ownership, the company will be renamed EFS Aerospace and will become part of the Triumph Control Systems group. Triumph expects that EFS will produce $30 million in revenue during its first full year under new ownership. EFS manufactures fluid control systems and components for the aviation and aerospace industries. The company designs, produces, assembles and tests hydraulic and pneumatic valves and actuators.
General Dynamics earned $230 million on sales of $3 billion in the third quarter, an increase of 11 percent over the third quarter of 2000 when earnings totaled $204 million on sales of $2.5 billion. For the first nine months of 2001, GD had net earnings of $669 million on sales of $8.7 billion. That compares with net earnings of $592 million on sales of $7.7 billion during the same period a year ago.
THE PRESTON GROUP, a subsidiary of Boeing, sold two additional Total Airspace&Airport Modeler (TAAM) units to NAV CANADA. The Canadian civil air navigation service provider will use the additional licenses to "supplement existing TAAM capability in simulation modeling Canadian airspace and airports," said Boeing. TAAM is a simulation tool that "analyzes operations, redesigns airspace and optimizes the use of existing facilities," the company said.
Momentum is growing on Capitol Hill to craft a financial aid package to help the general aviation industry, which has been hammered by airspace restrictions that have continued since the Sept. 11 terrorist attack. While those restrictions continue to ease - the Federal Aviation Administration last week lifted its ban on visual flight rules operations in 15 more cities - more than 60,000 pilots with aircraft parked at well over 100 airports remain grounded.
The new congressionally mandated aerospace commission, whose formation was delayed by several months, is finally gearing up to begin its work, and is doing so in an environment that has changed dramatically since legislation creating the panel was passed last year.
STEVE MEANS was appointed vice president, marketing and sales at ARINC. He was most recently ARINC staff vice president, marketing. Means joined ARINC in 1990 from Presidential Airways where he was vice president, customer service and system operations.
FOKKER Model F.28 Mark 0100 series airplanes (Docket No. 2001-NM-21-AD; Amendment 39-12453; AD 2001-20-05) - supersedes an existing AD that currently requires replacement of the anti-skid control boxes with improved units. This amendment requires modification or replacement of the anti-skid control boxes with new, improved units, which render the skid control boxes even less susceptible to electromagnetic interference during power-up and power-down transients. This action is prompted by continuing mandatory airworthiness information from a foreign airworthiness authority.
