Executive Jet Inc. ordered up to 50 new Dassault Falcon Jet 2000EX aircraft valued at more than $1.2 billion, providing the French manufacturer a significant boost for the new aircraft program. The Executive Jet contract included 25 firm orders and 25 options with deliveries beginning in 2004. The contract also included orders for six more of the "EX" predecessor- the Falcon 2000 - with deliveries of those aircraft slated for 2003.
Model S-61A, D, E, L, N, NM, R, and V helicopters (Docket No. 2000-SW-43-AD) - proposes superseding an existing AD for Sikorsky requiring a nondestructive inspection for a crack in the main rotor shaft and replacement of any cracked shaft. This action would require establishing and defining new life limits and removing certain shafts from service. This proposal is prompted by the final results of fatigue tests indicating the need to establish life limits for certain shafts.
RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT received a contract from Air New Zealand for 16 new Beech 1900D airliners. The definitive agreement formalizes a letter of intent signed earlier, and deliveries are slated to begin in mid-2001 and continue at a rate of one per month. Air New Zealand's regional carrier Eagle Airways will operate the aircraft throughout New Zealand. Raytheon Aircraft Chairman and CEO Hansel Tookes called the order a vote of confidence for the 19-seat regional aircraft.
DIETMAR LOOSE was named director of business applications for Fairchild Dornier. Loose will manage the business applications competence center, coordinating development of information technology systems. He formerly held IT management positions for Hilti Germany.
THE FIRST FATAL CRASH of a Piper Meridian turboprop was the subject of a National Transportation Safety Board investigation last week. The aircraft crashed on a golf course while attempting to return to the Vero Beach, Fla. Airport. See article below.
The Garrett Aviation division of General Electric and Honeywell are offering an engine upgrade for the Hawker 700 business jet to boost thrust by about 10 percent and improve performance under hot and high conditions.
Y-Shank series propellers (Docket No. 99-NE-21-AD; Amendment 39-12168; AD 2001-07-03) - requires maintenance actions amounting to an overhaul of affected propellers. This amendment is prompted by reports of propellers returned to service by BASCO as overhauled that had numerous unsafe conditions. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent failure of the propellers returned to service by BASCO, and possible loss of airplane control. FAA estimates that 77 propellers installed on airplanes on the U.S.
FOR THE LONG TERM, NASM Director Jack Dailey is working on ways to make sure visitors will have easy access to the new museum. Dailey told reporters last week that museum leaders are negotiating with officials of Washington, D.C.'s Metro subway system to use part of the museum's 176-acre tract at the airport as a terminal and storage yard for Metro subway cars. "We are actively working with the Dulles Corridor folks and trying to pull this off," Dailey said.
ORENDA won an order to provide its 600-horsepower V8 engine to power the SM-92 FINIST single-engine utility aircraft that Czech Republic manufacturer Moravan Aeroplanes is developing in coordination with Bohemian/Canadian Aircraft Products of Calgary, Canada. Originally designed in Russia by Technoavia, the high-wing aircraft will be equipped with a large sliding cargo door and will be offered with optional skis or floats. Positioned to replace the de Havilland Beaver and Otter, the FINIST will be marketed for passenger, cargo, special mission, and other roles.
BILL LADIGO was appointed manager of customer service for general aviation maintenance and avionics for Piedmont Hawthorne Aviation. Ladigo has 19 years of aviation experience, formerly serving as avionics sales coordinator for Piedmont Hawthorne's Winston-Salem Division and avionics department manager at the company's Monroe, N.C. facility. He also has served with TAC Air and Stevens Aviation.
Cessna Aircraft named Jack J. Pelton senior vice president of engineering, succeeding Milt Sills who is retiring from the company after 35 years of service. Sills oversaw engineering for a number of Cessna programs, including the high-performance Citation X business jet, the fastest aircraft in the business jet fleet with a cruise speed in excess of Mach .90.
Model DHC-8-100, -200, and -300 series airplanes (Docket No. 2000-NM-15-AD; Amendment 39-12160; AD 2001-06-13) - requires inspecting the endcaps of the main landing gear selector valve for leaks of hydraulic oil and, if leaks are detected, replacing the leaking endcaps or the entire selector valve. This amendment also requires eventual replacement or rework of certain selector valves, which will terminate the repetitive inspections.
RAYTHEON plans to raise some quick cash by selling a majority stake of Raytheon Aircraft's Aerospace Company to Veritas Capital Inc. for $270 million, including $153 million cash. Under the deal, New York-based investment firm Veritas will buy a 70 percent ownership of the Madison, Miss.-based subsidiary, and Raytheon will retain a 30 percent interest. Raytheon Aerospace provides inventory and logistics management, aircraft maintenance and technical service to a range of government, military and private sector customers.
BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON said Canadian and FAA officials lifted the airspeed restriction limiting the Vne speed of the Bell 407. FAA ordered the restriction earlier this year, reducing the Vne (never exceed) speed of the Model 407 to 110 knots due to questions about a 407 crash in December. The agency said then that the restrictions were "intended to prevent tail rotor blades from striking the tailboom" and causing separation of the aft section of the tailboom (BA, Feb. 19/92).
GENERAL ELECTRIC began flight tests this month of the CF34-8 growth engine that will power the Fairchild Dornier 728JET airliner. A test engine is mounted on GE's Boeing 747 flying testbed. The -8 engine is designed to produce 12,500 pounds of thrust at takeoff. First flight of the 728JET is planned for early 2002, with first delivery in mid-2003.
Model EMB-120 series airplanes - (Docket No. 2001-NM-36-AD; Amendment 39-12165; AD 2001-06-18) - supersedes an existing that currently requires revising the Airplane Flight Manual to include requirements for activation of the ice protection systems and to add information regarding operation in icing conditions; installing an ice detector system; and revising the AFM to include procedures for testing system integrity. That AD also requires installing the ice detector system in accordance with revised procedures.
Model SF340A and 340B series airplanes (Docket No. 2000-NM-222-AD; Amendment 39-12161; AD 2001-06-14) - requires installation of a new circuit breaker and related wiring, and relocation of circuit breaker 12FG, if applicable. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent loss of the nose wheel steering and reduced controllability of the airplane on the ground. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition. FAA estimates that 312 airplanes on the U.S. Registry will be affected by this AD at a cost of $186,264, or $597 per airplane.
THE U.S. AIR FORCE awarded a 10-year, $601 million contract to GE Aircraft Engines to provide hardware upgrade kits for 1,202 J85-5 engines powering the service's fleet of 509 T-38 Talon supersonic jet trainers. The upgrade kits are being produced at GE's Lynn, Mass. plant, where the J85 engine was first developed more than 40 years ago. The J85 upgrade is part of an overall modernization program designed to continue the service life of the T-38 through 2040.
FLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL received FAA Level D certification for its fifth Gulfstream IV business jet flight-training simulator. The simulator is installed at FlightSafety's Philadelphia/Wilmington training facility, with other simulators stationed in Long Beach, Calif. and Savannah, Ga. FlightSafety Simulation in Tulsa, Okla., built the simulator.
SUPERIOR AIR PARTS increased its certificated Millennium Pre-Owned Engine manufacturing facilities to 10 with the addition of four international locations. The new facilities are Aero Engineering&Powerplant of Pretoria, South Africa; Westair Aviation (Pty) Ltd. of Windhoek, Namibia; Flugmotoren-Reparatur of Munich, Germany; and Scanaviation of Kastrup, Denmark. Superior Air Parts announced the Millennium used piston-engine program in October 1999 and has trained employees at all 10 of the certified manufacturing sites.
FAA said U.S. carriers must carry automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and enhanced emergency kits (EMKs) on domestic and international flights within three years. Nine airlines either have the AEDs and enhanced kits on board already, or have made a commitment to do so, said FAA Administrator Jane Garvey. All crewmembers will receive initial training on the EMK and on the location and function of the AEDs.
HONEYWELL developed a family of three-inch electronic display systems for general aviation. The Bendix/King KI 825 will provide traditional heading and navigation functions with mapping and the option for traffic display. It can be combined with the Bendix/King integrated hazard avoidance system and interfaces with GPS products. The system, which will reach the market later this year, is priced at $11,950 and includes a 5,000-hour warranty.
Model CL-600-2B19 series airplanes (Docket No. 2000-NM-68-AD) - revises an earlier proposal that would have required repetitive eddy current inspections for cracking of the main landing gear (MLG) main fittings, and replacement with a new or serviceable MLG, if necessary.
LADISH CO. approved a four-year, $75-million capital investment plan for its Cudahy, Wis. forging operation. The plan includes new equipment, facility upgrades and process improvements. "Nearly every airframe and jet engine manufacturer worldwide uses Ladish forgings in their products," said President and CEO Kerry Woody. "Our expenditures over the course of the next four years are targeted to take advantage of opportunities in both commercial and military markets."
