TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY Norman Mineta offered some hope that air traffic delays and congestion will be less of a hassle this summer than the past two.Recounting the massive delays in the airspace system in the summers of 1999 and 2000, Mineta said, "I would like to stand up here today and tell you that there won't be a reprise of that situation in the spring and summer of 2001, but I can't. But I can tell you, I don't think it will be as bad" this year.
COALITION OF AIRLINE PILOTS ASSOCIATIONS urged the Federal Aviation Administration to develop a new flight and duty time proposal within 60 days and better enforce current flight and duty time regulations. "Until pilot flight and duty time regulations are adequately updated, American air safety remains compromised," said CAPA Chairman Bob Miller.
AIRBUS AND BOEING will participate in Global Aviation Bar Code Forums "to share their progress and vision for permanent bar code identification (PBCI)" of aircraft parts and components, Boeing said. PBCI "is the beginning of true traceability of parts in the industry," said Kenneth Porad, program manager of the bar code program at Boeing. The bar code forums will be held in conjunction with Frontline Solutions Expo events set for Amsterdam, The Netherlands in October and Chicago in November.
Model PC-7 airplanes (Docket No. 2000-CE-46-AD; Amendment 39-12138; AD 2001-05-02) - supersedes AD 98-08-22, which currently requires inspecting the elevator and rudder attachment brackets for cracks and corrosion on certain Pilatus Model PC-7 airplanes and replacing any cracked or corrosion-damaged parts. Since the issuance of AD 98-08-22, Pilatus has redesigned the brackets. Installation of these brackets should inhibit corrosion, which resulted in cracks or corrosion damage.
AIRCRAFT BELTS INC. won FAA technical standard order approval for the shoulder harness on its MediBelt stretcher restraint system. The MediBelt system was designed in 1998 to address problems with contaminated stretcher restraint webbing. With MediBelt, a medical provider can replace a soiled restraint in less than a minute, helping protect against bacteria and other contaminants.
CATHAL (IRISH) FLYNN was appointed to the board of directors of Certified Airline Passenger Services (CAPS). Flynn formerly was the associate administrator for civil aviation security for the Federal Aviation Administration. Before joining FAA in 1993, he had a 30-year career with the U.S. Navy, retiring as a rear admiral. He also has served as a senior analyst specializing in the areas of military special operations, aviation security systems and international technology transfer.
BOUNDARY LAYER RESEARCH, INC. (BLR) won supplemental type certificate approval for a strake kit on Bell Model 205, 205A-1 and 205B helicopters. The kit, based on technology developed by NASA's Langley Research Center and licensed to BLR for commercial use, can be installed in the field in one day by two technicians. The BLR strake device works by manipulating boundary layer airflow produced by the helicopter main rotor to improve aircraft hover stability, climb and cruise characteristics. Installed weight is 5.5 pounds.
Mesa Airlines signed a letter of intent with Bombardier for up to 80 regional jets. Under terms of the agreement, Mesa would purchase 20 70-seat CRJ700s and 20 86-seat CRJ900s, plus take options on 40 additional aircraft. The firm order portion of the deal is valued at approximately $1.2 billion (U.S.). Deliveries of the firm orders would begin in the first quarter of 2002 for the 70-seat aircraft and the first quarter of 2003 for the larger CRJ900s. Bombardier said it expects signing of a definitive agreement shortly.
A HELICOPTER PILOT in Hawaii experienced a tough check ride last week. FAA said the pilot of an Agusta A109A was performing an FAA checkride when the rotorcraft made a hard landing on the runway, bounced and rolled over on its right side. No injuries were reported.
Model PW305 and PW305A turbofan engines (Docket No. 2000-NE-24-AD; Amendment 39-12129; AD 2001-04-10) - requires removing Stage 4 low-pressure turbine (LPT) disks from service before exceeding new, lower cyclic life limits. This amendment is prompted by the results of a spin pit test analysis which indicate that the Stage 4 LPT disk does not have full published life. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent LPT disk failure resulting from premature cracking of the LPT disks, which could result in an uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane.
Boeing Commercial Airplanes confirmed last week it is working on a new family of aircraft that would fly 15 to 20 percent faster than conventional airliners and even faster than such high-performance business jets as the Cessna Citation X.
GENERAL DYNAMICS named Kenneth C. Dahlberg executive vice president of the company's Information Systems and Technology group. Dahlberg had been executive vice president for business development of Raytheon and president of Raytheon International, Inc. He joined Raytheon in 1997 following the merger of that company and Hughes Aircraft Co., where he had been corporate vice president of Hughes Electronics Corp.
RAYTHEON COMPANY named Timothy C. Oliver, 32, vice president of investor relations. He joins Raytheon from Honeywell International, Inc., where he was director of finance for the Aviation Aftermarket Enterprise. Oliver will report to Franklyn A. Caine, Raytheon's chief financial officer.
Model 407 helicopters (Docket No. 99-SW-06-AD) - proposes to require replacing certain cockpit warning horns. This proposal is prompted by reports that pilots have had difficulty in distinguishing between the FADEC Fail horn, the Engine Out horn, and the Low Rotor RPM horn. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to assist the pilot in properly identifying a specific cockpit warning horn and prevent an inappropriate pilot response to a horn, which could cause an engine overspeed and subsequent uncommanded reduction to flight-idle engine power.
Used retail jet and turboprop deliveries inside and outside North America for February 2001 (see related graphs on Pages 153 and 154 of the hard copy of this issue.) Used Retail Deliveries Feb. 1998 Feb. 1999 Feb. 2000 Feb. 2001 L M H L M H L M H L M H Jet North 43 33 18 50 34 10 56 32 34 39 14 13 America
ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS are closely monitoring their customer base because of concerns about the possible effects of recent unfavorable economic news and falling stock prices. "We are all concerned about the economic cycles," said Gulfstream President Bill Boisture Friday, but he said the diversity of Gulfstream's customer base gives officials confidence they will be able to ride out any downturn without serious problems.
Models LTS101-600A-2 and LTS101-600A-3 turboshaft engines; and LTP101-600A-1A and LTP101-700A-1A turboprop engines (Docket No. 99-NE-17-AD) - proposes to require replacing certain fuel controls that have beryllium-copper bellows with improved fuel controls that incorporate Inconel 718 stainless steel welded bellows. This proposal is prompted by a report of an uncommanded power loss on a Textron Lycoming LTS101 engine due to a corrosion-damaged fuel control bellows.
Sino-Swearingen Aircraft Friday laid off 100 contract personnel in response to "evolving business conditions." A company spokesman said the action was necessary "to preserve the integrity of the company and the SJ30-2 development program." The layoffs announced Friday affect "almost none" of the company's regular work force of approximately 275 in San Antonio, Texas. The spokesman said work on the SJ30-2 program "will continue at a somewhat reduced level until sufficient long-term funding is accumulated to complete the project."
General Dynamics Friday officially launched its General Dynamics Aviation Services organization, which incorporates the former regional maintenance centers acquired from Signature Flight Support (BA, Feb. 19/88).
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. AIRPORT (SDL) now has U.S. Customs service available on a fee basis for aircraft arriving from outside the U.S. The service operates Thursday through Monday from 0900 to 1700 and is closed Tuesday and Wednesday, but after-hours service is available by appointment. Fees are as follows: single/light twin, $45 per use; heavy twin/turboprop, $200; light jet (under 35,000 pounds), $275; heavy jet (35,000-75,000 pounds), $350. Fees double for after-hours service. For more information, contact the U.S.
SIGNATURE FLIGHT SUPPORT (SFS) said 100 percent of the senior notes of Aircraft Service International Group had been tendered as of March 19, but its proposed acquisition of Ranger Aerospace Corp. - the parent company of ASIG - is in limbo. Signature notified Ranger last week "that it is no longer obligated to close the merger" because certain conditions "relating to the representation and warranties of Ranger contained in the merger agreement can no longer be satisfied." Signature extended the tender offer until 5 p.m.
HAWKER PACIFIC AEROSPACE signed an exclusive service agreement with the U.S. Coast Guard to support USCG's fleet of 96 Eurocopter/Dauphin 2 search and rescue helicopters, the continuation of a long-standing support program between the parties. Hawker Pacific will overhaul and repair landing gears, servo control actuators, hydraulic actuators and hydraulic pumps. The latest agreement is for one year, with four one-year options, with an estimated revenue value of approximately $19 million.
FAIRCHILD DORNIER named Lufthansa Group as an authorized provider for pilot, flight crew and maintenance training on the 728JET family of airliners Fairchild Dornier is developing. Lufthansa CityLine is the launch customer for the 728JET with an order for 60 airplanes and options for 60 more. Lufthansa CityLine and Lufthansa's training subsidiaries (CityLine Simulator and Training, Lufthansa Flight Training and Lufthansa Technical Training) are joining forces to develop the new training system. The multi-company project team will be headed by Capt. Raimund F.
LTP 101 series turboprop and LTS101 series turboshaft engines (Docket No. 99-NE-16-AD) - proposes to require a new life limitation and removal of rigid tube fuel manifold assemblies and replacement with serviceable assemblies. This proposal is prompted by reports of cracking and fuel leakage of rigid tube fuel manifolds. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent engine fuel leakage due to low-cycle fatigue (LCF) cracking of the rigid tube fuel manifold, which could result in an in-flight fire.
BR700-710A1-10 and BR700-710A2-20 turbofan engines (Docket No. 2000-NE-48-AD; Amendment 39-12142; AD 2001-05-06) - requires, on BMW Rolls-Royce GmbH Models BR700-710A1-10 turbofan engines with fan disk part numbers (P/N's) BRR18803, BRR19248, or BRR20791 installed, and BR700-710A2-20 turbofan engines with fan disks P/Ns BRR19248 or BRR20791 installed, initial and repetitive inspections of these fan disks for cracks, and if necessary replacement with serviceable parts. This amendment is prompted by reports of cracks in several fan disks in the dovetail area.
