Model S-76A, S-76B, and S-76C helicopters (Docket No. 2000-SW-61-AD; Amendment 39-12095; AD 2000-23-52) - publishes an emergency AD previously sent to all known U.S. owners and operators of Sikorsky Model S-76A, S-76B, and S-76C helicopters by individual letters. This AD requires, before further flight, performing a fluorescent penetrant inspection of the main rotor shaft assembly. Also required are recurring fluorescent penetrant inspections and visual inspections for any crack.
LLOYD HARDWICK was appointed field service representative for Dassault Falcon Jet. Hardwick will be based in the Atlanta field service office. He has 20 years of experience in corporate aircraft maintenance, most recently as senior aircraft mechanic with BellSouth. He also worked with RJR Nabisco and Sonat, Inc.
Cirrus Design Corp. last week handed over the first of its new SR22 single-piston airplanes to a customer, but the delivery came one day after the Duluth, Minn. manufacturer announced it is temporarily laying off 20 percent of its workers. Cirrus cited problems with integration of its newest aircraft model into the existing production line in its decision to cut 127 positions from its payroll.
CL-604 variant of Model Canadair CL-600-2B16 series airplanes modified in accordance with supplemental type certificate SA8060NM-D, SA8072NM-D, or SA8086NM-D (Docket No. 2000-NM-80-AD; Amendment 39-12089; AD 2001-02-05) - supersedes an existing AD that requires disconnection of the fuel service panel maintenance light. This amendment requires modification of the wiring of the fuel port flood light (which is the name given to the fuel service panel maintenance light in the service bulletin that describes the wiring modification).
PACIFIC AEROSPACE&ELECTRONICS INC., Wenatchee, Wash., "received a commitment letter from an institutional lender, indicating that the lender intends to provide $15 million of financing to the company." Closing of an agreement is anticipated by the end of February. The manufacturer said it plans to use the proceeds "to refinance its existing lines of credit in the U.S. and the U.K. to pay an interest payment on its existing lines of credit in the U.S. and U.K., to pay an interest payment on its outstanding senior subordinated notes that was due Feb.
AUBREY ABDO joined the BE A PILOT program as operations manager. A 1998 honors graduate of Parks College, the aviation college of Saint Louis University, she had been working at a fixed-base operation at the Manassas, Va. Municipal Airport outside Washington, D.C. Abdo will manage day-to-day administrative operations for BE A PILOT, the industry's learn-to-fly promotional program, reporting to Drew Steketee, president and CEO of the organization.
Hal Shevers, an ardent supporter of GA industry learn-to-fly programs, was elected chairman of GA TEAM 2000 and the national BE A PILOT program. Shevers, founder of Sporty's Pilot Shop and chairman of its parent Sportsman's Market, Inc., succeeds Cessna Aircraft Chairman Russ Meyer. "We couldn't have picked a better 2001 chairman for BE A PILOT than Hal," Meyer said. "There's not a man out there who is more committed to general aviation."
Model 369A, H, HE, HM, HS, D, E, FF, and 500N helicopters (Docket No. 2000-SW-63-AD; Amendment 39-12083; AD 2000-25-52) - publishes an emergency AD previously sent to all known U.S. owners and operators of the affected helicopters. This amendment supersedes an existing emergency AD that requires, before further flight, performing a tap inspection on both the upper and lower surfaces of each main rotor blade.
ROLLS-ROYCE appointed Mia Kelly Walton vice president of corporate communications, responsible for North American communications of the company and global communications of Rolls-Royce Energy. She reports to James M. Guyette, president and chief executive of Rolls-Royce North America, Inc. Both are based in Reston, Va. She previously held senior communications posts with General Motors and the American Automobile Manufacturers Association.
Model CN-235, CN-235-100, and CN-235-200 series airplanes (Docket No. 2000-NM-264-AD; Amendment 39-12082; AD 2001-01-12) - requires replacing the upper brackets in Frames 33, 34, and 35, with improved brackets that are more fatigue resistant, and reinforcing Frame 35. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent fatigue cracking in the zone of the fittings connecting the fuselage to stiffener rods located in Frames 33, 34, and 35, which could reduce structural integrity of the airplane. The AD is effective Feb. 28. For further information, contact Norman B.
AIR PARTNER formed a new corporate jet network for charter operators who need additional aircraft capacity. Air Partner in the past few months has lined up a range of aircraft from owners who have aircraft available for charter operators with a fleet including Boeing, Gulfstream and Learjet models. "The corporate jet network is a win-win situation for everyone," said Air Partner President Mike Guina. "We're able to put suppliers together with customers who have an immediate need for planes."
Model PC-6 airplanes (Docket No. 99-CE-77-AD; Amendment 39-12088; AD 2001-02-04) - requires, for all Model PC-6 airplanes equipped with a certain stabilizer trim actuator, an inspection of the lower lug of the actuator for cracks, damage, or distortion; verification that the staked bearing is correctly installed in the bore of the lug; and repair of any cracked, damaged, or distorted parts and reassembly of any incorrectly installed staked bearing, as necessary.
A CHARTERED Swearingen SA227 twin-turboprop, N318DH, crashed at Beaver Island, Mich., Thursday evening one mile west of the airport on the Lake Michigan island, killing two of the six people aboard, including the pilot. The aircraft was en route from Chicago and had been cleared to land at Beaver Island. Poor weather conditions, fog, freezing rain and snow, slowed the search. The aircraft wreckage was discovered the next morning on a bluff by a pilot flying over the site, according to wire reports.
ED GREEN was named vice president and general manager of Garrett Aviation Services in Long Island, N.Y. Green previously was plant manager for Emerson Electric Company in Syracuse, N.Y. and also was a plant manager for Chicago Pneumatic Tool Company and director of manufacturing for Rome Cable Corp.
Carole Helms, a key player in the transformation of Wayfarer Aviation from a corporate flight department into part of TAG Aviation, announced plans to retire later this year. Helms, who got into the aviation business in the late 1980s as president of her family's small air charter company, joined Wayfarer Aviation in White Plains, N.Y. in 1991 as marketing director. Her arrival at Wayfarer, which served as the Rockefeller family's flight department, came as officials embarked on a major commercial expansion of the company.
The Naples, Fla. Airport Authority, under pressure from the Federal Aviation Administration, last week suspended enforcement of its ban on Stage 2 aircraft at Naples Municipal Airport and agreed to reopen its Part 161 airport noise study to justify a permanent Stage 2 ban. The Naples Airport Authority board Wednesday adopted a resolution stating it "is in NAA's best interest to cooperate with the FAA and attempt to reach a settlement" and directing the NAA staff to defer enforcement of the ban "pending agreement with the FAA or further board action."
AVIATION leaders face an April deadline to develop recommendations on the future of aviation communications, but those leaders are still sharply divided on whether to transition to an all-digital datalink, called Nexcom.General aviation groups are concerned that a rapid transition to Nexcom would necessitate the installation of new digital-compatible communications equipment in aircraft before the datalink is proved viable.
BRIAN ROWE, the former executive of General Electric Aircraft Engines who has been a member of the Atlas Air board of directors for nearly six years, was named chairman of the carrier's board last month. Rowe succeeds company founder and chairman Michael Chowdry, who was killed in the crash of his experimental L39CT jet trainer last month (BA, Jan. 29/51). Rowe, along with Chowdry's widow, Linda, and two executives of the company, Richard H. Shuyler and James T.
WHILE AIRPORT CAPACITY CONSTRAINTS have reached a new level of public awareness, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley reportedly is holding fast to plans to close Meigs Field next year. Daley reached a compromise with former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar in 1997 under which the mayor could close the lakefront airport on Feb. 10, 2002 and turn the site into a park.
BRITISH MIDLAND INTERNATIONAL exercised two options for the 37-seat ERJ-135 regional jet and two options for the 50-seat ERJ-145 for delivery between January and April 2002, bringing its total firm commitment to 10 ERJ-145s and four ERJ-135s. The carrier also has options for six more -145s.
Analysts at Septentrio Satellite Navigation of Belgium reported discovering anomalies in the WAAS signal that had gone undetected by contractor Raytheon and FAA. Septentrio said that "due to the critical nature of this problem, especially for safety-of-life applications, we think this information should be published urgently." Septentrio said it has been in contact with Raytheon engineers, "who told us they found the problem and will have a fix in the 'next couple of weeks.'"
Model S-76A helicopters (Docket No. 2000-SW-40-AD) - proposes to revise an existing AD that currently requires a one-time inspection of the tail rotor blade spar elliptical centering plug (centering plug) for disbonding and the addition of a retaining pad on the pitch change shaft between the output tail rotor gearbox flange and the inboard tail rotor spar. This action would contain the same requirements as the existing AD but would clarify that the 500-hour time-in-service (TIS) repetitive inspections, which could cause inadvertent damage, are not required.
FLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL won certification for its newest Bombardier Dash 8 regional airliner simulator installed at the Atlanta, Ga. training center. The initial certification covers Dash 8-100 aircraft training, but FSI expects certification by mid-year for use in the Dash 8-200 and -300 modes. In addition to Atlanta, FlightSafety provides Dash 8 training at its facilities in Toronto, Paris and Seattle.
TIMKEN LATROBE STEEL will increase prices four to eight percent on selected aerospace specialty alloys and tooled steel products, effective with orders placed after Feb. 12. "This increase is being driven by escalating production costs in the form of labor, supplies, healthcare and other benefit costs, and the need to provide for continued capital investments for technology and overall growth," said Richard H. Brown, vice president-sales and marketing.
