FLIGHT SAFETY FOUNDATION elected Carl Vogt chairman of the FSF Board of Governors for a three-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2001. The election returns FSF to its traditional leadership structure, which has separate responsibilities for the president, who oversees day-to-day oversight and management, and the chairman, who serves in a non-executive capacity. Stuart Matthews had served as chairman since 1991 but added the title of president when he retired in 1994 as chairman of Fokker Aircraft. Matthews will continue to serve as president and chief executive.
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE is nearing completion of an Integrated Test Facility that will be used to test the hardware and avionics systems to be installed in the new PlaneView cockpit suite of the new Gulfstream V-SP. Actual tests are expected to begin later this year. The PlaneView suite will integrate a Honeywell visual guidance system (HUD), enhanced vision system (EVS), a cursor control device and Honeywell's Primus Epic flight instrumentation system (BA, Oct. 16/177).
Models PC-12 and PC-12/45 airplanes (Docket No. 2000-CE-03-AD; Amendment 39-11946; AD 2000-21-14) - requires a one-time inspection for abrasion damage, distortion, and proper clearance of the torque oil-pressure tubes and py pressure pipe, and if necessary, adjustment and replacement of these components. This AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for Switzerland. The actions specified by this AD are intended to correct abrasive damage from rubbing pipes and consequent loss of engine oil.
JERRY KEIZER was named technical services sales manager for Elliott Aviation's Omaha, Neb. location. Keizer, who has 26 years of aviation experience, previously was director of avionics sales and product support at West Star Aviation.
JET AVIATION plans to begin construction early next year on a four-story multipurpose structure at its facility in Basel, Switzerland. The new building will be attached to an existing customer complex that will receive an additional story of space. The old and new buildings will be connected by a glass and steel roof. The additional space will include room for customer offices, a large lounge, conference rooms with high-tech audio-visual capability and a range of amenities for pilots, including snooze rooms, changing rooms and a fitness center.
GENERAL AVIATION does not participate in the Flight Operational Quality Assurance (FOQA) safety data-sharing program, but some industry leaders fear that a collapse of the program - because FAA will not provide immunity to participants - could have a rippleeffect on other self-disclosure programs involving GA groups. FAA promotes self-disclosure as a way to improve compliance through education rather than enforcement, industry observers note, but some groups who have used such means have faced enforcement anyway.
Model BAe 146 and Model Avro 146-RJ series airplanes (Docket No. 99-NM-190-AD) - proposes to require revising the airworthiness limitations section of the instructions for continued airworthiness to incorporate life limits for certain items and inspections for fatigue cracking in certain structures. This proposal is prompted by issuance of a revision to the airworthiness limitations of the BAe/Avro 146 Aircraft Maintenance Manual, which specifies new inspections and compliance times for inspection and replacement actions.
FAA ADMINISTRATOR JANE GARVEY will be the keynote speaker at the 12th annual International Women in Aviation Conference March 22-24 at the Reno Hilton in Reno, Nev. The conference will include more than 42 hours of educational sessions. Other invited speakers include Elizabeth Haskins, president and chief executive of Signature Flight Support; Moya Lear, aviation pioneer and former chair of Lear Avia; Deborah McElroy, Regional Airline Association president; and Karen Tripp, vice president of business communications for Rockwell Collins, among others.
FINDING A WAY to quiet the noise of sonic booms is seen as a key prerequisite of any supersonic business jet development program so SSBJs will be able to fly over land without generating protests from residents.
A QUIETER, GENTLER SST? Northrop Grumman Corp. won a $2.5 million contract from the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for initial studies and technology development for the Quiet Supersonic Platform (QSP) program.
