AYRES S2R series and Model 600 S2D airplanes (Docket No. 98-CE-56-AD; Amdt. 39-11764; AD 2000-11-16) - supersedes AD 97-17-03, which currently requires inspection of the 1/4-inch and 5/16-inch bolt hole areas on the lower spar caps for fatigue cracking; replacement of any lower spar cap where fatigue cracking is found; and reporting of any fatigue cracking. This AD retains the inspection and replacement (if necessary) requirements of the lower spar caps that are currently required in AD 97-17-03.
SENATE APPROPRIATORS admonished FAA to contain costs, especially in light of the recent FAA reauthorization bill, AIR-21, which protects the agency's capital spending, but not its operations budget. The Appropriations Committee noted that FAA's operations costs have leapt from $3.8 billion in fiscal 1999 to almost $6 billion in fiscal 2000, but the agency still needs additional funds this year to prevent further cuts in its safety and non-safety programs.
CANADA AND BRAZIL appear to be close to an agreement to resolve their long-standing trade dispute, according to Canadian press reports. Under the proposed settlement, Canadian firms would receive special access to Brazilian government contracts in certain sectors, with Bombardier expected to be one of the principal beneficiaries.
GEOFF HUNT was appointed general manager of ElectroSonics, the Columbus, Ohio unit of Garrett Aviation Services. Hunt most recently was a Master Black Belt who implemented Six Sigma throughout Garrett. He also has worked with General Electric's Production Engine Test Operation and GE Engine Services.
DAVID DAVENPORT was promoted to assistant manager of FlightSafety International's Atlanta, Ga. Center. Davenport has served with FlightSafety for four years as assistant manager at the West Palm Beach, Fla. center, director of CAA training at the FlightSafety Flight Academy in Vero Beach, and most recently as product marketing manager in Atlanta.
GENERAL ELECTRIC promoted David Calhoun to executive vice president and chief operating officer of GE Aircraft Engines. He will report directly to Jim McNerney, GE Aircraft Engines president and CEO. Calhoun, 43, currently is president and chief executive officer of GE's Employees Reinsurance Corp. He joined GE in the Switchgear Business in 1979 and has held a number of positions in various units including GE Capital, the Corporate Audit Staff, GE Plastics, GE Transportation Systems and GE Lighting.
EXECUTIVE JET expects to have 1,500 pilots on the payroll by the end of the year as the company continues its rapid fleet expansion. While "we're still getting most of our pilots from the commuters" and Part 135 nonscheduled operators, Chief Pilot Jim Peters said the company also is hiring some retired airline pilots who want to keep flying after the Age 60 mandatory retirement policy forces them out of an airline cockpit.
TOP PRIORITY for Galaxy, however, is getting airplanes produced and into the hands of its existing customer base. To that end, production of "green" aircraft at Israel Aircraft Industries is being increased. IAI now expects to build 24 Galaxys (up from 18) and 12 Astras this year. Additional production tooling is being built to permit Galaxy production to increase to 36 units per year when market demand warrants, Barents said.
NAV CANADA said a Converging Runway Display Aid (CRDA) is now operational at the Calgary, Alberta Airport (YYC). The system provides controllers with a precise method of determining optimum spacing for converging arrivals and Nav Canada said it expects use of the system will boost the aircraft arrival rate by as much as 25 percent under IFR weather conditions. Nav Canada expects to install CRDA systems at other Canadian airports.
LUFTHANSA TECHNIK, reacting to growing sales of airline-type equipment for VIP business jet applications, is expanding its completion facilities in Hamburg, Germany. Lufthansa Technik said its XXL Class Executive Jet program, which includes the Boeing Business Jet, a 737 variant, and the Airbus A319 Corporate Jetliner, expects to deliver five custom-equipped aircraft during 2000, with six to eight more scheduled for completion in 2001. Completion sales for the current year are estimated at some 150 million DM ($75 million).
BRIAN HIRSHMAN was appointed vice president/maintenance for Alaska Airlines. Hirshman previously was senior operations manager, DC-10 hangar operations, for Northwest Airlines in Minneapolis. In his new position, Hirshman will oversee all Alaska Airlines maintenance, including both base and vendor maintenance, line maintenance, maintenance control and technical services.
PILATUS Models PC-12 and PC-12/45 airplanes (Docket No. 99-CE-36-AD; Amendment 39-11762; AD 2000-11-14) -- requires operators to revise the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) to include requirements for activation of the airframe pneumatic deicing boots. This AD is the result of reports of in-flight incidents and an accident (on airplanes other than the affected Pilatus airplanes) that occurred in icing conditions when the airframe pneumatic deicing boots were not activated.
Heico Corporation's Flight Support Group purchased the assets and liabilities of Future Aviation, Inc. for about $14 million in cash, a move designed to boost its presence in the rapidly growing regional jet market. "We are convinced that we can experience strong growth in the regional aircraft market by leveraging Future's high quality reputation and strong relationships with regional and commuter aircraft operators," said Laurans A. Mendelson, Heico's chairman, president and chief executive.
The National Air Transportation Association has called for the Environmental Protection Agency to withdraw a water pollution control proposal that NATA said would require airports to install new and expensive runoff containment equipment. FAA and EPA sources, however, said NATA has nothing to fear, since locally approved stormwater runoff plans in place at most airports would satisfy the new regulations.
INTEREST IN A SUPERSONIC BUSINESS JET (SSBJ) remains high among officials at Executive Jet and extends all the way to the top. Asked about an SSBJ last week in Columbus, EJI Chairman and CEO Richard Santulli responded that "We talk to everyone" who has indicated an interest in building such an aircraft, including Boeing, Dassault, Lockheed and Gulfstream.
COMMANDER Model 114TC airplanes (Docket No. 99-CE-81-AD; Amdt. 39-11752; AD 2000-11-04) -- requires replacement of the existing Aeroquip V-band exhaust clamp with a new clamp of improved design. This AD is the result of reports of this clamp failing on four of the affected airplanes. This clamp attaches the exhaust stack to the turbocharger. The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent the exhaust stack from detaching from the turbocharger due to failure of the V-band exhaust clamp.
The Turkish Government signed a contract with Sikorsky Aircraft to buy eight S-80E heavy-lift helicopters, a deal valued at $350 million including spares and training. The contract was signed this month in Ankara, Turkey by Sikorsky President Dean C. Borgman and Lt. Gen. Sener Eruygur, undersecretary of the Ministry of National Defense. The contract will not become effective, however, until financing is arranged.
MICHELE FLETCHER MCENANY was named director of the Office of Aviation in Iowa's Department of Transportation. McEnany, a native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, had been director of state and local relations for the Greater Des Moines Partnership.
EUROCOPTER Model SE.3160, SA.316B, SA.316C, SA.319B, SA330F, SA330G, SA330J, SA341G, and SA342J helicopters (Docket No. 99-SW-04-AD; Amdt. 39-11729; AD 2000-10-05) -- requires inspecting each inflation head and union nut on certain emergency flotation gear nitrogen cylinders and replacing each cracked inflation head with an airworthy inflation head. This amendment is prompted by the discovery of cracked inflation heads during routine maintenance inspections of emergency flotation systems.
GALAXY AEROSPACE is interested in joining the ranks of aircraft manufacturers supplying aircraft for Executive Jet's NetJets fractional ownership program. Brian Barents, president and CEO of Galaxy, was among a group of industry guests who journeyed to Columbus, Ohio Wednesday for Executive Jet's dedication of its new operations center and maintenance base.
THE U.S. MARINE CORPS resumed operational evaluation of its MV-22 tiltrotor aircraft this month at the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division at China Lake, Calif., following a stand-down of the fleet for nearly two months after an April 8 crash near Tucson, Ariz. that killed all 19 on board (BA, April 17/183). The service is expected to conclude its investigation of the accident next month.
DICK SCHULTZ, who began his career in 1985 as a flight instructor at the University of North Dakota, was named chief flight instructor for the school. He was named assistant chief flight instructor in 1989 and was named interim chief flight instructor in March.
MICHAEL BLASDEL was named manager of operations for the Edwards and Kelcey, Inc. Houston office. He joined the firm in 1999 as vice president of engineering services. Blasdel will oversee transportation projects in the Southwest and direct planning, design, and construction projects.
TONY SANCHEZ was named sales and support manager of Garrett Aviation Services' Los Angeles facility. He has more than 25 years of sales and marketing experience, most recently as a consultant for Aviation Interiors Plus. He also has served as president of the Westchester Aircraft Maintenance Association.
