ORENDA RECIP INC. said an Air Tractor 401 agricultural aircraft powered by the Orenda OE600A V8 engine completed its first flight last month and is expected to win supplemental type certification in the first half of this year. The liquid-cooled V8 OE600A improves payload, productivity and reliability over other reciprocating engines, Orenda said, adding that it provides turbine power for the cost of a piston engine.
Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. announced a major expansion of its Brunswick, Ga. completion facility, where it has been completing Gulfstream IV-SPs for use in the Gulfstream Shares program that Gulfstream and Executive Jet, Inc. operate. The $3 million expansion will include construction of a 23,000-square-foot completion hangar and the upgrade and lease of a 20,000 square foot storage and maintenance building. The new and refurbished facilities are expected to open in June.
BFGoodrich completed the consolidation of its landing gear equipment business following the merger in July with Coltec Industries. The structure of the combined entity will focus on the major market segments - commercial transport, regional and business, and military.
(Jetstream) Model 4101 Airplanes (Docket No. 99-NM-309-AD) - proposes to require installation of a placard on the left-hand instrument panel in the cockpit to prohibit push-backs of the airplane while the engines are running. In lieu of accomplishing the placard installation, this proposal would require repetitive installation of a new tow bracket sub-assembly that has the serial number and date of installation vibro etched on it. This proposal is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
Summary: Pursuant to FAA's rulemaking provisions governing the application, processing, and disposition of petitions for exemption (14 CFR Part 11), this notice contains a summary of certain petitions seeking relief from specified requirements of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR Chapter I), dispositions of certain petitions previously received, and corrections. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities.
Howmet International intends to acquire the 19 percent interest in its Japanese operation owned by Komatsu, under an agreement reached when the two companies established the Komatsu-Howmet Ltd. (KHL) joint venture company in 1994. With the acquisition, Howmet will own 100 percent of the Japanese operation, which manufactures precision investment castings in nickel-, cobalt- and iron-based alloys for aerospace and industrial gas turbine applications. Initially, the two companies were equal partners, but in July 1998 Howmet purchased an additional 31 percent interest.
FLIGHT OPTIONS, the Cleveland-based fractional ownership program, will commence customer flight operations this month with its fifth aircraft type, the Dassault Falcon 50 trijet. The company anticipates integrating 15 Falcon 50s into its existing fleet of aircraft. Flight Options, with more than 50 aircraft in service, has a mixed fleet of Citation IIs, Beechjet 400As, Hawker 800As and Challenger 601s. It is the only major fractional provider that utilizes previously owned airplanes instead of new models.
Model DHC-7-100 series airplanes (Docket No. 99-NM-107-AD) - proposes to require repetitive high frequency eddy current inspections for cracks on the locking pin fittings of the baggage door and locking pin housings of the fuselage; repetitive detailed visual inspections to detect cracks of the inner door structure on all four door locking attachment fittings; and corrective actions, if necessary. This proposal also would provide a temporary option, for certain cases, for revising the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM), and installing a placard.
CESSNA AIRCRAFT completed delivery of 15 new Skyhawk 172 SPs to the Civil Air Patrol, which will use the aircraft for search-and-rescue missions, orientation missions for cadets and introducing young people to powered flight during CAP summer flight training schools. Cessna previously delivered 20 Skyhawks to the CAP in December 1997. The CAP, which consists of more than 61,000 volunteers in all 50 states, operates the largest Cessna fleet in the world, some 530 aircraft, according to the manufacturer.
Model 328-100 series airplanes (Docket No. 99-NM-219-AD) - proposes to require, for airplanes equipped with ground spoiler actuators having Part Number 1059A0000-02, removal of the gland attachment bolts of the ground spoiler actuator and replacement with new bolts installed with higher torque. This proposal is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
Model 328-100 series airplanes (Docket No. 99-NM-102-AD) - Withdraws a proposal that would have required a revision to the FAA-approved Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) to prohibit in-flight operation of the auxiliary power unit (APU). That proposal also would have required inspection of the APU fire extinguisher discharge cartridge for corrosion; replacement of the discharge cartridge with a new cartridge, if necessary; and modification of the fire extinguishing system tube assembly. Accomplishment of these actions would have terminated the AFM revision.
Docket No.: 29826 Section of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 25.815 Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To allow movement of passenger seats into the required aisle space under certain circumstances on Gulfstream Model G-IV airplanes, serial numbers 1348 through 1390. Partial Grant, Oct. 26, 1999, Exemption No. 7054
Docket No.: 29615 Section of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 135.299(a) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit T-Bird pilots to accomplish a line operational evaluation in a Level C or Level D flight simulator in lieu of a line check in an aircraft. Denial, Oct. 5, 1999, Exemption No. 7017
RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT said it successfully concluded wing up-bending tests on the Premier I program to 150 percent of the design load limit (or ultimate load) on Dec. 17. A previous attempt to complete the test was halted Nov. 12 when the right wing experienced a bond line separation between the upper aluminum spar caps and the load-carrying aluminum skin. Raytheon then added additional rivets to the subject area. The actual load applied during the successful test was 38,000 pounds, Raytheon said, adding that the wing withstood a deflection of more than two feet.
BOMBARDIER AEROSPACE said SkyWest Airlines signed a follow-on order for 20 CRJ200 Series regional jets worth $470 million. The St. George, Utah carrier also took options on another 20 of the 50-seat aircraft. Deliveries of the firm order are scheduled to begin in November. Bombardier said the SkyWest deal brings CRJ200 orders for calendar 1999 to 167, a 35 percent increase over the 123 CRJ sales in 1998.
A transition that had been planned for years was scheduled to become effective Jan. 1 as Gary Hay, vice chairman of Cessna Aircraft, succeeded Russ Meyer as chief executive officer of the Wichita-based manufacturer.
Docket No.: 28718 Section of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 21.325(b)(3) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To allow the issuance of export airworthiness approvals for aircraft tires manufactured and located at Goodyear's Bangkok, Thailand, facility. Grant, Oct. 15, 1999, Exemption No. 6682A
FAA directed its principal inspectors to "encourage their assigned air carriers to develop a safety department, appropriate to the size and scope of operations." The agency, in a recent handbook bulletin to inspectors, said the safety department should address "a broad range of risks" involving flight, maintenance and ground safety.
Universal Avionics Systems Corporation increased its capability to integrate its various products with the purchase of Avionic Display Corporation (ADC), a Norcross, Ga.-based producer of flat panel displays. The acquisition includes ADC's Georgia operations and "intellectual property," Universal said. The facility was renamed Universal Instrument Corporation and will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Universal Avionics Systems Corp. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
Docket No.: 29411 Section of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 135.225(g) Description of Relief Sought Disposition: To permit Spirit Aviation to conduct takeoffs in single-pilot, turbine powered airplanes where takeoff visibility is one-half mile down to 1,800 feet runway visual range, subject to certain conditions and limitations.
RUDY TOERING was named managing director-European sales for FlightSafety International. Toering will head up the European marketing team from Flight Safety's Le Bourget center in Paris, France.
DANGER LURKS in many places for the unsuspecting international traveler and Air Routing's Air Security International compiled its annual list of the "World's Most Dangerous Places." See article on Page 3.
(Jetstream) Model 4101 Airplanes (Docket No. 99-NM-306-AD) - proposes to supersede an existing AD that requires repetitive detailed visual inspections for cracking or other damage of certain diaphragm support structures of the forward equipment compartment; and repair, if necessary. This action would continue to require repetitive inspections, but also would require replacement of cracked or damaged diaphragm support structures with improved parts, which would terminate the requirement for repetitive inspections.
The long anticipated infusion of cash into Fairchild Aerospace is expected to occur early this quarter, but the deal outlined last week will mean control of the company will pass to new owners, and it's already resulted in top management changes, notably the departure of President Jim Robinson.
