GALAXY AEROSPACE will participate in next month's Dubai Air Show "and we think we're going to sell some airplanes in that region," said President Brian Barents.
Model SD3-SHERPA, SD3-60 SHERPA, SD3-30, and SD3-60 series airplanes (Docket No. 99-NM-12-AD; Amdt. 39-11277; AD 99-18-11) - requires replacement of the existing bolts that secure the elevator control torque tube bearing housing retaining plate with hex head bolts. This amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
Model 328-100 series airplanes (Docket No. 98-NM-366-AD; Amdt. 39-11323; AD 99-19-36) - requires a one-time inspection to measure the offset of the de-icing tubing adjacent to the refueling panel on the right-hand wing, and replacement with new improved tubing, if necessary. This amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent a blockage in the de-icing tubing which could result in a malfunction of the de-icing boot.
Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100) series airplanes (Docket No. 99-NM-92-AD; Amdt. 39-11326; AD 99-19-39) - requires removal of the insulation blankets surrounding the emergency overwing exit hatches. This amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
Model SF340A and 340B series airplanes (Docket No. 99-NM-200-AD) - proposes to require repetitive inspections of the control quadrant for loose screws, and replacement of the control quadrant with a modified part, which constitutes terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This proposal is promoted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
CHEVRON signed a processing contract with Multi Service to enable it to offer electronic credit card processing at 350 Chevron fixed-base operations across the country. Multi Service will install the electronic equipment and provide the processing capabilities.
Sino Swearingen officials, saying the SJ30-2 aircraft program is "off and running, and doing well," expects to fly the first production entry-level business jet in late March with certification to follow in 2001. The company has received the forward fuselage assembly from supplier Gamesa Aeronautica in Vitoria, Spain. The mid- and aft-fuselage assemblies are expected to follow in early November with the wing assemblies due in December, the company said.
New Piper Aircraft has put its single-engine jet project on the shelf while it positions itself for an initial public offering. President and Chief Executive Officer Chuck Suma told reporters last week during the NBAA convention that the company is deferring plans for a single-engine jet "until we can determine the ideal time." Advisers counseled that "embarking on a jet project prior to going public may not be in the long-term best interest of the company," he said (BA, July 27, 1998/35).
Cessna says it has a healthy backlog of 1,000 units worth $4.25 billion. The company's jet line is slated to hit a number of milestones including production and delivery of the 3,000th Citation, 100th Citation X, 100th Bravo and 500th 560.
SF340A and SAAB 340B series airplanes (Docket No. 99-NM-118-AD; Amdt. 39-11328;AD 99-19-41) - requires modification of the insulation pads in the lower side of the fuselage at the wing aft area. This amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent loose insulation from interfering with an aileron control cable, which could result in reduced aileron control. The FAA estimates that 303 airplanes on the U.S.
AD TRACKER, a computerized system for finding airworthiness directives, was developed by IHS TransPort Data Solutions of Denver, Colo. AD Tracker "makes finding documents easier than ever by automatically pulling up the relevant AD and keeping a record of it," said Tony Martinez, general manager. Available on CD-ROM or the Internet, AD Tracker links to the AD located in IHS's database, which contains more than 14,000 ADs dating back to 1941 and which is updated daily. For more information, contact the company at (303) 858-6325.
ALLIEDSIGNAL'S ANNUAL FORECAST of the business aviation market predicts increased shipments of all categories of business jets over the next 11 years, with the exception of entry-level jets, projections for which are down slightly from last year's forecast. The engine manufacturer expects business jet shipments to average more than 600 units per year during the forecast period. See article below.
Model DHC-8-100 and -300 series airplanes (Docket No. 97-NM-58-AD; Amendment 39-11321; AD 99-19-34) - requires modification of certain hydraulic systems that provide hydraulic pressure for the control of the rudder and for the main landing gear brakes. This amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent damage to certain hydraulic system components in the No. 2 engine nacelle, which could result in loss of the No. 1 and No.
JON GRAY was appointed vice president-Aircraft Management Group for FLS Aerospace. Gray joined FLS Aerospace in 1991 and has served as finance director, group financial controller and most recently, director-corporate development.
The momentum toward labor organization at the Federal Aviation Administration continues to escalate with almost 3,000 employees - many at the Washington, D.C. headquarters - now seeking representation from unions. The latest petitions were filed by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association to represent up to 1,400 more employees and by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) for 800 additional headquarters employees.
DeCrane Aircraft Holdings added another acquisition last week, PCI NewCo, Inc., a Wichita, Kan.-based manufacturer of aerospace composites. The purchase of PCI "gives DeCrane the final component in its 'total cabin capability,'" the company said last week. DeCrane, which recently reorganized into three divisions (BA, Oct. 4/155), is positioning itself to provide "complete, customized, pre-fit, pre-engineered interior kits and individual cabin components to corporate jet OEMs and independent completion centers."
MUSE TECHNOLOGIES has developed software that, when integrated with Hewlett Packard workstation hardware, is designed to improve air traffic monitoring. The new technology allows air traffic flow researchers to observe aircraft from any view, not just "top down." Muse said the technology will provide a quicker understanding of aircraft altitude and direction and give graphic alerts and voice warnings of airspace congestion.
Carrying through on a decision reached by top agency officials last month (BA, Sept. 27/141), FAA Administrator Jane Garvey issued an order chartering a new Fractional Ownership Aviation Rulemaking Committee (FOARC) and closing meetings of that group to the public.
JET SUPPORT SERVICES INC. added the Raytheon Hawker 800XP and Beechjet 400A to its Tip-to-Tail guaranteed hourly cost maintenance program. The program, introduced this year through JSSI's FalconFirst and ServiceCare programs, includes new and in-service aircraft. JSSI recently introduced the program for King Air C90 and B200 aircraft.
THE BUSINESS AVIATION MARKET is so strong that even products that didn't fare well the first time are being recycled. Piaggio Aero Industries will exhibit its P.180 pusher prop executive aircraft at this week's NBAA convention in Atlanta. A company statement said, "Our plan is to enter the North American market before next fall by developing a strong marketing and maintenance infrastructure to ensure smooth operations and first deliveries of the P.180." Developed in the late 1980s, the P.180 Piaggio Avanti came to market in the early 1990s.
FLIGHTSTAR CORP., located in Savoy, Ill. near Champaign, Urbana, added a Falcon 20-5 business jet to its fleet. Flightstar also operates two Falcon 20s and three King Air 200s.
EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY won a contract from The Boeing Company to provide training for aircraft technicians at Al Salam Aircraft Co., a Saudi Arabian aircraft maintenance company that Boeing partially owns. Embry-Riddle will provide the yearlong training program at Al Salam's facilities in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia beginning in March. Embry-Riddle and Boeing are seeking FAR Part 147 approval for the program.
Mesaba Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Mesaba Airlines, named Paul F. Foley president and chief executive of the company and a member of the board of directors. Most recently Foley was with Atlas Air where he had been vice president-operations support since 1996. Before that he was with LSG/Sky Chefs in a number of senior posts, including group vice president-operations. From 1989-1992 he was president of Chelsea Catering Corp., a subsidiary of Continental Airlines, and from 1974-1989 he worked for Sky Chefs, a subsidiary of American Airlines.
SOUTHWEST JET AVIATION added a Citation X to its management fleet, the fourth Citation X that Southwest Jet Aviation will manage. The company, based at Scottsdale Municipal Airport in Scottsdale, Ariz., provides charter, aircraft sales and acquisition, aircraft management, maintenance management and hangar services.
The proposed merger of Honeywell and AlliedSignal won tentative approval from the U.S. Department of Justice last week after both companies agreed to sell small slices of their avionics enterprises.
