Model AS 332C, L, and L1 helicopters (Docket No. 98-SW-78-AD) - proposes to require a one-time inspection of the length of the main gearbox epicyclic module upper casing bearing attachment bolts, and if they exceed a certain length, replacing the epicyclic module to preclude potential interference between the attachment bolts and the second stage planetary gear cage web. This proposal is prompted by a report of interference between the attachment bolts and the second stage planetary gear cage web of the epicyclic module in the main gearbox.
AIR ATLANTIC, the regional aircraft maintenance division of the Innotech-Execaire Aviation Group, won contracts from Mesaba Airlines and Executive Aircraft Corp. to provide major airframe and engine inspections, perform airworthiness directives and other related work on 15 Avro RJ85 and BAe-146 series aircraft. The contract includes C checks, avionics functionality testing, engine teardown and inspection, structural repairs and other necessary modifications.
Docket No.: 29612 Sections of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 135.251, 135.255, 135.353, and Appendices I&J of Part 121 Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit Blue Sky to conduct local sightseeing rides at an airshow at the Lake in the Hills Airport on June 19, 1999, for compensation or hire, without complying with certain anti-drug and alcohol misuse prevention requirements of Part 135. Grant, June 18, 1999, Exemption No. 6904
Model R44 helicopters (Docket No. 99-SW-08-AD) - proposes to require inspecting the wire harness for contact with the fuel line assembly, removing and replacing the fuel line assembly if chafing has occurred, and installing spiral wrap tubing on the fuel line assembly. This proposal is prompted by four incidents of contact between the wire harness and the fuel line assembly. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent contact between the wire harness and the fuel line, which could result in chafing of the wire harness and a potential fire hazard.
GENERAL AVIATION MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION is hosting an Air Safety Investigators Technical Workshop Sept. 21-23 in Wichita, Kan. The workshop is designed specifically for general aviation accident investigators and will cover a number of topics including toxicology interpretations, OSHA bloodborne pathogens training, GPS and radar tactical mapping, NTSB and FAA headquarters briefings and investigation techniques for the turbocharger, fuel controls, avionics/glass cockpit and turbine engine.
Docket No.: 29596 Section of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR C36.9(e)(1) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To allow Embraer to use the 1-g stall speed for the 14 CFR Part 36 noise certification for the approach reference and test limitations on the EMB-135 model airplane. Grant, June 30, 1999, Exemption No. 6910
Docket No.: 29513 Sections of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR C36.9(e)(1) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit the Dornier 328-300 noise certification reference approach speed to be determined on the basis of the 1-g stall speed. Grant, June 14, 1999, Exemption No. 6900
AIRCRAFT ELECTRONICS ASSOCIATION has planned two-hour sessions during its regional meetings to cover the proposed rewrite of Part 145 repair station regulations. Terry Pearsall, AEA government affairs representative, will moderate the sessions. Sessions have been scheduled for Sept. 18 at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Dallas, Texas; Sept. 29 at the St. Louis Airport Hotel in St. Louis, Mo.; Oct. 30 at the Marriott Airport Hotel in Pittsburgh, Pa. and Jan. 22 at the Wyndham Westshore in Tampa, Fla. For more information, contact AEA at (816) 373-6565.
JEFFREY WIEAND joined Boston JetSearch as senior vice president and general counsel. Wieand has practiced law in Boston, Mass. with a concentration on business and aircraft transactions since graduating from Harvard Law School in 1985.
Docket No.: 29629 Section of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 135.251, 135.255, 135.353, and Appendices I&J of Part 121 Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To allow Starrett Aviation to conduct local sightseeing rides at an airshow at Fairfield County Airport in Lancaster, Ohio, on July 10 and 11, 1999, for compensation or hire, without complying with certain anti-drug and alcohol misuse prevention requirements of Part 135. Grant, July 9, 1999, Exemption No. 6918
Docket No.: 29614 Section of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 135.251, 135.255, 135.353, and Appendices I&J of Part 121 Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit UWCHS to conduct local sightseeing rides over the Lawrence, Kan., vicinity at a charitable event on June 26 or 27, 1999, for compensation or hire, without complying with certain anti-drug and alcohol misuse prevention requirements of Part 135. Grant, June 24, 1999, Exemption No. 6908
DAVID NEVILLE was promoted to vice president-market research for Boston JetSearch. Neville has served with the company for more than 10 years, primarily in market analysis and aircraft evaluation.
Docket No.: 28826 Section of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 145.45(f) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit Caledonian to provide individuals in certain departments with a copy of the repair station inspection procedures manual in lieu of providing a copy of the manual to all supervisory and inspection personnel. This exemption is further amended by changing the references to Greenwich Caledonian Limited to GE Caledonian Limited. Grant, April 15, 1999, Exemption No. 6617A
THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MACHINISTS bargaining unit members in the Puget Sound, Spokane, Portand and Wichita areas approved Boeing's contract offer by an 86 percent to 14 percent margin out of 31,170 votes cast. The three-year contract includes wage increases, boosts pension benefits, maintains the traditional workweek and health benefits, and includes a job security provision to prevent layoffs of IAM members that stem from subcontracting or offloading, the IAM said.
Docket No.: 29481 Sections of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 135.153(c)(2) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit Republic Helicopters to operate certain aircraft under Part 135 without a TSO-C112 (Mode S) transponder installed in each aircraft. Grant, June, 29, 1999, Exemption No. 6912
ARIEL AVIATION secured the release of a Learjet 35A executive jet that had been impounded in Bolivia since June 1990. The Learjet was seized on suspicion of narcotics involvement, Ariel said. The aircraft, however, was being operated to scout possible film locations. Following its seizure, the Bolivian Air Force used the aircraft as a presidential aircraft through 1993. The Learjet eventually was placed in storage when major maintenance became due, Ariel said. Ariel worked with the U.S.
RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT COMPANY has launched a comprehensive program to improve the quality of its customer/product support functions. The wide-ranging program includes the relocation of the company's spare parts operation, the use of several new-technology initiatives and a company-wide commitment to improving service to its customers. See article on Page 108.
WORLDWIDE FLIGHT SERVICES, the former AMR Services, last month acquired Aerolink International of Pittsburgh, Pa. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Aerolink provides cargo warehousing for air carriers at 11 airports in the U.S. and Canada. The acquisition follows Worldwide's purchase last month of Miami Aircraft Support (BA, Aug. 23/88), which provides ground services for airlines at 31 airports. With the acquisitions, Worldwide is represented at 86 airports internationally with some 10,000 employees.
Model 31, 31A, 35, 35A, and 60 airplanes (Docket No. 99-NM-15-AD) - proposes to require a visual inspection of the spoiler actuators to determine the serial number of the spoiler actuators; and replacement of the spoiler actuators with new actuators, if necessary. This proposal is prompted by failure of a spoiler actuator piston rod during the first production flight of a Model 60 airplane due to an incomplete heat treatment process.
Docket No.: 27429 Section of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 146.31(c)(2)(iii) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit the CCAF to allow U.S. Air Force aviation maintenance technicians who have completed military aviation maintenance training courses to be evaluated using the criteria that are used for the civilian sector. Grant, June 4, 1999, Exemption No. 6094B
Raytheon, which four years ago won the Joint Primary Aircraft Trainer System (JPATS) program from the U.S. Air Force and Navy, this month received FAA type certification for its JPATS offering, the T-6A Texan II single-turboprop. Certification clears the way for deliveries of the initial two production aircraft to the U.S. Air Force this fall for Multi-service Operational Test&Evaluation. FAA also awarded Raytheon a production certificate, allowing the company to license the aircraft.
NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD Chairman James Hall, reflecting over the increased media attention given to aviation accidents, said the organization has been meeting with media and industry representatives to develop new procedures to better inform the public on its activities. "We know that the way we have been doing business for the last three decades has to be adjusted to meet today's realities," Hall told the International Society of Air Safety Investigators this month in Boston, and said he expects to detail its new procedures this fall.
Docket No.: 29651 Section of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 135.251, 135.255, and Appendices I&J of Part 121 Description of Relief Sought: To permit members of local chapters of the EAA to conduct local sightseeing flights or provide flight experiences at various EAA chapter events, for compensation or hire, in experimental aircraft and aircraft with standard airworthiness certificates, without complying with certain anti-drug and alcohol misuse prevention requirements of Part 135.
Revises an earlier proposal that would have required revising the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) to include requirements for activation of the airframe pneumatic deicing boots. That proposal was prompted by reports of inflight incidents and an accident that occurred in icing conditions where the airframe pneumatic deicing boots were not activated. The actions specified by that proposed AD are intended to ensure that flight crews activate the pneumatic wing and tail deicing boots at the first signs of ice accumulation.
