HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS CHAIRMAN Bob Livingston (R-La.) Friday announced his intention to challenge Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) for Speaker of the House. If successful, Livingston would relinquish his appropriations duties, which would mean a reshuffling of appropriations leaders. Next in line for the position would be Joseph McDade (R-Pa.), who chairs the Appropriations subcommittee on energy and water development.
DOT and NASA Offices of Inspector General (OIGs) identified five areas in which FAA and NASA "can take action to enhance their effectiveness" in improving aviation safety and increasing airspace and airport capacity. In a joint report issued last month, the OIGs recommended that the agencies re-evaluate their advisory committee structures. Currently, six subcommittees and an ad hoc committee report to FAA's advisory committee while eight subcommittees, a task force and a steering committee report to NASA's advisory committee.
AVFUEL was named a supplier for Aero Services International, a fixed-based operation at Chicago Midway Airport, and Aircraft Service International Group in Orlando, Fla. Avfuel, Ann Arbor, Mich., supplies fuel to more than 700 branded dealers and 2,500 aviation customers nationwide.
PILATUS Models PC-12 and PC-12/45 airplanes (Docket No. 98-CE-69-AD; Amdt. 39-10835; AD 98-21-27) - adopts a new AD that applies to Models PC-12 and PC-12/45 airplanes equipped with a "corporate commuter" cabin layout. The AD is a designation only and the affected airplanes are not certified for commuter operation. The AD requires modification of the passenger seats and seat rail covers. This AD stems from mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for Switzerland.
Boeing has become the second original equipment manufacturer to win approval for its entry in the very-long-range business jet market, achieving both FAA and Joint Aviation Authorities certification for the Boeing Business Jet. The special version of the Boeing 737-700, designed for use by corporate executives, heads-of-state and other VIPs, can carry its passengers on nonstop flights of more than 6,000 nautical miles.
MIDCOAST AVIATION reached a long-term agreement to lease two hangars, backshops and fixed-base operations facilities previously occupied by Avtec Inc. at St. Louis Downtown-Parks Airport. The lease brings an additional 70,000 square feet of space to Midcoast's facilities, enabling the FBO to increase its maintenance and modification capabilities by nearly one-third.
LOUIS C. FURA, maintenance supervisor with ARCO's Aviation Department in Burbank, Calif., won a framed copy of BA's new poster "Business Jets of the World 1999." Fura's business card was drawn from those collected during last month's NBAA annual meeting and convention in Las Vegas, Nev.
Following are returns from Tuesday's congressional elections involving members of the subcommittees that handle the FAA reauthorization and DOT appropriations bills. Except for committee leadership, the order is by subcommittee, political party and subcommittee seniority. The * symbol denotes an incumbent. SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE Transportation Subcommittee * Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), chairman 63% Clayton Suddith (D) 37%
Tuesday's election will result in few changes for key aviation leaders in Congress, which industry leaders say is important because of the unfinished business left when Congress adjourned last month. Major committee and subcommittee chairmen all either won by a commanding margin or faced no competition. The ranking minority members fared equally well winning their respective elections.
BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON promoted John Murphey to president and P.D. Shabay executive vice president and chief operating officer. Murphey was executive vice president and Shabay executive vice president-operations. Terry Stinson, who had been president and chief executive, is now chairman and CEO.
SOCATA Model TBM-700 airplanes (Docket No. 98-CE-58-AD; Amdt. 39- 10824; AD 98-21-15) - requires modifying the oxygen generators. This AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information from the French airworthiness authority. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent failure of the oxygen generators caused by misalignment of the firing pin, which could result in crew incapacitation and loss of the airplane. FAA estimates that 60 airplanes on the U.S. Registry will be affected by this AD at a cost of $7,200 for the fleet.
NATIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION will hold its 10th Annual Schedulers&Dispatchers Conference Feb. 2-5 in Orlando, Fla. For more information, contact the NBAA seminar department at (202) 783-9000.
TERRENCE DEROSA was promoted to president of DRS's Electronic Systems Group. DeRosa joined DRS in 1993 as vice president and general manager of the DRS Electronics Systems, Inc. subsidiary and in 1996 became executive vice president of the Electronic Systems Group.
FlightSafety International won what it said was the first approval by FAA for the company's Category IIIa low-visibility training program for the Falcon 2000 business jet. The FAR Part 142 approval is based on the use of the Flight Dynamics Head-Up Guidance System (HGS) installed in the Level D Falcon 2000 flight simulator at FSI's Teterboro, N.J. learning center.
AN ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING will be held by FAA Thursday and Friday in Denver regarding the agency's Part 16 complaint against Centennial Airport (APA). FAA filed the complaint and suspended federal funding after airport officials refused to permit Centennial Express to conduct scheduled service with small aircraft from APA (BA, Sept. 7/103). The administrative hearing was requested by the airport.
CESSNA won certification from Russia aviation authorities for its CitationJet, Citation Bravo, Citation Ultra, Citation VII and Caravans 208 and 208B. The manufacturer is expected to receive Russian certification of the Citation X in the fourth quarter of 1998.
FAA ADMINISTRATOR JANE GARVEY, who has won high marks from congressional leaders for her responsiveness to criticism about the agency (BA, March 16/115), last week asked staff members to respond promptly to draft reports by the General Accounting Office and the Transportation Department's Inspector General. Responding quickly will allow FAA to include its answers to criticisms or concerns in the reports, she told staffers.
PAUL CASNER was appointed to the newly created position of executive vice president-operations for DRS Technologies. Casner has more than 35 years of defense industry experience and joined DRS in 1993 as president of its Electronic Systems subsidiary.
CESSNA appointed Marvin Tuomala general manager of its Long Beach Citation Service Center at Long Beach Airport in California. Tuomala previously was a general manager for a business aircraft service center in Little Rock, Ark. He also has served as chief inspector, director of maintenance, vice president and president of a large California fixed-base operation.
RAYTHEON Models A200CT, B200, B200C, B200CT, 200T/B200T, 300, B300 and B300C airplanes (Docket No. 97-CE-148-AD; Amdt. 39-10843; AD 98-21-35) - requires replacing the main landing gear left and right actuator clevis assembly. This action is prompted by reports of main landing gear failure on two of the affected airplanes. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent failure of the actuator clevis assembly in the main landing gear caused by fatigue cracking of the original design part.
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.
B/E Aerospace was selected as the preferred seating supplier for all Bombardier regional aircraft programs, a contract valued at about $87 million over the next several years. Seat deliveries under the new agreement - including the new 70- and 50-passenger models of the Canadair Regional Jet, the de Havilland Dash 8-100, -200 and 300 turboprops and the new Dash 8-400 large turboprop - will begin next year and continue for a multi-year period.
REVOLUTION HELICOPTER'S new two-place Voyager 500 helicopter completed its first flight in late September in Excelsior Springs, Mo. The Voyager was introduced during the Sun 'N Fun Airshow last spring in Lakeland, Fla.
