RAYTHEON Models B300 and B300C airplanes (Docket No. 97-CE-16-AD) - proposes to require modification of the elevator trim tab actuators by incorporating a new elevator trim tab pushrod assembly, or modifying the elevator spar opening, whichever is applicable. Reports from operators of ice forming on the elevator trim tab actuators and jamming the trim tab control prompted the proposal.
CONTINENTAL AIRLINES is planning to use an FAA certified Global Positioning System in revenue service for the first time today (Sept. 21). A Continental MD-83 is scheduled to depart from Reagan Washington National Airport and fly two approaches using the Honeywell-Pelorus system, the first into the Newark, N.J. airport and the second into Minneapolis-St. Paul. The Newark approach will be the "world's first [by] Differential GPS (DGPS)" according to officials. "It will be a historic day in aviation," said Mark Howes, vice president-Honeywell Airport systems.
RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT awarded long-term contracts to British Aerospace Airbus and Military Aircraft&Aerostructures units to produce components for its Hawker mid-size business jet. BAe Airbus, Broughton, North Wales, will manufacture fuselages, wings and equipment for the Hawker, while Military Aircraft&Aerostructures, Prestwick, Scotland, will make the doors, long-range fuel tanks and flaps.
Bombardier Aerospace has frozen detail design of the Canadair Regional Jet Series 700 and started manufacturing and assembly of structural and systems components for the first of the new 70-passenger airliners. Assembly of the first aircraft, S/N 10001, is scheduled to get under way later this year, with rollout and first flight planned for the second quarter of 1999, and certification and first deliveries early in 2001.
WOMEN IN AVIATION, INTERNATIONAL is soliciting nominations for the 1999 Pioneer Hall of Fame inductees. The Hall of Fame recognizes women or organizations that have made significant contributions to the aviation industry as record setters, pioneers or innovators. Previous inductees include Eileen Collins, Moya Lear, Harriet Quimby, Jeana Yeager, WASP and Women Navy Navigators of World War II. Nominations should be submitted by Dec. 15. For more information, contact Women in Aviation, International at 36457 S.R.
NATIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION, faced with a short deadline to come up with a policy position on fractional aircraft ownership programs, is employing its Internet web page to get member input on the complex and emotional issue (BA, Sept. 7/103).NBAA's Industry Affairs Committee met in Chicago last week to consider the matter and develop a recommendation to the board of directors, but the board also wants to hear directly from individual members.
ELAINE WEATHERBY joined Midcoast Aviation to manage its Southeast sales region, including Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Weatherby most recently served as the West Coast sales representative for Corporate Rotable&Supply, Inc.
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association last week mailed 60,000 legislative alerts to members in an attempt to drum up opposition to a provision that would allow federal law enforcement officers to order aircraft to land. The provision was included in U.S. Coast Guard reauthorization legislation, S.1259, which the Senate Commerce Committee approved in July and which is awaiting full Senate action.
Citing concerns that current requirements discourage helicopters from operating under instrument flight rules in marginal weather, the Federal Aviation Administration this month proposed changes to the IFR flight plan requirements. Helicopter Association International, noting that the notice of proposed rulemaking culminates a six-year industry/agency effort, last week endorsed the proposal as an improvement in safety.
TRIMBLE NAVIGATION recently underwent a management shakeup as company founder Charles R. Trimble stepped down as president and chief executive officer. He remains active with the Sunnyvale, Calif. company as vice chairman. In addition, Jim Sorden, executive vice president for commercial systems and 11-year company veteran, resigned. He will continue as a consultant. Bradford Parkinson, who has served on the board and as a consultant to Trimble since 1982, assumed the position of president and chief executive while the company searches for a permanent replacement.
Fairchild Aerospace Corp. named seven major suppliers for its 728JET family of regional airliners. "The aircraft have been defined, we have a strong program management team in place and we have an outstanding systems team all fully committed to the program and its schedule," said Jack Pelton, senior vice president and 728JET program manager. The company said: General Electric will supply the CF34-8D engine, which will incorporate a new nacelle and installation design specifically tailored to the 728JET.
FAA proposed imposing a 1,900-cycle life limit - instead of the current 7,000-cycle limit - on Williams FJ44-1A turbofan high-pressure turbine disks. The proposal, published in the Sept. 9 Federal Register, would require replacement or modification of the high-pressure turbine (HPT) disks before reaching the new life limit. Williams International recently conducted a life limit analysis on the disks after a similar HPT disk failed.
PILATUS Models PC-12 and PC-12/45 airplanes (Docket No. 98-CE-40-AD; Amdt. 39-10681; AD 98-11-01 R2) - clarifies information in AD 98-11-01 R1, which requires replacing the fuel tank vent valves and drilling a 4.8 millimeter (0.1875 inch) hole in each fuel filler cap. AD 98-11-01 R1 also requires inserting a temporary revision in the Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) that specifies checking to assure that the fuel filler cap hole is clear of ice and foreign objects.
DORNIER Model 328-100 series airplanes (Docket No. 98-NM-90-AD; Amdt. 39-10686; AD 98-16-10) - requires revising the Airplane Flight Manual to require use of the electrical fuel pump for takeoff and landing and performance of an operational check of the electrical fuel pump following landing. This amendment also requires replacement of the jet booster pumps with new or modified jet booster pumps, which terminates the requirement for the AFM revision.
ITASH SAMANI was named manager, engineering for SimuFlite Training International. Samani, who joined SimuFlite in 1995 as senior project engineer, will oversee engineering for SimuFlite's 17 Level C and D business jet simulators.
JET SERVICE received a supplemental type certificate to modify nacelle inlets for the Westwind 1124, Hawker 700 and 800 and earlier models with TFE731 engines. The Bethany, Okla. company provides aircraft component exchange, overhaul and repair with a specialization in TFE731 nacelle inlet repair.
DASSAULT Model Falcon 2000 series airplanes (Docket No. 98-NM-184-AD) - proposes to require modification of the front galley and rear lavatory water heaters. This proposal is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
GALAXY AEROSPACE last month shipped serial number 100 in the Astra series to Jeld-Wen, a Klamath Falls, Ore. manufacturer of doors and windows. Jeld-Wen, which took delivery of an Astra SPX, operates four Astra business jets to 200 locations around the world. The jets fly about 850 hours annually each, Galaxy said.
The Federal Aviation Administration proposed a $200,000 fine against AirNet Systems, Inc., Columbus, Ohio, for failing to comply with FAA's drug testing regulations. FAA said a March 27 investigation of the small package air carrier showed that 60 AirNet employees performed pilot or aircraft maintenance duties even though pre-employment drug test results had not been verified. FAA said AirNet acknowledged that pre-employment drug test results were not provided to the company until FAA completed the investigation.
ADVANCED AERODYNAMICS&STRUCTURES, INC., which earlier this year claimed orders for 86 its Jetcruzer 500 corporate aircraft (BA, Jan. 19/27), last month said backlog for the single turobprop corporate aircraft has grown to 150 orders valued at $180 million. The company expects to receive type inspection authority for the aircraft late this year and will begin initial production of the first of four aircraft. The Jetcruzer prototype first flew a year ago.
LISA CHEYNE was appointed program manager for Dallas Airmotive Inc. Cheyne, who will manage AlliedSignal TPE331 and TFE731 product lines, joined DAI in February as a customer service representative for the firm's AlliedSignal products.
BRITISH AEROSPACE Model BAe 146 and 146-RJ series airplanes (Docket No. 97-NM-128-AD; Amdt. 39-10701; AD 98-16-24) - requires a one-time inspection for drill marks and corrosion on the underside of the wing top skin and corrective actions, if necessary. This amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
Nav Canada, which last month detailed its revised proposal for small aircraft user fees (BA, Aug. 24/81), last week received approval from the minister of transport to implement the fee package. John Crichton, president and chief executive officer, said the approved proposal culminates "an extensive two-year process of consultation with users and stakeholders that was begun shortly after the transfer of the [aviation navigation system] to the private sector on Nov. 1, 1996." The plan approved last week, Phase II, covers aircraft that weigh less than eight metric tonnes.
