BOMBARDIER AEROSPACE won firm orders for two additional de Havilland Dash 8Q Series 400 turboprop regional airliners from SAS Commuter. The Scandinavian carrier now holds firm orders for 17 of the 70- to 78-seat aircraft and options for another 18 Dash 8 aircraft. The aircraft on option can be either Dash 8Q 400s or 50-seat Dash 8Q 300s, depending on the customer's wishes. SAS became the largest single Dash 8 400 customer last August with a $350 million (U.S.) order for 15 of the 350-knot turboprops. The latest order for two is valued at $45 million (U.S.).
PILATUS Model PC-12 airplanes (Docket No. 97-CE-08-AD; Amdt. 39-10596; AD 98-13-08) - requires replacing and re-routing the power return cables on the starter generator and generator 2, inserting a temporary revision to the pilot operating handbook and installing a placard near the standby magnetic compass. This AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for Switzerland.
LUFTHANSA TECHNIK appointed Andreas Kaden to oversee aircraft maintenance and overhaul at its Berlin-Schonefeld facility and manage Lufthansa Bombardier Aviation Services GmbH. Kaden formerly was manager of engineering for the Lufthansa fleet in Frankfurt. He succeeds Bernhard Conrad, who is returning to company headquarters in Hamburg to head up engineering projects and development.
BRITISH AEROSPACE Model 3101 airplanes (Docket No. 98-CE-32-AD) - proposes to require replacing the elevator trim servo motor with a new, improved motor and inspecting the cable tension and electrical operation of the elevator and trim tab for proper operation and making any necessary adjustments. The proposed AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for the United Kingdom.
THE WOLF AVIATION FUND is soliciting applications for grants to support "worthwhile general aviation projects in areas such as aviation advocacy, safety, technological innovation, public awareness, education and pilot training." For more information, contact: The Alfred L.&Constance E. Wolf Aviation Fund, c/o Wolf, Block, Schorr&Solis-Cohen, Attn: Grants Program, Packard Building, 15th&Chestnut Streets, Philadelphia, Pa. 19102.
BRITISH AEROSPACE Model H.P.137 Jetstream Mk. 1, Model 3101, Model 3201 and 200 series airplanes (Docket No. 97-CE-110-AD; Amdt. 39-10577; AD 98-12-23) - requires replacing the wind-shield wiper arm and attachment bolts, measuring the material thinness of the upper and lower toggle attachment brackets, and replacing the toggle attachment bracket lugs. This AD stems from mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for the United Kingdom.
ATLANTIC AVIATION is beefing up its international capability with the addition of several long-range business jets. In the past two months the company added a Gulfstream III and a G-IV and last month a Falcon 50 based in Teterboro, N.J. joined its charter fleet. The addition of the Falcon 50 "gives us nine long-range aircraft to provide the extra range that many of our clients need in today's global economy," said Bob Smith, Atlantic's marketing vice president.
PRATT&WHITNEY R-1340 series reciprocating engines (Docket No. 97-ANE-58-AD) - proposes to require initial and repetitive visual and fluorescent penetrant inspections of cylinders, Part Number 399359, for head cracking. This proposal is prompted by reports of cylinder head cracking. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent cylinder head cracking , which could result in engine power loss, forced landing and aircraft damage.
SENATE TRANSPORTATION APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE last week approved a $9.85 billion fiscal 1999 budget for FAA, the highest level ever, despite earlier concerns that the budget would be squeezed as appropriators sought money to pay for highway projects included in this year's highway spending bill (BA, June 15/259). The Senate subcommittee provided $2.1 billion for the Airport Improvement Program, an increase over the fiscal 1998 enacted level of $1.7 billion, as well as increases in the operations account.
Fairchild Corporation board of directors approved a plan under which the company's fastener businesses will be spun off into a newly formed subsidiary. The company said it intends to effect the spin-off of the fasteners segment "as soon as it is reasonably practical," adding that the action is subject to "the approval of Fairchild's shareholders, receipt of a favorable tax ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, consent of Fairchild's lenders and others, and of certain opinions." "We believe that Fairchild Fasteners will best prosper as a stand-
NEW TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION STANDARDS for aircraft mechanics published by FAA last week were sharply criticized by the National Air Transportation Association, which represents fixed-base operators and repair facilities whose employees would be among those subject to the proposed new standards. NATA called the notice of proposed rulemaking "a radical redesign" of existing standards that "goes far beyond correcting deficiencies" in the current regulations. See article below.
CORNERSTONE LOGIC, a software and engineering firm, acquired development and ownership rights for the PilotLog Series of computerized logbook programs from Air Digital Corporation. The PilotLog series - including OwnerLog, PilotLog Plus and PilotLog - is a Windows-based set of programs that allow pilots to enter information such as flight time, arrival and departure points, aircraft tail number and type, night time, instrument time and number of approaches.
BOMBARDIER AEROSPACE selected a modular potable water system built by BFGoodrich Aerospace Ice Protections Systems Division as standard equipment for the Canadair Regional Jet Series 700 airliner. BFGoodrich said the system is presssurized using bleed air from the environmental control system/auxiliary power unit and also incorporates an air compressor to supplement or replace the bleed air supply if necessary. Water temperature at various outlets is controlled with localized heaters.
MEDICAL INDUSTRIES OF AMERICA, INC. acquired a Learjet 36 for its air ambulance subsidiary Global Air Charter. The aircraft is one of three Learjet 36s that the air ambulance operates and the first added to its fleet since Medical Industries acquired Global in late 1997. Medical Industries estimated that the Learjet would generate between $1 million and $1.5 million in annual revenue and make the company more competitive on international flights. The company plans to base one of the Learjets in Europe.
SIGNATURE FLIGHT SUPPORT appointed Jim Clifford general manager of its operations in Minneapolis, Minn. Clifford previously spent 18 years with Kal-Aero, most recently as assistant to the president and vice president of operations at the Battle Creek, Mich. facility. He will oversee Signature's fixed-base operation, technical services and airline operations at Minneapolis.
A new FAA regulatory proposal - a 10-year effort to rewrite the rules governing training and certification standards for aircraft mechanics - was quickly attacked last week by National Air Transportation Association officials who complained it will drive up costs and reduce flexibility and efficiency.
HERMAN A. REDIESS was named director of the FAA's Office of Aviation Research. he has more than 30 years of aeronautical and technical research experience and for the past 18 months was chief scientist for test and evaluation at FAA's William J. Hughes Technical Center. He previously spent 25 years with NASA where he served as director of research at the Dryden Flight Research Center in Edwards, Calif.
Steven B. Zaidman, who has held a wide range of executive posts in a number of FAA offices, was named to replace George Donohue as associate administrator for research and acquisitions (ARA-1). Wednesday's announcement by FAA Administrator Jane Garvey is the latest in a series of recent personnel announcements as she attempts to fill a number of key vacancies she inherited when she took the agency's top job early last August (BA, Aug. 11/65).
W. BARRY SMITH, a veteran aircraft marketing and sales executive, joined Visionaire as vice president of sales. The St. Louis-based company is developing the VisionAire Vantage, a composite-construction, single-engine business jet. Smith has held sales and marketing positions with the Cessna Citation and Canadair Challenger programs, operated his own aircraft brokerage firm in Dallas and sold fractional ownership shares for Bombardier's Business JetSolutions program.
The Senate Commerce Committee Thursday began consideration of The National Parks Air Tour Management Act of 1998, a compromise bill to further regulate the air tour industry that has received hard-won support from nearly all involved parties. The legislation, the result of months of negotiations among Senate, House, Administration, aviation and parks officials, is a departure from Sen.
Flush with the success of its multi-million dollar preferred-carrier pact with Chrysler and General Motors, Pro Air will hold a forum on July 23 to talk to other corporations interested in forging similar corporate travel agreements.
BRITISH AEROSPACE Model 3101 airplanes (Docket No. 98-CE-54-AD; Amdt. 39-10584; AD 98-12-31) - requires repositioning the fuel cross feed pipes in the lower center fuselage to give an overall clearance of two inches when measuring from the bottom of Frame Station 223. This AD stems from mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for the United Kingdom. The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent the fuel pipe from fracturing during a wheels-up landing because of the positioning of the fuel cross feed pipes.
JERRY HENRY joined Avidyne Corporation as western regional sales manager. Henry will oversee Avidyne's aftermarket sales, distribution development and customer support in 17 western states. He has a 24 years of experience with military and civilian avionics, most recently serving as general manager of Cinema Air Avionics.
FAA, the Coast Guard and DOT officials have decided not to kill the Loran C program as scheduled in 2000, but instead to upgrade Loran facilities during the transition to satellite-based navigation. Steve Zaidman, who was just named associate administrator for research and acquisition and one of the principals at last month's joint meeting, signaled the policy change last month at the RTCA Spring Forum. "It makes sense to fly it a couple of more years," he said at the time. "We should not have a drop-dead date" to decommission Loran.
