MARK QUANDAHL was appointed field service representative in the Upper Midwest for Dassault Falcon Jet. Quandahl previously served as lead A&P technician and inspector with K-C Aviation.
RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT SERVICES LIMITED, part of Raytheon's United Kingdom subsidiary Raytheon Services Limited, completed an avionics upgrade on six Hawker 700 CC3s operated by the 32 (The Royal) Squadron of the Royal Air Force. The 18-month contract, completed at Raytheon's Broughton, Chester facility, included the installation of an enhanced avionics package with an integrated flight management system. Raytheon Aircraft was responsible for the feasibility study, initial design, procurement of parts, installation and equipment testing.
SINO SWEARINGEN appointed PS Air of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a distributor for the SJ30-2 business jet in Iowa, North and South Dakota, Minnesota and Nebraska. PS Air ordered eight of the entry-level business jets with delivery to begin in the second quarter of 2000. The fixed-base operator also will service and support the SJ30-2.
BRITISH AEROSPACE Model ATP airplanes (Docket No. 98-NM-53-AD; Amdt. 39-10581; AD 98-12-27) - requires repetitive magnetic particle inspections for cracking of the splined operating shaft of the internal door handle on the forward passenger door, rear passenger door and rear baggage door, and corrective actions, if necessary. This amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON Model 407 helicopters (Docket No. 98-SW-10-AD; Amdt. 39-10576; AD 98-12-22) - requires shimming the tail rotor drive system bearing supports. This amendment is prompted by reports of cracked bearing hangar support arms in the area of the fillet radius. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent failure of the bearing supports, which could result in excessive tail rotor drive system vibration, loss of tail rotor drive and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. FAA estimates that 160 helicopters on the U.S.
AEROSPATIALE Model ATR 42 and ATR 72 (Docket No. 97-NM-64-AD; Amdt. 39-10589; AD 98-13-01) - requires replacement of the forward cargo compartment's left longitudinal net with a new reinforced net. This amendment is prompted by the issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent blockage of the access door, which could restrict access between the flight deck and passenger compartment during normal operations or an emergency evacuation.
YEARS OF PLANNING and construction are scheduled to culminate today (July 6) in the opening of the new Hong Kong International Airport, Chek Lap Kok. Today's opening was dependent on the success of a carefully choreographed weekend-long move of equipment and personnel from the old airport to the new facility. AMR Combs won a 15-year franchise to operate the Hong Kong Business Aviation Centre at the new airport (BA, July 14/19).
The Pratt&Whitney PW150A turboprop engine, selected to power the de Havilland Dash 8Q 400 regional airliner, won type certification late last month from Transport Canada. Flat-rated at 5,071 shaft horsepower at maximum takeoff power, the engine was designed specifically for new generation, high-speed turboprops of 50 to 80 seats. The PW150A generates more power than any other member of the PW100 family.
HARTZELL PROPELLER received FAA approval for installation of its three- bladed Top Prop propeller system on Rockwell/Gulfstream/Commander 112, 112A and 112B aircraft. The 75-inch, aluminum hub, constant speed system is compatible with the "Hot Shot" turbo-intercooler conversion from RCM Normalizing Inc. of Big Piney, Wyo.
SHELLY MEDLIN joined Western Aircraft as a customer service representative. Medlin has customer service experience with AIM International and the former West One Bank.
Cessna Aircraft has increased training for its Model 172R final assembly employees and increased the number of inspection stations in response to quality control problems found in the flight control systems of the new piston aircraft (BA, June 29/283).
Senior Federal Aviation Administration officials last month reaffirmed that they have delayed implementation of the agency's so-called "ticket program," which allows inspectors to issue administrative actions on the spot, but industry leaders remained skeptical and called on the agency to permanently shelve the program (BA, June 8/247).
FLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL won FAA Part 142 approval for its international airline training center at New York's LaGuardia Airport. The new federal standard replaces previous exemptions to the regulations and is designed to increase the use of flight simulators and flight training devices. With Part 142 approval in hand, FSI said it can train pilots as a certificate-holding entity similar to an airline.
EXTEX added a platinum aluminide coating to extend the durability of its Inconel 738 stainless steel #1 turbine nozzle for the Allison 250 engine. The coating protects against cracks under severe operating environments and reduces oxidation, sulfidation and erosion. Extex provides more than 200 replacement parts for combustion, compressor, gearbox and turbine modules on Series I through IV A250 engines.
Sextant Avionique and Dassault Electronique formed a partnership to market their communication, navigation and surveillance products to airlines and aircraft manufacturers. The two French firms call their partnership CNS Avionics GIE. The company, as an economic interest group, can use a common vehicle for marketing and coordination, but cannot earn or retain profits itself since these accrue directly to the participating companies.
CONAIR AVIATION LTD. opened a new aircraft painting facility at Abbotsford Airport in British Columbia, Canada. The 18,000-square-foot facility can accommodate large corporate aircraft such as the Global Express. While the facility was created primarily for corporate aircraft business, it will be used to paint regional aircraft as well. Along with painting, Conair provides interior refurbishment, avionics upgrades and aircraft maintenance on Cessna, Learjet, Falcon, Gulfstream, Bombardier and Raytheon aircraft.
MIDWAY ISLANDS' Henderson Field has opened to commercial, general aviation and military traffic. The airport, which previously was a military installation, won Part 139 limited airport certification and has published GPS and TACAN approaches. Midway Atoll, located 1,200 miles northwest of Honolulu and 2,200 miles from Japan, served as a U.S. Naval Air Facility from 1941 to 1996, when jurisdiction was transferred to the Department of Interior.
WOLFGANG HEUBERGER was appointed director of maintenance for Banyan Air Service. Heuberger has 21 years of aircraft maintenance experience, most recently as a service manager for Raytheon Aircraft Services.
FOKKER Model F-28 Mark 1000, 2000, 3000 and 4000 series airplanes (Docket No. 98-NM-45-AD; Amdt. 39-10580; AD 98-12-26) - requires a one-time inspection to determine the torque values of the coupling fitting attachment bolts at Fuselage Station 10790 and corrective action, if necessary. This amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
FAA Administrator Jane Garvey, who has announced a number of key personnel changes in recent weeks, named another group of individuals to new slots last week, including the head of the National Aeronautic Association.
DE HAVILLAND Model DHC-8-100, -200 and -300 series airplanes (Docket No. 98-NM-70-AD) - proposes to revise an existing AD that requires modification of the attitude and heading reference systems AHRSs. The AD stemmed from a report of loss of power to both AHRS's during flight due to a faulty terminal block that is connected to the AHRS signal ground. This action limits the AD's applicability to aircraft with Serial Numbers 3 through 472. FAA estimates that with the revision, the AD will cover 167 Series 100, 200 and 300 aircraft at a combined cost of $41,750.
DECRANE AIRCRAFT HOLDINGS, INC. completed the acquisition of Avtech Corp., a Seattle-based provider of electronic systems for the aerospace industry. Avtech, founded in 1963, provides a variety of electronics products for business, regional and commuter aircraft manufacturers and leading avionics manufacturers.
CASA Model C-212 series airplanes (Docket No. 98-NM-97-AD; Amdt. 39-10582; AD 98-12-28) - requires repetitive inspections for cracking in the false spar of the wing and repair, if necessary. This amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority. The actions specified by the AD are intended to find and correct false spar cracking, which could reduce the structural integrity of the wing. The AD is expected to cover 41 aircraft on the U.S.
GENERAL AVIATION MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION published the 1998 General Aviation Statistical Databook, which provides historical statistical information on U.S. general aviation aircraft shipments and billings, aviation safety, hours flown by GA aircraft and related information. Copies are available for $10 from GAMA, 1400 K St. N.W., Suite 801, Washington, D.C. 20005-2485.
