FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION ordered inspections of more than 475 Cessna Model 172Rs because of quality control problems in the aileron and elevator systems that could affect the pilot's ability to control the aircraft.See article below.
DASSAULT AVIATION is developing a new version of its Series 900 business jet line, the 900C. The new aircraft "combines the proven performance, range and cabin features of the Falcon 900B with the advanced avionics of the Falcon 900EX," according to Dassault Falcon Jet. The Falcon 900C, equipped with a Honeywell Primus 2000 avionics system, is being offered for sale now with first deliveries scheduled for 2000.
OFFICIALS from the National Air Transportation Association, affected operators and original equipment manufacturers are scheduled to meet this week with senior FAA officials, including Peggy Gilligan, deputy associate administrator for regulation and certification, to air complaints over the agency's decision to revoke field approvals for alterations performed on Part 135 cargo aircraft (BA, June 15/261).
Regional airline pilots looking for work are having another banner year, according to regional industry experts. Several factors are contributing to the phenomenon, said Walter Coleman, president of the Regional Airline Association - expanding fleets, a shortage of former military pilots (formerly the main source of pilots for commercial aviation), retirements of pilots hired in the 1960s boom years, and attrition. Typically, regional carriers lose pilots to majors after five to 10 years.
HARTZELL PROPELLER received FAA certification and has begun shipments of its four-bladed, constant-speed, turboprop propeller systems for the Raytheon Aircraft T-6A Texan II. The U.S. Air Force and Navy selected Raytheon's T-6A for the long-term Joint Primary Aircraft Training System (JPATS) program, which is expected to require more than 700 aircraft. Hartzell is slated to produce 15 prop systems this year for the program, ramping up to nearly 100 shipsets per year.
DUNCAN AVIATION appointed Skip Madsen executive vice president and chief operating officer of Kal-Aero, the Battle Creek, Mich. facility Duncan acquired earlier this year (BA, Jan. 19/23). Madsen, an 18-year Duncan veteran, will manage day-to-day operations at Kal-Aero. He formerly served as vice president of aircraft and customer services. Replacing him in that capacity is Rich Baeder, a 16-year Duncan employee. Baeder will be responsible for customer service representatives, scheduling and the airframe, engine and paint shops at Duncan's Lincoln, Neb.
THE ORDERBOOK for the Canadair Regional Jet is nearing the 400 mark with the latest order for four aircraft from United Express carrier Air Wisconsin. See article below. The Canadian manufacturer now has logged firm orders for 376 Series 100, 200 and 700 RJs, of which 241 have been delivered.
REP. ROBERT BORSKI (D-Pa.) Thursday withdrew his proposed foreign repair station amendment after Transportation Committee Chairman Bud Shuster (R- Pa.) promised it would receive close attention next year. Borski, author of H.R.145, which would make foreign repair stations comply with U.S. standards for FAA certification, offered H.R.145 as an amendment to FAA reauthorization legislation, saying it "closes loopholes in our laws" threatening air safety. The bill, he said, also protects against loss of U.S. jobs to stations established outside the U.S.
Atlantic Aviation Flight Services entered into an agreement with Jeff Hare Safety and Survival Systems, Inc. to establish a flight attendant training program. Atlantic said the new initiative "addresses an industry need to provide qualified flight attendants on large-cabin aircraft, in both Part 91 and Part 135 operations."
BOMBARDIER SERVICES, through its United Kingdom unit Shorts Support Services, was selected as the "preferred bidder" to provide flight training and related services at 13 University Air Squadrons (UAS) and Air Experience Flights (AEF) locations in Great Britain. Bombardier said nearly 70 percent of Royal Air Force pilots receive elementary flying training through the UAS system, while AEFs provide flying experience for Air Cadets. Bombardier is engaged in detailed discussions with the U.K.
VISIONAIRE CORP. signed an agreement with Aero-Dienst in Nurenburg, Germany, to be a service center for the VisionAire Vantage single-engine business jet for Eastern and Central Europe. Aero-Dienst has serviced business jets, turboprops and helicopters for 40 years.
CHICAGO AVIATION COMMISSIONER Mary Rose Loney promised that Chicago was "committed" to operating Merrill C. Meigs Field only until Feb. 10, 2002. She made it clear that the downtown general aviation airport will be closed and turned into parkland after that date. After a long battle between Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar over the fate of Meigs, both sides agreed that the airport would remain open until Feb. 10, 2002 (BA, Jan. 13, 1997/14).
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION issued the first segment of a phased Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) for the Cirrus SR20, according to Cirrus Design Corp. The initial TIA allows FAA pilots to fly the company's two conforming airplanes to validate FAR Part 23 flight tests. The manufacturer said it expects all FAA flight tests to be concluded in July.
AlliedSignal Inc. completed the acquisition of a controlling interest in Normalair-Garrett Ltd. (NGL) from U.K.-based GKN plc. NGL manufactures environmental control systems for the aerospace industry. As part of the transaction, AlliedSignal also acquired from GKN 100 percent of Hermetic Aircraft International Corp., a Holtsville, N.Y.-based repair and overhaul facility. NGL had sales of $155 million in 1997, while Hermetic had sales of $18.5 million. AlliedSignal had held a 48 percent stake in NGL since 1967 and now has a 52 percent interest.
EARL ROBINSON, president of Fairchild Dornier's Regional and Business Aircraft unit and the engineering power behind the company's new 728 series of aircraft, resigned this month. He was said to be uncomfortable with some major top management changes made within the organization.
AIRNET SYSTEMS, INC., said a proposed merger agreement with Quick International Courier was terminated because of "mutual differences in the management approaches, philosophies and corporate cultures of the companies." AirNet entered into a definitive agreement in April under which it planned to acquire Quick for 3.1 million AirNet common shares (BA, June 1/240). AirNet operates a fleet of 114 aircraft delivering 18,000 shipments daily for the banking, medical, legal and media businesses.
The General Electric Company, p.l.c., completed the merger of Tracor, Inc., with its U.S. subsidiary GEC-Marconi. The British conglomerate, which is not affiliated with the similarly named U.S. company, paid $40 per share of Tracor common stock, with the total cost, including assumed debt, amounting to $1.4 billion. Tracor will be managed by the North America operations of GEC-Marconi, a major subsidiary of GEC.
BMW ROLLS-ROYCE is engaged in a long-term weight reduction program for the BR710A2-20 turbofans that power the Bombardier Global Express. The aircraft manufacturer says the engines are about 400 pounds too heavy per shipset, and the engine maker said it is making progress on a number of weight reduction changes, some of which are expected to be retrofitable.
BRITISH AEROSPACE Model BAe 146 series airplanes and Avro 146-RJ series airplane (Docket No. 98-NM-52-AD; Amdt. 39-10554; AD 98-11-29) - requires a one-time inspection to detect corrosion of the threads of the eyebolt and piston rod on the retraction jack of the main landing gear and repair, if necessary. This amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
AMR COMBS added a 24,000-square-foot hangar to its fixed-base operation in Indianapolis, Indiana. The hangar, large enough to accommodate the Gulfstream V and Global Express aircraft, will have secured, private entrances, line service and conference rooms.
BOMBARDIER has orders for 80 Global Express business jets, and expects to have delivered 16-20 "green" aircraft to completion centers by the end of January, which is the end of Bombardier's fiscal year. Type certification is still expected late this month or in early July following a successful "Type Board" meeting earlier this month that included representatives of Transport Canada, FAA and JAA. "We're right on time with this project," adds Michael Graff, president of the company's Business Aircraft unit.
DAVID D. THOMAS, 85, one of the architects of the U.S. air traffic control system who later served as deputy administrator of FAA, died June 17. After beginning his career with American Airlines, Thomas joined the former Civil Aeronautics Administration in 1938 as an air traffic controller and remained associated with the agency in a variety of management posts as it became the Federal Aviation Agency and then the Federal Aviation Administration. Thomas was deputy administrator from July 1, 1965 through Feb.
ALL 11 PEOPLE on board a Fairchild Metro II were killed Thursday morning as the crew attempted to make an emergency landing at Montreal's Mirabel Airport. The plane, carrying 11 General Electric employees, had just departed Dorval, the city's primary commercial airport enroute to Peterborough, Ontario. The pilot first reported an unspecified hydraulic problem, but declined to declare an emergency when questioned by controllers. A few minutes, later, however, the crew reported smoke in the cockpit and the Propair flight was redirected to Mirabel.
CONTINENTAL EXPRESS said the Independent Association of Continental Pilots informed the carrier that its members voted down a five-year labor agreement. The rejection by pilots of the regional carrier follows acceptance of a new five-year pact by pilots at the parent company, Continental Airlines. Continental said it will reopen talks with the regional pilots.
UNITED TURBINE CORP., Miami, Fla., purchased the PT6A and PT6T inventory of North American Turbines (formerly Aviation Enterprises International), also of Miami. The acquisition will more than double United Turbine's PT6A/PT6T overhaul, repair and test capacity. The inventory comprises parts, tooling and test equipment, including a PT6T dynamometer test cell.
