AEROSPATIALE Model ATR42-200, -300 and -320 series airplanes (Docket No. 97-NM-303-AD) - adopts a new AD requiring an inspection to detect fatigue cracking of the windshield frame structure, and modification of the windshield frame structure. The AD, which resulted from issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority, is designed to prevent reduced structural integrity of the airplanes resulting from fatigue cracking of the windshield frame structure. FAA estimates 106 airplanes on the U.S.
CITY OF CHICAGO issued a request for proposals to provide fixed-base operator services at O'Hare International Airport. "Each respondent shall plan for the implementation and management of a first-class FBO organization, geared towards providing the highest level of customer service," the city said. The successful bidder will be responsible for development and operation of a replacement FBO facility on the former military property at O'Hare, adjacent to Taxiway V2. The winner also will manage the helistop at O'Hare.
GARRY PRINT was named chief executive officer of Hermetic Aircraft International Corp. (HAIC), Holtsville, N.Y. Print joined HAIC in 1990 after working for Lucas Aerospace in both the U.K. and U.S. He served as director of engineering and quality at Hermetic and later was named vice president-operations. As CEO, he succeeds Roger Fauchon, who will remain with the company as a consultant.
FOR PILOTS who are finding that the aircraft can fly longer than the operator, Sporty's Pilot Shop is offering the "Brief Relief-Flight Extender," a disposable urine bag that contains a special powder to absorb, deodorize and "gel" urine upon contact. The device includes a unique funnel designed to prevent spillage.
CESSNA AIRCRAFT published a Citation Ground Handling and Servicing Manual designed to assist line service and maintenance personnel who may not be familiar with Citation business jets. The manual is indexed by model and divided by tabs. Sections include towing, dimensions, parking, fuel servicing, toilet servicing, hydraulic fluid systems, external cleaning and deicing or anti-icing servicing. The manual covers all Citation models - 500, 550, S550, 525, 560, 650 and 750. Cessna is selling the manual for $75.
ALLEN T. JOHNSON, 62, manager of FlightSafety International's Houston, Texas learning center, died last month. He began his aviation career in 1955 as a U.S. Air Force cadet and spent 29 years in the service. Johnson joined FSI in 1983 and was named manager of the Houston center in 1990.
NINE MONTHS after then-acting FAA Administrator Barry Valentine signed regulations permitting the use of single-engine aircraft in Part 135 passenger-carrying operations under instrument flight rules (BA, Aug. 4/47), FAA Friday published a final rule authorizing such flights. The final rule clarifies the requirements for redundant power sources for gyroscopic instruments.
FLIGHT SERVICES GROUP, Stratford, Conn., added three aircraft to its Part 135 charter certificate: a Falcon 50 based in Nashua, N.H.; a Beechjet 400A based in Long Island, N.Y.; and, a Citation Bravo in West Palm Beach, Fla. FSG manages 35 aircraft at 14 bases in the U.S. and has more than 100 employees. The FSG fleet ranges from Beech King Airs to a BAC 1-11 airliner.
AVIATION MANUFACTURERS, trade associations and publishers are extremely upset with a ruling by FAA Chief Counsel Nicholas Garaufis that blocks the release by FAA of home addresses of people holding FAA airmen certificates because, he said, such action violates the federal Privacy Act. As a result, as of May 30, FAA will release only airmen names and ratings, not addresses. Industry officials complain this will block the flow of safety information to pilots and disrupt marketing programs that have depended on the airmen address list for decades.
U.S. Air Force Flight Training Center at Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas planned a May 8 ceremony to mark a fleet changeover. The service recently took delivery of six new 172R Skyhawks built by Cessna Aircraft that will replace a fleet of older primary training aircraft. The new Skyhawks will be used by club members who include active duty, reserve and retired military personnel.
UNITED STATES AIR TOUR ASSOCIATION President Steve Bassett sent an open letter to aviation trade groups and the media last week warning that proposed federal regulation and/or legislation aimed at restricting commercial air tours over national parks eventually will cause serious damage for all forms of aviation. "In time this will affect all aircraft movements - air carriers, general aviation and military - at all altitudes in all airspace.
Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. introduced Gulfstream Management Services (GMS), described as "an innovative new service designed to simplify aircraft ownership by offering day-to-day flight operations and maintenance services to purchasers of Gulfstream aircraft worldwide." Gulfstream said it teamed with Chrysler Pentastar, which provides a range of aircraft modification and support services, "to provide the turnkey aircraft operation service."
Research into the physics of ice formation shows that getting it off wings may be as simple as passing a small electric voltage through the ice - a fact that could lead to dramatically more simple and lightweight in- flight de-icing equipment.
SIMUFLITE TRAINING INTERNATIONAL is offering a course providing instruction in avoiding Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT). The course reviews recent CFIT accidents and analyzes past incidents to improve planning and standardization. The class also demonstrates proper use of the Flight Safety Foundation checklist as a tool to assess and reduce risk. The CFIT course is offered as part of SimuFlite's Advanced Airmanship program, a series of optional complimentary courses for pilots training at its Dallas/Fort Worth center.
Thiokol Corp., a major player in several segments of the aerospace market including manufacturing castings for turbine engines, changed its name to "Cordant Technologies Inc." last week to encompass its acquisitions of Huck International and 62 percent of Howmet International.
SHORT BROTHERS SD3-30 AND SD3-60 series airplanes equipped with Fire Fighting Enterprises (U.K.) Ltd. fire extinguishers (Docket No. 96-NM-175- AD) - adopts a new AD applicable to those aircraft equipped with certain fire extinguishers that requires replacement of the covers for the fire extinguisher adapter assemblies that are installed on certain bulkheads with new covers that swivel to lock the extinguishers in place; and replacement of nozzles and triggers on these fire extinguishers with better fitting nozzles and stronger triggers.
Five and one-half years after it was announced and two years later than expected, the Model 45 Learjet finally won its FAA certificate of airworthiness and the Canadian-controlled Wichita manufacturer began deliveries Thursday of the first of 155 aircraft on order.
The Japanese Transport Ministry's Civil Aviation Bureau plans to buy three aircraft to replace YS-11 low- and medium-altitude navaid flight check aircraft. The bureau intended originally to replace its six YS-11s with five Saab 2000s, but it had ordered only two when Saab announced plans to end the production program. For the remaining three, the bureau wants a two-engine jet or turboprop that can use runways less than 1,800 meters long.
THE NEW PIPER AIRCRAFT, INC. Models PA-31, PA-31-300, PA-31-325 and PA-31-350 airplanes - adopts a new AD requiring replacement of the lower spar splice plate and reworking the lower spar caps. FAA said the AD resulted from "numerous reports of fretting and cracking of the lower spar splice plates on Piper PA-31 series airplanes in Australia, and a report of one such incident in the U.S. FAA estimates that 1,700 aircraft on the U.S. Registry will be affected by the AD, which is expected to cost $690 per airplane.
Mercury Air Group, Los Angeles, Calif., reported a 24.9 percent increase in net income for the third fiscal quarter ended March 31, even though revenues were down significantly for the period. The company had net income of $1.4 million, compared with $1.1 million for the same period a year earlier. Revenue for the third quarter was $52.7 million, a drop of 27.2 percent from the $72.4 million a year ago, a decline that was due "to a decline in both the price of aviation fuel and volume of fuel sold," according to Mercury.
Brit Air, the European launch customer for the Canadair Regional Jet in October 1994, placed a follow-on order for six 50-passenger CRJs and two 70-seat CRJ Series 700 regional airliners from Bombardier Aerospace. The manufacturer said the carrier plans to secure additional options on Series 700 CRJs. Excluding options, Brit Air will operate a fleet of 24 Canadair RJs by 2001, comprising 20 Series 100s and four Series 700s. The carrier, headquartered in Morlaix, France, currently operates 13 50-passenger Series 100 RJs.
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE continues to develop new product packages and services for its customer base and "is in the process of developing a Gulfstream operating lease program," according to a registration statement filed in connection with the recent public offering of Gulfstream stock (BA, April 27/184). The lease program, expected to include third-party participation, would provide new sales outlets and introduce customers with less initial capital to the company's products.
PETER STAUFFER was promoted to vice president of sales&marketing for Hermetic Aircraft International Corp. (HAIC). A veteran of 23 years in the aerospace business, he previously worked for Oerlikon Buehrle and Ferranti International before joining HAIC in 1991 as commercial director and manager of government programs.
Fairchild Aerospace Corp., which is headquartered at the San Antonio, Texas International Airport (SAT), said its Fairchild Gen-Aero, Inc. subsidiary there has acquired a competing fixed-base operation, AVSAT, Ltd. The AVSAT acquisition includes a 24,000-square-foot hangar, a five-acre concrete ramp, fueling capabilities and the ability to perform repairs. The facility, with 26 employees, occupies more than 7.5 acres and "has prime flightline access" at SAT, according to Fairchild. A spokesman said Fairchild intends to continue operating both FBOs.
BRIAN O'DELL was promoted to vice president-customer service at International Total Services, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, which provides aviation and security staffing. O'Dell had been vice president of performance management at ITS. O'Dell began his aviation career with Frontier Airlines in 1978 and later worked for Continental.
