Model SAAB 340B and SAAB 2000 series airplanes (Docket No. 97-NM- 134-AD) - proposes to require modification of the check valves of the airfoil de-icing system, or replacement of the check valves with improved valves. This proposal is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
S.p.A. S.205 series and Models S.208 and S.208A airplanes (Docket No. 97-CE-144-AD) - requires inspecting all flight control cables (elevator, aileron, rudder, flaps, nose gear steering, parking brake, safety belts, and autopilot systems) for cracks in the eye end, and replacing any control cable with any crack in the eye end. This AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for Italy.
ROBERT K. MOORE was promoted to general manager of PPG Industries aircraft products business in Huntsville, Ala. A 33-year veteran of PPG, Moore has general, sales and plant management experience. He had been general manager of the company's automotive glass original equipment products business in Troy, Mich. since 1992. He began his career with PPG in 1965 at the former Mount Vernon, Ohio glass plant and held positions in employee relations there and at several other plants before moving into management.
Japan's Ministry of Transport, the Defense Agency and the local Ibaragi government agreed this month to construct a 2,700-meter second runway at Hyakuri air force base that eventually will relieve congestion at Tokyo's Narita International Airport. Hyakuri is 42 miles northeast of Tokyo and 27 miles north of Narita.
JET AVIATION added a Gulfstream IV-SP, a Challenger 604 and two Gulfstream IIs to its stable of managed aircraft, and said the Challenger and the two Gulfstream IIs will be available for charter. Jet Aviation also added three G-IIs and one Learjet 55 to its charter fleet through the company's Partnership Program, under which flight departments can generate revenue by making their company's aircraft available for charter when not being used by the owner.
WAYFARER AVIATION added a second Model 35A Learjet to its charter fleet. The new addition is based at the company's headquarters at the Westchester County Airport in White Plains, N.Y.
SIMCOM TRAINING CENTERS, Orlando, Fla., completed and activated its first Pilatus PC-12 simulator this month. The unit, built by Simcom in conjunction with Pilatus, includes a full Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS) and a KLN-90B Global Positioning System (GPS) unit. The simulator also has a 180-degree day/night visual motion cueing system.
AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION will host its Eighth Annual Fly-In and Open House at AOPA headquarters at the Frederick, Md. Municipal Airport on Saturday, June 6. Last year's open house attracted more than 400 aircraft and more than 4,000 participants. Admission is free to all seminars, presentations and exhibits, including two scheduled talks by Rod Machado, the AOPA Project Pilot national flight instructor. For more information, call AOPA at (301) 695-2000.
CFE COMPANY said its CFE738 engine has accumulated more than 100,000 hours of operation since entering service in 1995. More than 100 of the 5,940- pound-thrust engines are powering Falcon 2000 aircraft, with the engine fleet accumulating more than 4,000 hours of operation a month.
NATIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION is holding events for corporate pilots in the New Jersey/New York area May 13 and 14. The sessions will include an air traffic users dialogue featuring local FAA air traffic service managers, followed by briefings on operational, technical and legislative issues by NBAA President Jack Olcott and other NBAA staff members. The May 13 sessions will be held at the Hasbrouck Heights, N.J. Holiday Inn near Teterboro Airport, while the May 14 meetings will be at the Renaissance Westchester Hotel in White Plains, N.Y.
THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA issued a request for proposals (RFP) for the "development and operation of first-class fixed-base operator facilities at Philadelphia International Airport and Northeast Philadelphia Airport." Copies of the RFP are available from the Office of the Director, City of Philadelphia, Department of Commerce, Division of Aviation, Philadelphia International Airport, 8800 Essington Ave., Terminal E, Philadelphia, Pa. 19153, or by calling (215) 937-5450. Responses are due by noon June 12.
Major runway reconstruction and navaid replacement projects scheduled at Westchester County Airport (HPN) in White Plains, N.Y. and at Bradley International (BDL) in Windsor Locks, Conn. will disrupt airline and business aviation flight activity for several months this spring and summer.
Model SA 365N, N1, and AS 365N2 helicopters (Docket No. 97-SW-21-AD) - requires inspections of the main gearbox suspension diagonal cross-member for cracks, and removal of the diagonal cross-member and replacement with an airworthy diagonal cross-member if any crack is found. This amendment is prompted by several reports of the discovery of cracks in diagonal cross-members.
WHAT YOU PAY depends on which region of the Federal Aviation Administration you're dealing with when it comes to enforcement actions and civil penalties. According to a recent General Accounting Office report, "the extent to which penalties were reduced varied substantially from region to region. In fiscal 1996, for example, the New England region settled for the lowest median penalty (13 cents on the dollar), while five other regions settled for the highest median penalty (50 cents on the dollar)."
T. WAKELEE (WAKE) SMITH is the new executive vice president of FlightSafety Boeing Training International, which is headquartered in Seattle, Wash. Smith also will serve as chief financial officer of the company and will report to FlightSafety Boeing President David Smukowski. Smith joins the Seattle company from Simat, Helliesen&Eichner's New York office, where he was a vice president and a principal of the aviation consulting firm.
Cessna Aircraft won FAA certification Wednesday for its Excel business jet, one of the most successful programs in the long history of the Citation business jet family even before deliveries begin later this quarter. Since announcing the program at the NBAA convention in 1994, Cessna has logged orders for more than 200 of the aircraft, resulting in a backlog in excess of $1.6 billion.
SCOTT SELIGMAN was named director of public relations for United Technologies Corp., in the company's Washington, D.C. office. Seligman, 46, joins UTC from Burson-Marsteller, where he was senior vice president and managing director, public affairs, China. He will be responsible for coordinating the company's communications efforts in Washington, while providing strategic direction to UTC's international communications programs. He will report to Peter Murphy, UTC's chief public relations officer.
The Federal Aviation Administration wasted $1.5 billion on the Advanced Automation System and then it and its contractors mutually waived claims of liability and non-performance before the contract was restructured in 1995, according to a report released last week by Transportation Department Inspector General Kenneth Mead. The report termed the $1.5 billion a "total loss."
Model WG-30 Series 100 and 100-60 helicopters (Docket No. 97-SW-28-AD) - requires an initial visual inspection and replacement, if necessary, of all main rotor head tie-bars. Thereafter, this AD requires, at intervals not to exceed 220 hours time-in-service, replacing each main rotor head tie-bar with an airworthy tie-bar. This amendment is prompted by an accident on a similar model military helicopter in which a tie-bar failed. Failure of a tie-bar could result in loss of a main rotor blade and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
THREE AVIATION GROUPS concerned about proposed legislation to limit air tour flights over national parks wrote to Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) last week asking the Senate Commerce Committee chairman to limit the scope of his overflights bill, S.268. The organizations told McCain the National Parks Overflight Working Group - which includes aviation and environmental interests, FAA and the National Park Service - has made significant progress but said NPOWG needs time to complete that consultative process.
L. RONALD LEE was appointed senior vice president of M&M Aerospace Hardware, Miami, Fla., an international distributor of aerospace fasteners. He will be responsible for various operational aspects of the privately held company. A native of Detroit and a Marine Corps veteran, Lee spent the first two decades of his career in the automotive hardware industry.
Summary: Pursuant to FAA's rulemaking provisions governing the application, processing, and disposition of petitions for exemption (14 CFR Part 11), this notice contains a summary of certain petitions seeking relief from specified requirements of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR Chapter I), dispositions of certain petitions previously received, and corrections. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities.
NAPIER INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC. won a U.S. patent for a new line of paint stripping products and cleaners designed to replace toxic strippers like methylene chloride used in the aircraft, marine and heavy equipment industries. Napier, headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, said its SV-35 product line can remove a variety of paints and coatings including chromate primer systems used in the aircraft industry. Napier said its new line of aircraft strippers is in varying stages of testing by more than 70 aircraft refurbishers.
The United States Air Tour Association, the National Air Transportation Association and the Helicopter Association International wrote a joint letter to Commerce Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) Thursday asking him to limit legislative action on national park overflights by air tour operators until an industry working group has time to complete its mission.
An "alliance of equals" is planned for creation early near year, following the start of negotiations Thursday concerning a proposed merger between GKN Westland Helicopters of the U.K. and Italy's Agusta division of Finmeccanica. A memorandum of understanding between the companies is planned that will combine the design, manufacturing and marketing of their helicopter businesses, with a current joint order book of more than $8.5 billion.
