TFE731 series turbofan engines (Docket No. 97-ANE-51-AD) - proposes to supersede an existing AD that requires installation of a clamp assembly to support the rigid fuel tube. This action would require installation of an improved flexible fuel tube. This proposal is prompted by reports of fuel leaks from a cracked fuel tube in engines that already have a clamp assembly installed in accordance with the current AD.
A special supplemental appropriation of $35 million for airport expansion projects in Georgia was signed into law March 30 by Gov. Zell Miller, a move that won the hearty endorsement of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.
Saab Aircraft of Stockholm, Sweden said it is strengthening its global customer support organization, and incorporating its used aircraft sales and marketing into the Saab Aircraft Finance Group. The company said Tuesday that Marlin (Marty) Schultz was named acting president of Saab Aircraft of America, Inc. (SAAI), responsible for customer support in the Americas.
JET AVIATION BUSINESS JETS AG of Zurich, Switzerland received the Air Operator Certificate from the Swiss Federal Office for Civil Aviation. The company said the new certification means it "officially complies with the same requirements as commercial aircraft operators." Theo Staub, general manager of Jet Aviation Business Jets, termed receipt of the AOC "a major achievement. We were required to implement and maintain a Quality System corresponding to the ISO 9000 standards."
SIMUFLITE TRAINING INTERNATIONAL won six contracts to provide simulator and ground school training for FAA inspectors. Under contracts covering the next three years, SimuFlite will provide initial and recurrent training in Falcon 20/20/50, Gulfstream II, King Air 200 and Learjet 24/25 aircraft. All of the contracts are renewals, except for the Gulfstream II.
CEF INDUSTRIES, which makes products for a variety of airline, military and general aviation aircraft, named DRS, Inc. of Milwaukee, Wis. an authorized service facility to provide warranty and repair services for its entire product line. CEF makes components for aircraft manufactured by Gulfstream, Raytheon, Saab/Fairchild, CASA and Piper.
THE BIG NEWS in Washington, D.C. this week will be announcement of FAA's new safety agenda, which Administrator Jane Garvey has treated as one of her top priorities. Noting that FAA was swamped with more than 1,000 safety recommendations from various sources - a formidable 450 even after eliminating duplication - Garvey observed last year, "That is not a focused agenda." She said then that the safety agenda FAA is developing "ranks the recommendations based on hard data using established and tested methodologies" (BA, Nov. 3/187).
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA will hold a ceremony April 23 to celebrate the naming and dedication of the The John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences and Odegard Hall. Odegard is the is the founder and longtime director of the university's aerospace education program (BA, Feb. 16/79).
CAMERON DUMAS was named general manager of Million Air at Aero Plex in Long Beach, Calif. Dumas joined the Million Air Long Beach fixed-base operation in 1993 and has served in various aircraft service capacities at the Daugherty Field operation.
IF YOU ACT FAST you may be able to get a copy of a new FAA information video on traffic patterns at the annual Sun 'N Fun Fly-In before this year's event. The information video "will help pilots follow special arrival and departure procedures that will be in effect April 17-25" in Lakeland, Fla. The video provides graphic presentations outlining traffic flow into Lakeland's Linder Airport; aerial footage to help pilots locate landmarks and busy routes; and, procedures for general aviation aircraft, warbirds and planes without radios.
FINDING AND KEEPING PILOTS continues to be a challenge for charter operators and regionals as the big airlines keep hiring. AIR, Inc. of Atlanta said Friday "airline pilot hiring was the best in history in March with 1,505 new jobs for the month," adding that at the current rate, the industry will add 13,750 new pilot jobs during 1998. During March, 193 of the 228 total airlines/operators reporting to AIR, Inc. hired pilots.
Dave McGowan has been involved in the aviation business since he was a pilot in Vietnam during the war, and he plans to keep running the aircraft brokerage business he's operated since 1990. But he may be hard to reach in the late afternoon and evening for the next six months because he's found a new part-time baseball vocation as the public address announcer for the American League's Baltimore Orioles home games at Camden Yards stadium.
Mercury Air Group, Inc. was issued a $19 million Airport Exempt Facility Bond through the California Economic Development Financing Authority and the company said bond proceeds will assist in two major expansion projects - construction of the largest cargo facility at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and of a new fixed-base operation facility on a 16-acre site at Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport (BUR) where Mercury currently provides FBO services. The new 180,000-square-foot cargo facility at LAX is scheduled to open April 13.
ANOTHER ITEM percolating to the top of the FAA agenda is what, if anything, to do about changing the way the agency regulates operation of aircraft used in fractional ownership programs. Currently, the fractional ownership programs are allowed to operate under the provisions of Part 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. Some elements within FAA feel the fractionals should be required to meet the more restrictive regulations of Part 135, citing questions about who has operational control of aircraft operated under fractional ownership programs.
ALLIEDSIGNAL will expand its Lehigh Valley, Pa. wheel and brake repair and overhaul service center, creating 25 new jobs and retaining 65 existing positions. AlliedSignal will consolidate two smaller existing plants in the Allentown, Pa. area into a 37,000-square-foot leased facility in Airport Park near the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton Airport.
SUPERIOR AIR PARTS, one of the largest providers of PMA parts for Continental and Lycoming engines, acquired its biggest independent competitor, Aircraft Technology Corp., part of what Superior said is the beginning of an acquisition push by the Dallas-based manufacturer and distributor. See article on Page 162.
Model TS-2A series airplanes (Docket No. 97-NM-75-AD; Amdt. 39-10353; AD 98-04-42) - requires revising the airplane flight manual to modify the limitation that prohibits positioning the power levers below the flight idle stop during flight, and to add a statement of the consequences of such positioning of the power levers. This amendment is prompted by incidents and accidents involving turboprop airplanes in which the ground propeller beta range was used improperly during flight.
Model 1125 Westwind Astra and Astra SPX series airplanes (Docket No. 98-NM-104-AD) - requires disabling of the baggage compartment electrical heating blankets. FAA said the amendment was prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil aviation airworthiness authority. Disabling the heating blankets is being required to prevent overheating and increased risk of fire. Astra Alert Service Bulletin 1125-25A-175, dated Feb.
Model AS 332L2 helicopters (Docket No. 97-SW-29-AD; Amdt. 39-10359; AD 98-04-48) - requires modifying the main rotor blade vibration absorber by replacing the weight support assemblies with reinforced weight support assemblies. This amendment is prompted by a report of the failure of a weight support assembly in flight.
CESSNA Model 172R airplanes (Docket No. 97-CE-96-AD) - proposes to require modifying the lower forward doorpost bulkhead by installing rivets. The proposed AD is the result of a report from the manufacturer that these rivets were erroneously omitted during manufacture of some of the new production airplanes. The actions specified by this proposed AD are intended to prevent reduced structural rigidity at the forward doorpost bulkhead, which could result in structural cracking and possible loss of control of the airplane.
SINO SWEARINGEN named Roger Wilson vice president of engineering. Wilson previously served with Learjet, where he directed the Learjet 45 development program. He joined Learjet's engineering department in 1977 and held positions of increasing responsibility. In his new position, Wilson will oversee the continuing development and certification of the SJ30-2 business jet, slated for initial deliveries in the fourth quarter of 1999. Wilson will report to Ron Neal, senior vice president-operations
SALT LAKE CITY AIRPORT AUTHORITY is seeking bids for construction of a waste glycol processing facility at Salt Lake City International Airport (Project No. 54 1002 0284). Bids are due before 1:50 p.m. April 22. A pre-bid meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. April 13 in the authority's Engineering Conference Room, Terminal 1, second floor, at the airport. Contact documents may be obtained for $100 at the Facilities Engineering Office, Terminal 1.
UNITED STATES AIR TOUR ASSOCIATION is relocating to new quarters in Calverton, Md., effective April 6. The association, which represents air tour operators, is now located in a two-building, high-rise office complex situated less than one mile north of the intersection of I-95 and I-495, 20 minutes south of Baltimore/Washington International Airport and three minutes north of the Greenbelt, Md. Metro subway station. The new address is 4041 Powder Mill Road, Suite 201, Calverton, Md. 20705; telephone, (301) 931-8770, fax, (301) 931-8774.
A comprehensive General Accounting Office report on FAA inspection and enforcement activities recommends that FAA require its inspectors "to report all observed problems and violations," a course of action opposed by the vast majority of agency inspectors who believe their principal job is ensuring industry compliance with applicable safety regulations rather than pursuing enforcement cases when violations are discovered.
