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.
RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT SERVICES - DALLAS completed its move from Addison Airport to Dallas Love Field. The facility, which has expanded weekday business hours from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., covers 33,000 square feet of hangar and office space.
THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION keeps calling for adoption of performance-based user fees, presumably including Eurocontrol-like charges for air traffic services. What impact would such a system have on the operating costs of U.S.-based business aircraft? Well, a survey in the April issue of Business&Commercial Aviation says U.S. operators of Falcon 2000 business jets reported average direct operating costs ranging from $1,000 to $1,150 per hour.
Noel Forgeard, 51, the former top executive of two Matra divisions, was named managing director of Airbus Industrie, replacing Jean Pierson, who will retire after 13 years in the post. Forgeard was formerly chief executive of Matra High Technology and Matra BAe Dynamics, its joint venture with British Aerospace. He becomes the first head of Airbus to come from the private sector. Aerospatiale had been the source of Airbus leaders.
The Interagency GPS Executive Board has agreed to provide a second civil Global Positioning System frequency free to the international aviation community, Vice President Al Gore announced last week, but the providers of the civil signals - the Transportation Department instead of the Defense Department - can be expected to pay for them. The Defense Department will not have to pick up the expense for civil users, sources said.
CITY OF KEENE, N.H., requests proposals until 10 a.m. May 1 for the development of aviation-related facilities and/or services at Dillant- Hopkins Airport. Facilities and services may include corporate hangars/maintenance facilities, full-service fixed-base operations, basic and advanced flight schools, airframe and powerplant maintenance shops, avionics repair shops, aircraft sales and on-demand charter operations. To obtain proposal documents, contact Robert Wyman, city purchasing agent, at (603) 357-9800.
FLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL won certification for a second CitationJet full flight simulator at the Citation learning center in Wichita, Kan. FlightSafety Simulation Systems designed and built the simulator, which includes a high-definition ChromaView visual system and a MultiView panoramic display. FlightSafety operates 20 Citation simulators at six of its centers, with half of those based in Wichita.
Cessna Finance Corp. is offering buyers of the company's new Model 172 single-engine aircraft terms of up to 25 years and monthly payments of less than $1,000 in return for substantial down payments. The new program, dubbed LTS (Long Term Security) by Cessna, is applicable to the purchase of new Model 172R Skyhawks and Model 172S Skyhawk SPs by U.S. and Canadian customers.
SOCATA Model TBM-700 airplanes (Docket No. 97-CE-76-AD) - proposes to require inspecting the elevator trim tab for cracks and replacing any cracked elevator trim tab part. The proposal is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for France. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent cracks in the elevator trim tab fitting, which could result in separation of the elevator trim cable and loss of control of the airplane.
CHC Helicopter Corp., St. John's, Newfoundland, announced the resignation of Rudy Palladina, the company's president and chief executive officer, because of differences with the chairman.
KEN MERCIER joined AAR Cooper Aviation as vice president-sales and marketing. Mercier will direct growth of business markets. He has served with AAR for three years, most recently as vice president-worldwide customer support for the AAR Allen Group.
KEN COOPER joined AAR Corporation as manager-marketing services. Cooper, who has 27 years of marketing experience, will support marketing efforts of the corporation.
LINDA YOUNG was named vice president of operations for MedAire. Young will direct operations associated with MedAire's MedLink emergency telemedicine center, as well as many different medical-related programs and services MedAire offers corporate travelers, corporate flight departments and commercial airlines. She previously was manager of quality assurance for Petroleum Helicopter's AirEvac.
Gulfstream Aerospace Corp., which announced earlier it planned to establish a fractional ownership program in the Middle East using Gulfstream IV-SP business jets (BA, Nov. 24/223), said last week it had executed a contract with "a group of Middle East investors to purchase 12 Gulfstream IV-SP aircraft which will be used to expand the highly successful Gulfstream Shares fractional ownership concept to the Middle East."
I.M.P. GROUP INTERNATIONAL named David Miller executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Innotech-Execaire Aviation group of companies. Miller, who will report to I.M.P. President Stephen Plummer, will oversee day-to-day operations at the Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver facilities. He formerly served as vice president and general manager of I.M.P. Aerospace Components Limited, which manufactures components for Boeing, Bombardier, Bell and Lockheed Martin. Miller also has held positions with Spar Aerospace.
While there is much work remaining, FAA officials told reporters Friday they have made considerable progress in addressing the Year 2000 (Y2K) situation with the agency's air traffic computers and have developed a detailed schedule to accomplish remaining tasks.
SOCATA Model TBM-700 airplanes (Docket No. 97-CE-43-AD; Amdt. 39- 10317; AD 98-04-04) - requires replacing the starter generator mounting adapter with an improved part. This AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for France. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent loss of the starter generator mounting adapter, which could result in loss of electrical power.
