BOMBARDIER sold two Challenger 604 business jets to two operators in Argentina and Venezuela. Operators in Latin America - mostly in Brazil, Mexico and Venezuela - account for 21 Challenger aircraft, including five of the new 604 model. Target Aviation Ltda. of Sao Paulo, Brazil provides service for the Latin American fleet.
PIPER Model PA 38-112 airplanes (Docket No. 96-CE-43-AD; Amdt. 39- 10308; AD 98-03-16) - requires repetitively replacing the upper rudder hinge bracket. This action is prompted by reports of fatigue cracks on the upper rudder hinge bracket, and the manufacture of an improved upper rudder hinge bracket. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent cracks in the upper rudder hinge bracket, which could result in separation of the rudder from the airplane and loss of control of the airplane.
Israel Aircraft Industries recorded its first profit in five years, earning $24.3 million in 1997, the first year of operations following completion of a four-year recovery plan. Sales of $1.7 billion were up 15 percent over 1996 sales of $1.5 million. Profit before taxes and special expenses was $30 million, compared with a loss of $41.1 billion in 1996.
Mercury Air Group acquired the assets of Intermodal Services, a division of a subsidiary of Corporate Express Delivery Systems, Inc. Intermodal Services is an air cargo handling business based at Hartsfield International Airport in Atlanta. It will operate as a division of Mercury Air Cargo.
1997 ANNUAL TURBINE AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT REVIEW is off the presses and available for purchase by business aircraft operators, prospective aircraft purchasers and others who want to assess the safety record of business jets and turboprops. Published by Robert E. Breiling Associates, the 1997 review contains more than 500 pages of detailed narrative accident report summaries involving some 300 turbine-powered aircraft/helicopter accidents and incidents that occurred last year.
A Flight Safety Foundation task force focusing on Approach-and-Landing Accident Reduction (ALAR) concluded that "the single most common ALA causal factor was the flight crew continuing the approach descent below minimum descent altitude or decision height without adequate visual cues," and developed recommendations designed to address the problem. FSF's ALAR Task Force was formed in 1997. The foundation said early data resulted in several hypotheses about causes and avoidance of ALAs. These include:
PARK EXPRESS, a startup airline in Turkey, ordered five Avro RJ100s valued at $150 million from AI(R). The first two will be delivered in November and December, with the remaining three to follow in the second half of 1999. Atilla Celebl, former chairman and chief executive of Turkish Airlines, is in charge of setting up the new airline and getting it operational. He called the Avro RJ100s "the ideal vehicle for the establishment of the first dedicated private regional airline in Turkey."
DALLAS AIRMOTIVE INC. was named a designated overhaul facility for Pratt&Whitney Canada PW100 engines. Dallas Airmotive has been an authorized P&WC PT6 distributor since 1967 and JT15D distributor since 1974.
AERO INTERNATIONAL (REGIONAL) late last month delivered the 200th ATR 72 to China Xinjiang Airlines, a Chinese carrier based in Urumqi. The aircraft was the third of five ATR 72-210A aircraft China Xinjiang Airlines ordered. The ATR 72 has garnered 221 orders since the program was launched in 1986.
SOCATA Models TB9, TB10, TB20, TB21 and TB200 airplanes (Docket No. 97-CE-77-AD; Amdt. 39-10316; AD 98-04-03) - requires inspecting the bolts and space of the upper attachments of the front belts for cracks, dents, etc.; replacing any damaged bolts for spacers; incorporating a front belts upper attachment reinforcement kit; and, reconditioning the belts. This AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for France.
AEROSPATIALE Model ATR-42-200, -300 and -320 series airplanes (Docket No. 97-NM-303-AD) - proposes to require an inspection for fatigue cracking and modification of the windshield frame structure. This proposal is prompted by the issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent reduced structural integrity of the airplane resulting from fatigue cracking of the windshield frame structure.
PILATUS BRITTEN-NORMAN BN-2, BN-2A and BN-2B series airplanes (Docket No. 97-CE-12-AD; Amdt. 39-10329; AD 98-04-17) - supersedes AD 97-03-03, which applies BN-2, BN-2A and BN-2B series airplanes that do not have Modification NB/M/1571 generator terminal diodes installed. AD 97-03-03 currently requires the installation of higher capacity diodes on the generator switches regardless of whether the airplane is equipped with the original 50-amp DC generator system or Modification NB/M/1148, which is a 70-amp system.
SIKORSKY Model CH-54A helicopters (Docket No. 97-SW-60-AD) - proposes to require an initial and recurring inspections and rework or replacement, if necessary, of the second stage lower planetary plate. This proposal is prompted by cracked plates found during overhaul and inspections. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent failure of the plate due to fatigue cracking, which could result in failure of the main gearbox, failure of the drive system and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
BOMBARDIER AEROSPACE is inaugurating around-the-clock weekend service to Learjet and Challenger business jet operators at its Indianapolis, Ind. International Airport facilities. The company's Indianapolis service center currently has 83 technical and support personnel, including 10 recent hires to help provide service during weekends. Bombardier said the new fourth and fifth shifts will operate from 0700 Friday through 0700 Monday.
ED LAAKSO was promoted to vice president-materials and operations for AAR Cooper Aviation. Laakso will be responsible for all purchasing functions. He has served with AAR for 17 years.
BRAD ROSE was named turboprop sales representative for J. Mesinger Corporate Jet Sales, Inc. Rose is an aviation and corporate attorney with Cooling&Herbers, P.C. and president of Rose Investments, which owns and manages general aviation aircraft. In addition, he has worked as an avionics marketing agent for Turbo West, as a test pilot and avionics technician at Great Divide Avionics and as a chief flight instructor, chief pilot and aircraft salesman for Sterling Air Service.
Canada's air traffic controllers reached a tentative agreement on a three-year contract with Nav Canada, the country's private-sector civil air traffic services provider. The agreement, reached after five months of negotiations, is the first proposed between the Canadian Air Traffic Control Association and Nav Canada. The company assumed responsibility for air traffic services in November 1996. Prior to that time, Canadian controllers were employees of the federal government.
FOKKER F27 Mark 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 and 700 series airplanes (Docket No. 96-NM-186-AD) - proposes to require a modification of the lapjoint below the chine line at certain fuselage stations. This proposal is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent fatigue cracking in the lapjoint below the chine line at certain fuselage stations, which could reduce structural integrity of the fuselage.
AAR CORP. is offering a new support program, Super Spares, which will deliver airframe parts in less than one hour at certain locations. Parts initially will be available in four distribution centers in the New York City area, Phoenix, Los Angeles and Miami. The Super Spares distribution centers are open 24 hours a day, year-round. SonicAir, a subsidiary of UPS, is supporting the venture.
PROFESSIONAL AVIATION MAINTENANCE ASSOCIATION received authority from the Federal Aviation Administration to approve its own Inspection Authorization renewal seminars. PAMA officials said the authorization follows a two-year FAA review of its national technical symposiums and regional and local seminars. The authorization allows PAMA to support training through its local chapters as well as at its annual technical symposium. An A&P certified technician with inspection authorization will evaluate the content of each course and qualifications of each instructor.
FIRST, HIRE A LAWYER. A General Accounting Office study of FAA's inspection and enforcement activities in some 121,000 cases found 46 percent of the cases were resolved using administrative action, 34 percent resulted in legal action and 19 percent involved no action.
JOE ENDERLE was appointed service manager of Woodland Aviation's turbine maintenance facility at Yolo County Airport in Davis, Calif. Enderle, who has 18 years of aviation experience, joined Woodland in April 1997 after serving with Beech Aerospace Services.
NEW PIPER Models PA-23 (PA-23-150), PA-23-160, PA-23-235, and PA-23- 250 airplanes (Docket No. 95-CE-35-AD) - proposes to revise an earlier proposal that would have required external fuel ramp assemblies on Models PA-23, PA-23-160, PA-23-235 and PA-23-250 airplanes and incorporating Pilots Operating Handbook revisions for Models PA-23 and PA-23-160 airplanes. That proposal would have superseded AD 92-13-04, which requires draining procedures on Models PA-23 and PA-23-160 airplanes.
Federal Aviation Administrator Jane Garvey promised to urge Joint Aviation Authorities officials to ease restrictions that could sharply reduce the number of European students receiving flight training in the U.S.
EXTEX, LTD., Mesa, Ariz., introduced an exchange program for replacement turbine nozzles for Allison 250 helicopter engines. The program will permit the exchange of any used Extex nozzle or Allison MAR-M-247 nozzle for $500 credit toward the purchase of a new Extex nozzle. "The program offers A250 operators greatly reduced downtimes, better reliability, and will completely eliminate delays associated with traditional repair programs," said Scott Livingston, Extex vice president.
