DORNIER Model 328-100 series airplanes (Docket No. 97-NM-154-AD; Amdt. 39-10304; AD 98-03-12) - requires a one-time inspection of the date stamp affixed to the wing deicing boots to determine the cure date and replacement of the deicing boot with a new boot, if necessary. This amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
BFGOODRICH AVIONICS SYSTEMS won FAA STC approval to mount the directional antenna for its Skywatch traffic advisory system on the bottom side of aircraft, thereby permitting installation on helicopters. Skywatch is an active surveillance traffic advisory system that provides air-to-air and ground-to-air Mode C type interrogations.
BBA Group, the British conglomerate whose holdings include Signature Flight Support and Dallas Airmotive, acquired H+S Aviation, an engine overhaul and repair firm based in Portsmouth, England. BBA Group bought H+S in a cash transaction from Vector Industries for 21.2 million pounds, plus assumption of 7.3 million pounds in debt. H+S reported an operating profit of 3.9 million pounds on sales of 32 million pounds in 1997, and BBA said net assets at completion will be 10.1 million pounds.
THIRD ANNUAL Flight School Operators Conference is scheduled for April 15- 16 in Allentown, Pa. The two-day event will feature presentations by FAA representatives, an update by GA Team 2000 senior officials, marketing and regulatory discussions, and an exhibit of various flight training aircraft including those manufactured by Cessna, Diamond Aircraft, The New Piper Aircraft, Socata and Zenair Canada. For more information, contact: Aviation Council of Pennsylvania, 3111 Arcadia Avenue, Allentown, Pa. 18103; telephone, (610) 797-1133; fax, (610) 797-8283.
ADD SEN. WENDELL FORD (D-Ky.) to the growing list of officials who do not believe Congress will take action this year on proposals by the National Civil Aviation Review Commission and the Clinton Administration to replace aviation excise taxes with new performance-based user fees.
MARSHA BELL was promoted to product marketing director for FlightSafety International. Bell, based at FSI's Raytheon learning center in Wichita, Kan., has served as the center's product marketing manager for eight years.
CITYJET, the Irish carrier that operates scheduled service between Dublin, Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris and London City Airport, ordered two Saab 2000 airliners. The first of the 50-seat turboprop aircraft is scheduled for delivery this month, with the second scheduled for April. CityJet also operates four British Aerospace 146s.
AEROSPATIALE Model ATR-72 series airplanes (Docket No. 97-NM-263-AD) - proposes to require a one-time high-frequency eddy current inspection for cracking of the lower fuselage structure and repair, if necessary. This proposal also would require modification of certain fastener holes in the lower fuselage structure. This proposal is prompted by the issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
EXECUTIVE JET MANAGEMENT said it wants to "immediately hire" 15 pilots for its growing aircraft management, charter management and charter businesses. EJM currently employs 79 pilots and in addition to expanding its pilot roster, plans to add 20 managed aircraft this year. EJM said it requires pilots to have an air transport pilot certificate with a minimum of 2,500 hours of total time, including 500 hours of multi-engine time. Interested pilots should fax a resume to Hal Raber at (513) 871-7310.
Ronson Corp., whose holdings include the fixed-base operation at Trenton-Mercer, N.J. Airport, reported a major improvement in the company's financial performance last year. Ronson, based in Somerset, N.J., had net earnings of $783,000 last year, compared with a net loss of $855,000 in 1996. The net loss in 1996 included an accrual of $1.2 million established for estimated costs associated with the environmental cleanup of Prometcor, Inc. (Ronson Metals Corp.), a discontinued operation of the company.
Lewis B. Campbell, president and chief operating officer of Textron, Inc., will become chief executive officer on July 1, replacing James F. Hardymon. While he is turning the CEO post over to Campbell, Hardymon will remain chairman of the board until his retirement at the end of 1999 at age 65.
GALAXY AEROSPACE is offering a guaranteed cost-of-operations program for its Galaxy business jet. The program guarantees that operating costs over a five-year period (or 2,000 hours of operation) will average below $850 per hour or Galaxy will rebate the additional costs. "While these programs are not uncommon for business jets already in service, it is unprecedented for a business jet still undergoing certification," said Roger Sperry, Galaxy executive vice president, sales and marketing.
The prototype of the Galaxy mid-size, long-range business jet has logged a dozen flights in Israel and test pilots are continuing to check additional systems and expand the aircraft's operating envelope. The most recent flight, which occurred this month, was the longest to date, lasting four hours, 30 minutes. Pilots have flown the aircraft up to 35,000 feet and Mach 0.7. Engine air starts were conducted successfully at 35,000 feet and crews also have tested the air conditioning and pressurization systems and have evaluated the autopilot and yaw damper.
The House/Senate Joint Tax Committee cast doubt on the viability of aviation user fees as a means to fund the Federal Aviation Administration, warning this month that FAA's imprecise accounting procedures and possible court challenges to the fees could cause funding problems for the agency.
Jerry C. Atkin, chairman, president and chief executive of SkyWest Airlines, Inc., was severely injured Thursday in San Diego when the motorcycle he was driving was involved in a collision with another vehicle. A spokeswoman for the St. George, Utah-based airline said Atkin, 48, remained hospitalized Friday in critical condition. She said he had suffered seven compound fractures, plus numerous other injuries. The other vehicle struck Atkin on the left side, causing severe injuries to his left leg.
PROTOTYPE of the Galaxy business jet has logged a dozen flights and crews are busily expanding the flight test envelope and checking additional systems and flight parameters. The program remains on track for certification at the end of the year. See article below.
HONEYWELL/RACAL SATCOM team introduced an enhanced satellite communications system, the MCS-7000, for business jets and commercial aircraft. The system, developed in conjunction with Inmarsat Ground Earth Station and other SATCOM advances, will offer up to seven channels of voice-data communications. The system comprises two units - a satellite data unit and high-power amplifier. The Honeywell/Racal team also is nearing certification of its new Aero-I SATCOM system coupled with the Canadian Marconi CMA-2200 antenna.
CESSNA Model 172R airplanes (Docket No. 98-CE-06-AD; Amdt. 39-10306; AD 98-02-05) - publishes an AD previously sent to all known U.S. owners and operators of the affected airplanes. The AD requires deactivating the cabin heating system until the engine exhaust muffler can be replaced and fabricating and installing a placard within the pilot's clear view noting "CABIN HEATER INOPERATIVE." This AD is prompted by inadequate or failed weldments that are leaking exhaust gas (including carbon monoxide) from the muffler into the airplane's cabin and cockpit area.
PILATUS Model PC-7 airplanes (Docket No. 97-CE-130-AD) - proposes to require inspecting the elevator and rudder attachment brackets for cracks and/or corrosion and repairing or replacing any cracked or corrosion-
STATE OF ARIZONA intends to issue a draft request for proposals for the lease, operation and continued development of Grand Canyon National Park Airport. The proposer must be a qualified Arizona non-profit corporation experienced in the air transportation industry. To obtain a copy of the draft RFP, mail a request, along with a $50 check payable to ADOT/Aeronautics Division, to Arizona DOT, Aeronautics Division, 1833 W. Buchanan St., Second Floor, Phoenix, Ariz. 85007; Attention: Gary Adams or Doris Mecham.
FAA selected Raytheon and a Lockheed Martin/Northrop Grumman team to demonstrate and test a new civilian secondary radar system as part of the agency's Air Traffic Control Beacon Interrogator competition. The teams will demonstrate their systems at the FAA's William J. Hughes Technical Center, Atlantic City, N.J., beginning this month. This operational capabilities testing phase of the competition will run through June or July. At the same time, FAA will ask both bidders to submit technical specifications and costs.
DAVID SPEER, a veteran aviation industry advertising and public relations executive, has left the Wichita advertising firm of Sullivan Higdon&Sink (SH&S). Speer was one of the principals in The Avion Group of Lenexa, Kan., which was acquired by SH&S last year (BA, June 30/289). Tom Bertels, the other principal in The Avion Group, will continue with SH&S, a company official said last week.
