ATLANTIC COAST AIRLINES confirmed conditional orders for five Canadair Regional Jets. The carrier is operating six CRJs, and has placed firm orders for 17 more. It also has options for an additional 25 aircraft.
AMERICAN AIRLINES placed an order with Heartstream, Inc., Seattle, Wash., for an additional 500 units of the ForeRunner automatic external defibrillator (AED), which will permit the carrier to equip its entire fleet of aircraft with the devices. In November 1996, American announced its decision to order 300 AEDs to equip its international flights with the units. The latest order follows a Feb. 18, 1998 incident in which an AED was used to revive a passenger on an American flight bound for Mexico.
PIAGGIO Model P-180 airplanes (Docket No. 97-CE-147-AD) - proposes to require installing a shield on the front section of the engine cradles. The proposed AD is the result of continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for Italy. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent water from damaging the power/propeller controls and cables, which could reduce airplane controllability. PIAGGIO Model P-180 airplanes (Docket No.
LUFTHANSA BOMBARDIER AVIATION SERVICES in Berlin won FAA certification to provide maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for business aircraft. The certification, which officials said came sooner than expected, allows the facility to provide services for North American customers in addition to European customers. Based at Berlin-Schoenefeld airport, LBAS is the first Bombardier factory service center outside North America to offer MRO support for Learjet and Canadair aircraft.
A U.S district court in Cleveland, finding in favor of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, last week ordered the Federal Aviation Administration to cancel its program to contract out Level 1 ATC towers. NATCA filed suit nearly four years ago to stop the contract tower effort, arguing FAA did not follow proper procedures before progressing with the program.
RELIEVER AIRPORT owners and operators would be permitted to deny access to public charters under an amendment drafted by Colorado Republican Rep. Joel Hefley. The amendment responds to efforts by Arapahoe County, Colo. residents who want to prevent a scheduled charter operator from beginning service at Denver's Centennial Airport.
BFGOODRICH AVIONICS SYSTEMS received FAA technical standard order approval for its Stormscope WX-500 weather mapping sensor. BFGoodrich is working toward supplemental type certification for each multi-function display interfacing with the WX-500 sensor. The STCs will be available to Stormscope dealers. The WX-500 weather mapping sensor is designed to interface with multi-function displays available for business, general aviation and homebuilt aircraft.
AERO INTERNATIONAL (REGIONAL) received an order from EuroLOT for five ATR 42-300 aircraft with options for an additional three. EuroLOT, a fully owned subsidiary of LOT Polish Airlines, has operated eight 64-seat ATR 72 aircraft with LOT. The new 48-seat ATR 42s will allow the airline the flexibility to develop new domestic and regional markets, AI(R) officials said. Delivery of the aircraft is scheduled to begin in June.
HELLMUTH, OBATA + KASSABAUM (HOK) of St. Louis, Mo. launched HOK Aviation as a core business within the firm's worldwide organization. HOK aviation specialists will partner with HOK's local offices around the world to complete the firm's projects related to the airline industry, said Pat Askew, director of HOK Aviation.
DORNIER Model 328-100 series airplanes (Docket No. 97-NM-114-AD; Amdt. 39-10299; AD 98-03-07) - requires removal and replacement of the center screw of the crew seat belt buckle. This amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent failure of the center screw of the crew seat belt buckle, which could result in injury to the flightcrew during an emergency landing.
SIGNATURE FLIGHT SUPPORT won a contract to provide fueling for United Express flights operated by Mesa Airlines at Seattle, Wash. The fueling contract, which went into effect last week and lasts until March 1999, provides for fueling 40 daily flights of United Express EMB-120 Brasilias. The company also announced that Jeff Stevenson, a 14-year Signature veteran who was operations manager at Seattle, was promoted to assistant general manager.
Engineers at Boeing have released for production 90 percent of the design drawings necessary to build the Boeing Business Jet, and production of small, detailed parts is under way at Boeing plants in Wichita, Kan., and Auburn, Wash., the company said last week. Boeing said the engineers achieved the 90-percent mark on releasing design drawings "a month ahead of schedule, which is very important in keeping the overall program on track," said Gil Key, manager of the 737-700 Increased Gross Weight (IGW)/Boeing Business Jet program.
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE selected Rockwell Collins to provide its Airborne Satellite TV for installation on Gulfstream IV and V aircraft. System deliveries are scheduled to begin within the month.
HERBERT BECK was named Northeast regional sales manager for Airwork. Beck has 35 years of aviation maintenance experience, serving with Innotech Aviation, Midcoast Aviation and Atlantic Aviation.
VISIONAIRE CORPORATION'S prototype of the all-composite Vantage completed its 100th flight in 180 flight hours of testing. The prototype flight testing, which has been conducted by Scaled Composites in Mojave, Calif., is expected to transfer to VisionAire headquarters at Spirit of St. Louis Airport while the first two conformal test aircraft, VT-1 and VT-2, are built for use in the certification process. The Vantage has reached speeds in excess of 350 knots true airspeed and flown at altitudes up to 35,000 feet.
DOT's Research and Special Programs Administration has scheduled public meetings to discuss compliance with a final rule on intrastate transportation of hazardous materials. The new rule requires those who ship hazardous materials within a state to comply with the same safety standards as those shipping such materials across state lines. The meetings, from 9 a.m. to noon, will be held March 26 at the Best Western Airport Inn in Lincoln, Neb.
The Transportation Department published final rules last week governing the carriage of persons with disabilities on aircraft. The new regulations, published in the March 4 Federal Register and effective April 3, amend the Air Carrier Access Act of 1986.
FLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL'S second Canadair Regional Jet full flight simulator is being installed at the company's Greater Philadelphia/Wilmington training center. The new simulator will be certified to FAA Level D specifications and is expected to be operational within about two months. FSI also operates a CRJ simulator in Cincinnati and has two Level D simulators for the Embraer RJ-145, one in Houston and the other in Tulsa.
JET SYSTEMS recently completed the sale of its Morristown, N.J. fixed-base operation to Lynton Group of the United Kingdom. The 8.6-acre facility includes three hangars, ramp areas and a terminal with passenger lounge, crew rest and flight planning rooms. Lynton already operates the airport's other FBO, Lynton Jet Center. Jet Systems owns and said it will continue to operate the Exxon Avitat at Westchester County Airport in White Plains, N.Y.
SHOULD U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT officials have the authority to shoot at aircraft and boats suspected of smuggling drugs?That's a question House transportation appropriations subcommittee Chairman Frank Wolf (R-Va.) asked Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater to consider last week. Wolf noted that other nations, including Peru, have authority to shoot at suspected drug smugglers, adding "if there is a real war on drugs" U.S. officials should have the same ability. Slater said he would consult with the U.S. Coast Guard commandant on the issue.
MARK NIEHAUS joined K-C Aviation as director of engine programs in the Dallas engine facility. Niehaus has 17 years of business and technical aviation experience, serving most recently as director of technical operations for Superior Air Parts.
HARTZELL Model HC-E4A-3 (A,I) propellers (Docket No. 97-ANE-35-AD; Amdt. 39-10289; AD 98-02-07) - requires replacement of the propeller blade counterweight clamp bolts with improved bolts. This amendment is prompted by reports of a manufacturing defect in the counterweight clamp bolts that resulted in the blade counterweight separating and causing damage to the propeller. The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent counterweight clamp bolt failure, which can result in propeller blade counterweight separation and damage to the propeller and aircraft.
