DAVID GLASSNER was named international finance manager for Cessna Finance Corporation. Glassner will oversee the company's worldwide financing activities.
BRIG. GEN. JAMES C. BOBICK was named acting commander of the Air Force Auxiliary by the Civil Air Patrol's National Board. Bobick succeeds Brig. Gen. Paul M. Bergman, who resigned CAP's top post for personal reasons. Bobick joined the Civil Air Patrol in 1953, when he became a cadet in the CAP's National Capital Wing. He remained active in the organization while pursing a 27-year career in the Air Force, from which he retired in 1987.
Aviation Sales Co. of Miami, Fla., completed a merger with Caribe Aviation, Inc., and Caribe's wholly owned subsidiary, Aircraft Interiors, Inc. The latter two companies had combined fiscal 1997 revenues of approximately $27 million. Aviation Sales said the purchase price was approximately $25 million, consisting of $5 million in cash; $5 million in promissory notes payable over two years; the issuance of 177,000 shares of authorized but unissued Aviation Sales stock; and, the repayment of approximately $7.5 million in debt Caribe owes to a financial institution.
REP. FRANK WOLF (R-Va.), last week said he has had "a growing feeling" that the FAA should be an independent agency. Wolf, chairman of the House transportation appropriations subcommittee, told FAA Administrator Jane Garvey that "maybe it would be better to have a strong administrator, like yourself, with an eight- to 10-year term," than have the agency answer to the Department of Transportation.
RAYTHEON Model 1900D airplanes (Docket No. 97-CE-86-AD) - proposes to require modifying the airplane by incorporating Raytheon Kit No. P129-5200-1 (Ground Fine Switch Installation Kit). The proposed AD is the result of design analysis during certification of 5.5 degree approach landings of the Model 1900D airplanes. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent very hard landings, which could result in structural damage to the airplane and possible passenger injury.
DAVID LEDGERWOOD was appointed general manager for Eastman Kodak Company's Aerial Systems unit. Ledgerwood also will retain his responsibilities as director, commercial and international markets, for the company's Commercial&Government Systems division.
Rep. Joel Hefley's (R-Colo.) proposed amendment to provide reliever airport sponsors the option of denying public charter access would set a "dangerous precedent" that would undermine airport grant assurances, National Air Transportation Association last week told House and Senate aviation leaders (BA, March 9/105).
EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY named Charles Allen Parlier chief operating officer of its Prescott, Ariz. campus. The newly created position replaces the former chancellorship at the campus. Parlier, who also will serve as vice president of the university, formerly was chief information officer for Raytheon Aircraft. He retired from the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve as a lieutenant colonel in 1995 after 25 years of service as a Marine.
FOKKER Model F28 Mark 0100 and Mark 0070 series airplanes (Docket No. 95-NM-94-AD; Amdt. 39-10285; AD 98-02-03) - requires modification of the hook and latch engagement assemblies of the engine cowl doors, measurement of the aerodynamic mismatch between the fixed cowl and lower cowl door and repair, if necessary. This amendment is prompted by reports indicating that an aerodynamic mismatch may exist between the fixed engine cowl and the lower cowl door and may be the result of one or more hooks of the engagement assemblies not engaging adequately.
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.
