HEXCEL CORPORATION Vice Chairman Juergen Habermeier resigned from the company's board of directors for personal reasons, the company said. Habermeier joined Hexcel in February 1996 when Ciba Composites, of which he was president, was acquired by Hexcel.
Despite concern about widespread economic problems in the Far East and the possible effect on North American manufacturers, a senior Bombardier marketing executive believes the company will continue to do well selling corporate aircraft in the region.
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association said its members delivered nearly $5 billion worth of new aircraft last year, making 1997 "by every measure, a banner year," according to GAMA President Ed Bolen, who predicted that 1998 "will be even better."
A number of general aviation groups appealed to FAA senior officials this month to modify a proposal they fear would otherwise hamper the supplemental type certificate process. FAA last spring proposed changes to the type certification process that were intended to ensure that derivatives of existing products meet the most recent airworthiness standards (BA, June 9/255).
S-TEC CORP., Mineral Wells, Texas, said its S-TEC System Thirty autopilot was chosen as standard equipment on the IFR Lancair Columbia 200 aircraft. The S-Tec System 55 full-function, two-axis autopilot is included in the Lancair premium avionics package.
BOMBARDIER AEROSPACE added two sales directors for the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest/Plains regions. Douglas Greaves, based in New Jersey, will be responsible for business aircraft sales in Washington, D.C., New Jersey and most of Pennsylvania. He previously served as general manager of KC Transportation Services, president of Jet Professionals Inc. and operations vice president for Jet Aviation Business Jets-North America. Don McLaughlin, based in St.
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION has replaced its regulation for respiratory protection program requirements, which cover aviation businesses that generate airborne hazards such as harmful dusts, fogs, fumes, mists, gases, smokes, sprays or vapors, the National Air Transportation Association told its members. The new regulation requires a written program that covers administration, worksite specific procedures, employee training, medical evaluation, respirator selection and upkeep and record keeping.
NATIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION scheduled a series of seminars for the business aviation community March 3 at the Airtel Plaza Hotel and Conference Center in Van Nuys, Calif. The seminars will include an FAA/Part 135 Listening Session with FAA Flight Standards officials and an FAA/NBAA Air Traffic User Dialogue with FAA air traffic specialists. NBAA also will hold a REACHBAC reception in the evening. For more information, contact Marcy Maher at (202) 783-9360.
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA renamed its Center of Aerospace Sciences the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences in honor of the founder and longtime director of the university's aerospace program. The university also named the first building in the university's aerospace complex John D. Odegard Hall. The renaming of the school marks the first time UND has named a program after an individual. "This really is a tribute to Dean Odegard who is a pioneer in the truest sense," said UND President Kendall Baker.
ALTHOUGH THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT has proposed billions of dollars in new, unspecified user fees over the next several years (BA, Feb. 9/57), Congress does not appear poised to move away from the aviation excise tax system at this time. General Aviation Manufacturers Association President Ed Bolen said informal discussions indicate that congressional leaders have not changed their minds about reinstating the excise taxes, which were renewed last summer for 10 years, and that they intend to leave the system intact.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION issued special conditions for the Lockheed- Martin 382J turboprop airplane. FAA noted the aircraft is equipped with an automatic thrust control system and applicable regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards.
Duncan Aviation, Inc., of Lincoln, Neb. said Thursday it had completed the previously announced acquisition of Kal-Aero, Inc., a business aviation maintenance and completion center headquartered in Battle Creek, Mich. (BA, Jan. 19/23). Kal-Aero, with more than 350 employees, is now a division of Duncan.
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE CORPORATION will be this year's recipient of the Collier Trophy for its development of the Gulfstream V business jet. The National Aeronautic Association, which selects the winner, said Gulfstream and the GV team were recognized "for successful application of advanced design and efficient manufacturing techniques, together with innovative international business partnerships, to place in customer service the Gulfstream V - the world's first ultra long-range business jet." Formal presentation of the trophy will be at the annual Robert J.
George Donohue, FAA associate administrator for research and acquisitions who has been waiting for months for a confirmation hearing on his nomination to be deputy administrator, Monday withdrew the nomination and told DOT Secretary Rodney Slater he plans to leave the agency "by early summer." Donohue hand-delivered a letter to Slater expressing frustration after spending 10 months waiting to be confirmed as the deputy administrator.
TYROLEAN AIRWAYS, Innsbruck, Austria, placed a firm, five-aircraft order with Bombardier Aerospace for two de Havilland Dash 8Q Series 300 and One Dash 8Q Series 400B turboprops and two Canadair Regional Jet Series 200B LR aircraft. Value of the order is approximately $97 million (U.S.).
SEN. SLADE GORTON (R-Wash.), chairman of the Senate aviation subcommittee, last week punctuated the point when an Air Transport Association official complained that DOT is eyeing billions in new user fees at a time when the uncommitted balance of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund is expected to approach $8.6 billion by the end of fiscal 1999. The ATA official noted that if the government is going to continue to increase the industry's costs, then more money should be spent on aviation.
Senate aviation subcommittee Chairman Slade Gorton (R-Wash.) last week warned aviation officials that unless the major airlines and airports can reach an agreement on airport funding, Congress likely will authorize the Airport Improvement Program for one year with little change or increase in funding. Most of the aviation industry agrees that AIP should receive at least $2 billion annually - airports are seeking a slightly higher level - but the airports and airlines strongly disagree about the future of the passenger facility charge.
The Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Transportation last week drew praise for providing a reprieve for Part 135 operators from new rules covering new fire detection and suppression systems and passenger manifest requirements. FAA Thursday issued a final rule calling for an upgrade of Class D cargo compartments on commercial aircraft to meet either Class C or E fire detection and suppression requirements.
PARTICIPANTS in a meeting last week to discuss concerns about the release of general aviation flight tracking information agreed to develop a "code of conduct" governing the release and use of such information.People who attended the session at National Business Aviation Association headquarters in Washington, D.C. Monday said participants generally agreed that the benefits of having such data available outweigh potential problems.
DAYTON-GRANGER, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Bristol Aerospace Limited, Winnipeg, Canada, have teamed to develop Wire Strike Protection System (WSPS) cutter assembly technology that incorporates antenna functions into the deflector component. Dayton-Granger recently completed the first prototype WSPS Antenna unit. Flight test and evaluation by the U.S. Army is expected to begin in the second quarter.
Praxair, Inc., one of the world's largest providers of industrial gases with $4.7 billion in 1997 sales, signed a letter of intent to buy Treffers Precision, Inc., a privately held company in Phoenix, Ariz. Treffers has annual sales of approximately $17 million and 208 employees. Terms of the acquisition, which is subject to Hart-Scott-Rodino approval, were not disclosed.
BRITISH AEROSPACE ASSET MANAGEMENT placed a Jetstream 32EP with Alberta Citylink based in Medicine Hat. Alberta Citylink, a feeder to Air BC and Air Canada, provides service to Calgary, Lethbridge, Lloydminister, Cold Lake and Edmonton. The regional carrier is the fourth airline to operate the Jetstream 32EP. Corporate Express Airlines of Nashville, Tenn., AeroVIP of Argentina and O'Connor Airlines of Mount Gambier, South Australia also have launched the 32EP.
Fairchild Aerospace named two senior executives of the company to head new business units. Fairchild Aerospace President Jim Robinson announced the promotion of Michael L. Meshay to president of Fairchild Dornier's Aircraft Components and Services. Meshay will be responsible for the Airbus, international logistics and helicopters/maintenance businesses at the company's facilities in Oberpfaffenhofen, near Munich, Germany. He also will assume responsibility for all San Antonio operations.
BRIAN NILSSON was appointed airline customer service manager for Piedmont Aviation Services. Nilsson, a 25-year Piedmont veteran, will be responsible for the company's newly established Customer Service Department for its airline support business.
ATLANTIC TURBINES INC., a CHC Helicopter Corp. unit, won a five-year contract to provide repair and overhaul services for American Eagle's PW100 turbine engines. CHC noted that American Eagle is one of the largest operators of PW100 engines, historically spending about $20 million annually for maintenance.
