Nearly 20 years after it discontinued marketing Type A 100AD single- grade oil, Phillips 66 is reintroducing the single-grade ashless dispersant aviation oil for opposed piston engines. Phillips discontinued its Type A 100AD oil in 1979 after it developed its X/C brand of multiviscosity oils. "The performance characteristics of X/C multiviscosity oils were far superior to any other piston aviation lubricant on the market so we thought single-grade oils would become a thing of the past," said John Brant, Phillips 66 aviation lubricants marketing manager.
THORSTEN HISAM was named director of international relations for Embry- Riddle Aeronautical University. Hisam, a 10-year Embry-Riddle staff member, will oversee the university's efforts to increase its presence in the international aviation arena.
CORPORATE ANGEL NETWORK, INC., the volunteer organization that arranges free flights for cancer patients nationwide on corporate aircraft, will receive pro bono public relations services from InterScience of New York. InterScience, founded in 1992, provides healthcare communications from offices in New York, Washington, D.C. and London.
Richard (Dick) Dodson, 56, who took over as president of BBA Group's Signature Flight Support chain of fixed-base operations in mid-1995, last week was named head of BBA's entire Aviation Division. BBA Group Chief Executive Roberto Quarta said that in addition to Signature, Dodson will be responsible for Dallas Airmotive, International Turbine Service (ITS), APPH Group and Texstars, Inc. Other BBA business groups include Friction Materials and Non Woven Textiles.
Model Mystere Falcon 900 series airplanes (Docket No. 97-NM- 193-AD) - proposes to require replacement of the water heater control relays with improved relays that have high-power contactors; the addition of a testing and monitoring circuit for each contactor; and installation of improved electrical bonding to the potable water tank. This proposal is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
AEROSPATIALE Model ATR 42-300 and ATR 42-320 series airplanes (Docket No. 97-NM-283-AD; Amdt. 39-10262; AD 97-26-19) - supersedes an existing AD that requires repetitive ultrasonic inspections for fatigue cracks of the lower lugs of the barrel of the main landing gear and replacement of cracked lower lugs and a follow-on inspection. This amendment expands the applicability of the existing AD. This action also provides for an optional terminating action, that ends the repetitive inspection requirement.
The process of developing a notice of proposed rulemaking governing commercial overflights of national parks by air tour operators could take months to complete, based on an outline of the process FAA plans to follow.
NATIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION is soliciting nominations for its NBAA Award for Meritorious Service to Aviation and the John P. (Jack) Doswell Award.
The Clinton Administration proposed significant increases in spending for the Federal Aviation Administration in fiscal 1999, but the Administration also said it wants to phase out aviation excise taxes that currently fund more than 70 percent of FAA's annual budget in favor of unspecified new user fees. Aviation groups warned that last week's budget submission is the first step in an attempt to collect billions of dollars in additional user fees from the aviation community.
CARL WOLF joined Avidyne Corporation as director of aftermarket sales and marketing. Wolf spent 20 years in various sales and marketing positions with AlliedSignal Commercial Avionics Systems. Most recently, he was director, worldwide aftermarket sales and marketing.
CONGRESS passed legislation last week renaming Washington National Airport as Ronald Reagan National Airport, an attempt by Republicans to present Reagan with a present for his 87th birthday. President Clinton has promised to sign the bill implementing the name change, but there is a possibility the Washington Metropolitan Airports Authority may challenge the name change in court.
The Federal Aviation Administration says it is making progress assessing whether its aging computer systems will continue functioning without problems once internal clocks turn over in 2000, but the General Accounting Office and Transportation Department Inspector General both question the agency's ability to fix "Year 2000" computer glitches in time to ward off lengthy air traffic delays and computer shutdowns at the turn of the century.
LOU DAVIS, veteran aviation journalist and industry public relations official, died Jan. 31. Davis served as assistant to the president of Fairchild Engine and Airplane Corp. while the company was working on the Fokker F27 and its own FH-227 programs. He spent eight years as editor of Air Line Pilot magazine and director of public relations for the Air Line Pilots Association. He later was editor and publisher of Commuter Air magazine and covered the commuter and regional airline market for many years for Air Transport World. Memorial services will be held Feb.
NATIONAL AIRCRAFT RESALE ASSOCIATION developed a customer benefit program for customers of NARA members that provides a range of products and services, including discounts on legal, consulting and title search fees, rebate credits on pre-purchase surveys, one-time credits of engine or aircraft service maintenance and discounts on crew training. NARA has published a brochure detailing program benefits and parti-cipants. For more information, contact the association at (703) 671-8273.
A Colorado native who learned to fly while attending the University of Denver recently completed the acquisition of Camp Systems International, the Ronkonkoma, N.Y. provider of aircraft and engine reliability data to original equipment manufacturers and operators. With all the acquisitions and mergers in the aviation business these days, that wouldn't seem unusual except that Todd Hamilton became intrigued by the company while still in college and had been trying to buy Camp (previously known as Camp Systems, Inc.) for four and one-half years.
AVIATION RESOURCE GROUP INTERNATIONAL, Aurora, Colo., is segregating its operations into three divisions "to reflect and respond to the company's primary business focuses - aviation business brokerage and merchant banking ; advisory services; and the Aviation Training Institute, which evolved over 23 years as advisers and brokers to general aviation under the banner of FBO Resource Group." The Brokerage and Merchant Banking Division will focus on FBO acquisitions and divestitures, financing and development of new and existing facilities.
AAR CORP., Wood Dale, Ill., acquired the assets of AVSCO Aviation Service Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Barfield, Inc. AVSCO, a new parts distributor to the aviation industry, had sales of approximately $80 million in its most recent fiscal year. It will be merged into AAR Cooper Aviation and will be known as AAR Cooper Aviation. Distributing parts from more than 250 manufacturers, AAR said the combined entity is expected to produce revenues of approximately $140 million in its first full year as part of AAR. AAR Corp.
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association praised revisions the Federal Aviation Administration incorporated into an airworthiness directive requiring crankshaft inspections on Textron Lycoming reciprocating engines, saying the net result was an 80 percent reduction in the number of Lycoming owners affected and a dramatic drop in the cost of compliance. The proposal, issued late last month, covers nearly 10,000 Lycoming 320 and 360 series engines at a cost of $5.3 million in the first year and $606,000 annually thereafter (BA, Feb. 2/50).
CLINTON ADMINISTRATION'S proposals last week for transitioning to a completely user-fee-funded FAA reject a key recommendation of the National Civil Aviation Review Commission. The NCARC called for continued general fund support of FAA, a point reiterated just last month by NCARC Chairman Norman Mineta.
HAROLD MCGRAW III, president and chief operating officer of The McGraw-Hill Companies since 1993, will become chief executive officer on April 29. Joseph L. Dionne, now CEO and chairman of the board, will continue to serve as chairman.
DOUGLAS BOWEN was named vice president of operations, avionics and interiors, for JetCorp. Bowen has more than 30 years of aviation experience, including 20 years in aviation management. Previously he was director of maintenance for Enron Corp.
Models S-2A, S-2B and S-2S airplanes (Docket No. 97-CE-17-AD; Amdt. 39-10263; AD 97-26-20) - supersedes AD 96-09-08, which requires repetitive inspections of the upper longerons just aft of the rear cabane struts for cracks and repair of any cracks.
Model C-212 series airplanes (Docket No. 97-NM-277-AD) - proposes to require a one-time inspection for discrepancies of the spherical bearing of the aileron control rod and corrective action, if necessary; and installation of an improved retainer washer in the movable joint of the aileron control rod. This proposal is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
