ADVANCED AERODYNAMICS&STRUCTURES, INC. received 10 more orders for its Jetcruzer 500 turboprop aircraft, bringing the backlog to about $103 million and 86 aircraft. The six-place, single-turboprop aircraft first flew in late August with certification and deliveries expected by third quarter of this year (BA, Sept. 1/91). AASI broke ground on a manufacturing facility in November in Long Beach, Calif. and hopes to complete construction this summer.
DATRON SYSTEMS received FAA supplemental type certification for its DBS- 2100 satellite television antenna system for corporate aircraft. The system was installed on a Gulfstream III last month for a high-speed test flight that included severe rolls, banks and turns. Datron entered a teaming agreement with Airshow, Inc. and Racal Avionics Ltd. to develop and manufacture the equipment to allow reception of live direct broadcast satellite television on corporate aircraft.
AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION named Jerry L. Hooper of Corpus Christi, Texas as the association's regional representative for Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. Hooper, a 2,500-hour pilot, was an Air Force fighter pilot, worked for former Sen. Vance Hartke (D-Ind.) and was elected to two terms as a county tax assessor in his native Indiana. Most recently he has been operating his own property tax consulting firm, Hooper Consulting.
National Air Transportation Association urged officials in Tennessee to provide relief from a new law that results in an additional 20 cents per gallon tax on aviation gasoline and 17 cents per gallon tax on jet fuel. NATA noted that the law, "aimed at deterring motor fuel tax evasion, ...attempted to carve out an exemption for the use of aviation fuel."
AEROSPATIALE Model ATR 42 series airplanes (Docket No. 97-NM-161-AD; Amdt. 39-10243; AD 97-25-18) - requires removal of certain landing gear attachment pins and replacement of the pins with serviceable pins. 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 wear of the attachment pins, which could result in the collapse of the main landing gear.
NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD was continuing its investigation last week of Tuesday's crash of a Model 25B Learjet while on approach to Bush Intercontinental Airport after a short flight from Houston's Hobby Airport. The crash claimed the lives of both pilots, who were reportedly to pick up several passengers for a charter flight to Fargo, N.D. There was fog and light rain in the area at the time. It took searchers more than two hours to locate the aircraft after it disappeared from radar near the airport.
EUROCOPTER Model EC135 P1 and T1 helicopters (Docket No. 97-SW-46-AD; Amdt. 39-10240; AD 97-20-13) - publishes an AD that was previously sent to all known U.S. owners and operators of the affected aircraft. The AD requires daily repetitive inspections of the stator blades for cracks and a dye penetrant inspection if cracks are found or before 400 hours time in service. The AD also requires replacement of blades with cracks exceeding a certain length. This action is prompted by the discovery of cracks on the stator blades of the fenestron tail rotor.
Summary: Pursuant to FAA's rulemaking provisions governing the application, processing, and disposition of petitions for exemption (14 CFR Part 11), this notice contains a summary of certain petitions seeking relief from specified requirements of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR Chapter I), dispositions of certain petitions previously received, and corrections. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities.
NATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION REVIEW COMMISSION recommendations will be high on the agenda when Congress returns to Washington later this month.The Senate Commerce Committee, led by Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.), has scheduled a hearing on the NCARC recommendations March 11. The House aviation subcommittee has not yet scheduled hearings, but is expected to examine the commission report as it considers new authorization legislation for the Federal Aviation Administration's Airport Improvement Program in late February or early March.
THE METAL ARTS COMPANY, Rochester, N.Y., said it has developed the "Microsmooth formula," an activator for plating electroless nickel on aluminum. The company said the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued a Notice of Allowance on its patent application for the Microsmooth formula and process, which eliminates several toxic chemicals and reduces labor, waste treatment and energy costs by up to 50 percent.
RAYTHEON 65, 90, 99, 100, 200, 300, 1900 and 2000 series airplanes (Docket No. 97-CE-20-AD; Amdt. 39-10226; AD 97-25-03) - requires amending the limitations section of the airplane flight manual to prohibit the positioning of the power levers below the flight idle stop while the airplane is in flight. The airplane flight manual amendment will include a statement of consequences if the limitation is not followed. This AD results from several incidents and five accidents involving turboprop airplanes where the propeller beta was improperly used during flight.
ROBINSON Model R22 helicopters with Lycoming O-360-J2A engines (Docket No. 97-SW-04-AD; Amdt. 39-10228; AD 97-25-05) - requires replacing the carburetor and carburetor air temperature gauge with an improved carburetor that does not require manual leaning of the fuel/air mixture during flight and a remarked carburetor air temperature gauge. The AD also calls for revising the rotorcraft flight manual to remove the reference to leaning the engine.
An item in the Jan. 5 issue regarding the Pilot's Guide To Flying In The Guard&Reserve failed to include all the information necessary for readers to obtain more information. The 343-page paperback can be ordered from AIR, Inc. in Atlanta, Ga. at (770) 996-5424; fax, (770) 996-5547.
BRITISH AEROSPACE Model 4101 airplanes (Docket No. 97-NM-146-AD; Amdt. 39-10241; AD 97-25-16) - requires a one-time inspection of the tailplane (horizontal stabilizer) leading edges and surrounding area for discrepancies, and corrective action, if necessary. This action is prompted by the issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent separation of the horizontal stabilizer from the fin, which could reduce controllability of the airplane.
COUNTY OF FULTON, N.Y., requests proposals until 2 p.m. Feb. 13 for a fixed-base operator at Fulton County Airport. Proposals may be obtained at the office of Jon Stead, Purchasing Agent, Supervisors Chambers, Room 205, County Building, Johnstown, N.Y. 12095; telephone: (518) 736-5545.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION approved a new instrument approach procedure based on Global Positioning System navigation at Reno, Nev. Stead Airport. Other recent improvements at Reno Stead include a new above- ground fuel farm and maintenance facility. Plans call for a new firefighting facility and upgrade of runway lighting this spring and, long term, development of a new general aviation terminal.
Duncan Aviation of Lincoln, Neb. signed a letter of intent to buy Kal- Aero, Inc., of Battle Creek, Mich., a combination that will unite two well- respected providers of maintenance, overhaul, refurbishment and completion services for the business aviation market.
ALLIEDSIGNAL Bendix/King Model KSA 470 autopilot servo actuators, Part Numbers 065-0076-10 through 065-0076-15 (Docket No. 97-CE-74-AD) - proposes to require replacing the autopilot servo actuator with a modified actuator. This proposal is the result of two reports of the affected autopilot servo actuators containing loose roll pins within the servo housing. Loose roll pins could fall out, become lodged in the output shaft clutch mechanism, and prevent the mechanism from disengaging.
KLADSTRUP-WETZEL ASSOCIATES, LTD., a Denver-based aircraft dealer, established K-W Aircraft Leasing, LLC, as a separate, affiliated organization to offer short-term leases on turbine-powered aircraft. The new organization will offer 12-, 18- and 24-month operating leases with release, fair market purchase and walk-away options. For more information, call (303) 754-0100.
Four years after then newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien killed the procurement of 50 EH-101 helicopters (BA, Nov. 1, 1993/188), the government selected E.H. Industries to supply 15 AW520 Cormorant search-and-rescue helicopters for $790 million. (All monetary figures are expressed in Canadian dollars). Canada said E.H. Industries will get $593 million to supply the EH-101 helicopters, and then approximately $200 million will go for project management, training, spare parts, integrated logistics support and a small contingency allowance.
K-C AVIATION is offering a new series of training sessions for Sundstrand T62T-39 and T62T-40C series auxiliary power units. The three-day sessions, approved by FAA for Inspection Authorization renewal, will cover the complete lines and their installations, as well as borescope inspections, hot section inspections, troubleshooting of electrical interface systems and troubleshooting with an operational engine. The course will be offered April 14-16 in Dallas, July 28-30 in Appleton, Wis., Oct. 13-15 in Westfield, Mass., and Dec. 8-10 in Dallas.
AIRCRAFT OPERATORS who have been providing transportation to hunting and fishing lodges in Alaska under Part 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations will have to upgrade to Part 135 or Part 121 requirements by the end of the year, according to a Notice to Operators FAA published this month. The notice could force a number of small operators out of business because of the cost of achieving and maintaining Part 135 or Part 121 certification. See article below.
Model ATP airplanes and HS 748 series airplanes (Docket No. 97-NM-104-AD; Amdt. 39-10237; AD 97-25-13) - requires inspection of the main hydraulic accumulator for corrosion and corrective actions, if necessary. This amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
The U.S. Air Force has identified 10 modifications to its Slingsby T- 3A trainer aircraft to resolve a persistent engine shut-off problem that has kept the fleet of 112 airplanes grounded since July.
Model SA 365N, N1 and AS 365N2 helicopters (Docket No. 97- SW-21-AD) - proposes to require inspections of the main gearbox suspension diagonal cross-member for cracks, and removal of the diagonal cross-member and replacement with an airworthy diagonal cross-member if any crack is found. This proposal is prompted by several reports of cracks in diagonal cross-members.
