RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT won Transport Canada certification for the Hawker 800XP. Raytheon delivered the first Hawker 800XP in Canada to IPL Energy, Inc. of Calgary, Alberta. IPL, which provides energy services and oil and natural gas delivery, previously operated a Hawker 700.
DUNCAN AVIATION received FAA STC authorization to install cockpit floorboard heating/warming systems on Learjet 20 and 30 series aircraft. The system operates on 28-volt DC, weighs less than 15 pounds and covers the pilot and co-pilot cockpit floor areas. In addition to the STC for the modification, Duncan has received parts manufacturer approval to provide kits to operators who want to install the system themselves.
AIRPORT AUTHORITY OF HONK KONG named Billy Lam Chung-lun, who had been director of the New Airport Projects Coordination Office, deputy chief executive officer of the authority. Before becoming involved in construction of the $20 billion construction program for the new Chek Lap Kok airport, he held a number of government posts, including director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco and deputy director for monetary affairs.
MERCURY SCHEDULING SYSTEMS named Graham Whitmarsh vice president-sales and marketing. Whitmarsh previously served with British Aerospace for eight years, most recently as vice president-sales and marketing for the Asset Management Turboprops Division. Mercury Scheduling Systems, Vancouver, Canada, is a soft-ware company that specializes in airline crew scheduling.
SPORTY'S PILOT SHOP is offering a cockpit device to measure inflight turbulence. Designed to answer the question, "How bad was that bump?" the G-Meter shows readings from -4 to +8Gs and is accurate within 0.1G. Priced at $90, the G-Meter is less than one inch wide and four inches high and can be mounted anywhere in the aircraft using double-side foam tape. For more information, contact Sporty's at (513) 735-9000.
Federal Aviation Administration last week extended until Dec. 31, 2002 a Special Federal Aviation Regulation calling for additional experience and training to perform pilot-in-command or certified flight instructor duties in Robinson R-22 and R-44 helicopters. SFAR 73 originally was issued March 1, 1995 to address the high number of fatal accidents involving main rotor/airframe contact on R-22 aircraft.
Model CL-44 series airplanes (Docket No. 97-NM-37-AD; Amdt. 39-10236; AD 97-25-12) - requires revising the airplane flight manual to add a limitation that prohibits positioning the power levers below the flight idle stop during flight, and to provide a statement of the consequences of positioning the power levers below the flight idle stop during flight. This amendment is prompted by incidents and accidents involving turboprop airplanes in which the ground propeller beta range was used improperly during flight.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION issued an advisory circular, AC 25.1581-1, Airplane Flight Manual, identifying information that must be provided in the airplane flight manual under current airworthiness regulations. The AC also provides guidance on the form and content of the approved portion of an airplane flight manual. To obtain a copy of AC 25.1581-1, contact the U.S. Department of Transportation, Subsequent Distribution Office, Ardmore East Business Center, 3341 Q 75th Ave., Landover, Md. 20785.
The Federal Aviation Administration will combine the functions now handled by four separate Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facilities in the Washington, D.C. area, but the new combined TRACON is not expected to be operational for at least five years.
Precision Castparts Corp. of Portland, Ore., a major provider of engine components that wants to expand its share of the airframe parts market, purchased Schlosser Casting Company (SCC) of Redmond, Ore. SCC, previously a wholly owned subsidiary of Schlosser Forge Company, manufactures titanium investment castings for the airframe, engine, medical prostheses and other markets. Its major airframe programs include the F-22 Raptor fighter, the C-17 Globemaster transport and the Joint Strike Fighter.
Federal Aviation Administration ordered replacement of crankshafts manufactured using the airmelt process on approximately 10,100 Teledyne reciprocating engines at a total estimated cost of $27.8 million over a 10- year period, despite strong opposition from a number of industry groups.
BOEING confirmed it will continue production of the 100-seat MD-95 included in the acquisition of McDonnell Douglas Corp., but said it is renaming the airplane the 717-200 to fit into Boeing's traditional transport designation system. Boeing also confirmed BMW Rolls-Royce GmbH as the sole engine supplier for the aircraft. Delivery of the first two BR715 flight-test engines is under way and the first flight is scheduled for the second quarter 1998.
In an effort to bring Alaskan hunting and fishing guide operations up to standards of commercial operations, the Federal Aviation Administration this month determined that all guide operations involving aircraft for hire must meet the requirements of Part 135 or 121 by the end of the year. FAA noted that it historically has not held all guide companies - those that offer hunting or fishing packages involving air transportation - to Part 135 or 121 standards.
GULFSTREAM claimed a firm backlog of 89 aircraft valued at $2.8 billion at the end of September and said it had a "cash position of approximately $242 million." Gulfstream went public in October 1996, selling 42.5 million shares at $24 per share for just over $1 billion. Price of Gulfstream's stock has ranged from 21 1/4 to 32 3/4 over the past year.
PRECISION CASTPARTS has been working with Boeing for the past year studying the feasibility of using castings to manufacture some aircraft structural components that currently are made from forgings. The results so far are promising, officials say, which could reduce manufacturing costs for some components. Because of its interest in castings for airframe parts, PCC recently acquired an Oregon casting company with a strong reputation in the business. See article below.
PHILLIP RIDDLE has joined the marketing and sales team of Africair. Riddle, who has served with Commander Aircraft and New Meyers Aircraft Company, will be responsible for sales and marketing of the Cessna single- engine product line in 37 African countries for Africair.
COUNTY OF NEW KENT, Va., is soliciting proposals until 3 p.m. Feb. 6 for fixed-base operation services at New Kent County Airport. Copies of the RFP may be obtained by contacting Shelley K. Carmichael, accounting and budget officer, P.O. Box 50, New Kent, Va. 23124; telephone: (804) 966- 9694. For more information, contact R.J. Emerson at (804) 966-9695.
HEADS UP TECHNOLOGIES, INC., the Carrollton, Texas firm that develops digital voice and display systems for aviation and other industries, named David Groos senior vice president-sales and marketing. Groos was formerly Dallas branch manager for IBM, where he directed more than 130 engineering and sales employees.
NATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION's Flight Training Committee has developed a Flight School Code of Conduct, which includes principles such as respecting students, instilling a dedication to safety, making a concerted effort to raise the quality of flight training standards, using ethical management practices and continually applying common sense and good judgment in all situations. The code of conduct is displayed in posters mailed to the association's flight school members.
JOSEPH THURMAN was named manager, modifications for Midcoast Aviation. Thurman will oversee leading modification assignments and act as a liaison between customers and Midcoast shops performing the work. He has nearly 20 years experience in aircraft modification, serving as engineering manager for Gulfstream Aircraft, senior designer for Dassault Falcon Jet and supervisor of fabrication and installation and supervisor of engineering and drafting services for K-C Aviation.
OTTAWA FLYING CLUB last month added a new Cessna 172R Skyhawk to its fleet of 12 training aircraft. The new 172 is equipped with the full complement of electronics, including a global positioning system, Flying Club officials said. Brampton Cessna, the sales and service arm of the Brampton Flying Club, sold and delivered the aircraft.
RTS REWORK INC., Fort Worth, Texas, said it received FAA approval to inspect and restore gears and inspect and repair modules for all series of the Allison 250 engine. RTS, which acquired a new 7,200-square-foot facility in October, also provides service for Pratt&Whitney PT6A and JT8D and Garrett TPE331 engine components. The latest approval covers restoration of compressors, turbines and gearboxes for the Allison 250.
Bombardier Services is buying 24 T-6A trainers from Raytheon Aircraft for the NATO Flying Training Canada program, marking the first sale outside the U.S. of the plane that won the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System program. Deliveries of the T-6A-1 variant will begin in November 1999 and will run through the fall of 2000, Raytheon said. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The T-6A is based on the Pilatus PC-9 Mk.
MITSUBISHI MU-2B series airplanes (Docket NO. 97-CE-22-AD; Amdt. 39- 10225; AD 97-25-02) - 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.
AEROSPATIALE Model ATR 42 and 72 series airplanes (Docket No. 97-NM- 228-AD) - proposes to require revising the airplane flight manual to prohibit the positioning of the power levels below the flight idle stop during flight and to include a statement of the consequences of such action. This proposal is prompted by incidents and accidents involving turboprop airplanes in which the ground propeller beta range was used improperly during flight.
