BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-2B16 series airplanes modified in accordance with STC SA6003NM (Docket No. 97-NM-286-AD; Amdt. 39-10235; AD 97-25-11) - requires disabling the remote fuel/defuel panel in the cockpit. This action also provides for an optional modification of the remote fuel/defuel panel, which would terminate the requirement to disable the panel. This amendment is prompted by reports of in-flight failure of the panel that resulted when a circuit breaker on a battery bus opened due to insufficient current flow capacity.
Signature Flight Support eliminated a competitor and acquired a platform to increase its presence at Anchorage International Airport (ANC) last month with the purchase of Anchorage Aviation Center (AAC). Signature, and its predecessor company Page Avjet, have operated a small facility on the airport for a number of years, but primarily provided into- plane fuel handling for airlines serving Anchorage.
ALLISON Model 250-C40B turboshaft engines (Docket No. 97-ANE-31-AD; Amdt. 39-10233; AD 97-25-09) - requires installation of a placard requiring pilots to record torque level and time-in-service operating above 86 percent engine torque until the defective parts have been replaced, no later than Dec. 31, 2000, or when certain maintenance actions are accomplished or operational restrictions are exceeded, whichever occurs first.
UNISON INDUSTRIES received FAA parts manufacturer approval for its new igniter plug (Unison Part Number 9044295-1, GE Part Number 5044T67P13) on all CT7 engine models. Unison, which manufactures the complete CT7 ignition system, including exciter, igniter and lead, expects to begin delivering the new igniter plugs this month. The primary application for the plugs are the Saab 340 and CASA CN-235 regional turboprops. Unison's turbine distributors will sell the plugs to regional airlines.
EMBRAER received an order from Portugalia Airlines of Lisbon, Portugal for two additional Embraer RJ-145s in a deal the Brazilian manufacturer valued at about $30 million (U.S.). The order will increase the number of RJ-145s sold to Portugalia to six with options for two more. The Portuguese airline, which initially ordered the 145 a year ago, has taken delivery of three of the aircraft so far. Embraer said its EMB RJ-145 orderbook stands at 169 firm orders and 225 options to 10 customers in seven countries.
NASSAU JET CENTER, located at Nassau International Airport in the Bahamas, joined the Million Air Chain and will operate as Million Air Nassau. Million Air Nassau, the 27th fixed-base operation to join the chain, is a full-service facility with 12 acres of private parking ramp, 24-hour security and Bahamas Customs and Immigration clearance on site. The FBO has an executive aviation terminal with passenger lounge and conference room and offers limousine, rental cars, catering and concierge services.
Superior Air Parts, Inc., which last summer filed for bankruptcy protection (BA, Aug. 4/54), last month emerged from Chapter 11 under new ownership. The Dallas, Texas-based replacement parts manufacturer, formerly owned by investment firm Vista Corp., was sold to investor RSTW Partner III, LP, which manages $870 million in capital through three investment partnerships. RSTW, which was owed money by Superior, turned its $9 million debt into equity and plans to infuse $5 million more into Superior (BA, Dec. 8/242).
Daniel W. Burkhart, a former Navy pilot, fixed-base operation manager and consultant, was named the first regional representative for the National Business Aviation Association. Burkhart, who begins his new duties this week, is the first of what will probably be a number of NBAA regional reps around the country as part of the association's REACHBAC program designed to foster communication between corporate operators in the field and NBAA headquarters in Washington, D.C. (BA, Sept. 1/92).
WAYFARER AVIATION is celebrating the new year with the addition of a new Beechjet 400A to its fleet of managed aircraft. The 400A is based in Keene, N.H., Wayfarer's eighth base of operations for managed and charter aircraft.
BFGOODRICH COMPANY completed its acquisition of Rohr, Inc. last month and said Robert H. Rau, who had been president and chief executive of Rohr, will be president of the Aerostructures Group of BFGoodrich Aerospace until his planned retirement at the end of 1998. Rau also was named a director of The BFGoodrich Company. David R. Watson was named group vice president of the Aerostructures Group and the company said he will become president following Rau's retirement. Rau, 61, joined Rohr in 1993 following a management career at Parker Hannifin Corp.
Galaxy Aerospace met its goal of flying the company's new business jet in 1997, logging two-plus flights at the facilities of Israel Aircraft Industries before the year ended. The aircraft first took to the air Dec.
FOKKER Model F28 Mark 0070 and Mark 0100 series airplanes (Docket 97- NM-248-AD) - proposes to require inspection of the wing leading edge sections for the correct amount of bleed air exhaust holes, and corrective actions, if necessary. This proposal is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
LUSCOMBE Models 8, 8A, 8B, 8C, 8D, 8E, 8F, T-8F airplanes (Docket No. 95-NM-99-AD; Amdt. 39-10229; AD 96-24-17 R1) - clarifies information in AD 96-24-17, which requires installing new inspection holes, modifying the wing tip fairings and inspecting the wing spars for intergranular corrosion. The actions specified in the AD are intended to prevent wing spar failure from intergranular corrosion, which could result in structural failure of the wings and loss of control of the airplane. The AD was published with an appendix providing an alternative method of compliance.
AIR METHODS CORP. sold one of its Bell 206L-3 helicopters to its Brazilian franchise partner, Flamingo Unimed Air Taxi Aereo LTDA. Air Methods, which said the deal was structured as a sales-type lease it will finance over a seven-year term, said the sales price was $695,000. The transaction "represents the sixth aircraft to be placed in service by our Brazilian franchise partner since commencing operations in January 1996.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION issued special conditions to Rockwell Collins for a supplemental type certificate to modify Cessna Model 525 CitationJets with digital avionics including an electronic flight instrument system. The special conditions are aimed at providing standards for protecting the systems from the effects of high intensity (electromagnetic) radiated fields. For more information, contact Ervin Dvorak in FAA's Standards Office at (816) 426-6941.
delayed raising the upper limit at which reduced vertical separation minimum (RVSM) standards apply over the North Atlantic until Oct. 8.The North Atlantic Implementation Managers Group last month agreed to raise the RVSM ceiling from Flight Level 370 to FL390 beginning Oct. 8, a delay from April 28, the date some European officials had sought. The delay to Oct. 8 is good news for U.S.
EARLE BOYTER, veteran general aviation marketer, joined Socata Aircraft as vice president of U.S. marketing. Boyter will team with Nicolas Chabbert, vice president of sales and marketing, in representing the Socata line of single-engine piston aircraft in North America. Boyter spent the past four years with Diamond Aircraft, where he helped introduce the Diamond Katana. Before that, he served as vice president of international sales and vice president of marketing and sales for Piper Aircraft.
EDWARD VOELKER joined Piedmont Aviation Services as charter manager. Voelker has more than 14 years of operational and business management experience in the aviation industry. He most recently was vice president of operations for Signature's Dulles International Airport charter operation and also has served as manager for Southern Jet In Lexington, Ky., and Houston, Texas.
BOMBARDIER and Dassault Systems said the Canadian manufacturer will use CATIA Solutions for the structural, systems, test rig and assembly tooling design of the Canadair Regional Jet Series 700. Another 200 CATIA workstations were installed for use in development of the 70-passenger airliner. CATIA and CADAM were developed by Dassault Systems and are marketed and supported worldwide by IBM and its business partners.
The possibility that certain turbine torque rings and compressor drive shafts were manufactured from contaminated material has led the Federal Aviation Administration to call for the replacement of those parts on General Electric CF700 turbofan engines and CJ610 turbojet engines. FAA last month issued an airworthiness directive requiring the replacement after it received a report that a cooling plate removed from a GE CT58 engine was found to have an iron-rich inclusion that came from a defective heat lot.
DAVID OLIVE joined Powell Tate, the Washington, D.C.-based firm that provides consulting services, as senior vice president. Olive, former chief of staff to Rep. Asa Hutchinson (R-Ark.), will manage the firm's aviation and information technology practices.
BOMBARDIER REGIONAL AIRCRAFT DIVISION, which had been scheduled to fly the new Series 400 version of the Dash 8 by yearend, has postponed the first flight until later this month. New target date for first flight is Jan. 21.
DORNIER Model 328-100 series airplanes (Docket No. 97-NM-62-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.
PILOT'S GUIDE TO FLYING IN THE GUARD&RESERVE, a 343-page paperback guide to finding a duty slot in those organizations, is available from AIR, Inc. The publication, written by Robert Black, lists 272 units from the U.S. and Puerto Rico, 31 types of aircraft, plus information on where the jobs are and whom to contact at each unit.
