LUFTHANSA BOMBARDIER AVIATION SERVICE CENTER, the joint venture of Lufthansa Technik and Bombardier Business Aircraft, late last month opened at Berlin-Schoenfeld airport. The facility can service all Learjet, Challenger and Global Express aircraft. Bombardier and Lufthansa Technik have invested 10 million Deutchmarks in the center, which currently employs 22, but is expected to grow to 100. The center will service Bombardier aircraft based in Europe as well as aircraft visiting Europe from North America. FAA certification is expected in February 1998.
EUROPEAN AEROSPACE MANUFACTURERS received a blast from Aerospace Industries Association President Don Fuqua, who said "There are signs from our European competitors that if they cannot match our progress in consolidation or maintain a strong government-industry research program, they will adopt other reasons to salvage their competitive posture in the global economy." Fuqua cited several trade issues, including a European Commission plan to "provide new government subsidies to finance a flight management system, and it would proceed as well with implementing stricter a
DASSAULT Model Falcon 2000 series airplanes (Docket No. 97-NM-198-AD; Amdt. 39-10210; AD 97-24-03) - requires a revision to the limitations section of the airplane flight manual to limit the allowable loads in the baggage compartment aft of the center baggage net. This AD also requires replacement of the center baggage net with a net that has reinforced straps. The replacement would terminate the baggage compartment load limitation. This amendment is prompted by a report indicating that the center baggage net cannot sustain design loads in an accident.
EUROCOPTER Model SE 3130, SE 313B, SA 3180, SA 318B and SA 318C helicopters (Docket No. 97-SW-22-AD; Amdt. 39-10211; AD 97-24-04) - requires a visual inspection of the main rotor blade reinforcement strips for debonding between the reinforcement strips of the blade, a visual inspection of the main rotor blade skin for cracks or corrosion and replacement of the blade if certain debonding or damage is found. This amendment is prompted by an accident in which a blade separated in flight.
BMW ROLLS-ROYCE is the first engine manufacturer in continental Europe to receive Design Organization Approval by the German Aviation Authority (LBA) under the new European regulation, JAR-21, the company said. The new DOA, issued by the European Joint Aviation Authorities, recognizes the organizational "system" that performs various type investigations. BMW Rolls-Royce is developing and builds the BR 700 family of turbofan engines that power the Gulfstream V, Bombardier Global Express and the MD-95 airliner.
Rockwell International Corp. completed its acquisition of the in- flight entertainment business of Hughes-Avicom International, Inc., and said the new venture will be made part of Rockwell's Cedar Rapids, Iowa- based Collins business unit. Ken McNamara, who led the Pomona, Calif.- based manufacturer of interactive IFE systems when it was part of Hughes Avicom International, will continue in that role as vice president and general manager with Rockwell Collins.
Forgings manufacturer Wyman-Gordon Company reported improved financial results for the three- and six-month periods ended Nov. 30, but said its operating margins were reduced because of equipment problems with one of its largest presses.
NEW HAMPSHIRE DIVISION OF AERONAUTICS requests proposals until 3 p.m. Dec. 31 for a fixed-base operator/airport manager for Skyhaven Airport. To obtain the RFP, contact NHDOT, Division of Aeronautics, 65 Airport Road, Concord, N.J. 03301. For more information, call Jack Ferns, director, at (603) 271-2551.
BRUCE WHITMAN, executive vice president of FlightSafety International, Inc., was elected to the board of Aviall, the aviation parts distributor, effective Jan. 5. Whitman, who has been with FSI for 36 years, will take the seat on the Aviall board formerly held by Harry Wendt, who is leaving to devote more time to other business interests. Whitman, a former Air Force officer, joined FSI in 1961. He also serves on FSI's board of directors and as vice chairman and president of FlightSafety Services Corp.
Dassault Falcon Jet capped a record sales year with the sale of 24 Falcon 2000 aircraft to fractional ownership pioneer Executive Jet in a deal valued at $500 million, officials from both companies announced Friday. Dassault Falcon Jet officials hinted during this year's NBAA convention in Dallas about a possible participation in fractional ownership programs (BA, Sept. 29/133). The deal announced last week, however, is a straight sale to Executive Jet rather than a cooperative effort such as those announced between Executive Jet and Boeing or Gulfstream.
SHORT BROTHERS Model SD3-60 SHERPA and SD3 SHERPA series airplanes (Docket No. 97-NM-118-AD) - proposes to require removing the aluminum alloy oxygen pipe assembly and replacing it with a stainless steel assembly. This proposal is prompted by the issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent aluminum oxygen tubing from bursting and releasing a high-pressure oxygen flow into the passenger cabin, which could result in a fire hazard during flight.
ALCOA ENGINEERED PRODUCTS is expanding its aerospace hard alloy extrusion capacity at its Lafayette, Ind., facility and its Pimalco plant in Chandler, Ariz. Alcoa is adding a 5,000-ton press and a 2,500-ton press in 1998. The expansion at the Pimalco plant will include a 2,500-ton press and 80,000 square feet of manufacturing area that will be operational by mid-1998. By the end of 1998, Alcoa said its capacity will exceed 45,000 metric tons annually of hard alloy extrusions.
Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. Chairman Ted Forstmann, who has made it a point to attract high-profile board members who might be able to help locate customers for the company's line of business jets, last week announced that former U.S. Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger is the newest Gulfstream board member. Kissinger, chairman of Kissinger Associates, Inc., an international consulting firm, replaces William R. Aquavella, who resigned from the Gulfstream board.
BOEING SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT SUPPORT (BSAS) opened a new office in Slocomb, Ala., near Fort Rucker Army Aviation Center. BSAS is a joint-venture company formed in 1992 to support the RAH-66 Comanche helicopter, along with other helicopters such as the Apache, Blackhawk and Chinook.
Privately held Fairchild Dornier reported net income of $70.2 million on sales of $507.3 million for the 1997 fiscal year ended Sept. 30 and officials are optimistic the financial outlook will get even better in the current fiscal year.
Saab Aircraft plans to cease production of its regional turboprops - the 35-passenger 340 and 50-passenger, high-speed 2000 - by mid-1999, refocusing its efforts on customer support and financing of the existing fleet as well as subcontracting, the company board announced last week. The decision follows the Oct. 23 announcement that Saab was considering ending production of its regional aircraft lines since the market "has become less favorable and the losses are considerable" (BA, Oct. 27/179).
DORNIER Model 328-100 series airplanes (Docket No. 97-NM-111-AD) - proposes to require modification of certain electrical panel and relay supports. This proposal is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent possible electrical short circuits, which could result in loss of certain electrical indicating and recording systems and possible fire.
LOCKHEED MARTIN Chairman Norman Augustine received the 1997 Medal of Technology, the nation's highest honor for technological achievement, from President Clinton last week, one of five persons selected for the honor.
GARRETT AVIATION held groundbreaking ceremonies for a new aircraft painting facility at Capital Airport in Springfield, Ill. The 60,000-square-foot facility, to be built behind Garrett's existing facilities, will comprise three hangar bays and office and storage space. Garrett's current 30,000- square-foot paint facility can accommodate one large and one small aircraft at a time, while the new hangar will be large enough to accommodate four or five large aircraft simultaneously.
A new, next-generation core for an AlliedSignal Engines turbofan in the 4,000-8,000 pounds-of-thrust range lit successfully on the first attempt and ran steadily at idle power in a recent initial test aimed at having a package of advanced technologies ready when the market demands it, a top engine division executive says.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMPANY received a three-year contract from Wayne County, Mich., to recycle spent aircraft deicing fluids at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. Environmental Quality's Site Services Division will collect spent deicing fluid from the airport and truck it to Michigan Recovery Systems, Inc., in Romulus, Mich., for recycling. Michigan Recovery Systems and Environmental Quality also plans to build an on-site recycling facility for aircraft deicing fluids at Salt Lake City International Airport.
CESSNA delivered 10 new single-engine 172 Skyhawks to the Civil Air Patrol. The Civil Air Patrol, which ordered 20 Skyhawks from Cessna last summer (BA, Aug. 11/59), will take delivery of the remaining 10 over the next two months. The Skyhawks will be added to the Civil Air Patrol's fleet of 530 search-and-rescue airplanes.
CHAD ANDERSON was appointed manager of aircraft acquisition and sales for Regent Aviation. Anderson previously served as regional sales manager for Cessna Finance Corporation. He holds commercial, multi-engine and instrument pilot ratings.
