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.
AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGIES OF AUSTRALIA Models N22B, N22S and N24A airplanes (Docket No. 97-CE-34-AD; Amdt. 39-10212; AD 97-24-05) - requires repetitively inspecting the aft wing break connectors for arcing damage, deposits between contacts and looseness of contacts; and removing deposits between contacts, tightening any loose contacts and replacing any aft damage. This AD results from several reports of uncommanded flap extensions and displays of incorrect stall warning indications on the affected airplanes.
BARRY VALENTINE, who has served as acting administrator or deputy administrator at FAA for the past year, left the agency Friday (BA, Nov. 3/187). A replacement has not yet been selected, FAA said.
A NASA-sponsored contest to design and build a general aviation aircraft was won by a team of students from four Kansas universities. The team, representing the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas State University in Manhattan, and, Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, won the "Design It, Build It, Fly It" award in the National General Aviation Design Competition, sponsored by NASA, FAA, the U.S. Air Force and the Experimental Aircraft Association.
Four people, including the pilot and two nurses, were killed Dec. 14 when their medevac helicopter struck power lines and crashed while attempting to lift off with an injured patient at the scene of a fatal motor vehicle accident in suburban Denver, Colo. Officials said the aircraft, a Bell 407 operated by AirLife, was being flown by Peter Abplanalp, 50, a veteran of Vietnam and the Persian Gulf War. The crew was transporting the driver of one of two vehicles involved in a head-on collision in Littleton, a Denver suburb. Witnesses to the 10 p.m.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION plans to issue a notice of proposed rulemaking in the spring that would require operators of turbine-powered, fixed-wing aircraft with six or more seats to install enhanced ground proximity warning systems by 2003. The major airlines, along with FAA and DOT officials, staged a press con-ference in Washington, D.C. last week to announce they are going ahead with the EGPWS installations on their own before the rule is adopted.
DASSAULT Model Mystere-Falcon 50 series airplanes (Docket No. 97-NM- 275-AD; Amdt. 39-10202; AD 97-21-16) - publishes an AD previously sent to all known U.S. owners and operators of the affected airplanes by individual notices. The AD requires a revision to the limitations section of the airplane flight manual to include procedures to use certain values to correctly gauge the minimum allowable N1 speed of the operative engines during operation in icing conditions.
AVIONS PIERRE Robin Model R3000 airplanes equipped with yaw damper Modification No. 013 (Docket No. 97-CE-89-AD; Amdt. 39-10196; AD 97-23-08) - requires inspecting the bridle cable ends for correct installation in the grooved screw, inspecting for correct cable winding on the capstan and proper cable tension and correcting any discrepancies found. This AD also requires installing lockwire to the tension adjustment screw. This AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information the French airworthiness authority issued.
HONEYWELL, INC., named Jim Porter vice president and chief administrative officer, effective Jan. 1. A 17-year veteran of the company, Porter began his career in the Defense Systems Division. He had been serving as corporate vice president-human resources since May 1993. In his new posts, Porter will be responsible for "providing strategic focus, integration and leadership for a range of corporate functions and key business processes," according to a Honeywell statement. He will report to Michael Bonsignore, chairman and chief executive.
CHC HELICOPTER CORP., St. John's, Newfoundland, said it received the proceeds of its previously announced sale of three million special warrants. Proceeds of the $37 million (Canadian) offering had been placed in escrow pending certain conditions including the clearance of a prospectus in the provinces of Ontario, British Columbia, Manitoba and Quebec. Each warrant is convertible into one Class A subordinate voting share of CHC.
BOEING CAPITAL CORPORATION, formerly known as McDonnell Douglas Finance Corporation, will provide the lease financing package for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's acquisition of Cessna 172 Skyhawks. The financing package covers 61 of the single-engine aircraft over three years. Embry-Riddle, which last summer ordered up to 300 Cessna single-engine aircraft over a 12-year period (BA, Aug. 11/59), took delivery of the first Skyhawk in September and expects to have taken delivery of a total of 15 by the end of the year.
FOKKER Model F.28 Mark 1000, 2000, 3000 and 4000 series airplanes (Docket No. 97-NM-287-AD) - proposes to require repetitive inspections for any discrepancy in the sealwire of the fireguards of the engine fire shut- off system and repair, if necessary. This proposal is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
FAA issued an Advisory Circular, 25.335-1, Design Dive Speed, that provides an acceptable method, but not the only means, of complying with FAR Part 25 related to minimum speed margins between design cruise speed and design dive speed. Copies can be obtained by writing to the Department of Transportation, Subsequent Distribution Office, DOT Warehouse, SVC-121.23, 3341Q 75th Ave., Landover, Md. 20785; telephone: (301) 322-5377.
DOT Inspector General Kenneth Mead is launching an investigation into whether FAA managers are siphoning funds from one program to finance another in a practice known as "assessment." According to Rep.
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES took delivery of the first Boeing 737-700 Wednesday, the newest member of the 737 family. Southwest was the launch customer for the new model when it placed an order for 63 737-700s in November 1993. The 737-700 won FAA certification in November. The 737-700 is powered by CFM56-7 engines built by CFMI International, a joint venture of General Electric of the U.S. and Snecma of France.
A SEVERE LANDING by an Air Canada Regional Jet last week in Fredericton, New Brunswick resulted in serious injuries to more than half the passengers. The aircraft, on a flight from Toronto on Dec. 16, was attempting to land in foggy conditions shortly before midnight. There were 37 passengers, two infants and three crew members on the 50-seat aircraft and 35 persons - many with broken bones - were hospitalized. The accident, under investigation by the Canadian Transportation Safety Board, is believed to be one of the first involving a Canadair Regional Jet.
