DORNIER Model 328-100 series airplanes (Docket No. 97-NM-114-AD) - proposes to require removal and replacement of the center screw of the crew seat belt buckle. 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 failure of the center screw of the crew seat belt buckle, which could result in injury to the flight crew during an emergency landing. Comments on the proposal must be sent in triplicate before Dec.
RAYTHEON 90, 100, 200 and 300 series airplanes (Docket No. 97-CE-05- AD; Amdt. 39-10207; AD 97-23-17) - requires inspecting the gray, blue or clear Ethylene Vinyl Acetate tubing near the co-pilot's foot warmer for collapse or deformity. If the tubing is collapsed or deformed, this action requires replacing and re-routing the tubing. This EVA tubing is used on the pneumatic de-ice indicator lines and the pressurization control system pneumatic lines that provide vacuum to the outflow safety valves that depressurize the airplane.
FLIGHT SAFETY FOUNDATION will hold its 10th annual European Aviation Safety Seminar March 16-18 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The seminar, "Managing Aviation Safety - Back to Basics," will cover topics including management, infrastructure, operations, and approach and landing accident reduction. For more information, contact Flight Safety Foundation at (703) 739-6700.
AIRLINE AUTOMATION, INC., is marketing a new software application developed to assist airlines in complying with new U.S. Postal Service requirements that become effective in January. The new system, called Automated Postal Air-Res System (APARS), uses computer robotics to retrieve data from the multi-host reservation system. APARS provides USPS with the carrier's available capacity for mail on each of its scheduled flights and updates the USPS system with flight operations information. For more information, contact APARS in Tucson, Ariz. at (800) 369-5875.
A KUWAITI firm became the first announced customer for the corporate version of the Airbus A319 corporate aircraft last week. Airbus Industries said the Kuwaiti conglomerate Mohamed Abdulmohsin Al Kharafi signed a contract for an A319CJ that will be powered by International Aero Engines (IAE) V2527 engines. The aircraft will be configured to seat up to 30 passengers with a mixed layout for VIPs and guests.
JETSTREAM Models 3101 and 3201 airplanes with Kit JK 2496 and Modification JM 7537 installed (Docket No. 92-CE-46-AD; Amdt. 39-10214; AD 97-24-07) - requires installing magnetic latching relays on the ignition system because of the auto-ignition system becoming disabled when switching from ground power to the airplane's internal power. This AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for the United Kingdom.
DE HAVILLAND DHC-6 series airplanes (Docket No. 91-CE-45-AD; Amdt. 39- 10197; AD 97-23-09) - supersedes AD 78-26-02, which requires repetitively inspecting the fuselage side frame flanges at Fuselage Station 218.125 and FS 219.525 for cracks on certain DHC-6 series airplanes and repairing or replacing any cracked part. FAA's policy on aging commuter-class aircraft is to eliminate or, in certain instances, reduce the number of certain repetitive short-interval inspections when improved parts or modifications are available.
MONTEREY JET CENTER recently opened at Monterey Peninsula Airport in California with 60,000 square feet of hangar space and six acres of ramp space. In addition, Monterey Jet Center includes a pilot's lounge and flight planning room, an observation deck overlooking Monterey Bay and about 10 offices that will be used by base tenants or associated businesses. The facility is a Phillips Aviation Performance Center.
Swiss regional Crossair ordered four Avro RJ100 aircraft, which will increase the carrier's fleet of Avro RJs to 20, Aero International (Regional), which markets the Avro series of aircraft, announced this month. The order calls for two RJs to be delivered in 1998 and the remaining two in 1999. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
In a move that could provide the financing necessary for a major expansion of its aviation simulation training business, SimuFlite Training International will be acquired by General Electric Capital Services Corp. Spokeswomen for SimuFlite, which is headquartered at the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, and GE Capital Credit confirmed that GE had signed an agreement in principle with SATGroup, formerly Southern Air Transport, to acquire the simulator training provider.
OXFORD AIR TRAINING SCHOOL, part of the CSE Aviation Group, won a pilot training contract with British Airways. Beginning in April, the school will train some 80 British Airways cadet pilots annually for two years. "British Airways and its predecessors have been coming to Oxford for more than 30 years," said Peter Moxham, vice president-marketing for the school. "Oxford graduates are now both Concorde and Boeing 747 captains...
ATLANTIC COAST AIRLINES took delivery of a new 29-passenger Jetstream 41 from Aero International (Regional). ACA, the launch customer for the J41 with its initial order in 1991, operates 31 of the regional turboprops.
HARRIS CORPORATION began shipment of the first orders of its new 50-watt digital multimode transmitter, the VDR-2135 VHF, to the Iceland Civil Aviation Administration. The transmitter provides ground-to-air voice and data communications.
HOAC AUSTRIA Model DV-20 Katana airplanes (Docket No. 97-CE-84-AD) - proposes to require replacing the nose wheel leg of the nose landing gear with an improved part. The proposal is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for Austria. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent nose landing gear collapse caused by cracks in the welding of the nose wheel tappet of the nose landing gear.
MSAS AMERICAS won a contract from Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. to transport helicopters from the U.S. to the Philippines and Taiwan. MSAS also has provided logistics for transporting Bell 430s from Athens, Greece to a repair center in Dubai as well as from Dallas to Delhi, India. MSAS provides management services for companies engaged in international trade.
DORNIER Model 328-100 series airplanes (Docket No. 97-NM-109-AD) - proposes to require replacement of the main landing gear uplocks with new or modified main landing gear uplocks. This proposal is prompted by the issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
World Fuel Services Corp., a major provider of aviation and marine fueling services, signed a definitive agreement to buy Baseops International, Inc. and its subsidiaries for approximately $3.6 million in cash and common stock. Baseops provides a variety of services to corporate, government and private aircraft operators worldwide, including generating flight plans, providing charter and meteorological information, obtaining landing and overflight permits, and procuring ground handling and fuel.
Bombardier Services purchased Specialist Aviation Services, an emergency support organization based at Staverton Airport in Gloucestershire, the United Kingdom. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Specialist Aviation Services comprises Police Aviation Services and Medical Aviation Services, which provide aircraft, pilot and maintenance support to police authorities as well as air ambulance services. The two units currently have 23 contracts throughout the U.K. with annual sales of more than 7 million pounds. The company employs 130.
DORNIER Model 328-100 series airplanes (Docket No. 96-NM-115-AD; Amdt. 39-10198; AD 97-23-10) - requires modification of the cable tension regulator on both the left and right elevators by installing certain parts on the lever arm of the regulator. This amendment is prompted by a report indicating that design testing and analysis have shown applied loads could cause the regulator's lever arm to break. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent failure of the regulator and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane.
ROBERT TURICH joined Hartford Financial Corp. as regional manager of the Dallas office, which serves the Central U.S. Turich, most recently manager-aircraft finance at GreenTree Financial, has more than 36 years of experience in banking and finance, including 24 years in aircraft lending.
CIRRUS DESIGN CORPORATION appointed Patrick Waddick vice president of engineering. Waddick succeeds James Griswold, who retired in August. Waddick joined Cirrus in 1988 as engineering manager for the VK-30 program. In his new position, he will be responsible for completing FAA certification of the Cirrus SR20 and managing future programs.
ED JEZIORNY was named program administrator for the Experimental Aircraft Association's Flying Start program. Jeziorny, a long-time EAA member and volunteer, has been involved with EAA's Young Eagles program since 1992. In his new role, Jeziorny will oversee the Flying Start program, aimed at generating interest in flying.
Aviation industry leaders were jubilant as President Clinton signed into law legislation to provide relief to on-demand operators from provisions of the Pilot Record Improvement Act (PRIA). Congress last month passed the legislation, H.R.2626, which allows air charter operators to hire pilots and permit them to operate in passenger service for up to 90 days while collecting background information required under PRIA. Clinton signed the bill Dec. 5 (BA, Dec. 8/239).
UNITED STATES AIR TOUR ASSOCIATION board of directors held separate meetings last week in Washington, D.C. with FAA Administrator Jane Garvey and Bob Stanton, the newly named director of the National Park Service to express their concerns about proposed restrictions on commercial air tour overflights of national parks (BA, Dec. 8/239), discuss the relationship between the two agencies and establish a dialogue with the government officials. A USATA official said board members were very pleased with the content and tenor of the sessions.
