FLIGHTCRAFT added a Citation 501SP and a Westwind II to its charter and management fleet. Flightcraft will operate and provide maintenance for the seven-passenger Westwind, which will be based at the company's Eugene, Ore. facility. Flightcraft will acquire, finance, refurbish and manage the Citation ISP for its owner and base the aircraft in Portland. Flightcraft, which has added five aircraft to its charter and managed fleet this year, operates more than 30 aircraft throughout its network of operations.
SCL, Terminal Aero Santiago, a consortium of Vancouver Airport Services (YVRAS), Agunsa, Sabco and Dragodoes, was awarded a 15-year contract to build an international terminal, control tower, cargo and landside infrastructure at the Santiago International Airport in Chile. The contract is valued at $200 million (U.S.).
PALWAUKEE, ILL. MUNICIPAL AIRPORT is soliciting proposals for operation of a full-service, fixed-base operation at the airport. To obtain proposal documents, contact the airport manager's office at (847) 537-2580; fax, (847) 537-8183. Proposals are due by 4 p.m. Jan. 2.
LITTON INDUSTRIES will manage integration of the total avionics system for the Kaman SH-2G Super Sea Sprite program for the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal New Zealand Navy. Kaman is providing 11 SH-2G helicopters that will operate from Australian frigates and four Super Sea Sprites that will be based on New Zealand frigates.
ROBERT STEGER joined Avatar as purchasing manager. Steger previously was director of technical purchasing at Solair Inc. in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and before that spent 10 years with AAR Allen Aircraft in Elk Grove Village, Ill.
PILATUS Models PC-6/B1-H2, PC-6/B2-H2, PC-6/B2-H4 and PC-12 airplanes (Docket No. 97-CE-18-AD; Amdt. 39-10180; AD 97-22-08) - requires amending the limitations section of the airplane flight manual or the pilot's operating handbook to prohibit the positioning of the power levers below the flight idle stop while the airplane is in flight. This amendment will include a statement of consequences if the limitation is not followed.
SAAB Model SF340A and 340B series airplanes (Docket No. 97-NM-135-AD) - proposes to require an inspection to determine the serviceability of the fire extinguisher of the forward lavatory waste bin and corrective actions, if necessary. This proposal also would require installation of a placard adjacent to the fire extinguisher in the forward lavatory waste bin. This proposal is prompted by the issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a civil airworthiness authority.
The Italian Air Force became the fourth customer for the new C-130J transport last month when it placed an order for 18 of the new J models, which will supplement its existing fleet of 12 C-130H models. Deliveries to the Italian Air Force are scheduled to begin in 1999. The Italian order brings to 73 the number of C-130Js on order from Lockheed Martin. The Royal Air Force was the launch customer in 1995, with an order for 25.
Flyte Comm of Florida, which provides flight tracking information on airline and general aviation aircraft for various aviation uses, has begun an effort to strengthen its security policies surrounding the release of general aviation flight data. Flyte Comm officials said they would "honor requests from aircraft owners or operators to remove their flight identification from any products produced by Flyte Comm" using FAA aircraft data. In addition, Flyte Comm urged other providers of flight tracking information to do the same.
A PRECISION RUNWAY MONITOR system designed and built by AlliedSignal Electronic&Avionics Systems (EAS) was commissioned by FAA at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, the manufacturer said, the first production PRM to win approval by the agency. AlliedSignal said the PRM permits flights to conduct safe simultaneous approaches and landings on closely spaced parallel runways during inclement weather. The system is designed to provide controllers with real-time visual and audible aircraft monitoring alerts.
PARTENAVIA Models AP68TP Spartacus and AP68TP 600 Viator airplanes (Docket No. 97-CE-24-AD; Amdt. 39-10182; AD 97-22-10) - 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. This amendment also includes an airplane flight manual statement of consequences if the limitation is not followed.
National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Jim Hall named two relatively recent NTSB employees, including his personal assistant, to key positions with the agency. Peter Goelz was named managing director, the independent agency's top administrative post with responsibility for day- to-day operation of administrative functions. Goelz also will serve as the chairman's chief policy adviser. Goelz, 50, who had been heading NTSB's Office of Government, Public and Family Affairs, joined NTSB in 1995.
PRATT&WHITNEY CANADA PW100 series turboprop engines (Docket No. 97- ANE-33-AD) - proposes to require removal of the existing fuel manifold tubes, lock plates and preformed packing; installation of improved fuel manifold transfer tubes, lockplates and preformed packing; and, after installation, performance of a leak check. This proposal is prompted by reports of engine fuel leaks that resulted in either inflight engine shutdowns or fire warnings.
National Transportation Safety Board has issued several recommendations arising from a Feb. 5 incident in which an Air National Guard F-16, operating in a warning area over the Atlantic Ocean, intercepted a Nations Air 727 traversing the area. The proximity of the F- 16 activated the traffic alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS) on the 727. The board said its investigation "identified several areas of concern.
NEW PIPER PA-20, PA-22, PA-23, PA-24, PA-25, PA-30, PA-31P, PA-36, PA- 39 and PA-44 series airplanes (Docket NO. 84-CE-27-AD; Amdt. 39-10189; AD 85-02-05 R1) - clarifies information in AD 85-02-05, which requires installing on the pilot's instrument panel a Piper Part Number 81090-02 placard, which provides information for operation of the parking brake.
A 20-YEAR REPAYMENT program for buyers of general aviation aircraft is being offered to its members by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association in conjunction with MBNA America Bank, N.A. AOPA said the program will enable its members to buy a $40,000 used Cessna 172 with a 20 percent down payment and monthly payments of just over $300 a month. The association said the availability of significantly lower monthly payments with the 20- year loan term will make aircraft ownership an attractive alternative to renting.
SIAI MARCHETTI S.r.1. Models SF600 and SF600A airplanes (Docket No. 97-CE-26-AD; Amdt. 39-10184; AD 97-22-12) - 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. This airplane flight manual amendment will include a statement of consequences if the limitation is not followed.
National Air Transportation Association last week joined others in the aviation community who have been urging continuation of Loran-C navigation aids beyond the Transportation Department's intended cutoff of the system in 2000. In comments to a congressionally mandated Booz, Allen&Hamilton review on extending Loran-C, NATA noted the association "is committed to the enhancement of our nation's navigation systems through integration of new technologies.
PILATUS BRITTEN-NORMAN Models BN-2, BN-2A, BN-2B and BN-2T series airplanes (Docket No. 96-CE-17-AD; Amdt. 39-10173; AD 97-22-02) - requires modifying the upper engine mounting brackets on the wing front spar as terminating action for the repetitive inspections required in AD 84-23-06.
Superior Air Parts, the Dallas, Texas-based replacement part manufacturer, expects to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this month under new ownership. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware late last month confirmed Superior's reorganization plan, which includes the sale of the company from investment firm Vista Corp. to an investor group known as RSTW. The sale is expected to close by Dec. 15, releasing Superior from bankruptcy protection, said Jim Wilson, a managing partner of RSTW.
AMERICAN AIRLINES broke ground Monday at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport for its $2 million, 10,000-square-foot shelter and exhibit hall for the Flagship Knoxville, a pre-World War II DC-3 originally owned by American. American employees raised $700,000 for the project and the company pledged the rest. The Flagship was used as an Army cargo plane in 1942-43, returned to American and sold to Colonial Airlines in 1948. At one time it was used as a crop duster in South Carolina.
FAIRCHILD SA226 and SA227 series airplanes equipped with a certain Simmonds-Precision pitch trim actuator (Docket No. 97-CE-90-AD; Amdt. 39- 10188; AD 97-23-01) - supersedes AD 93-15-02 R2, which requires repetitively measuring the freeplay of the pitch trim actuator and repetitively inspecting the actuator for rod slippage; immediately replacing any actuator if certain free-play limitations are exceeded or rod slippage is evident; and, eventually replacing the actuator regardless of the inspection results.
MERCURY AIR CARGOMERCURY AIR CARGO is the new import cargo ground handler for LanChile Cargo Group at Miami International Airport. Mercury Air Cargo expects to handle more than 11 pounds of cargo monthly for the Chilean carrier. Mercury said that "because of the competitive nature of air cargo handling," it would not reveal the anti-cipated dollar volume of the agreement with LanChile.
