AMERICAN CHAMPION 7, 8 and 11 series airplanes (Docket No. 97-CE-79- AD) - proposes to require installing inspection holes on the top and bottom wing surfaces, repetitively inspecting the front and rear wood spars for damage, repairing or replacing any damaged wood spar and installing inspection covers. Damage is defined as cracks, compression cracks, longitudinal holes, or loose or missing rib nails. The proposed AD results from a review of the service history of the affected airplanes that incorporate wood wing spars.
FREDRICK ATWOOD was named avionics manager for Woodland Aviation. Atwood previously served as general manager for Bay Avionics for 17 years and has more than 30 years of experience in aviation electronics.
RAYTHEON COMPANY signed an agreement to sell its Raytheon Semiconductor business to Fairchild Semi-conductor Corp. of South Portland, Maine. for $120 million in cash. Raytheon Semiconductor has 421 employees in Mountain View and San Diego, Calif., and had revenues of approximately $70 million in 1996. Completion of the sale is expected by yearend.
DORNIER 228-100, 228-101, 228-200, 228-201, 228-202 and 228-212 airplanes (Docket NO. 97-CE-23-AD; Amdt. 39-10181; AD 97-22-09) - requires amending the limitations section of 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.
CCAIR improperly operated 21 flights with three Jetstream 31 aircraft in June 1995 without having inspected the windscreens of the aircraft under an effective airworthiness directive and should be fined $94,500, the Federal Aviation Administration said last week. The AD, which became effective in March 1995, requires airlines to visually inspect certain British Aerospace Jetstream aircraft for cracking of the poly vinyl butyrate interlayer of the left and right windscreens.
THIOKOL CORP., Ogden, Utah, completed its buy of 13 million shares of Howmet International Inc. common stock from an affiliate of The Carlyle Group for $183.8 million. The transaction increased Thiokol's stake in Greenwich, Conn.-based Howmet from 49 percent to 62 percent. Thiokol has a two-year option beginning December 1999 to acquire the remaining Howmet shares owned by Carlyle. James Wilson, chairman and chief executive of Thiokol, also will serve as chairman of Howmet. David Squier will continue to serve as president and CEO of Howmet.
THOMAS EASTLAND was appointed director of business development, Asia- Pacific, for Air Routing International's IATA Global Charge Program. Eastland, who has 25 years of sales and marketing experience, will market the program to airlines, ground handlers, fuel suppliers and airports.
CHRYSLER PENTASTAR AVIATION, in conjunction with the Professional Aviation Maintenance Association, is launching an annual scholarship program designed to recognize outstanding aviation maintenance technicians. Five scholarships valued at a total of $11,000 will be awarded to students attending the American Flight&Technology Center, Inc., in Waterford, Mich. Three $2,000 scholarships will be awarded to qualified candidates and two $2,500 scholarships awarded to women/minority candidates as part of Pentastar's existing women and minority training program.
The European Commission said last week it will impose stricter emission standards on jet aircraft engines beginning in 2000 despite work under way in the International Civil Aviation Organization on a universal approach. The directive prompted a charge by an industry representative in the U.S. that the EC was "acting against the Chicago Convention."
JEFF ELLSTON joined Jet 1 Center in Naples, Fla. as general manager. He has more than 20 years of fixed-base operation experience in line and customer service.
Los Angeles City Council members are expected to delay action on a controversial proposal to impose a Stage II non-addition rule at Van Nuys, Calif. Airport after the Los Angeles World Airports Board of Airport Commissioners last week recommended more time to study the issue. The City Council in late October drafted the proposal to impose the Stage II non- addition rule at the airport, allowing only a limited period for major repair or refurbishment (BA, Nov. 3/190). The proposal also would have extended the noise curfew on nighttime departures from 11 p.m.
HANNOVER FINANCE GROUP, in cooperation with another capital development company and TBG of Bonn, Germany, acquired a minority interest in Wankel Rotary GmbH of Stuttgart, Germany for $4.6 million, the engine manufacturer announced. Wankel will use the cash to develop prototypes and production engines. Most of Wankel's shares still will be held by Juergen Bax, president of the company.
TEXTRON, INC., acquired a Brazilian manufacturer of fasteners for $70 million. The company, Brazaco Mapri Industrias, S.A., makes automotive fasteners, specialty and standard screws and bolts and nuts and has annual sales of $100 million. Textron said the acquisition "further strengthens Textron Fastening systems' position as the world leader in engineered fastening systems.
THE FLORIDA AERO CLUB and seven of its local chapters made a $1,776 contribution to AOPA Legislative Action so the AOPA entity can "continue doing in Washington for general aviation what we could not accomplish alone," said FAC President Ralph Lewis. "We in Florida need outside help to prevent wanton destruction of our general aviation airports and protection from excessive federal tax proposals that would certainly kill general aviation nationwide."
AVIATION CHARTER SERVICES, an aircraft management and charter company based in Indianapolis, Ind., opened a satellite office at Delaware County Airport in Muncie, Ind. Also, ACS added the 11th aircraft to its charter fleet, a Mitsubishi Diamond 1A jet that will be based at its Indianapolis location.
FLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL received a U.S. Air Force contract to provide pilot and maintenance technician training for overseas operators of the Air National Guard C-26B (Fairchild Metro 23).
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE named Diane Rigney vice president of human resources for the Savannah, Ga. aircraft manufacturer. Rigney reports to Chris Davis, executive vice president and chief financial officer, and will be responsible for employee relations, labor relations, compensation, benefits, employment and staffing, training and development, and the medical department. Don Laidlaw, who had been vice president of human resources for Gulfstream, was named vice president of community relations until his retirement in early 1998.
Summary: Pursuant to FAA's rulemaking provisions governing the application, processing, and disposition of petitions for exemption (14 CFR Part 11), this notice contains a summary of certain petitions seeking relief from specified requirements of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR Chapter I), dispositions of certain petitions previously received, and corrections. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities.
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 land-side infrastructure at the Santiago International Airport in Chile. The contract is valued at $200 million (U.S.).
A VETERAN of the AMR Combs fixed-base chain, who some observers thought might some day head that organization, has been named president of Atlantic Aviation as that FBO chain positions itself for growth under its new owner, Legg Mason Merchant Banking. See article on Page 230.
BMW ROLLS-ROYCE shipped the first BR715 engine from the company's Development and Assembly Center in Dahlewitz, Germany to Boeing's Douglas Products Division in Long Beach, Calif. The 21,000-pounds-thrust BR715 was selected to power the 100-seat MD-95 airliner. The second powerplant is scheduled for shipment before yearend and first flight of the MD-95 is anticipated in the second quarter of next year.
Despite an increasing general aviation fleet and a lower-than-expected attrition rate for fixed-base operators, a Phillips 66 marketing official warned last month of other problems on the horizon for the FBO industry.
Serge Dassault, the head of semi-private French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation, dismissed the idea of creating a single military and civilian French aerospace group in combination with Aerospatiale. The project is supported by the French Government and the management of Aerospatiale.
