Model F28 Mark 0100 series airplanes (Docket No. 97-NM-246-AD; Amdt. 39-10169; AD 97-19-16) - publishes AD 97-19-16 that was previously sent to all known U.S. owners and operators of Fokker F28 Mark 0100 series airplanes equipped with Rolls-Royce Tay 650-15 engines. The AD requires a revision to the FAA-approved airplane flight manual to include procedures to prohibit use of reverse engine thrust power settings between idle and emergency maximum; and submission of a report to the airplane manufacturer.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, criticized for its handling of aircraft maintenance programs (BA, Nov. 17/211), was expected to issue a memo late last week to warn Flight Standards District Offices of inconsistencies in approving maintenance programs. National Air Transportation Association appealed to FAA after a Central Region FSDO deemed manufacturers' instructions for maintenance programs inadequate for Part 23 turbine aircraft. The FSDO issued warnings to operators to develop an approved maintenance program within 30 days.
Models PA-31, PA-31-300, PA-31-325, PA-31-350, PA-31P, PA- 31T and PA-31T1 airplanes (Docket No. 96-CE-69-AD) - proposes to supersede AD 80-26-05, which requires repetitively inspecting the main landing gear inboard door hinges and attachment angles for cracks and replacing any cracked hinge or attachment angle.
HARTZELL PROPELLER, INC. received a supplemental type certificate for installation of its two-bladed aluminum hub propellers on 150- and 160- horsepower Piper Apache PA-23s. Hartzell said the propellers, which will replace older steel hub propeller systems, will eliminate inspection requirements of Airworthiness Directive 97-18-02. The propellers will have a 2,000-hour time between overhaul. The propeller system, including two props, two new polished spinners and STC paperwork, has a list price of $12,900.
TRW, Inc. and BDM International, Inc., said both companies' boards of directors voted to approve a definitive agreement under which TRW will acquire BDM in a transaction valued at nearly $1 billion. Under the executed agreement, a wholly owned subsidiary, Systems Acquisition Inc., was scheduled to commence a cash tender offer for all of the outstanding shares of BDM at $29.50 per share. In conjunction with that agreement, The Carlyle Group and its affiliates, that own approximately 26 percent of BDM's stock, have agreed to tender their shares at the $29.50 price.
Federal Aviation Administration last week raised the maximum weight limit for a seaplane to be considered under primary category certification. The primary category was established in 1992 for certification of personal and recreational-use aircraft to simplify procedures for production and certification. FAA said when it established the 2,700-pound maximum weight for primary category aircraft, it did not consider seaplanes.
VAN NUYS AIRPORT ASSOCIATION late last month asked the City of Los Angeles to withdraw its proposal to curtail Stage II aircraft activity at Van Nuys, Calif. Airport. The association warned that the proposal does not "in a meaningful and non-discriminatory way regulate" noise and would "unduly burden interstate commerce." The association is joined by a number of aviation associations in Washington, D.C. that also have opposed the proposal (BA, Nov. 3/190). The Los Angeles City Council is expected to consider the proposal once again Dec. 9.
ARINC named a former Hughes Aircraft executive to head the Annapolis, Md.- based communications and information processing company. John M. Belcher was appointed president and chief operating officer of ARINC, according to James L. Pierce, chairman and chief executive officer. Belcher has held a number of senior executive positions in the aviation and defense industries.
Canadian manufacturer Bombardier reported slightly higher earnings and revenues for the three- and nine-month periods ended Oct. 31. The company posted net income of $98.3 million, or 27 cents per share, on revenues of $2.1 billion for the most recent quarter. That compares with earnings of $91.8 million, or 27 cents per share, on revenues of $2 billion a year ago. All figures are expressed in Canadian dollars.
BN2A Mk. 111 series airplanes (Docket No. 86- CE-23-AD; Amdt. 39-10171; AD 86-07-02 R1) - revises AD 86-07-02, which requires repetitive inspections of the junction of the torque link lug and upper case of the main landing gear torque link assemblies for cracks on BN-2A, BN-2B, BN-2T and BN2A MK.111 series airplanes and replacement of any cracked part. This AD removes the applicability of the BN-2A, BN-2B and BN-2T series airplanes and retains the repetitive inspection and replacement requirements of AD 86-07-02 for the BN2A Mk.111 series airplanes.
One of the three remaining farmers owning land in the middle of what is planned as the second runway at Tokyo Narita Airport has agreed to move, but the two remaining holdouts still refuse even to discuss the sale of their land. The Ministry of Transport and the New Tokyo International Airport Public Corporation intend to complete the second runway, 2,500 meters long and parallel to the current one, before March 2001.
JIM ANNESSER was appointed vice president of sales and marketing for Barfield. Annesser will be based at the company's headquarters in Miami, Fla. Before joining Barfield, Annesser was manager of marketing and resources for Aviall Accessory Services.
CAMP SYSTEMS INC. expects to release a new Charter Quote module for its Andromeda aviation management software system that will enable operators to easily generate fast, accurate trip quotations. CSI said five major air charter operations have been using a pre-release version of Andromeda CQ for evaluation purposes and many of their suggestions are being incorporated into the final product.
K-C AVIATION ordered 10 Gulfstream II auxiliary power unit kits from PATS, Inc. of Columbia, Md. The new PATS APU kits will replace the original and now out-of-production GTCP 36-6 with a unit based on the AlliedSignal GTCP- 36-100 engine that features considerably lower maintenance costs and improved performance. K-C Aviation President John Rahilly said the 10-unit purchase allows K-C to install the units in customer aircraft during scheduled periodic maintenance.
AVIATION RULEMAKING ADVISORY COMMITTEE will meet Dec. 5 to discuss air carrier and general aviation maintenance issues. The meeting will be held at the Helicopter Association International, 1635 Prince St., Alexandria, Va. 22314. For information, contact Caroline Forrester in the FAA Office of Rulemaking at (202) 267-9690.
Allegheny Teledyne, Inc., whose Teledyne Continental Motors (TCM) unit builds piston engines for general aviation aircraft, said it agreed to acquire a controlling interest in Aerotronics Controls, Inc., which it described as "a Connecticut-based startup company specializing in the design, development and production of electronic engine controls and management systems for piston aircraft engines." Allegheny Teledyne said the micro controller-based products under development by ACI "are designed to modernize the engine management systems of both new and existing piston-
PROFESSIONAL AVIATION MAINTENANCE ASSOCIATION relocated its national headquarters to: 636 Eye Street, N.W., Suite 300, Washington, D.C. 20001- 3736; telephone: (202) 216-9220; fax: (202) 216-9224.
Bridgestone Corp., the Tokyo-based tire manufacturer, acquired the principal business assets of Thompson Aerospace Inc., Miami, Fla., from London-based investor Rene Charvillat, the companies said last week. Terms were not disclosed. Thompson, founded in San Francisco in 1933, was the first aircraft tire retreading company and markets primarily to the airline industry. Since 1979 it has been the exclusive distributor of new aircraft tires for Bridgestone in North and South America. Charvillat acquired control of Thompson in 1992.
BOEING BUSINESS JETS said it received four new orders for its 737-700 business jet derivative, boosting total orders for the aircraft to 29, according to BBJ Vice President Tom Lindberg at the Dubai Air Show in the United Arab Emirates. Boeing did not identify the new customers, but said approximately 40 percent of the BBJ orders have been placed by U.S.-based customers. Another 25 percent of the current BBJ customer base is in the Middle East.
THE PRINCIPAL COMPETITORS in the market for very long-range business jets announced orders or potential agreements for some two dozen aircraft at last week's Dubai Air Show.See articles below.
Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. and Executive Jet signed letters of intent "with a group of Middle East investors" for the purchase of up to 12 Gulfstream IV-SP aircraft over the next six years that will be used in a fractional ownership program in the Middle East, the companies said. Gulfstream and Executive Jet, which previously announced orders for 29 Gulfstream IV-SPs for the companies' joint Gulfstream Shares fractional ownership program in the U.S.
CAROLYN WILLIAMSON has joined Women in Aviation, International as vice president. Williamson will act as managing editor of the WAI magazine, coordinate development of the association's chapter program and assist in planning the annual conference. She previously served as director of membership and marketing for the University Aviation Association.
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.
NATIONAL COALITION FOR AVIATION EDUCATION elected its 1998 board of directors. Bridgette Mikula, of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, was named chair; Robert Colby, of the Naval Sea Cadets, is vice chair; Kelli Creamer, of the Aerospace Education Foundation is secretary; and, Norm Mowbray, of the Helicopter Association International, is treasurer.
GE Engine Services, which recently acquired several engine overhaul businesses including Garrett Aviation Services (GAS) (BA, Sept. 8/101), has named GE veteran Ron Frederick to head the Garrett operation.
