GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE'S long-range Gulfstream V completed a nonstop flight between Washington, D.C. and Dubai. The G-V completed the 6,330-nautical- mile flight in 12 hours, 40 minutes, 48 seconds, departing Dulles International Airport at 4:30 p.m. local time Nov. 12 and arriving at Dubai International Airport at 2:11 p.m. local time Nov. 13. The aircraft, which carried 41,000 pounds of fuel, seven passengers and a crew of four, cruised at Mach .83 and reached altitudes of 49,000 feet. Gulfstream said the flight was the first nonstop between Washington and Dubai.
BOEING held a ribbon-cutting and site dedication ceremony Nov. 13 for its facility at Williams Gateway Airport in Mesa, Ariz. where the company is working on a $45.6 million U.S. Air Force contract to install a comprehensive avionics package in the service's 500 T-38 trainers. The T- 38 entered service in 1961 and the upgrade will replace original avionics with state-of-the-art digital technology.
LITTON INDUSTRIES Aero Products Division was selected to provide its LTN- 101 Flagship Inertial Reference System for the 70-seat Canadair Series 700 Regional Jet. Litton already provides the LTN-101 for the 50-passenger CRJ airliner and the Challenger 604 business jet.
THE U.S. NAVY is looking at the feasibility of eliminating the MH-53 mine- sweeping helicopter from its inventory and replacing it with a version of the H-60. The MH-53E is the only Navy system that can perform the entire mine hunting mission, according to Capt. Frank Pagano, a Navy requirements officer, but he said it is "very expensive to operate." Naval Air Systems Command is "looking at future technologies and is asking the question: 'Can we go to an H-60 platform?'"
PRELIMINARY PLANS indicate the U.S. will support an incremental expansion of the area over the North Atlantic where reduced vertical separation minimum (RVSM) standards apply. The U.S. will take its position to the international North Atlantic Implementation Managers Group meeting Dec. 1- 5, when international experts will decide how to expand RVSM airspace, currently limited to altitudes between FL330 and FL370. The preliminary U.S. proposal calls for a drop in the floor to FL310 on April 28 and an increase in the ceiling to FL390 on Dec. 3, 1998.
AVIATION SCHOLARSHIPS, Your #1 Guide to Financial Assistance for College and Flight Training, a compilation of scholarship information written by Southern Illinois University instructor Sedgwick Hines, recently was published by First Time Publishing. The 140-page guide provides information on a number of aviation scholarships ranging from administration and maintenance to flight training. The guide is expected to be available in bookstores or can be ordered for $24.95 from First Time Publishing, 8526 Drexel Ave., Suite 3E, Chicago, Ill.
Bombardier Aerospace received the largest business jet order in its history from long-time customer TAG Aeronautics, a 10-aircraft deal valued at $250 million (U.S.). Bombardier said TAG placed firm orders for five Global Express and five Challenger 604 aircraft, boosting total orders for the Global Express to more than 70 aircraft. First Global Express deliveries to TAG will begin in late 1999, while the Challenger deliveries are scheduled to start in late 1998.
TEXTRON LYCOMING is offering classes for the Textron Lycoming Piston Engine Service School twice a month at Pennsylvania College of Technology's airport facility in Williamsport, Pa. The service school, geared toward Lycoming engine owners, operators, A&P mechanics, instructors and students, is designed as a refresher course on Lycoming's piston engines. The course covers avionics, engine maintenance and construction, theory of operation, service, inspection and troubleshooting of related components.
The Teal Group predicts a robust market for business jet aircraft over the next 10 years, forecasting delivery of 3,789 aircraft valued at $45.9 billion, including the industry's first $5 billion year in 1997. Noting that the industry spent the late 1980s and early 1990s "in the doldrums," the Teal Group said "the bizjet market has begun a healthy growth spurt," growing from 315 business jet deliveries valued at $3.02 billion in 1994 to 337 jets worth $3.28 billion in 1995 and 352 deliveries valued at $3.61 billion in 1996.
Reps. John Duncan (R-Tenn.) and Jim Hansen (R-Utah) last week expressed doubt over whether air tours impose a significant noise problem over national parks. Duncan and Hansen, the chairmen of the House aviation and House national parks and resources subcommittees, respectively, held a joint hearing Nov. 17 in St. George, Utah, to gather information on how to proceed legislatively with the issue.
Kaman Corp. and ITT Industries reached a definitive agreement to sell Kaman Sciences Corp. to ITT for $135 million in cash. The companies said they expect to complete the transaction by the end of the year. Kaman Sciences, Colorado Springs, Colo., provides software support, scientific research and advanced systems mainly to the U.S. Air Force, Navy, Army and other government agencies. The business has annual revenues of $150 million and employs 1,200. Kaman began looking for a buyer in late July, citing consolidation in the industry.
AERO INTERNATIONAL (REGIONAL) said it received orders for 50 new aircraft through the first 10 months of 1997, doubling the number of orders recorded in 1996. Air Tahiti was the latest customer to sign on, ordering its fourth new ATR 72-210A for delivery in May. Air Tahiti also operates three ATR 42-500s.
RAYTHEON E-SYSTEMS received two contracts from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency valued at $8.3 million to develop technology for advanced communications systems. The first contract calls for Raytheon E- Systems to develop radio frequency filter components and circuits using mircroelectromechanical systems. The program is intended to advance state- of-the-art radio frequency filter packaging and reduce the size of communications components such as receivers and transmitters.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION proposed a $75,000 civil penalty against Mesa Airlines for flying a Beech 1900D with unsecured parts caused by loose bolts. FAA said the airline failed to use maintenance manuals properly and returned the 1900D to service after maintenance with the outboard weight assembly on the elevator improperly secured. The aircraft subsequently flew on 75 flights before the situation was discovered. Mesa has 15 days from receipt of the civil penalty letter to respond before FAA takes further action.
NATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION named Ric Peri manager, technical services. Peri has 26 years of aircraft maintenance experience, including helicopter, light single-engine, turboprop and jet aircraft. Before joining NATA, Peri served as aviation manager of industrial systems for the U.S. Coast Guard Aviation Division, where he was responsible for oversight of industrial aircraft maintenance at 26 maintenance facilities nationwide.
DUNLOP AVIATION will develop wheels, carbon brakes and brake control systems for Dornier's new DO328JET under an agreement signed during a recent visit by Fairchild Dornier officials to Dunlop's Conventry, England factory.
FLIGHTSAFETY BOEING said the first full flight simulator for the Boeing 737-700 received interim Level C certification from FAA. The simulator is located at the FlightSafety Boeing training facility in Seattle, Wash.
SINCE THE 21ST STREET PROGRAM began in 1990, Cessna - with strong support from state and local government officials - has hired more than 250 trainees and graduated approximately 200. About two-thirds of the graduates are still employed by Cessna or other Wichita-area manufacturers, plus a smaller number of individuals who received clerical training. Clinton is pushing private employers to offer training and jobs for welfare recipients to provide a way to wean them from public assistance and become self-supporting.
Commander Aircraft reported a net loss, but almost a 40 percent jump in sales during the third quarter of 1997. For the three-month period ended Sept. 30, Commander had a net loss of $393,107, or six cents per share, compared with a net loss of $698,280, or 10 cents per share, during the same period in 1996. Sales improved to $2.97 million for the third quarter, compared with third quarter 1996 sales of $2.13 million. For the first nine months of 1997, sales dropped to $6.03 million, compared with $6.45 million in the first three quarters of 1996.
KING AEROSPACE is expanding its cabinetry capabilities at its facility in Ardmore, Okla. The company is adding 3,500 square feet to its cabinetry department, increasing capacity by 30 percent. It also has plans to hire six additional cabinetry professionals, doubling its employee base of cabinetry experts.
Model CN-235 series airplanes (Docket No. 96-NM-126-AD; Amdt. 39- 10165; AD 97-21-12) - requires a one-time inspection for fatigue cracking in the area of the center wing-to-fuselage attachment fitting, and repair, if necessary. This amendment also would require installation of a reinforcing plate in the attachment area of that fitting. This amendment is prompted by a report from the manufacturer indicating that, during full scale fatigue testing, fatigue cracks were detected in this area.
PAUL CARTWRIGHT was promoted to vice president, quality control at PATS, Inc. Cartwright joined PATS in August 1992 and most recently was manager, certification. Before joining PATS, Cartwright spent 21 years with Atlantic Aviation in Wilmington, Del.
Current efforts to update the Rio treaty, particularly those to limit aircraft emissions by limiting the amount of fuel provided for aviation use, will result in reregulation of the industry, FedEx Chairman Frederick Smith told the International Aviation Club Thursday in Washington. Discussions under way on the global climate treaty could "undo 20 years of deregulation with disastrous economic consequences," Smith said, pointing out the air cargo industry was deregulated 20 years ago this month.
FLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL received a three-year contract from the FAA for the training of its S-76 helicopter pilots. FlightSafety will use an S-76 full-flight simulator to provide initial and recurrent training at its Sikorsky learning center in West Palm Beach, Fla.
