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.
JET AVIATION received expanded authorization as a service center for Raytheon Aircraft in Europe. Under the new agreement Jet Aviation will add support of Beech King Air aircraft to its capabilities at its facility in Zurich, Switzerland. The Zurich facility has been an authorized service center for Hawkers since 1994. In addition, Jet Aviation's Geneva, Switzerland facility will provide King Air and Beechjet service. Jet Aviation Dusseldorf, Germany will support Beech King Air, Baron and Bonanza products.
DCX-CHOL ENTERPRISES INC. acquired the aerospace/defense businesses of DCX Inc., Franktown, Colo., for $1.1 million. DCX-Chol, based in Colorado, said it acquired equipment, raw material inventories, finished goods and contracts related to the making of assemblies, systems, wire harnesses and cable assemblies. The transaction, which closed Oct. 8, included the leasing of the current facility with an option to buy the facility and property.
KURT RIESSLER was named corporate vice president, human resources for The Aerostructures Corp. Riessler has served as vice president of human resources for the company since 1985.
Triumph Group, the Wayne, Pa. aircraft component manufacturer and overhauler, reported an 18 percent increase in second quarter sales and a 447 percent increase in net income. For the second quarter ended Sept. 30, 1997, Triumph had net sales of $75.1 million. Net income was $6.3 million, or 60 cents per common share, compared with second quarter income of $1.2 million, or 18 cents per common share, for the same period a year earlier.
NATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION published its 1997 Compensation Survey Report listing compensation figures for 37 job titles typically employed by aviation service businesses, including line and customer service positions, charter pilots and maintenance managers. The survey data was collected and compiled by Association Research, Inc., Rockville, Md. Copies of the survey are available for $50 by contacting Cindy Aloise at (703) 845-9000.
Raytheon Aircraft signed a contract valued at $71 million with the U.S. Air Force for the Ground Based Training System (GBTS) portion of the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System (JPATS). Raytheon, which won the overall JPATS program in June 1995 with its Beech MkII - a modified version of the Pilatus PC-9 (BA, June 26/271), selected FlightSafety Services Corp. as the GBTS subcontractor in April 1997. The initial contract covers four years of engineering and manufacturing development for the GBTS components.
JULIE PEELER was appointed corporate vice president, information systems for The Aerostructures Corp. Peeler, who joined Aerostructures in 1981, most recently was director of information systems.
PATS, INC. won a supplemental type certificate for an auxiliary power unit mounted in the tail of a Falcon 20. The APU installation uses a Sundstrand T40-C9 engine and PATS is offering Falcon 20 APU assembly kits that can be installed at a facility of the operator's choice. The kits include a stainless steel enclosure, complete wiring harnesses, connectors, controls and displays, mounting hardware and documentation.
Congress last week passed legislation to provide relief to air charter companies and scheduled carriers from some of the provisions in the Pilot Records Improvement Act (PRIA) that has plagued the industry for the past 10 months. The bill, H.R.2626, was adopted by voice vote late Nov. 9 in the House and Nov. 13 in the Senate shortly before Congress adjourned for the year.
