AIR TAXI OPERATORS and other aviation businesses frustrated by the complications inherent in hiring new pilots as a result of The Pilot Record Sharing Act soon may see some light in that bureaucratic tunnel. Aviation groups are hopeful Rep. Jim Duncan (R-Tenn.) will introduce legislation this week to permit companies to hire and begin training pilots before paperwork on their aviation background is received from former employers and FAA.
RAYTHEON AEROSPACE was awarded a one-year contract valued at $16.7 million to provide the Drug Enforcement Administration Office of Aviation Operations with support services throughout the U.S. The contract includes four one-year options that carry a total potential value of $84.7 million. Raytheon Aerospace will provide aircraft maintenance services, program management and training and logistical and administrative support for the DEA fleet of military and commercial turbine- and piston-powered aircraft.
Model L-188A and L-188C series airplanes (Docket No. 97-NM- 07-AD; Amdt. 39-10140; AD 97-20-02) - requires revising the airplane flight manual to prohibit positioning the power levers below the flight idle stop during flight, and to add a statement of the consequences of such positioning of the power levers. This amendment is prompted by incidents and accidents involving airplanes equipped with turboprop engines in which the propeller ground beta range was used improperly during flight.
2000 series airplanes (Docket No. 96-NM-220-AD; Amdt. 39-10121; AD 97-19-01) - requires a one-time inspection of the hydraulic tubes and electrical harness wires of the wing rear access door for chafing, leakage or wear damage; repair of any discrepancy found; and, modification of the wing rear access door. This amendment is prompted by reports of interference between the wing rear access door and the hydraulic tubes and electrical harnesses, and chafing damage to the hydraulic tubes.
AeroMech Inc., an Everett, Wash., technology company that specializes in Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum programs, has joined forces with Kohlman Systems Research of Lawrence, Kan., to provide technical support and testing services for business jet operators who need to meet new RVSM standards over the North Atlantic.
STIFF PRICE COMPETITION in the regional airliner market, which forces aircraft manufacturers to discount their posted prices to win orders, continues to be a fact of life for the OEMs as evidenced by the comment of Fairchild Dornier President Jim Robinson at last month's NBAA convention. Noting that the list price of the 328JET for the regional market is $10.9 million, Robinson added, "When we actually sell one at that price I'll fall off my chair."
INNOTECH-EXECAIRE AVIATION GROUP signed a two-year maintenance training program with FlightSafety International. The contract includes both initial and recurrent training. Innotech-Execaire, which has a maintenance staff of more than 100, provides aircraft sales, maintenance, repair, refurbishment, flight operation and aircraft management with operations in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. The group also operates a fixed-base operation network in Eastern North America.
AN AMENDMENT to a House appropriations bill aimed at prohibiting air tours in the District of Columbia drew quick opposition from two aviation trade groups that claim the proposal represents bad legislation and poor public policy. See article below.
Fairchild Dornier, which is well on the way to developing a jet- powered version of the Dornier 328 for the regional airline market, is now offering a corporate model of the same aircraft for operators seeking a large cabin in the $12 million range.
AVIATION PRODUCTS, INC. (Avpro) appointed AAR Cooper as a distributor of the Avpro line of brake discs and "Kevlar" based organic brake linings. The products are approved replacements for Parker Cleveland discs and linings.
AS EXPECTED, NBAA's 50th anniversary convention in Dallas set an attendance record of 26,009. That's an increase of 5.8 percent over the 1996 gathering in Orlando that drew 24,565 and up 4.5 percent over the previous record of 24,884 in Las Vegas in 1995. Las Vegas is the site of NBAA's 1998 convention, which will run Oct. 19-21 (Monday through Wednesday) instead of the usual Tuesday-Thursday format.
TEXTRON LYCOMING increased its engine parts fill rate to 95 percent, an 11 percent improvement over the past three years that the company attributed to new supplier relationships it established. Lycoming said it selected the "best-in-class" parts manufacturers that are producing to Lycoming drawings and specifications. "We are totally committed to continuing to build and service the most reliable general aviation aircraft engines in the world and to supporting customers with fast, responsive supply of genuine Lycoming parts," said Paul LeFevre, director of sales.
ANDY HEFFRON joined Avfuel Corporation as a district manager. Heffron previously was director of sales and marketing for Satellite Aero in Jackson Hole, Wyo. In his new position, Heffron will serve as a fuel and marketing consultant for Avfuel customers in the Northwest.
DASSAULT FALCON JET appointed K-C Aviation in Westfield, Mass. as an authorized Falcon service center. The facility is capable of providing heavy airframe maintenance, interior repairs and avionics servicing. K-C Aviation also plans to complete a new painting hangar and add new auxiliary power unit overhaul capabilities in 1998. The appointment is the second recent addition to the Falcon service center network. Dassault also recently appointed Garrett Aviation's Long Island, N.Y. facility as an authorized center (BA, Sept. 15/114).
Model BAC 1-11 200 and 400 series airplanes (Docket No. 96-NM-187-AD) - proposes to require a one-time inspection to determine the tension of the control cables of the thrust reversers and repetitive inspections to detect breakage, damage, wear or signs of corrosion; and corrective actions, if necessary. This proposal is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association filed a Part 16 complaint with the Federal Aviation Administration in an attempt to block the city of Willoughby, Ohio from closing Lost Nation Airport this week. AOPA said the airport, 30 miles northeast of Cleveland, is a key reliever airport.
Hoping to follow in the footsteps of its highly successful Malibu and Malibu Mirage line of single-engine, piston-powered aircraft, The New Piper Aircraft Company introduced the turboprop-powered Malibu Meridian, the first new turbine-powered single since FAA adopted new regulations to permit the use of single-engine aircraft in Part 135 passenger-carrying operations under instrument flight rules (BA, Aug. 4/47).
ARTHUR MALLAMO was promoted to vice president of business development for Tracor Flight Systems, a subsidiary of Tracor, Inc. Mallamo most recently was director of business development for Tracor Flight Systems' Aircraft Systems Division. In his new position, Mallamo will be responsible for leading strategic planning efforts, seeking new business opportunities and overseeing marketing resources.
JET AVIATION is seeking 60 additional pilots in the U.S. and Europe to operate its growing worldwide aircraft management fleet, the company said. The majority of the pilot openings are for long-range executive jets that will be operated worldwide, including Challengers, Gulfstreams, Falcons, Learjets and a Boeing 727-200. Jet Aviation said it is searching for pilots in the U.S. and Europe, but added that several of the aircraft are based outside those regions.
GREG MILLER joined Valley Oil as regional sales manager for Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas and Iowa. Miller most recently managed the line service department for Raytheon Aircraft Services in Houston, Texas.
The Learjet 45 business jet received FAA type approval early last week, clearing one of the final hurdles before customer deliveries begin in November, Bombardier officials announced last week during the NBAA convention in Dallas. Type certification followed the award of provisional certification late last month that allowed the company to begin offering flights on the 45 to customers and their flight crews (BA, Sept.
AlliedSignal Aerospace won a contract it valued at more than $250 million to supply the auxiliary power unit and a fully integrated aircraft environmental control system (ECS) for Raytheon Aircraft's new Hawker Horizon business jet. AlliedSignal will supply its 36-150[HH] APU and will be responsible for installation and integration of the ECS, including installation of aircraft ducting and mounting hardware as well as the fuselage portion of the anti-icing systems, the air conditioning system, pneumatic air system and cabin pressurization components.
H. Russell Bomhoff, who founded aircraft interior designer Precision Pattern, Inc. in 1952, retired, selling the company to five members of the management team. Don Zerbe, a 27-year veteran of PPI who most recently was executive vice president, succeeds Bomhoff as chairman and Ed Markel, who joined the company in 1996 as program manager, becomes president. Three other members of the management team are Bill Allen, chief financial officer, Joe Harris, vice president-manufacturing, and Jack Argetsinger, director of engineering.
Concern that the SJ30-2 business jet would just barely meet the 12,500 pound weight limit for FAA certification under Part 23 of the Federal Aviation Regulations has forced Sino-Swearingen Aircraft Corp. (SSAC) to ask FAA for an exemption to permit certification under regulations designed for propeller-driven commuter aircraft.
