FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION issued special conditions for the optional thrust reversers on the Embraer EMB-145 regional jet. The agency said the special conditions include additional safety standards that will ensure that the thrust reversers meet "a level of safety equivalent to that established by the airworthiness standards of Part 25 of the Federal Aviation Regulations." For more information, contact Colin Fender in FAA's Flight Test and Systems Branch at (425) 227-2191.
JOHN GRAYSON, a Houston lawyer, was elected chairman of the aviation section of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America at the group's recent national conference in San Diego. Grayson is a partner in the firm of Fleming, Hovenkamp&Grayson, P.C.
Hughes Electronics Corp. will sell an electronic component business unit of Hughes Aircraft Co. based in Lexington, Ky., as it continues to divest non-strategic operations. The stock purchase of Hughes Lexington Inc. by the unit's current management is expected to close within a month, the company said. Terms were not disclosed. Hughes Lexington employs 100 people and designs and makes special purpose cathode ray tubes for commercial, industrial and military applications.
UNIVERSAL AVIONICS won an award from Rheintalflug Seewald GmbH of Switzerland to provide its UNS-1C flight management system for its Dash 8 aircraft. Rheintalflug is the European launch customer for the Dash 8 Series 400 with one on order and options for two more. The UNS-1C flight management system includes a navigation computer, a 12-channel integral RAIM global positioning system receiver and a five-inch color flat display housed in a Dzus-mounted unit.
MILLION AIR DALLAS added Flight View, an aircraft tracking system, to its operation. The program will allow Million Air Dallas to precisely establish aircraft position and estimate arrival times. "This more exact capability for timing arrivals will permit us to efficiently have rental cars and other services in place and ready when the aircraft arrives," said Million Air Dallas General Manager Jack Hopkins. The system also will be used for the charter department.
EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY installed a Flight-Trac global positioning system-based flight recording and software analysis system at its Prescott, Ariz. campus. Designed by L.A.S. Systems, Inc., the Flight- Trac system will be used for post-flight performance review and evaluation. The system will allow students and instructors to view data collected from the fleet's recording units to track the path of their flights against reproduced sectional charts and alongside a reproduced instrument panel.
Mercury Air Group revenues soared 24 percent to a record $279.3 million for the fiscal year ended June 30, a $54 million jump over the previous 12 months. Despite the sharp revenue increase, Mercury said earnings were off 6.4 percent to $4.3 million, or 49 cents per share fully diluted, due to a previously reported bankruptcy filing by a customer, Sun Jet International, Inc., and its parent company, Sun Jet Holding Corp (BA, July 7/2). Mercury said it recorded a special charge of $1.5 million, or six cents per share, in the fourth quarter.
DR. JOHN HASTINGS, named chairman of the Experimental Aircraft Association Aeromedical Council earlier this year, was named president of the Civil Aviation Medical Association (CAMA) during the group's annual meeting in New Orleans, this month. A neurologist based in Tulsa, Okla., Dr. Hastings has been an aviation medical examiner since 1976 and a senior aviation medical examiner since 1986.
NEW PIPER Models PA-31, PA-31-300, PA-31-325, PA-31-350 and PA-31P airplanes (Docket No. 90-CE-65-AD) - proposes to supersede AD 79-01-04, which requires repetitive inspection of the elevator bungee spring for cracks or surface deformities on certain Model PA-31-350 airplanes and replacement of any elevator bungee spring with cracks or surface deformities. The proposed AD would retain the repetitive inspection and replacement requirements from AD 79-01-04 until an improved elevator bungee spring is installed and would add models to the applicability of the AD.
Petroleum Helicopters, Inc. reported a decline in earnings, despite an increase in revenues during the three months ended July 31. PHI earned $1.8 million, or 35 cents per share, for the first fiscal quarter ended July 31, compared with earnings of $2.3 million, or 45 cents per share, during the same period in 1996. Revenues, however, increased from $50.3 million in first fiscal quarter of 1996 to $56.4 million in first quarter of 1997.
Integrated Technologies of Israel Ltd., (ITI) signed an agreement with the Malat Division of Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) to establish a commercial unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) company. Focus of the new firm will be providing end users with on-line airborne information from UAV systems. The new company will have exclusive rights to engage in commercial, civilian and para-military services and applications based on UAV technology developed by IAI. ITI will fund development of the commercial UAV system and build the required marketing infrastructure.
LORD CORPORATION opened an $8.5 million engineering, development and test center for its Mechanical Products Division in Erie, Pa. The center, which includes a 30,000-square-foot laboratory, will be used for multi- directional, dynamic vibration and noise testing and analysis of Lord products. The center also houses engineering offices, conference rooms and training and development facilities. Lord supplies noise, vibration and motion control products.
BOMBARDIER BUSINESS AIRCRAFT named John Gonsalves regional director-Eastern service sales, with regional manager duties in the Northeast U.S. Based in Hartford, Conn., Gonsalves will cover the mid-Atlantic, Southeast and Great Lakes regions. Randy Znamenak was appointed regional director-Western service sales. Based in Wichita, Kan., he is responsible for sales in the North Central, Southwest and West Coast regions.
Kellstrom Industries completed its acquisition of Aero Support, U.S.A., Inc., an Allison engine overhaul provider, for $13.7 million in cash plus warrants for the three Aero Support principals to purchase up to 250,000 shares of Kellstrom common stock at $19 to $22 per share.
Coltec Industries, which produces a wide range of components for the aerospace industry, recently reached agreements in principle to acquire manufacturers of products for the semiconductor and petrochemical industries.
JEFF LAWRENCE, NASA's associate administrator for legislative affairs, will leave the agency at the end of the month to join Cassidy and Associates as a senior vice president of the government relations firm. Before NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin hired Lawrence in April 1993, he was legislative director for Rep. Bill Green (R-N.Y.), a ranking member of the House appropriations panel that funds NASA.
ALLIEDSIGNAL TPE331 series turboprop and TSE331 turboshaft engines (Docket No. 97-ANE-13) - proposes to require replacement or radiographic inspection, and replacement if necessary, of certain third-stage turbine stators with serviceable parts. This proposal is prompted by a report of an outerband weld that cracked subsequent to a radiographic inspection required by a previous AD.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, sharply criticized for the large number of key vacancies within its Flight Standards Service (BA, May 12/211), last week filled most of those vacancies by promoting current FAA employees. But the agency apparently still has not named a director for Flight Standards.
The general aviation community last week generally praised the National Civil Aviation Review Commission for its recommendation that GA continue to contribute to the national airspace system through the fuel tax, but the final report also raised a number of concerns. The commission formally delivered its financial recommendations to Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater Wednesday in a small ceremony that included FAA Administrator Jane Garvey (BA, Sept. 8/99).
ROHR, INC., is in discussions with a third party concerning a merger, the company said Thursday. The nominal value to a Rohr shareholder would be approximately $30.25 per share of stock tendered. A Rohr spokesman emphasized that no assurance would be given that a definitive agreement would be reached, and noted that any agreement would be subject to shareholder approvals and government review. Rohr, based in Chula Vista, Calif., designs and builds aircraft nacelle system and components. It had revenues of $771 million in fiscal 1996.
BUOYED by sharply higher revenues due in part to the acquisition of seven fixed-base operations during the past 12 months, Mercury Air Group said it will continue to add FBO locations to boost earnings. See article below.
SIGNATURE FLIGHT SUPPORT will begin construction this month of a regional maintenance center adjacent to its fixed-base operation at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas. See article below.
The State of Hawaii is waiving airline landing fees at its airports for two years, effective Sept. 1, in an attempt to encourage tourism. Airlines currently pay the state about $40 million a year in landing fees. Reserving the right to reinstate fees if needed, Gov.
DAVID BEHRMANN was named vice president for operations planning for Legend Airlines based at Love Field in Dallas, Texas. Behrmann previously spent 10 years with American Airlines, most recently as manager-future planning for AMR Eagle.
MCCAULEY PROPELLER SYSTEMS reached a definitive agreement with Aviall to stock and sell McCauley propellers and associated parts to McCauley Service Centers and regional airlines worldwide. Under the agreement, Cessna Parts Distribution will retain sales responsibility for Cessna Service Centers and support Aviall in supplying McCauley Service Centers.
