BAe Model ATP airplanes (Docket No. 96-NM-178-AD; Amdt. 39-10101; AD 97-16-09) - requires modification of the hydraulic system and a revision to the airplane flight manual to include revised procedures for lowering the landing gear. This amendment is prompted by a report of uncommanded application of the brakes when the direct current hydraulic pump was selected on with the main hydraulic system operative. This situation was caused by buildup of back pressure in the brake supply and hydraulic return systems.
Great Lakes Aviation reached a tentative deal with its pilots, represented by the Teamsters union. The jointly announced agreement is contingent upon a ratification vote by the pilots. Douglas Voss, Great Lakes president, said the accord resulted from 15 months of effort and is a "fair and equitable agreement for the company and the pilots alike." The airline, a United Express carrier in some markets, serves 48 points in 11 states.
AMR Combs completed the acquisition of the Dalfort fixed-base operation at Dallas Love Field, the latest move by AMR Combs to boost its market share at the popular business aviation airport.
Model 1900 series airplanes (Docket No. 97-CE-47-AD; Amdt. 39-10074; AD 97-14-16) - requires repetitive inspection of the flap aft roller bearings and flap attachment brackets for indications of contact (wear), inspection for elongation of the holes in the flap attachment brackets and repair or replacement of any part showing wear. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent interference between the flap and the aileron, which could inhibit aileron movement and result in loss of control of the airplane.
Dassault Falcon Jet Corp. signed a letter of understanding with Garrett Aviation Services to offer a long-term service plan for new Falcon aircraft. The Total Service Aircraft Plan was designed to cover scheduled and unscheduled maintenance for six years after the purchase of Falcon 50EX, 2000, 900B or 900EX business aircraft. Garrett will perform the work at any of its authorized Falcon service centers. The program has undergone field testing and is expected to be available to operators beginning this month.
S-TEC CORPORATION, Mineral Wells, Texas, received FAA supplemental type certificate approval for the installation of its System Twenty, System Thirty and System 55 autopilots in the new Cessna 182S.
SCHWEIZER AIRCRAFT CORP. delivered two new Schweizer 330SP helicopters to the San Antonio, Texas Police Department Helicopter Detail. The additions will allow the department to maintain a 24-hour operation staffed by 10 pilots.
LUCAS AEROSPACE relocated its Washington, D.C. area offices. The company's new address is: 13873 Park Center Road, Suite 65, Herndon, Va. 20171; telephone: (703) 834-1704; fax: (703) 834-2648.
The Port of Portland, Ore., will begin collecting landing fees today from operators of general aviation aircraft weighing at least 10,000 pounds at Portland International, Hillsboro, and Troutdale airports. The fees, already assessed on commercial and cargo operators, are part of a program to make the Portland-area GA airports financially self-sufficient. Portland officials said the program also calls for developing land, retaining land and building lease rates at market level and reducing expenses at the GA airports.
Model DHC-8-100, -200 and -300 series airplanes (Docket No. 97-NM-04-AD) - proposes to require modification of the flight compartment door. This proposal is prompted by a report that the door lock mechanism of the flight compartment door jammed and could not be opened using the alternate release mechanism. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent failure of the alternate release mechanism of the flight compartment door, which could delay or impede the evacuation of the flightcrew during an emergency.
Pratt&Whitney Canada established a wholly owned Russian company, Pratt&Whitney-Rus, to design, develop and support a "full range of turboprop, turboshaft and turbofan engines for the general aviation industry in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States." Based in St. Petersburg and employing 80 people, including 78 Russian nationals, the company will work closely with Russian manufacturers that supply modules, parts and services for Rus engines and for engines destined for P&WC markets.
AMR COMBS, which is scheduled to officially open its new fixed-base facility at San Francisco International Airport Oct. 1, boosted its market share at Love Field with the acquisition of Dalfort's FBO there.
Advanced Aerodynamics&Structures Inc., the developer of the Jetcruzer 500 pusher-prop business aircraft, last week reported net losses in the second quarter and first six months of the year, but said the company's balance sheet "continued to be strong" and it has a $65 million confirmed backlog for the Jetcruzer.
BRITISH AEROSPACE ASSET MANAGEMENT, INC.- TURBOPROPS sold a Jetstream 31 to Northwestern Air, based in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, Canada. The aircraft, Northwestern Air's second J31, will be used for the airline's Fort Smith-Edmonton route. Northwestern Air provides charter and scheduled services throughout the Northwest Territories and Alberta.
Ralph M. (Bud) Francis, a veteran flight test certification pilot for Beech Aircraft, joined Sino Swearingen Aircraft Company as chief test pilot for the SJ30-2 entry-level business jet program. Francis has been engaged in flight test work for more than 30 years, flying as development/certification pilot on virtually all Beech/Raytheon Aircraft programs including the Beechjet, more than a half dozen King Air models, the Starship, the 99 Airliner, the Queen Air, Duke, Baron and Bonanza.
NATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION is developing a guide on the recent tax package passed by Congress late last month and signed by President Clinton this month. The Aviation Industry Guide to the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 will explain changes in the aviation tax structure, which begins to take effect Oct. 1, including domestic and international commercial service, aviation fuels and cargo transport. The manual will be available early next month for free to NATA members and for $50 to non-members.
Federal Aviation Administration proposed to require replacement of certain AlliedSignal Aerospace outflow/safety valves in the pressurization system on nearly 2,400 Raytheon aircraft. The proposal, which applies to certain Beech 58, 60, 90, 100, 200, 300 series and Model 2000 airplanes, follows a similar requirement already in place for Raytheon Model 400, 400A, and MU-300-10 airplanes.
SPENCER DICKERSON was named executive director of the International Association of Airport Executives. Dickerson serves as executive vice president for the IAAE's U.S. affiliate, AAAE.
SIMCOM INTERNATIONAL named Thomas Evans training center manager in Orlando, Fla. Evans previously was Pilatus PC-12 program manager, and, before that, a program manager on the Piper Navajo. Evans, who joined SimCom in 1991, holds an air transport pilot certificate and is qualified as an advanced and instrument ground instructor. He also has served as a chief pilot for two corporate flight departments and has been active in the operation and management of Part 135 operations.
Canadian conglomerate Bombardier, which has been recording steadily increasing profits and revenues in recent years, reported that sales and profits for the first half of its fiscal year were relatively flat because of slow sales of the company's line of personal watercraft products.
AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION last week unveiled a new program for its AOPA credit card that the association said is aimed at helping reduce the cost of flying. The program will rebate three percent of every AOPA credit card purchase at participating fixed-base operations nationwide. The rebate covers any purchase at the FBO, and there is no limit or annual cap on the number or amount of purchases. FBOs listed in the AOPA Airport Directory are automatically qualified as a program FBO, and others may apply to be qualified, the association said.
Aaron Hilkemann, who joined Duncan Aviation two years ago with a background in accounting, was named president of the Lincoln, Neb. aircraft maintenance and overhaul firm.
AAR CORP. plans to build a new hangar and upgrade an existing hangar at its AAR Oklahoma maintenance and modification center on Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City. Plans call for construction crews to break ground this month with completion of the 48,000-square-foot project in January. The new hangar will accommodate aircraft maintenance, backshop support such as composite structure repair, and aircraft painting. AAR Oklahoma, a unit of the AAR Allen Group, provides business, commercial, regional, and military airframe maintenance and modification services.
The U.S. Air Force's first C-32A, a modified Boeing 757-200, entered its first stage of manufacturing in late July at Boeing's production facility in Wichita, Kan. The assembly of Section 41, the forward fuselage, has been completed. Following completion of the other aircraft components, the fuselage sections will be shipped to Renton, Wash., for final assembly.
