FLIGHT SAFETY FOUNDATION reports that researchers at the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory at Ft. Rucker, Ala., have developed a polyhedral wire-marker design that provides enhanced visibility during both day and night flight operations. FSF said the ability of the enhanced wire marker "to recharge itself automatically and switch modes as lighting conditions change makes it a versatile and low-maintenance alternative to current passive designs." Use of the improved marker would provide additional safety for helicopter flights, FSF said.
National Air Transportation Association urged California legislators to reconsider a bill in the state Senate that calls for penalties up to $500,000 a day for fuel spills. The legislation, Assembly Bill 667, would increase the scope of current law protecting against oceanic spills to cover spills affecting the state's rivers and streams.
The city of Philadelphia, which failed to conclude a long-term agreement for fixed-base services at Philadelphia International (PHL) and Northeast Philadelphia (PNE) airports after seeking proposals from the industry last year, now is seeking proposals from parties interested in providing "first class services to the corporate and general aviation community" at PNE.
HAMILTON STANDARD 54H60 series propellers (Docket No. 97-ANE-24-AD; Amdt. 39-10054; AD 97-13-07) - requires removing from service affected propeller blades and returning those blades to the manufacturer or an approved facility for inspection, rework and return to service. This amendment is prompted by reports of a propeller blade manufacturing defect. The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent propeller blade fracture, which could result in propeller blade separation and loss of control of the aircraft.
DORNIER 328-100 series airplanes (Docket No. 96-NM-119-AD) - proposes to supersede an existing AD that requires repetitive tightening of the screws and quick-release fasteners on the wing/body fairing panels. This proposal would continue to require the repetitive tightening of these parts on certain airplanes. The proposed AD also would require the installation of new fastener systems for those panels on certain airplanes and the application of new torque valves.
HONG KONG AIRPORT AUTHORITY signed a franchise agreement with a group that includes AMR Combs for operation of the business aviation center at the new airport at Chek Lap Kok. The Hong Kong Business Aviation Centre Ltd.
COLTEC INDUSTRIES is relocating its Ortman Fluid Power business from Hammond, Ind., into the Quincy Compressor Division plant in Quincy, Ill. The move is scheduled to be completed in late October, at which time the Hammond plant will be closed. The Hammond plant has 83 employees. Ortman Fluid Power manufactures hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders used in a wide range of industrial and commercial applications.
Precision Castparts Corp., continuing to grow by acquisition, purchased the assets of Pittler GmbH of Langen, Germany for $5.4 million. Pittler, which designs and manufactures custom and special machine systems, has been in business since 1889. Precision said the German company "is well known for its excellent technology and occupies the number two position in the European market for precision production turning machines." Pittler also operates a small sales and service facility in China.
Ameriflight, the large scheduled and contract cargo operator headquartered in Burbank, Calif., reached agreement to purchase all outstanding shares of Sports Air Travel, Inc., of Troutdale, Ore., from Pepperdine University. Sports Air operates 21 twin-engine Cessna airplanes in the northwest U.S., providing small package freight and financial document transportation. Ameriflight said Pepperdine's interest in the company was acquired through a planned gift from the current shareholders of Sports Air.
"FAA DOES NOT have a funding crisis. They have a crisis of management and leadership," the House Appropriations Committee stated in report language to the transportation appropriations bill.
Dick Dodson, president and chief executive of Signature Flight Support, announced the promotion of four senior executives of the nationwide fixed-base chain. Bruce Van Allen, who had been senior vice president-operations, was named executive vice president and chief operating officer. His responsibilities include overseeing operations, marketing and human resources. Van Allen has spent 25 years in the FBO business, and joined Signature in 1993.
THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE last week approved language to prohibit FAA from using any money in its fiscal 1998 budget for its Flight 2000 - formerly known as Ha-laska - project to demonstrate free flight technologies.
UZBEKISTAN AIRWAYS took delivery last week of its first RJ85 turbofan aircraft from Aero International (Regional). The manufacturer said the Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) issued a temporary operating certificate for the aircraft, which AI(R) said "will be the first regional jet to be certificated in the CIS." When that process is completed later this year, "it will open the way for further sales in this vast and developing region," the manufacturer said.
Federal Aviation Administration issued the first airworthiness directive on the Model 172R single-engine aircraft that Cessna began delivering early this year. The AD requires checking the clearance between both the gascolator and cowling area and the tailpipe and cowling area, and modifying those areas to prevent rubbing. FAA said the AD resulted from an incident in which an aircraft lost fuel and had to make an emergency landing. Investigation revealed that the cowling knocked the gascolator drain valve off the gascolator.
FORMER TEST PILOT Brig. Gen. Chuck Yeager (U.S.A.F., Ret.) is the winner of the 1997 Tony Jannus Award recognizing outstanding contributions to the commercial aviation industry. Sponsored by the Greater Tampa, Fla., Chamber of Commerce and the St. Petersburg, Fla., Chamber of Commerce, the award is named for the pilot of the world's first scheduled airline, which began service on Jan. 1, 1914 between Tampa and St. Petersburg with a Benoist "airboat."
The National Transportation Safety Board late last week urged the Federal Aviation Administration to require expedited inspections of the outboard flap attachment brackets and aft roller bearings on Beech 1900 series airplanes. The recommendation stemmed from investigations of four incidents involving the detachment and asymmetric deployment of outboard wing flaps in Beech 1900 aircraft. The flaps malfunctioned after becoming detached from the wing flap tracks, NTSB said, adding that in three of the incidents, the ailerons jammed because of the flap detachment.
NATA appointed Lucy Koons communications manager. Koons formerly served in the state and government relations department at the National Hospice Organization, and before that, was a legislative correspondent for former Rep. Lewis Payne (D-Va.). Koons succeeds Steve Lofgren, who joined Sporty's Catalogs as vice president of government and industry affairs.
The House Appropriations Committee, which last week approved a fiscal 1998 $9.06 billion budget for the Federal Aviation Administration, not only denied the Clinton Administration's request to collect up to $300 million in additional user fees, but prohibited the Administration from using any of its funds to "plan or promulgate any regulation to institute any new user fee" that is not authorized by law.
THE PILLSBURY COMPANY, which has cooperated with the Corporate Angel Network since 1986 in providing free plane transportation for cancer patients traveling to and from medical treatment centers, was selected as the winner in a drawing designed to recognize and encourage the growth of flight department participation in the CAN program. Noted aviation artist Peter Westacott will travel from his home in the United Kingdom to the Pillsbury flight department in Minneapolis, Minn., to plan his painting of one of the company's corporate aircraft.
NATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION last week wrote both Senate Finance Committee Chairman William Roth (R-Del.) and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Archer (R-Texas) in support of the House aviation tax plan that would reduce the passenger ticket tax from 10 percent to 7.5 percent and assess $3-per-passenger tax (BA, June 30/291). The House tax plan, included in the budget reconciliation bill, also would increase the international departure tax to $15.50 and add an arrivals tax of $15.50.
TUPOLEV-THE MAN AND HIS AIRCRAFT was co-published by the Society of Automotive Engineers and Airlife Publishing Ltd. Written by Andrei Kandalov and Paul Duffy, the book focuses on the aircraft designs of Andrei Nikolaevich Tupolev, the noted Russian aircraft pioneer. The book, Order No. R-173, is available for $29.00 from SAE, Dept. 2786, 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, Pa. 15096-0001. Call (412) 776-4970 for information.
THE ARCHER PLAN also was preferable to the seven major U.S. airlines, which last week rallied at the U.S. Capitol with placards and buttons pleading "Ax the Travel Tax" and "Fare Taxes Should Be Fair Taxes." The airlines estimate the Senate version would increase taxes on international travel by more than $4 billion. The seven major airlines also favor the House bill because it would shift the tax burden on domestic travel toward low-fare carriers. House and Senate negotiators Friday began to hash out the differences in their respective budget reconciliation bills.
GULFSTREAM business jet operators who visit Gulfstream Aerospace headquarters in Savannah, Ga. for training or maintenance will have a new place to stay beginning in the spring of 1999. Westin Hotels&Resorts broke ground last month for the Westin Savannah Harbor Resort, a 403-room, luxury golf and spa hotel that will overlook the Savannah River. The new Westin is being built adjacent to the 345,000-square-foot Georgia International Maritime&Trade Center, also scheduled to open in the spring of 1999.
