CASA Model CN-235 series airplanes (Docket No. 96-NM-127-AD; Amdt. 39- 9987; AD 97-07-13) - requires replacement of the center wing attachment rods with new rods. This amendment is prompted by a report from the manufacturer indicating that these rods failed during a full-scale fatigue test. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent fatigue failure of these rods, which consequently could reduce the structural integrity of the wing-to-fuselage attachment.
NORTHEAST AIRMOTIVE, based at Portland, Maine International Jetport, completed more than $1.5 million in capital improvements, including a new Executive Aviation Terminal designed to serve general aviation. The 3,000- square-foot terminal includes a reception area, flight planning room, pilot's lounge with kitchen and snooze room, and conference room. Northeast Airmotive also added a new 17,400-square-foot heated hangar and will complete a 70,000 gallon, above-ground fuel storage facility by mid- summer.
MCCAULEY PROPELLER 1A103/TCM series propellers (Docket No. 97-ANE-06; Amdt. 39-9973; AD 97-06-16) - supersedes priority letter AD 96-21-01 that requires visual inspections for cracks in the propeller hub of certain propellers using a 10X power magnifying glass. This action requires an initial inspection for cracks in the propeller hub using a dye penetrant procedure, replacement of propellers with cracks that do not meet accept- able limits, rework of propellers with cracks that meet acceptable limits and repetitive inspections of all affected propellers.
GALAXY AEROSPACE has trimmed the list of cities under consideration for its new headquarters from five to two:Dallas, Texas and Jacksonville, Fla. (BA, March 3/93). Company officials expect to begin face-to-face discussions with representatives of those two cities this month and hope to make a final selection within 30 to 45 days. In addition to Galaxy's headquarters, the city selected also will be the site of the company's aircraft completion and service facility.
Federal Aviation Administration, which noted it has maintained for years "by de facto" a 180-minute extended range twin-engine operations (ETOPS) threshold for Part 135 on-demand business jet operations, told the European Joint Aviation Authorities it would establish a formal 180-minute ETOPS policy for the purposes of harmonizing regulations. The JAA has proposed a 120-minute threshold that has drawn strong industry opposition (BA, April 7/153).
ALLIEDSIGNAL TF5311, T5313, T5317 and T53 series engines (Docket No. 96- ANE-25; Amdt. 39-9979; AD 97-07-05) - requires removal and replacement of the N2 spur gear nut retainer (lock cup). The amendment is prompted by reports of N2 spur gear nut retainer separation. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent N2 accessory drive assembly disengagement due to N2 spur gear nut retainer separation and subsequent uncommanded engine acceleration.
NATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION this month reiterated industry concerns about FAA's increasing practice of making policy changes through Handbook Bulletins and internal memorandums rather than the formal rulemaking process, which requires a notice and comment period and cost/benefit analysis (BA, Nov. 11/215).
MAY 8 will mark six months since David Hinson resigned as FAA Administrator and as of Friday there still was no official statement from the White House on a successor. Jane Garvey, the acting Federal Highway Administrator who has worked for DOT Secretary Rodney Slater for the past three years, is still expected to be nominated for the post, despite the fact she apparently has little aviation experience (BA, April 7/151).
AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION'S Forum on Air and Space Law's annual meeting will be held June 12-13 in Seattle, Wash. Roundtable discussions are scheduled on the following topics: aerospace restructuring and joint ventures; airline behavior and the antitrust laws; international aviation-the future of open skies and global alliances; and NTSB investigations and FAA enforcement. Boeing Chairman Philip Condit will deliver the keynote address June 13 and attendees will be able to tour Boeing's Everett facility, where the 777 is assembled, on June 14.
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE named Ira P. Berman, 35, to the new post of senior vice president and general counsel, where he will oversee the manufacturer's legal department and report to Chris Davis, executive vice president and chief financial officer. Berman, a 1986 graduate of the New York University School of Law, had been a partner at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver&Jacobsen, Gulfstream's principal outside counsel.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-2B29 (Regional Jet Series 100) airplanes (Docket No. 97-NM-48-AD) - proposes to supersede an AD that requires revising the limitations section of the airplane flight manual to provide the flight crew with procedures to check the travel range of the aileron. It also requires inspection for damage of the shear pins of the aileron flutter damper and aileron hinge fittings, and various follow-on actions. This action would add a requirement for a modification that eliminates the need for the airplane flight manual revision.
THE THIRD GLOBAL EXPRESS aircraft made its first flight Tuesday. S/N 9003 reached a maximum speed of 340 knots and flew for two hours and 40 minutes over Southern Ontario before returning to Bombardier's de Havilland facility in suburban Downsview, near Toronto. Bombardier said that because of poor weather and first-flight weather limitations, that flight was restricted to a maximum ceiling of 15,000 feet, but S/N 9003 made a four- hour flight Thursday, reaching an altitude of 41,000 feet. Test pilots reported no problems. The No.
REP. BUD SHUSTER (R-Pa.), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, had 232 co-sponsors as of last Thursday for H.R. 4, the Truth in Budgeting Act, that would remove the transportation trust funds - including the Airport and Airway Trust Fund - from the unified federal budget. Supporters of the legislation say its passage will ensure that transportation tax revenues collected from users will be used to fund transportation projects, and not for other purposes including helping to offset budget deficits in other areas.
SAAB SF340A and 340B series airplanes (Docket No. 96-NM-130-AD) - proposes to supersede an existing AD that requires inspec-tions for improper connections of the wire harness installation to the cartridges of the fire extinguishers in the engine nacelles, correction of any discrepancy, and modification of the wiring. This action would add a revised modification of the wiring, which would terminate the inspection requirements.
KEITH CLEMENS was named lead Hawker technician for Western Aircraft. Clemens, who has 30 years of aircraft maintenance experience, joins Western from Garrett Aviation Services in Springfield, Ill.
DORNIER Model 328-100 series airplanes (Docket No. 96-NM-113-AD) - proposes to require repetitive inspections for cracking of the support beam of the main landing gear fairing and permanent repair of any cracking. The repair would terminate the repetitive inspections. The proposal is prompted by reports of cracking of the support beam of the main landing gear fairing.
U.S. CUSTOMS SERVICE this month began providing services at Centennial Airport near Denver, Colo. Customs service is available from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday for a fee ranging from $105 to $360, depending on aircraft size. After-hours service is available for an additional $100 fee. Centennial officials estimate Customs will process more than 300 clearances annually at the airport. Customs can be contacted at (303) 768-0309; Customs agent pager: (303) 235-7700. For information regarding fees, contact airport operations at (303) 790-0598.
HARTZELL PROPELLER promoted Michael Disbrow to vice president of marketing and customer support. Disbrow, most recently vice president of product support, will manage the company's marketing and sales efforts in addition to overseeing aftermarket product and customer support. He has held a number of positions during his nine years with the company, including director of both the Hartzell Top Prop propeller STC conversion program and Dornier 328 program.
TRIMBLE this month introduced its 2000 Approach NavTutor and Trimble Trainer instrument flight rules GPS training system for general aviation. The CD-ROM programs allow Trimble GPS users to learn and maintain proficiency. The NavTutor is a multi-media program that provides background and training on GPS and explains features and functions of the Trimble 2000 Approach. The Trimble Trainer is a flight simulator developed by Initiative Computing that is based upon the Elite Electronic IFR Training Environment.
House aviation leaders this month urged the Federal Aviation Administration to reevaluate plans to charge general aviation operators international overflight fees, saying that "given the serious safety concerns...we believe it would be irresponsible to impose these fees."
PETER CHAPMAN joined AAR Corp. as vice president marketing and business development. Chapman previously served in a number of managerial positions with various United Technologies units, including Sikorsky and Pratt&Whitney Commercial Engines, and also headed Dalfort Aviation, Douglas Aircraft-China and Young Bothers Development Co.
Raytheon Aircraft, which won the $7 billion contract two years ago to provide 711 Pilatus/Beech MkII trainers for the U.S. Air Force and Navy (BA, June 26, 1995/271), last week selected FlightSafety Service Corp., a subsidiary of FlightSafety International, Inc., to provide the Ground Based Training System (GBTS) for the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System program.
AIRPORT GROUP INTERNATIONAL, INC. (AGI), said Robert J. Aaronson, executive vice president and general manager, will resign that post May 1 after a four-year tenure to acquire Thompson Consultants Inter-national, Inc., AGI's aviation planning subsidiary. Aaronson previously served as president of the Air Transport Association and as head of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
U.S. GENERAL AVIATION manufacturers appear headed toward a $4 billion year after reporting record first quarter billings. U.S. GA manufacturers fell just shy of $900 million in first quarter billings, a 60 percent increase over 1996 first quarter billings, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association said last week. The manufacturers recorded an all-time high of $3.1 billion in billings in 1996. See related article on Page 189 of the hard copy of this issue and BA's compilation of worldwide aircraft shipments on Pages 191-192.
