SOCATA Model TBM 700 airplanes (Docket No. 97-CE-15-AD) - proposes, for airplanes that do not have Modification 70-065-32 incorporated, to require removal of the main landing gear inboard doors and the door locking control mechanism. This AD is the result of an incident on one of the affected airplanes where the main landing gear inboard door locking hooks corroded, caused the doors to jam and prevented the main landing gear from extending. Analysis has shown that removing the main landing gear inboard doors will not cause any airplane safety or per-formance problems.
BELL Model 412 helicopters (Docket No. 96-SW-17-AD; Amdt. 39-9980; AD 97-07-06) - supersedes an existing priority letter AD that requires a daily inspection of certain swashplate support assem-blies. It also requires a reduction in VNE and installation of appropriate airspeed indicator markings and a placard. This amendment requires the same action required by the existing priority letter AD, but restricts the applicability to Model 412 heli-copters with a certain steel main rotor control swashplate support assembly installed.
FLIGHT VISIONS is offering an FV-2000E version of its head-up display (HUD), which will be capable of displaying enhanced vision images. Flight Visions said it is working with a manufacturer to create an enhanced vision system sensor that, when installed on the FV-2000E, "will give pilots the ability to shoot approaches to lower than published minima." The enhanced vision system "paints" the runway environment on the HUD's combiner, Flight Visions said.
Diamond Aircraft, which earlier this month unveiled its new DA20 C1 variant of the single-piston Katana (BA, April 21/182), is hoping to increase order activity in the Western U.S. with the new aircraft. The DA20 C1 will be powered by a Continental IO240B horizontally opposed four-cylinder, naturally aspirated 125-horsepower engine that will boost the aircraft's sea level rate of climb to 1,050 feet per minute. The earlier Katana, the DA20 A-1, is powered by the 81-horsepower Bombardier Rotax 912F-3 engine that provides a rate of climb of 680 feet per minute.
Avfuel Corporation of Ann Arbor, Mich., and Kansas City Aviation Center, located at Johnson County Executive Airport in Olathe, Kan., last week were alerting operators of piston-powered aircraft who purchased fuel at the airport this month that some of the fuel may not have met specifications.
The only general aviation representative on the National Civil Aviation Review Commission (NCARC) has serious reservations about the wisdom of dropping the current excise tax system, which provides more than 70 percent of FAA's funding, but she realizes her views could constitute a small minority on the 21-member commission that begins its work this week in Washington, D.C.
U.S. general aviation manufacturers posted record first quarter billings and increases in jet and piston aircraft shipments, starting off what promises to be the strongest year ever for general aviation in terms of dollar sales. U.S. general aviation manufacturers reported billings of $886 million in the first three months of 1997, up 60 percent over billings in the same period in 1996, according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. Manufacturers shipped 237 aircraft in January through March 1997, compared with 225 units in first quarter 1996.
National Air Transportation Association this month asked Federal Aviation Administration officials to change a recent policy decision to require calibration of tools used for troubleshooting. FAA previously had not required calibration for Part 145 repair station tools historically used for troubleshooting. In a new interpretation, however, the agency's Aircraft Maintenance Division issued a memorandum calling for the calibration of test equipment.
LEROUX STEEL, INC., added a second Piper PA-46-350P Malibu Mirage to its corporate fleet. The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. said Leroux purchased its first Mirage in May 1996 to enable officials to visit its net-work of 18 steel service centers and client base of more than 7,000 firms in Eastern Canada and the Northeastern U.S. Leroux, founded in 1887, is the largest steel distributor in Quebec with more than 600 employees.
CESSNA AIRCRAFT delivered the first new Model 182 Skylane built at its Independence, Kan., facility Thursday to Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association President Phil Boyer. The association purchased the aircraft as the grand prize in its 1996 sweepstakes contest and presented the keys to N182FN to the contest winner, Michael Raisler of Clermont, Fla. The final letters in the N-number stand for "first new."
RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT'S Chester Service Centre joined the company's chain of fixed-base operations, Raytheon Aircraft Services. The United Kingdom facility is authorized to work on Hawkers and plans to expand its capability to provide maintenance on other Raytheon aircraft, including the Beechjet, King Air family, and the Premier I and Hawker Horizon. The center will service Raytheon aircraft operators in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Raytheon Aircraft Services comprises 14 facilities in the U.S. along with the Chester facility.
A VARIETY of metalworking and finishing equipment at Lockheed-Martin's Littleton, Colo., manufacturing facility will be auctioned May 20-21. Norman Levy Associates, Inc., will conduct the auction of equipment used to build Titan rockets, including machining and turning centers, presses, brakes and a Giddings&Lewis CNC horizontal skin mill. For more information, contact Levy at (810) 353-8640.
AIR BP is offering a new "DealersChoice" leasing program to help dealers acquire fuel-related equipment. Air BP General Manager Jim Timmons called the acquisition of equipment "one of the biggest challenges our dealers face. Most lending institutions are not familiar with the FBO business which makes it even harder to get financing." The program includes any equipment involved in the fueling process such as ground tanks, refuelers or self-service fueling systems.
LYNN PROTHERO, postal affairs director for Trans World Airlines, was elected to chair the Airline Postal Advisory Committee of the Air Transport Association. Prothero began her 25-year career with TWA in Boston as a reservation agent and currently is based in Los Angeles.
VINCENT AMBROSIA joined Garrett Aviation Long Island as air-frame administrator. Ambrosia, who has more than 16 years experience in corporate aviation, most recently was chief of maintenance with Glaxo Wellcome's flight department.
ATTORNEYS representing various parties in the litigation over new air tour overflight restrictions at Grand Canyon National Park are scheduled to file a joint briefing schedule with the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. today, outlining proposals for scheduling briefs and oral arguments in the case.
General Aviation Manufacturers Association President Ed Bolen last week urged a congressional panel to help the Federal Aviation Administration modernize its regulatory effort and oppose efforts to charge aviation user fees. Testifying before the Senate manufacturing and competitiveness subcommittee, Bolen said Congress, regulators and industry must focus on "how we can promote safety by adapting and modernizing our regulatory process to the new manufacturing techniques and technologies" used in the business world.
THE CONGRESSIONAL Joint Committee on Taxation, in an analysis of the Clinton Administration's fiscal 1998 budget proposal, said extension of the aviation excise taxes through 2007 "would provide a stable funding source for national aviation programs."The committee noted alternative plans - such as a user fee system - but said recent studies of FAA's cost structure have shown that "it may be impossible to demonstrate whether any alternative tax structure more, or less, accurately assigns tax burdens to persons creating FAA costs." It added that any allocation of FAA costs
The Orenda Aerospace Corp., which has been developing for years a series of reciprocating engines for the aviation market, will move the program to the site of a former Canadian Forces base near Truro, Nova Scotia this summer.
NATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION named Jacqueline Guennewig specialist, government and industry affairs. Guennewig joins NATA on a permanent basis after serving in the association's government affairs internship program. She is a certified flight instructor and recent graduate of Southern Illinois University's Aviation Management Program.
Bombardier Business Aircraft, which has been reorganizing the operation of its business aircraft functions since Michael Graff took over as president in June, last week announced creation of "a new integrated sales organization...for the entire line of Bombardier business jets." The action is the latest in a series of moves designed to bring the disparate elements of Bombardier's business aircraft business into a single organizational structure.
DE HAVILLAND DHC-6 series airplanes (Docket No. 91-CE-45-AD) - proposes to revise an earlier proposal that would have super-seded AD 78- 26-02. The AD requires repetitive inspection of the fuselage side frame flanges at Fuselage Station 218.125 and FS 219.525 for cracks and repair or replacement of any cracked part. The proposed AD would have required modification of the fuselage side frames at the referenced FS areas as a terminating action from the repetitive inspections required by AD 78-26-02.
GENERAL ELECTRIC CT7 series turboprop engines (Docket No. 96-ANE-34; Amdt. 39-9956; AD 97-05-12) - requires eddy current inspection of disk holes of Stage 1 and 2 gas generator turbine disks for cracks and, if necessary, replacement with serviceable parts. This amendment is prompted by a report of a Stage 2 gas generator turbine disk failure. The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent a Stage 1 or 2 gas generator turbine disk failure, which could result in an uncontained engine failure and damage to the aircraft.
DE HAVILLAND DHC-7 series airplanes (Docket No. 97-NM-36-AD) - proposes to require revising the airplane flight manual to prohibit positioning of the power levers below the flight idle stop while the airplane is in flight and to provide a statement of the consequences of positioning the power levers below the flight idle stop. This proposal is prompted by incidents and accidents involving airplanes equipped with turboprop engines in which the propeller beta was used improperly during flight.
