The General Aviation Manufacturers Association believes that the federal government has not presented the scientific data to support proposals to establish what GAMA termed "severely restrictive noise standards" for commercial air tour overflights in the vicinity of Grand Canyon National Park (GCNP). The association also warned that the GCNP process is only the start of a plan that could severely restrict the use of general aviation and airline aircraft nationwide.
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE posted strong profits for the quarter ended March 31, won FAA certification for its Gulfstream V business jet and is claiming nine flight records for a series of recent flights by one of the new long- range aircraft. See article below.
A FRONT PAGE article in Friday's Wall Street Journal claiming that fatal accident rates for corporate aircraft are two to three times worse than those of the scheduled airlines drew quick reactions from industry officials. See article below.
Models 3101 and 3201 airplanes (Docket No. 92-CE-46-AD) - proposes, for airplanes that have Kit JK 2496 and Modification JM 7537 installed, to require installing magnetic latching relays on the ignition system. This action is prompted by reports of the auto-ignition system becoming disabled when switching from ground power to the airplane's internal power. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent loss of the airplane's internal power connection to the auto- ignition system and subsequent loss of engine power.
Gulfstream Aerospace Corp., said it received full type certification of its 6,500-nautical-mile Gulfstream V business jet and reported nearly a seven-fold increase in net income as revenues jumped 75 percent during the first quarter. Net income was $40 million, or 51 cents per share, compared with earnings of $6.1 million, or eight cents per share, in the 1996 first quarter. Revenues were $376 million, compared with $215 million in the same period a year ago.
House aviation leaders last month called on the Federal Aviation Administration to require traffic alert and collision avoidance systems (TCAS II) in cargo aircraft.
National Business Aircraft Association selected J. Sheldon (Torch) Lewis as this year's recipient of the John P. "Jack" Doswell Award and R. Dixon Speas for the Meritorious Service Award. Lewis, a veteran corporate aviation marketer, has written the "Greenhouse Patter" column for BA sister publication Business&Commercial Aviation magazine for more than 30 years. He has been involved in the marketing of numerous business aircraft projects, including the Learfan, and was a corporate flight department manager and naval aviator.
EXCELAIRE SERVICE, INC., an aircraft management firm based at Islip MacArthur Airport, N.Y., added a Westwind I and Gulfstream III and II to its charter fleet. The additions increase ExcelAire's charter fleet to 10 aircraft, including a Falcon 900B, CitationJet, G-IIs and G-IIBs. The company also operates several seaplanes. In addition, ExcelAire said it is in negotiations to add another Westwind and a Learjet 35A to its charter certificate.
WAYFARER AVIATION said the Canadair Service Center in Tucson, Ariz., completed the reduced vertical separation minimums data package installation on Wayfarer's Challenger 601-3A/R business jet. Flight testing is scheduled to be completed shortly. "Wayfarer is thrilled to have completed the first RVSM installation on this type aircraft. Compliance has been a fairly tangled process, but Canadair made completing the job 'hassle free,'" said President Jim Christiansen.
AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION has joined the three major airlines based in Texas as well as the National Air Transportation Association in opposition to the proposed aviation taxes (BA, April 7/152). The association urged Texas officials to reject the proposal, saying that "In its quest for popular 'tax reform,' Texas risks losing its strong aviation infrastructure and economy, the third largest in the nation." NATA members and representatives from American, Southwest and Continental testified before the state legislature opposing the taxes.
DE HAVILLAND Model DHC-8-100 and -300 series airplanes (Doc-ket No. 96-NM-73-AD) - proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive that requires an inspection for discrepancies and damage of the low- pressure switch adapter/snubber (located on each engine fuel heater), and replacement, if necessary. That AD also requires an inspection for gaps or openings in each nacelle and engine-mounted firewall area, and in certain weather seals in the nacelles; and correction of discrepancies.
1996 ANNUAL TURBINE AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT REVIEW is off the presses and available for purchase by corporate aircraft operators, prospective aircraft purchasers and others who want to assess the safety record of business jets and turboprops. Published by Robert E. Breiling Associates, the 1996 review contains nearly 500 pages of detailed narrative accounts of 275 fixed- and rotary-wing turbine aircraft accidents, identifying aircraft, operator type, phase of operation, conditions, and a factual description of reported circumstances. Publication price is $285.00 for U.S.
DIANE CREEL was appointed to the board of directors of Rohr. Creel is chief executive officer and president of EARTH TECH, a Long Beach, Calif.- based engineering firm that provides services to government, commercial, industrial and municipal clients from more than 50 offices throughout the U.S. and the Pacific.
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA Darden Graduate School of Business Administration will hold its Managing the Corporate Aviation Function seminar April 27-May 2 in Charlottesville, Va. The seminar, tailored to corporate aviation managers and chief pilots, will cover financial fundamentals, equipment selection and justification, operational issues and organizational behavior problems. For more information, contact the Darden School Foundation at (804) 924-3000.
MOONEY Models M20F, M20J and M20L airplanes (Docket No. 96-CE-51-AD) - proposes to require removing the fuel cap retaining lanyard from the fuel filler cap assemblies. This action is prompted by a report of lost engine power during flight because of fuel starvation. The investigation revealed that the airplane fuel float became trapped by the fuel cap retaining lanyard, keeping the float from following the fuel level. This condition caused the pilot to get a false fuel quantity reading.
MAYO AVIATION added an eight-passenger Hawker 400/731 to its charter fleet. The aircraft will be based at Eagle/Vail Airport, serving both the resort areas and metropolitan Denver. Mayo, based at Centennial Airport in Denver, now has 18 aircraft in its fleet, including Hawkers, Learjets and King Airs.
GENERAL ELECTRIC CF34 series turbofans (Docket No. 95-ANE-41; Amdt. 39-9972; AD 97-06-15) - reduces the allowable operating cyclic life limit for affected high-pressure compressor Stage 1 rotor disks. This amendment is prompted by an updated stress and life analysis. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent HPC Stage 1 rotor disk rupture, engine failure and damage to the aircraft.
Jackson Hole Aviation LLC, the fixed-based operation on Jackson Hole, Wyo. Airport that last year merged with rival Satellite Aero (BA, April 29, 1996/193), reinforced its senior management in an effort to boost customer service. Jeff Brown, co-owner and co-chairman of Jackson Hole Aviation, assumed the additional responsibilities of president of the FBO following the departure of former President and General Manager Jim McPhaul. Brown, who has 19 years of FBO management experience, owned and operated Jackson Hole Aviation before it merged with Satellite Aero.
LISA PENSINGER was appointed sales manager for Elliott Aviation's sound management system. Pensinger will be responsible for worldwide sales of the system and managing the company's network of sales and installation centers. She previously served as a territory sales manager for an international food products company.
Both the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and National Business Aircraft Association this month alerted members to immediately contact their legislators to oppose $300 million in aviation user fees the Clinton Administration is seeking for the fiscal 1998 budget.
B&D INSTRUMENTS AND AVIONICS received FAA supplemental type certificate approval to produce and retrofit an engine instrument display system (EIDS) on Northwest Airlines Boeing 747-100 and -200 aircraft. The EIDS displays engine parameters on active matrix liquid crystal screens. The EIDS provides real-time data and exceedance recording capabilities.
NEW PIPER Models PA-31, PA-31-300, PA-31-325, PA-31-350 and PA-31P airplanes (Docket No. 96-CE-29-AD; Amdt. 39-9976; AD 97-07-03) - superseded AD 81-11-04 that applies to certain PA-31 models that have Cleveland nose wheel assembly Part Number 40-76B installed. AD 81-11-04 requires inspections of the nose wheel flange for cracks and replacement if necessary. This action adds PA-31P to the applicability of the AD. The action is prompted by a failure of a nose wheel assembly on a Piper Model PA-31P during taxiing operations.
Garrett Aviation Services of UNC, Inc. and Aviation Services Group of Atlanta, Ga., formed a partnership to develop technical and documentation requirements for operators who need to comply with new Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum requirements over the North Atlantic.
International consulting firm Arthur D. Little, Cambridge, Mass., acquired the assets of PRC Aviation and announced formation of a wholly owned aviation consulting subsidiary, R. Dixon Speas Associates, Inc. PRC Aviation was jointly owned by R. Dixon Speas of Tucson, Ariz., and PRC, Inc. of McLean, Va. Speas will serve on the new company's board of directors and hold the title of founder/director. Joining Speas in leadership posts in the new organization are three associates, John L. Conte, Noel G. Preston and Daniel D. Bullick.
BIGGS PORTER was appointed vice president-business management for Northrop Grumman Corporation's Commercial Aircraft Division. Porter, who has been vice president-finance for the division since 1995, will be responsible for all business management activities.
