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PA-31, PA-31-300, PA-31-325, PA-31-350 and PA-31P airplanes (Docket No. 96-CE-29-AD; Amdt. 39-9976; AD 97-07-03) - superseded AD 81-11-04 that applies to certain PA-31 models that have Cleveland nose wheel assembly Part Number 40-76B installed.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.
Bombardier Regional Aircraft Division, as expected, selected Collins Pro Line 4 avionics from Rockwell Avionics and Communications, for the new 70-passenger Canadair Regional Jet Series 700. The Collins Pro Line 4 is used on the original 50-seat version of the Canadair RJ and it would have been a big surprise if Bombardier had switched avionics suppliers for the new plane since it wants to offer operators as much commonality as possible between the 50- and 70-seat models.
Cessna Aircraft selected King Schools, Inc. to develop a new computer- based training program that will be offered at the more than 400 U.S. Cessna Pilot Centers (BA, March 31/143). Cessna Chairman Russ Meyer cited King's 23 years of experience "combined with our mutual passion for aviation" in selecting the San Diego, Calif.-based company as its partner to create the new program. "The King organization shares our commitment to taking this major step forward in the quality and effectiveness of flight training while making the process even more enjoyable," Meyer said.
BARBARA TAYLOR was promoted to assistant director of operations for customer support for FlightSafety International. Taylor, who will be based at the FSI Instructional Systems Division facility in Fort Worth, Texas will coordinate the management of customer support services within FlightSafety's Operations and Standards Division. Taylor previously was assistant director of customer support.
RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT delivered a Hawker 800XP to VSZ a.s. in Kosice, Slovak Republic. VSZ a.s., one of the largest steel producers in Eastern Europe, will use the Hawker to transport top management to its facilities in Europe and the former Soviet Union. Cassovia Air, based in Kosice, will operate the Hawker under Slovak registration for VSZ. Cassovia Air also operates a King Air C90A for VSZ. Both aircraft have full Slovak certification. Lok- Duncan Aviation of Prague, Czech Republic, assisted with the Hawker sale.
Federal Aviation Administration has certified the production and quality processes and procedures used at Cessna Aircraft's single-engine production facility in Independence, Kan. The FAA certification permits Cessna to produce, flight test and license the Skyhawk 172R under its own procedures.
DORNIER Model 328-100 series airplanes (Docket No. 96-NM-110-AD) - proposes to require inspections for chafing of various control cables and replacement of any chafed cable with a serviceable cable. This proposal is prompted by chafing of various control cables found during inspections conducted at the manufacturer's facility and at overhaul facilities. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent such chafing, which could cause the pilot's controls for the autopilot, elevator/rudder, and engine to be ineffective.
LOCKHEED Model 382 series airplanes (Docket No. 97-NM-08-AD) - proposes to require revising the airplane flight manual to prohibit positioning the power levers below the flight idle stop, and to provide a statement of the consequences of positioning the power levers below the flight idle stop. The proposed AD is prompted by incidents and accidents involving airplanes equipped with turboprop engines in which the propeller beta was used improperly during flight.
Hunter Aircraft Corp. of Alexandria, Va., which describes itself as "a publicly traded aerospace services and specialty aircraft development/manufacturing company," named Stephen D. Townes president, chief operating officer and director. Townes had been president, and later vice chairman, of SabreTech before joining Hunter. Barry M.
NATIONAL COALITION FOR AVIATION EDUCATION selected Shelly Snyder, director of communications for the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, and Janette Prince, manager of member relations for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, as the joint recipients of the 1997 Dr. Mervin K. Strickler, Jr. Award for Aviation Education Leadership. The award, presented during the National Congress on Aviation and Space Education this month in Houston, Texas, recognizes individuals who have made lifetime personal commitments to aviation education.
AVIATION RESOURCE GROUP, formerly FBO Resource Group, named Greg Ross chief operating officer. Ross most recently was chief operating officer of Aerospace Realties, a Canadian multi-based FBO chain. He has held senior positions in finance, real estate and aviation-related businesses. Aviation Resource Group, headquartered in Denver, Colo., has provided aviation consulting services to FBO and airport clients for 22 years.
HARTZELL PROPELLER completed a $4 million expansion, including a new headquarters building, at its facilities in Piqua, Ohio. The expansion allows Hartzell to consolidate its engineering, marketing, sales and product support groups with its main manufacturing and assembly plant. The company closed its original facility built before the company's founding in 1917. Hartzell will continue to maintain its composites manufacturing plant, engineering test center and factory service center.
NEW STRINGENT rules about the allowable exposure rates to methylene chloride - a primary component in aircraft paint stripper - went into effect last week, but industry officials are hoping to find relief on Capitol Hill. The House subcommittee on workforce protections will hold a hearing Wednesday on the effects the new Occupational Safety and Health Administration standard will have on industry and Rep. Roger Wicker (R- Miss.) is negotiating with the House leadership to take action on his bill to block the OSHA rule (BA, March 24/134). Meanwhile, Sen.
Bombardier, which boosted its completion capabilities and market share with the acquisition of Innotech Aviation late last year (BA, Dec.16/274), will build a new $50 million (Canadian) aircraft completion center and paint facility to specialize in the design and installation of customer interiors for the Bombardier Global Express long-range business jet. The 415,400-square-foot facility will be based at Dorval International Airport outside Montreal, Quebec, adjacent to the Bombardier Aerospace administrative center and the Canadair aircraft final assembly plant.
JETSTREAM HP137 Mk1, Series 200 and Model 3101 airplanes (Docket No. 95-CE-53-AD) - proposes to supersede AD 82-20-04 R1, which requires repetitive inspection of the main landing gear hinge fitting, support angles and attachment bolts on British Aerospace HP137 Mk1 and Jetstream Series 200 airplanes, and repair or replacement of any part that is cracked beyond certain limits.
ALAN SCHWARTZ, another former Raytheon Aircraft executive, joined Sino Swearingen Aircraft Company as vice president of procurement. Schwartz served as strategic business unit manager - propulsion, airframe and Joint Primary Aircraft Training System subcontract management for Raytheon. He also held various positions in financial program management and procurement/materiel management with Pratt&Whitney. "Alan Schwartz brings a wealth of procurement knowledge and experience to his new position with our company," said Sino Swearingen President Jack Braly.
Helijet Airways intends to start scheduled helicopter service May 22 between downtown Seattle, Wash., and Victoria, British Columbia. The W.M. Helijet Airways Inc. subsidiary said it will begin the service, the first international helicopter service in North America, with three daily 34- minute flights using 12-seat Sikorsky S-76 twin-engine helicopters between Seattle's Boeing Field and Victoria's Harbour Heliport. Unrestricted fares will be $92 one way or $170 roundtrip.
