NEW PILOT RECORD-SHARING requirements are causing increasing problems in the industry and the National Air Transportation Association is encouraging its members to lobby Congress for relief. The association noted that the Federal Aviation Administration still has not provided the much needed guidance on complying with the requirements contained in the Federal Aviation Authorization Act of 1996. In addition, operators continue to complain that the agency is taking too long to respond to requests for pilot records. One operator submitted a request Jan.
CASA Model CN-235 series airplanes (Docket No. 96-NM-126-AD) - proposes to require a one-time inspection for fatigue cracking around the center wing-to-fuselage attachment fitting and repair, if necessary. The proposal also would require installation of a reinforcing plate in the attachment area of the fitting. The proposal is prompted by a report from the manufacturer indicating that, during full-scale fatigue testing, cracks were found in this area.
Acting Federal Highway Administrator Jane Garvey last week emerged as a possible candidate to fill the administrator's post at the Federal Aviation Administration with George Donohue, FAA associate administrator for research and acquisitions, named as a possibility for deputy. Reports that Garvey and Donohue would be nominated began circulating Thursday, but the Clinton Administration had not made any official move as of Friday afternoon. Gen. Hansford T.
A low-cost traffic advisory system (TAS) designed for installation in general aviation aircraft is being introduced by BFGoodrich Avionics Systems at this week's Sun 'n Fun Fly-In in Lakeland, Fla.
RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT'S Beechjet 400A received Public Transport Category certification from Luftfahrt-Bundesamt, the German aviation authority. The approval allows the Beechjet to be used in charter service. German operator Augusta Air, based in Augsburg, Germany, will fly the Beechjet in charter service. Augusta Air also operates Beech King Airs for charter.
KAL-AERO, Battle Creek, Mich., was authorized by Gulfstream Aerospace to provide interior and refurbishment services for all Gulfstream aircraft. Kal-Aero, which has serviced aircraft for more than 30 years, has completed interior and exterior refurbishment on all types of Gulstream aircraft, including four G-IIIs and 11 G-IVs, in the past three years. It also has received a supplemental type certificate for installation of single and dual AlliedSignal GNS-XLS flight management systems on Gulfstreams.
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE announced another big order from Executive Jet International and said FAA has scheduled a type board certification meeting on the Gulfstream V business jet this Friday. See article below.
DORNIER Model 328-100 series airplanes (Docket No. 96-NM-219-AD) - proposes to require modification of the main landing gear bay areas by installing additional slush protection covers. This proposal is prompted by the identification of a problem during flight test analysis, which indicated that slush can accumulate in the main landing gear bay areas. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent such slush accumulation, which could freeze and interfere with the landing gear or render it inoperative.
EMBRAER Models EMB-110P1 and EMB-110P2 airplanes (Docket No. 96-CE-66- AD) - proposes to supersede AD 87-03-10, which requires repetitive inspections of the fillet area of both the left and right main landing gear wheel axle/piston tube support junction area for cracks and replacement of any main landing gear wheel axle/piston tube assembly found cracked. AD 87-03-10 also provides the option of reworking this area when no cracks are found as a terminating action for the repetitive inspections.
PROFESSIONAL AVIATION ASSOCIATES purchased the assets of Air Marine Sales and Air Marine Accessories and reopened the facilities as Professional Aircraft Accessories. Located in Titusville, Fla., the facility has repair capabilities in pressurization, aircraft accessories and airframe components and will specialize in Beech King Air, 99 and 1900, Gulfstream, Lockheed C130/L100, Douglas and Boeing Aircraft. Professional Aviation Associates, a Banner Aerospace subsidiary, also announced that it appointed Aeropartes Ind. Aeron, Ltda.
Reacting to the still-unexplained midair explosion of TWA Flight 800 last July, the Federal Aviation Administration Thursday asked the industry to comment on a series of National Transportation Safety Board recommendations aimed at reducing the likelihood of airplane fuel tank ignition.
SAAB 340B and 2000 series airplanes (Docket No. 96-NM-177-AD) - proposes to require a one-time inspection to determine if switches are installed on the fire handle panel of the fire handle assembly, and replacement of the fire handle panel, if necessary. This proposal is prompted by a report indicating that during manufacture a batch of defective switches was installed on certain fire handle panels. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to ensure the proper switches are installed in the fire handle assembly.
BARBARA BAUER joined the Fort Lauderdale Jet Center as customer service supervisor. Bauer, who has 17 years of aviation experience, spent the past six years with Banyan Air Service, where she was hired as a customer service representative and later became customer service supervisor.
NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD Chairman Jim Hall said his agency is concerned about aircraft accident rates derived from aircraft activity statistics collected by FAA. Addressing last week's National Air Transportation Association convention in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Hall said NTSB staffers have been told to work more closely with FAA to scrutinize the accuracy of the information. He added that the board plans to discuss the issue with aircraft insurance companies, which develop their own accident rate data.
BRITISH AEROSPACE Model Avro 146-RJ series airplanes (Docket No. 97- NM-05-AD) - proposes to require modification of the electrical system in the equipment bay area by replacing certain cables, clamps and fairleads.
ALLAN JIRON was named director of marketing for Menasco Aviation Services, Ltd. Jiron joined the landing gear overhaul unit in 1979 as plating supervisor and has held positions of increasing responsibility . Most recently, he was technical marketing manager.
FOKKER Model F27 series airplanes equipped with Walter Kidde nose wheel steering system (Docket No. 96-NM-38-AD; Amdt. 39-9941; AD 97-04-16) - requires increasing the torque value of the bolt that connects the gearbox housing assembly of the steering unit to the pivot bracket of the nose landing gear. This amendment also requires that periodic inspections of that torque value be incorporated into the FAA-approved maintenance program.
Noting that the student dropout rate continues to hamper the growth of general aviation, Cessna officials are hoping their plans for a new computer-based training program will slow that rate. Cessna Chairman Russ Meyer announced during this month's Women In Aviation conference that the company is selecting a partner to produce a computer-based training program that he said would "revolutionize flight training" (BA, March 24/129).
WHILE THE FAA and most industry groups have written comments opposing the ETOPS proposal, one group, Groupement des Industries Francaises Aeronautiques et Spatiales, representing French manufacturers, has sup- ported the intent and even asked for further limitations - a 60-minute ETOPS threshold. French manufacturer Dassault officially remains neutral, but its tri-jet Falcon aircraft products would be exempt from the ETOPS restrictions.
FAA is requesting comments on proposed technical standard orders for aircraft fluorescent lighting ballast/fixtures (TSO-C141), aircraft mechanical fasteners (TSO-C148a) and lithium batteries (TSO-C142). Comments are due by June 13 to Technical Programs and Continued Airworthiness Branch, AIR-120, Aircraft Engineering Division, Aircraft Certification Service, FAA, 800 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20591. Specify TSO number. For more information about the TSOs, contact Bobbie Smith at (202) 267-9546.
HOUSE AVIATION SUBCOMMITTEE Chairman Rep. John Duncan (R-Tenn.) told NATA members that "you have every right to be upset...about the makeup" of the National Civil Aviation Review Commission (BA, March 24/129). "General aviation really got short-changed," he said, even though the legislation creating the commission lists general aviation first among the industry segments that should be represented.
Bombardier Business Aircraft, in conjunction with AR Group companies Air Routing International and Air Security International, will provide a four-day program in International Operations-Handling and Security to operators of Canadair Challenger and Global Express business jets.
SIMUFLITE TRAINING INTERNATIONAL installed a Gulfstream IV-SP integrated avionics systems trainer for pilot and maintenance technician training. The trainer will supplement SimuFlite's simulator and ground school instruction. Manufactured by Xionix Simulation in Irving, Texas, the trainer is configured with Honeywell's SPZ-8000 digital automatic flight control system. The Honeywell SPZ-8400 system is expected to be added in the near future, SimuFlite said.
BRITISH AEROSPACE Model BAe 146 series airplanes and Avro 146-RJ series airplanes (Docket No. 96-NM-48-AD; Amdt. 39-9942; AD 97-04-17) - requires inspections for hydraulic fluid leakage from the lock jack assemblies of the main landing gear and eventual replacement of those assemblies with new or serviceable assemblies. This amendment is prompted by reports of leakage of hydraulic fluid from lock jack assemblies due to a manufacturing forging defect that extends through the wall of the lock jack assembly.
