SONYA LARREA-NIEBOER was named regional sales manager for SimuFlite Training International's Hercules Flight Training Center. Larrea-Nieboer will market SimuFlite's Lockheed L-100/C-130 Hercules flight training in Marietta, Ga. She joined SimuFlite in 1992 and most recently was an account executive.
The Interior Department's National Park Service, which actively pushed for new flight restrictions on commercial air tours over the Grand Canyon National Park, believes "The National Park Service (NPS) should assist the FAA in creation of a 'center for excellence' within the FAA to handle NPS and other land management agency overflight issues on an ongoing basis." In addition to commercial air tour flights, the proposed center would deal with overflights of federal lands by military, airline and general aviation aircraft, according to documents filed last week in the U.
ROBOTIC VISION SYSTEMS, INC., Hauppauge, N.Y. won a 50-50 cost-sharing contract from FAA for $1.1 million to research and develop an on-aircraft wide area ice detection system. At the conclusion of the contract, RVSI is to deliver a working prototype for testing onboard an aircraft. RVSI currently manufactures the ID-1H, a ground-based ice detection system that was used this winter by Delta Shuttle aircraft at Boston, New York and Washington.
ALLEN MCGINNESS was named vice president of aircraft services at TXI Aviation. McGinness formerly was chief operating officer and interim president for Lone Star Airlines/Aspen Mountain Air. In his new position, McGinness will oversee flight operations, aircraft management, fractional ownership and related services at TXI's Dallas Love Field facility.
AVIATION COMPUTING SYSTEMS, a new book by Mal Gormley, provides a comprehensive overview of advanced data processing systems used in the aviation industry, and how those systems work and interact. Gormley, a contributing editor for Business&Commercial Aviation magazine who has specialized in "avcomps" reporting for several years, explains how computerized information systems are used on the flight decks of modern aircraft and flight simulators by a wide range of commercial, military and private operators.
Federal Aviation Administration called for inspection and possible modification of the compressor bleed-off valves on certain Pratt&Whitney Canada PT6 turboprops within the next 100 hours time in service or by April 2. The emergency airworthiness directive, which affects engines that were manufactured after Jan.
JETSTREAM Model 4101 airplanes (Docket No. 96-NM-168-AD) - proposes to require repetitive detailed visual inspections for cracks on Frame 179 at the attachment bracket for the door restraint cable, and various follow-on actions. This proposal also would require installation of new doublers and stress pads on Frame 179, which would terminate the repetitive inspections.
ALLIEDSIGNAL and Rajay Inc. oil scavenge pumps (Docket No. 96-ANE-24) - proposes a new AD that would be applicable to Allied-Signal oil scavenge pumps Part Numbers 101633-01 and -02 and Rajay pumps P/Ns 1025-1 and -2. The proposal would require initial and repetitive inspections of the oil scavenge pump for the security of the snap ring installation, snap ring and washer wear, and shaft groove wear, and replacement, if necessary, with serviceable parts. This proposal is prompted by reports of severe wear on the end plate of the oil scavenge pump.
THOMAS KENVILLE was appointed director, sales and marketing for UND Aerospace. Kenville will oversee sales and marketing for professional aviation training services offered by UND Aerospace, including the Spectrum ab initio and advanced airline pilot training programs, helicopter pilot training and air traffic control training. Kenville has served with UND for eight years.
Calling new requirements for a 95 percent reduction in the permissible exposure levels of methylene chloride "economically and technologically unachievable," the National Air Transportation Association last week asked the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to reverse the rule for the aviation paint stripping business.
AERO INTERNATIONAL (REGIONAL) concluded an airline advisory group conference for its proposed AI(R)JET 70-seat airliner. The aircraft, presented at the Farnborough Air Show in 1996, is expected to be the first of a family of jets the European regional consortium builds, with a 58-seat variant to follow. AI(R) hopes to choose an engine manufacturer next month, formally launch the aircraft this year and commence deliveries in mid-2001.
PIAGGIO P-180 airplanes (Docket No. 96-CE-56-AD) - proposes to require repetitive inspections for cracks around the vertical pin and the torque tube bottom flange of the rudder and the fasteners that connect the torque tube to the bottom flange. If cracks are evident, the proposed action would require replacing the cracked part with an improved part, terminating the need for repetitive inspections. The proposed AD is the result of several reports of fatigue cracks around the pin that vertically supports the rudder axle.
GROEN BROTHERS AVIATION, INC., the Salt Lake City, Utah developer and manufacturer of the Hawk line of gyroplanes, opened its worldwide marketing office in Seattle, Wash. The new office, headed by Cyndi Upthegrove, is located at 18000 Pacific Highway South, Suite 408, Seattle, Wash. 98188. The company currently is flight testing its two-place H2X gyroplane and is scheduled to begin deliveries of the production model, designated the Hawk III, to China in mid-1988. Groen also has plans for a five-place model designated the Hawk V Commuter.
AAR signed a 10-year agreement with UNC Industrial Power to supply and manage inventory required to sup-port UNC's overhaul and refurbishment programs on Solar Saturn and Solar Centaur industrial gas turbine engines. The value of the agreement is estimated at $40 million over the 10-year period.
SEN. WENDELL FORD (D-Ky.), the ranking Democrat on the Senate aviation subcommittee, will retire at the end of his term in 1998. Ford, who has served in the Senate since 1974, chaired the aviation subcommittee from 1987 until the Republicans took control of the Senate in 1994.
FOKKER Model F27 Mark 050, 100, 200, 300, 400, 600 and 700 series airplanes (Docket No. 96-NM-32-AD; Amdt. 39-9932; AD 97-04-08) - requires an ultrasonic inspection to determine if certain tubes are installed in the drag stay units of the main landing gear and various follow-on actions. This amendment is prompted by a report that, due to fatigue cracking from an improperly machined radius of the inner tube, a drag stay broke, and, consequently, led to the collapse of the main landing gear during landing.
Attorneys representing commercial air tour operators at the Grand Canyon asked the U.S. Court of Appeals last week to overturn restrictions on those operators that FAA adopted Dec. 31, while attorneys representing the Grand Canyon Trust and other environmental groups asked the same court for an expedited review of the FAA regulations because they said the FAA final rule "will not result in anything close to the substantial restoration of natural quiet to the Grand Canyon..."
BOEING, which will control approximately two-thirds of the worldwide market for new airline transports if its proposed acquisition of McDonnell Douglas is approved, joined forces with FlightSafety International last week in an effort to capture a major portion of the world market for simulator training. The two are forming a joint venture company that will begin operation with 36 simulators and plans for aggressive international expansion. See article below.
FLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL received FAA certification for the company's new Challenger 601-3A/3R Level D flight simulator. The simulator, scheduled to begin customer training this month, is installed at the FlightSafety/Bombardier Business Aircraft Training Center at Tucson International Airport. The center is the third FlightSafety facility to offer Challenger pilot training. FlightSafety also offers Challenger training in Montreal and Houston.
MOONEY AIRCRAFT's prototype Encore has entered the flight test program, completing more than 10 flights that average 90 minutes each. The new high-performance single-engine aircraft has reached Flight Level 250 and true airspeeds in excess of 200 knots. "We have been to every corner of the flight envelope," said Tom Bowen, Mooney director of engineering.
PACIFIC SCIENTIFIC COMPANY, HTL/Kin-Tech Division, fire extinguisher bottle cartridges (Docket No. 97-NM-27-AD; Amdt. 39-9940; AD 97-04-15) - requires a one-time inspection of the electrical receptacle of the fire extinguisher bottle cartridges and their mating connectors to see if aluminum foil is in the area of the pins of the cartridges and the connectors, and removal of any aluminum foil found.
MARY BYERLY was appointed product marketing manager for FlightSafety International's Greater Philadelphia/Wilmington center. Byerly is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and a pilot-in-command for the Lockheed C-130 with the Air Force Reserve. She will promote various training services at the Wilmington center.
NORMAN MINETA, the former Democratic congressman from California who chaired both the House aviation subcommittee and the Public Works and Transportation Committee, was named to the board of directors of the Washington Airports Task Force. Mineta is senior vice president of Lockheed Martin IMS and managing director of its transportation systems and services line of business in Washington, D.C.
AEROSPATIALE Model ATR-42-200, -300 and -320 series airplanes (Docket No. 97-NM-30-AD; Amdt. 39-9939; AD 97-04-14) - requires modification of the electrical wiring of the stick pusher/shaker test function to reinforce system protection. This amendment is prompted by a report of at least one occurrence when the stick pusher self-activated during flight. The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent inadvertent activation of the stick pusher, which could reduce controllability of the airplane, especially during takeoff or landing.
