THE WARP-SPEED CONSOLIDATION in the engine overhaul business continued unabated last week as General Electric announced it will swallow two other acquisition-minded players, UNC and Greenwich. See article below.
Kaman Corp., which had been involved in the fixed-base operation business for decades, has sold the last of its airport service locations. Kaman Diversified Technologies Corp., sold its AirKaman FBO at Jacksonville, Fla. International Airport to Kaman Acquisition Corp., a privately held company headed by C. William Kaman II. Terms were not disclosed. Malcolm L. Rich will continue as president of AirKaman. C. William Kaman, who also is executive vice president and director of Kaman Corp., has had management responsibility for AirKaman for several years.
FAIRCHILD CONTROLS CORP. won a $73 million contract from McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems to deliver vapor cycle environmental controls systems for the Longbow Apache helicopter program. The five-year contract will include supplying the environmental control system for helicopters destined for the U.S. Army, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.
RAYTHEON Model DH 125-1A, -3A, and -400A series airplanes (Docket No. 96-NM-190-AD) - proposes to require a one-time inspection to detect scoring of the upper fuselage skin around the periphery of the cockpit canopy blister interface, and repair, if necessary. This proposal is prompted by reports indicating that scoring of the upper fuselage skin had been detected in that area. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to detect and correct such scoring, which could reduce the structural integrity of the fuselage.
New Zealand has chosen Kaman Aerospace International's SH-2G Super Seasprite over the Westland Super Lynx in a competition for maritime helicopters, Kaman announced last week.
TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY Rodney Slater announced his 13 selections for the 21-member National Civil Aviation Review Commission, a collection of airport lobbyists, elected officials, airline representatives, union members and lawyers. The commission is charged with developing funding options to provide for FAA's long-term financial needs, and the lack of representation from the general aviation community drew a sharp blast from Ed Bolen, president of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.
AVCARD, best known for providing credit cards, commercial transaction data and contract fuel to corporate flight departments and fixed-based operators, was selected by the Defense Fuel Supply Center (DFSC) to provide similar credit card services for all federal government aircraft.
DORNIER Model 328-100 series airplanes (Docket No. 96-NM-118-AD; Amdt. 39-9930; AD 97-04-06) - requires replacement of certain attachment screws on the leading edges of the left and right wings with longer screws. This amendment is prompted by reports indicating that these screws had become loose. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent loosening or loss of the screws, which could lead to loosening or loss of the leading edge of the wing and consequently reduce controllability of the airplane.
THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE wants to station NPS personnel within FAA to "handle NPS and other land management agency overflight issues on an ongoing basis." NPS, which has been pushing for new restrictions on commercial air tour operators, said the proposed office within FAA would deal with a whole range of overflight concerns, including those involving commercial airlines, general aviation and the military. See article below.
SAAB Model 2000 series airplanes (Docket No. 96-NM-236-AD; Amdt. 39- 9944; AD 97-04-19) - requires a visual inspection to determine if rudder disconnection has occurred, and replacement of the disconnect unit with a new disconnect unit, if necessary. This amendment is prompted by reports that, due to the existing design, the disconnect unit of the rudder disconnect system inadvertently opened on some airplanes.
Cessna Aircraft this month appointed the first four international companies that will act as Cessna Sales Team Authorized Representatives, or CSTARs, for the manufacturer's line of single-engine aircraft. As part of its effort to reenter the single-engine market, Cessna plans to build its CSTAR network to 140 representatives. The first international companies are Rossair Pty. Ltd. of Adelaide, South Australia; Airflite Pty. Ltd., Perth, Australia; Avemex, S.A. de C.V., Toluca, Mexico; and, Flightline Aviation Ltd., Auckland, New Zealand.
BRITISH AEROSPACE Model BAC 1-11 200 and 400 series airplanes (Docket No. 96-NM-188-AD) - proposes to require repetitive ultrasonic inspections for cracking of the lugs of the engine mounting beams and replacement of the beam with a serviceable part, if necessary. This proposal is prompted by reports of fatigue cracking of the lugs of the engine mounting beams. The actions specified by the proposal are intended to detect and correct such cracking, which could reduce the structural capability of the engine mount.
PATS, INC., Columbia, Md., was selected by McDonnell Douglas Corp. to provide a complete auxiliary fuel system for the new MD-95 airliner. The auxiliary fuel system will consist of four fuel tanks with a total capacity of 1,290 U.S. gallons, as well as associated plumbing, wiring harnesses, mounting hardware and cockpit controls and displays. The system will be delivered as a complete kit to be installed at the aircraft manufacturer's Long Beach, Calif. facility. PATS also is negotiating a contract with Boeing to provide fuel tanks for 737 business jets (BA, Jan.
B&D INSTRUMENTS AND AVIONICS elected Andrew Dimitriou president and head of its North American sales group Penny + Giles Aerospace Inc. Dimitriou previously spent 16 years with Rosemount Aerospace, where he held engineering, marketing and operations management positions. B&D also promoted Robert Trimmer to director of sales and support. Trimmer, who has served with B&D for more than eight years, previously was director of international sales.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION this week is expected to provide relief to commercial operators from a requirement to display the name of the certificate holder on the outside of the aircraft. In an amendment to the new Part 119 created under the "Commuter Rule," FAA is expected to allow commercial operators to display operating certificate numbers, rather than the name of the certificate holder (BA, Feb. 10/60). The amendment also is expected to ease, to a certain extent, new dispatch requirements for Alaskan operators also called for in the Commuter Rule.
PIAGGIO P-180 airplanes (Docket No. 96-CE-62-AD) - proposes to require, for airplanes equipped with a certain freon air conditioning system, inspection of the baggage compartment for stringer or air cycle machine bypass duct damage, repair of any damage found and modification of the freon air inlet duct and electrical wiring. The proposed AD stems from trim system malfunction on one of the affected airplanes, resulting from contact between the freon air inlet duct and the electrical wiring. The proposal is intended to prevent this condition.
AEROSPATIALE Model ATR-42-300 and ATR-42-320 series airplanes (Docket No. 97-NM-24-AD; Amdt. 39-9933; AD 97-04-09) - requires repetitive ultrasonic inspections for fatigue cracks of the lower lugs of the barrel of the main landing gear and replacement of cracked lower lugs with serviceable ones and a follow-on inspection. This amendment is prompted by reports indicating that, due to fatigue cracking in the lower lugs of the barrel, the main landing gear collapsed. The actions specified in this AD are intended to detect and correct such fatigue cracking.
Less than a month after Greenwich Air Services, Inc., and UNC said they planned to create a $1.8 billion maintenance and repair powerhouse (BA, Feb. 17/69), GE said it will acquire them both in a deal valued at approximately $1.5 billion in cash, stock and assumed debt.
DUNCAN AVIATION recently completed a number of modifications and equipment installations to a Gulfstream IV managed by Jet Aviation including a Honeywell HUD-2020 head-up display system, a triple-wide pedestal, a BFGoodrich standby horizon, Smiths altimeter airspeed indicator, Securaplane 500 security system, Honeywell lightning sensor system, Magnastar telephone and Grimes gooseneck lights.
'97 JET&PROPJET CORPORATE DIRECTORY, listing more than 20,600 jet and turboprop aircraft (including more than 1,500 units operated by military and governments around the world) was published this month by AvCom International. The directory lists registration numbers, manufacturers, models and owners of 17,900 jets and turboprops flying in 137 countries, plus information on another 2,700 aircraft no longer in service. The 419- page, pocket-size paperback is priced at $21.95, plus $3.00 for shipping and handling of U.S. orders.
AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION formed a Supplier Management Council to provide a forum for AIA supplier associate member companies. For more information, contact Bill Lewandowski, AIA vice president, supplier management, at (202) 371-8432.
Boeing and FlightSafety International are forming a joint venture company to provide airline customers around the world with flight- and ground-crew training, an undertaking that could result in a major international expansion of FlightSafety's training business and generate significant revenue for both partners.
BUSINESS JETSOLUTIONS received FAA authorization to conduct operations in MNPS airspace (Minimum Navigation Performance Specification) using dual global positioning systems as the sole means of navigation. Business JetSolutions said it is the first on-demand carrier under Part 135 to receive such authorization.
SAAB SF340A, 340B and 2000 series airplanes (Docket No. 96-NM-69-AD; Amdt. 39-9923; AD 97-03-18) - requires replacement of the hubcap drive coupling of the main wheel with an improved coupling. This amendment is prompted by reports of unexpected decreases in the pressure of the main wheel brake due to incorrect engagement between the main wheel coupling and the wheel speed transducer, which can result in false signals being sent to the anti-skid control box.
