HARRY C. STONECIPHER, president and chief executive of McDonnell Douglas Corp., was elected chairman of the board of governors of the Aerospace Industries Association. Michael T. Smith, vice chairman of Hughes Electronics Corp. and chairman of Hughes Aircraft Company, was named vice chairman of the board. Don Fuqua was re-elected president of AIA and George Copsey was re-elected secretary treasurer.
AIRFLITE, Toyota's fixed-base operation in Long Beach, Calif., won two new fueling contracts with American Airlines and UPS. AirFlite will fuel three American flights to Dallas and two UPS flights on a daily basis. In addition, AirFlite has fueling contracts with Sun Jet Airlines and America West.
Industry associations are grappling with how to comply with a new law requiring air carriers to collect records for applicants seeking pilot jobs after Feb. 6. Congress, in the Federal Aviation Authorization Act of 1996, mandated that both non-scheduled and scheduled air carriers obtain records from FAA, previous employers and the National Driver Register before hiring a new pilot (BA, Oct. 7/159).
Bombardier last week announced two separate aircraft orders for up to 17 of its Canadair Regional Jet aircraft, including a contract for five corporate RJs, in deals that have a combined value of nearly $250 million.
The Helicopter Association International, an outspoken opponent of new restrictions on air tour flights over Grand Canyon National Park, last week called on FAA to withdraw its proposal to establish new tour routes because they "pose a substantial threat to aviation safety" and violate provisions of the Federal Aviation Regulations regarding rulemaking proceedings.
K-C AVIATION scheduled a series of customer and service center training sessions for operation and maintenance of T62T-39 and T62T-40C series Sundstrand auxiliary power units. The three-day session will cover installation, borescope inspection and hot section inspection, electrical interface systems troubleshooting and APU test stand runs with an operational engine. The sessions are scheduled for April 1-3 in Dallas, Texas, July 29-31 in Appleton, Wis., Oct. 14-16 in Westfield, Mass. and Dec. 9-11 in Dallas. Cost of the session is $850.
Industry leaders this month criticized the Federal Aviation Administration for operating with a "one size fits all" mentality and said the agency needs to recognize the unique differences between general aviation aircraft and businesses and large transports and airlines.
NATALIA CHERNEY ROCA has joined The CIT Group/Capital Equipment Financing as vice president, marketing. Roca will oversee CIT Group's marketing program for aerospace, rail, maritime, intermodal and energy industries.
SAAB Model SF340A and 340B series airplanes (Docket No. 95-NM-201-AD; Amdt. 39-9848; AD 96-25-06) - requires inspections for damage or cracking of the forward and aft attachment lugs of the flap fittings at wing station 123.38; an inspection to verify that the sizes of the holes of the flap fittings are within specified limits and to ensure that the swaged bushings are not loose; and modification of the flap fittings.
ALASKA OPERATORS are struggling to make the transition from Part 135 to 121. One operator said the new operations specifications are going to be a "challenge" because they do not take into account the airstrips - or lack thereof - that Alaskan carriers use. Few airlines have completed the transition and many are not planning to make the transition.
TONI MICHAUD was promoted to customer service manager for Era Aviation Center, Anchorage, Alaska. Michaud joined Era in 1983 as a customer service representative.
HILLER Model UH-12A, UH-12B, UH-12C, UH-12D and UH-12E helicopters (Docket No. 96-SW-32-AD) - proposes to supersede an existing AD that requires a dye penetrant inspection of the head of the main rotor outboard tension-torsion bar pin for cracks, a visual inspection for proper alignment and adjustment, if necessary. That AD also called for the installation of shims at the inboard end of the drag strut.
SabreTech, under imminent threat of license revocation by FAA, closed its Orlando aircraft repair station Jan. 17, just days after the company had ceased operations at its Miami facility (BA, Jan. 20/26). FAA also is looking at the company's operations in Texas and Arizona. The company, which called FAA's move against the Orlando station "precipitous," blamed it on fallout from the ValuJet crash in the Florida Everglades.
The Federal Aviation Administration last week ordered the owners of thousands of piston-powered Cessna aircraft to check maintenance records to make sure that faulty engine hoses have not been installed. The action, which affects all piston-powered aircraft produced by the company from the Model 150 through the Model 421, plus the Caravan utility turboprop, stems from the purchase of just 300 feet of hose from a supplier in early 1995.
ERA AVIATION Senior Vice President James Vande Voorde assumed the additional responsibility of managing the company's fixed-base operation, Era Aviation Center. Vande Voorde, who also oversees Era's fixed-wing division, replaces Kristin Kirschbaum, who departed the company to join another FBO. Era Aviation Center is a 24-hour, full-service FBO based at Anchorage International Airport.
NEW PIPER PA-24, PA-28R, PA-30, PA-32R, PA-34 and PA-39 series airplanes (Docket No. 96-CE-09-AD; Amdt. 39-9872; AD 96-01-01) - supersedes an AD that requires repetitive inspections of the main gear sidebrace studs for cracks and replacement of cracked studs. This AD retains the repetitive inspections and possible replacement requirements, but incorporates additional modification and replacement options and excludes certain Model PA-34-200T airplanes that contain a certain main gear sidebrace assembly.
PACIFIC PROPELLER, INC., Kent, Wash., is nearing completion of a new plating shop that the company said will make it possible to offer zinc, chrome, hard chrome, anodizing, cadmium or nickel plating for all major components in propeller assemblies that require protection against wear and corrosion. "The new in-house plating shop will allow us to hold down costs, accelerate turn time and maintain our own strict quality assurance standards," said President Jim Matheson.
GARRETT AVIATION SERVICES received supplemental type certificate approval for installation of the AlliedSignal Global GNX-XLS flight management system with fault detection and exclusion software on the Hawker 800. The STC allows the built-in global positioning system on the AlliedSignal FMS to be used for primary navigation. Garrett Aviation Services' facility in Long Island, N.Y., performed the installation and received the certification, but the STC is available at all Garrett heavy maintenance centers.
JETSTREAM BAe ATP series airplanes (Docket No. 96-NM-100-AD) - proposes to require modification of certain parts in the elevator flight control system and the propeller pitch warning system. This proposal is prompted by a report indicating that these parts could interfere with the proper operation of these systems.
Federal Aviation Administration, which nearly a year ago published its proposed policy statement on the use of airport revenue, is soliciting further comments on additional issues not covered in the original policy statement, including the use of airport property for charitable purposes, promotional activities, or public transit.
The Joint Aviation Authorities proposed a 120-minute extended twin- engine operations (ETOPS) threshold for commercial aircraft with 19 or fewer seats and weighing less than 100,000 pounds. General aviation industry officials have expressed concern that the JAA proposal to impose a 120-minute ETOPS on twin-engine business aircraft used in commercial operations would seriously degrade the utility of this class of aircraft (BA, Jan. 13/13).
AMERICAN AIRLINES and its pilots began a 30-day cooling off period after the Allied Pilots Association let pass an airline offer to have differences settled by the National Mediation Board. The pilots will be free to strike Feb. 15 if outstanding issues are not resolved.
ROCKWELL AVIONICS&COMMUNICATIONS received a supplemental type certificate from FAA for the Collins AMS-850 avionics management system on a Beechjet 400A, making "primary means satellite-based navigation a reality for business aircraft," the company said.
LOCKHEED Model 382 series airplanes (Docket No. 95-NM-248-AD; Amdt. 39-9838 AD 96-24-14) - requires the landing gear brakes to be inspected for wear, replacement if certain wear limits are not met and incorporation of the new brake wear limits into the FAA-approved maintenance inspection program. This amendment is prompted by an accident in which a transport category airplane executed a rejected takeoff and was unable to stop on the runway due to worn brakes and the subsequent review of allowable brake wear limits for all transport category airplanes.
