RONALD F. PREMO, aviation product manager for David Clark Co. Inc., died Jan. 10 of an apparent heart attack while skiing. Premo joined Clark, the Worcester, Mass. manufacturer of noise-attenuating head-sets and communications equipment, 30 years ago. He was a fixture at national aviation shows and conventions including EAA, Sun 'N Fun, AOPA, HAI, NBAA and AEA. He is survived by his wife, Nancy, and two children.
FLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL is now offering the Flight Visions Head-Up Display (HUD) as a training option on its Gulfstream IV-SP full flight simulator. The G-IV-SP simulator, located at FSI's training center in Savannah, Ga., incorporates the Honeywell SPZ 8400 flight management system.
Universal Avionics Systems received FAA approval for its new generation of lighter weight, solid-state cockpit voice recorders. The CVR-30B and the CVR-120 record 30 minutes and 120 minutes, respectively, and weigh 13 pounds each, the company said. The recorders accept four channels of cockpit audio - three crew and one area microphone - convert the audio to digital format and store the data in solid-state, non-volatile flash memory.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION is expected to propose a few changes to its "one level of safety" commuter rule that would provide relief to non- scheduled operators from the requirement to display the name of the certificate holder on the outside of their aircraft. The requirement drew strong opposition from the charter community, which feared that it could compromise security and would impose an unnecessary financial burden (BA, Oct. 14/171).
UNITED STATES AIR TOUR ASSOCIATION asked the U.S. Court of Appeals to review FAA's establishment of special flight rules in the vicinity of Rocky Mountain National Park. Those rules ban air tour operations over the park (BA, Jan. 6/3). The petition for review was filed with the Appeals Court's District of Columbia Circuit by the Washington, D.C. law firm of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky&Walker.
PATS, Inc., a designer and manufacturer of auxiliary fuel tanks and other systems for large aircraft, will begin negotiations with Boeing officials this week on a final contract to provide the long-range fuel tank system for the Boeing 737-700 Business Jet (BBJ) (BA, Dec. 2/251).
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association asked President Clinton to appoint Carl Vogt, a pilot, an attorney and a former chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, as FAA Administrator.
Federal Aviation Administration issued a new advisory circular to address the certification of small aircraft. FAA developed the AC - 23-15, Small Airplane Certification Compliance Program - to simplify compliance with certification requirements for low-performance aircraft.
William Albee, a former General Services Administration employee who joined FAA in 1990, was named to the newly created position of Aircraft Noise Ombudsman by acting FAA Administrator Linda Daschle.
HAMILTON STANDARD 14RF and 14SF series and Hamilton Standard/British Aerospace Model 6/5500/F propellers (Docket No. 95-ANE-66; Amdt. 39-9863; AD 96-25-20) - requires initial and repetitive inspections of critical control components and removal and replacement with serviceable parts those critical control components that do not meet the return-to-service criteria. This amendment is prompted by failure modes effects analysis, certification test data, engineering analysis and repair actions performed at overhaul depots.
Pratt&Whitney Canada reached a "basic agreement" with China National South Aeroengine and Machinery Company (SAEC) on a long-term partnership to combine efforts on small gas turbine engines. The partnership will establish a joint venture company to develop gas turbine engines for Chinese and international markets. The company also will manufacture components for P&WC as well as assemble, test, repair and overhaul P&WC engines. SAEC will have a majority share of the venture, which will be based in the city of Zhuzhou in the province of Hunan, China.
SabreTech President Steve Townes confirmed that the company is planning to discontinue its operations in Miami, stating that officials are "working to find ways to preserve as many jobs as possible for our employees and to provide continuing opportunities in the Miami area." He made the statement following reports that SabreTech is looking for a buyer for the Miami operations.
GALAXY AEROSPACE could formally begin operations this week following last week's closing in New York during which representatives of the Pritzker organization and Israel Aircraft Industries signed the necessary documents to permit Galaxy to take over the business of Astra Jet Corp. (BA, Nov. 25/244). All that remains is receipt of final documentation from a group of five Israeli banks, and that's expected within a few days. Friday was the deadline for cities interested in attracting Galaxy's new plant and headquarters to their communities to return bid packages.
PRATT&WHITNEY CANADA announced two risk-sharing partnerships with the Canadian government, which will invest $147 million (Canadian) in the PW150 engine development program and the Technology Demonstration Program (TDP). The government will invest $100 million in completing development of the latest derivative in the PW100 family, which is designed for next- generation, high-speed regional turboprop aircraft in the 50-to 80- passenger class. Rated at 6,500 shaft horsepower, the PW150 will power Bombardier's de Havilland's Dash 8 Series 400 regional transport.
The Federal Aviation Administration drew the ire of the charter community when it turned down a petition for relief from requirements to display the name of certificate holders on the outside of all aircraft used in Part 135 operations. FAA, which ironically is expected to provide such relief as part of a series of comprehensive revisions to the new FAR Part 119, told the National Air Transportation Association in a Jan.
AVIATION INDUSTRY officials were incensed when reports began circulating last week that Frank Kruesi was being seriously considered by the White House for appointment as FAA Administrator.Kruesi, a former aide to Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, joined the Transportation Department in the first Clinton Administration as assistant secretary for policy (BA, Nov. 1, 1993/188). Sources say he was one of the principal architects of Secretary Federico Pena's controversial and ill-fated proposal to establish a U.S. Air Traffic Services corporation (BA, May 9, 1994/197).
FOKKER Model F28 Mark 0070 and 0100 series airplanes (Docket No. 96- NM-268-AD; Amdt. 39-9850; AD 96-24-10) - publishes an AD previously made known to U.S. owners and operators of the affected airplanes. The amendment supersedes an existing AD that requires a revision to the airplane flight manual that will enable the flightcrew to determine if the thrust reversers are properly stowed and locked before takeoff.
KRN AVIATION SERVICES commenced construction of its new headquarters building on Stellar Airport in Chandler, Ariz. KRN, a distributor of aircraft parts to the general aviation industry, said the new facility will house all functions of the company's business, including sales, administration, parts storage, an overhaul shop and hangar with approximately 25,000 square feet under roof. In addition to KRN's distribution business, which stocks 100,000 line items of inventory, an affiliate company, Scorpion Air Services, operates an FAA/JAA approved repair station.
GENERAL ELECTRIC CT7 series turboprop engines (Docket No. 96-ANE-06; Amdt. 39-9864; AD 96-26-01) - requires replacement of the gas generator turbine Stage 2 forward cooling plates prior to the published cyclic life limits. The AD also defines the new, reduced cyclic life limits for the affected forward cooling plates. This amendment is prompted by reports of gas generator turbine Stage 2 forward cooling plate failures.
Derlan Industries, Ltd., the Toronto, Ontario-based company with major interests in the aerospace market, said it plans to refinance the company's outstanding bank debt and senior note obligations. Derlan said it will access the U.S. market to obtain the new financing and also plans to enter into a new revolving credit agreement. It plans to offer $100 million (U.S.) of senior notes with a 10-year maturity and enter into a new five- year, $50 million revolving credit facility.
CESSNA AIRCRAFT Chairman Russ Meyer, who had been expected to retire from the Wichita manufacturer in July, now plans to remain with the company for another three years. See article below.
The principal protagonists in the protracted battle over the City of Chicago's closure of Meigs Field reached a compromise, agreeing that the lakefront airport near the city's business district will be re-opened and improved, but permitting the city to convert the facility into a park in five years.
KENNETH P. QUINN, former chief counsel at FAA and current head of the American Bar Association's Forum on Air and Space Law, was elected a partner in the law firm of Winthrop, Stimson, Putnam&Roberts. Quinn has been counsel in the firm's Washington office since 1993.
Reps. Bud Shuster (R-Pa.) and James Oberstar (D-Minn.) last week reintroduced their Truth in Budgeting Act, which would remove the four transportation trust funds - including the Airport and Airway Trust Fund - from the federal budget. The legislation, H.R.4, is almost identical to the bill to take the trust funds off budget that the House passed 284-143 last year. That legislation, however, died in the Senate.
ANTHONY RUSSELL was named to the sales team for Stevens Aviation in Greenville, S.C. Russell, who has 20 years experience in sales of parts and technical services, will handle an international parts sales and support for Stevens. He formerly was commercial manager for the spare parts division of Air Hanson.
