THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET proposed transitioning the Federal Aviation Administration to a completely user-fee-funded agency by fiscal 1999, but a senior White House aide cast doubt on the OMB scenario.
ROLLS-ROYCE CANADA announced a reorganization designed to improve customer support and responsiveness. The company now comprises four divisions: Aero ; Industrial (repair and overhaul); New Production; and, Component Repair. The new Aero organization incorporates all airline, corporate and military customers and is headed by Douglas Cribbes, formerly vice president-marketing and customer service.
PACIFIC JET AVIATION said the new "American-style" fixed-base operation on Clark International Airport in the Philippines is now fully operational, offering 24-hour aircraft fueling, catering, ground and air transportation, including rental cars and limousines, ramp parking, hangar space, round- the-clock aircraft security, customs and weather briefing facilities. The facility opened earlier this year, aimed at attracting corporate aircraft operating between North America and Europe and the Far East (BA, Oct. 14/168).
CHRYSLER PENTASTAR AVIATION added a Gulfstream IV-SP and Hawker 800 to its charter fleet "to meet increased global travel demands for charter services," Chrysler Pentastar officials said. The new aircraft will be added to the company's existing fleet, including a G-IV, four G-IIs, two G- IIIs. Chrysler Pentastar also manages a Citation II, two Hawker 800s and a G-IV.
JET MAINTENANCE PTE LTD. will offer executive handling services at its new facility at Seletar Airport in Singapore. The services include passenger handling, quick aircraft turnarounds, passenger and crew transportation, customs and immigration assistance, limousine and bus service, rental car and hotel reservations and catering coordination. Jet Maintenance is a Jet Aviation unit that was founded in February.
Gulfstream Aerospace, which five years ago detailed plans to build a 5,000-nautical-mile business jet, last week was awarded Federal Aviation Administration type certification for its 6,500-nm Gulfstream V business jet. FAA granted a "provisional type certificate" with certain operational limitations and Gulfstream officials expect to have all limitations lifted within 90 days, "well in advance of the first completed Gulfstream V entering service" toward the end of the second quarter of 1997, they said.
David Dittemore, a 21-year veteran of AlliedSignal, was named president Friday of the company's Commercial Avionics Systems (CAS) business, effective Jan. 1. Dittemore has been vice president of engineering at AlliedSignal Engines. He joined the company in 1975 and held a series of jobs with increasing responsibility, including heading the company's efforts to have AlliedSignal's auxiliary power unit selected for the Boeing 777. Dittemore will succeed Chuck Miller, who retired, and will report to Daniel P. Burnham. J.
NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD Chairman Jim Hall has indicated that he will ask Transportation Secretary Federico Pena to delay issuance of a proposal to severely limit operations over Grand Canyon National Park until a comprehensive study has been conducted on the safety implications of the new restrictions. His appeal to Pena follows comments to the Federal Aviation Administration in which Hall expressed serious concern over the impact the proposal could have on safety. See article below.
BRITISH AEROSPACE Model BAe 146 series airplanes and Avro 146-RJ series airplanes (Docket No. 96-NM-40-AD; Amdt. 39-9813; AD 96-23-08) - requires repetitive tests of the integrity of the electrical circuit between the windshear computer and the flap position sensor and repair of the electrical wiring, if necessary. This amendment also requires replacement of certain windshear computers with new computers, which, when accomplished, terminates the repetitive tests.
Responding to rapid growth of its air taxi business, Mayo Aviation of Englewood, Colo. named two industry veterans to senior posts. Gilbert T. Wolin, who has been serving as a consultant to Mayo for the past year, was named president and chief operating officer. Robert G. Robuck was appointed chief financial officer. Founder Gwendolyn O. Mayo will continue as chairman of the company, while her son, William J. Mayo III, 34, will assume the duties of chief executive officer after 10 years with the company as vice president of operations.
National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Jim Hall told the Federal Aviation Administration that it is "imperative" that the agency study the effects on safety of its proposal to curtail air tour operations over Grand Canyon National Park before implementing the rule. In comments on the proposal, Hall said the safety board is "deeply concerned that despite the substantial operational implications of the proposed changes, the [notice of proposed rulemaking] does not indicate whether the safety impact of such changes has been systematically considered."
SHORTS SD3-30, -60 and -SHERPA series airplanes (Docket No. 96-NM-08- AD; Amdt. 39-9784; AD 96-21-07) - requires a visual inspection for signs of exfoliation corrosion on the brackets of the flap hydraulic units and rework or replacement of corroded brackets. This amendment is prompted by a report that exfoliation corrosion was found on the brackets of the flap hydraulic units. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent such corrosion and consequent reduced structural integrity of the flap hydraulic unit brackets.
Gary Hay, vice chairman of Cessna Aircraft, will assume responsibility for engine manufacturer Textron Lycoming in Williamsport, Pa., and McCauley Propeller Systems in Dayton, Ohio, effective Jan. 1, the latest step in a succession plan that is expected to see Hay replace Chairman Russ Meyer as chief executive next year (BA, Dec. 11, 1995/251).
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION issued an advisory circular that provides guidance on complying with Federal Aviation Regulations Part 25 requirements for pressurization, ventilation and oxygen systems. FAA said the AC is not mandatory and companies may choose alternative means for compliance as long as they meet the requirements. For a copy of AC 25-20, Pressurization, Ventilation and Oxygen Systems Assessment for Subsonic Flight Including High Altitude Operation, write to the U.S.
General aviation manufacturers will be delivering 20,000 new aircraft annually once the benefits of a NASA/industry cooperative effort to develop new GA powerplants are realized, NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin said last week.
SHORTS Model SD-3-60 and SD-3-SHERPA series airplanes (Docket No. 96- NM-09-AD; Amdt. 39-9797; AD 96-22-09) - requires a one-time inspection to detect cracks and/or corrosion of the gland nut on the shock absorber of the main landing gear and follow-on actions. This amendment also requires repair or replacement of any cracked/corroded gland nut with a new nut.
FOKKER Model F28 Mark 0100 series airplanes (Docket No. 96-NM-154-AD) - proposes to require loosening certain nuts on the horizontal stabilizer control unit (HSCU) to reduce stress on bolts, a one-time inspection of certain bolts on the HSCU for cracking and replacement, if necessary.
DARRELL MILLER was named service manager for Duncan Aviation. Miller joined Duncan in 1980 as an autopilot technician. He has since served as autopilot team leader and most recently, avionics line team leader.
RAYTHEON Model BAe 125 series 1000A and Hawker 1000 airplanes (Docket No. 95-NM-167-AD; Amdt. 39-9792; AD 96-22-03) - requires modifications of the thrust reversers. This amendment is prompted by a review of the certification analysis and test of the thrust reversers that indicated additional design features are necessary to prevent failure of the driver link and the inadvertent deployment of a thrust reverser during flight.
JACK ALKEMA was named manager, courseware standards for SimuFlite Training International. Alkema, who has served with SimuFlite since 1989, previously was a senior instructor in the company's Citation training program. Alkema also served as a corporate pilot for 14 years and as a demonstration pilot for Cessna.
JETSTREAM Model 4100 series airplanes (Docket No. 96-NM-68-AD; Amdt. 39-9796; AD 96-22-07) - requires replacement of the existing decompression panel on the aft bulkhead of the toilet compartment with a modified decompression panel. This amendment is prompted by a report that a decompression panel that does not meet flammability requirements was installed on these airplanes during manufacture.
BRITISH AEROSPACE Model Avro 146-RJ70A, -RJ85A and -RJ100A airplanes (Docket No. 95-NM-213-AD; Amdt. 39-9793; AD 96-22-04) - requires repetitive inspections for cracking of fuselage Frame 29 and repair, if necessary. This amendment is prompted by results of fatigue testing that revealed fatigue cracking in the web and inboard flange of Frame 29. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent reduced structural integrity of the fuselage due to fatigue cracking in Frame 29.
WILLIAM THOMPSON was named director of sales and marketing for Premier Turbines. Thompson previously was director of marketing for an aircraft modification center in Phoenix.
SHORTS Model SD3-30 and -SHERPA series airplanes (Docket No. 96-NM-07- AD; Amdt. 39-9785; AD 96-21-08) - requires inspection of the vertical fin- to-tailplane joint for loose bolts; and, if necessary, inspections for bolt hole elongation and replacement with new bolts.
RUSS SMITH joined DAC International's sales and support team. Smith previously spent eight years in BFGododrich Test System Division's Marketing Services Group.
