ATLANTIC AVIATION is planning a major renovation of its fixed-base operation in Teterboro, N.J. Joe McShulkis, Sr., vice president of line service for Atlantic, said the project will include a facelift for the outside of the arrival/departure building, plus modernization of the furniture, decorations, lighting and flooring in the passengers' and pilots' lounges. Work is scheduled for completion during the first quarter of next year.
THE SNIPING between Gulfstream and Bombardier officials about the supposed defects of each other's entry in the very-long-range business jet market continues unabated. Neither side, however, seems willing to engage Boeing - the latest entry in the very-long-range business jet market and the 800- pound gorilla of aircraft manufacturing - in the war of words, other than to raise the question of Boeing's commitment to the business jet market.
The Santa Clara County California Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to keep Reid-Hillview Airport open, apparently ending a two-decade effort by airport opponents to have the reliever facility near San Jose, Calif. closed. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, which has led a two- year battle in support of retaining the airport, said the supervisors voted 3-2 to keep the airport operating following four hours of testimony by a variety of interests in the packed board chambers.
Ayres Corporation, the Albany, Ga. manufacturer of the Turbo Thrush Ag aircraft last week unveiled plans to build a large cargo/utility aircraft after receiving a letter of intent from Federal Express Corp. to purchase 50 of the aircraft with options for 200 more. The 69-foot Loadmaster LM200 aircraft, designed in consultation with FedEx, will be capable of carrying four eight-foot by eight-foot cargo containers and a 7,500-pound payload.
THE RUNWAY COLLISION in Quincy, Ill., Tuesday might not have occurred if the FAA flight service station (FSS) once located at the airport had not been closed eight years ago, the National Association of Air Traffic Specialists (NAATS) said Friday. A Great Lakes Aviation Beech 1900 had just landed at Baldwin Municipal Airport Tuesday when it collided with a Beech King Air. All 12 persons aboard the 1900 were killed, as were both occupants of the King Air, which was attempting to take off.
AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION appointed Bill Peppler as the national representative to serve members in Canada. Peppler, an AOPA member since 1952 and former official of the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association, is the first AOPA national representative appointed to serve members outside the U.S. AOPA, noting it has nearly 2,000 members in Canada, said the move comes "as several crucial issues have emerged in Canada," including the privatization of the air traffic control and air navigation system.
JULIE BRODERICK was appointed vice president and general manager for AMR Combs fixed-base operation at John Wayne/Orange County Airport in Santa Ana, Calif. Broderick will have overall responsibility for the FBO operations and help transition the business, formerly known as Martin Aviation, into the AMR Combs network. Broderick is a 15-year AMR Combs veteran.
RAYTHEON Model 1900D airplanes (Docket No. 96-CE-27-AD) - proposes to require inspection of the stabilon attachment angles for the correct thickness, repetitive inspection for cracks, and replacement of attachment angles with ones of correct thickness. This proposal is prompted by recent reports of installation of the incorrect size of stabilon attachment angles on certain Beech 1900D airplanes. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent separation of the stabilon from the airplane, which could cause loss of airplane stability during flight.
A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit Thursday refused to overturn a lower court ruling in favor of the City of Chicago's plans to demolish Meigs Field and convert the island on which it is situated into a park. The Appeals Court ruling focused on a request by the plaintiffs for a preliminary injunction to prevent the city from moving ahead with plans to demolish the airport.
JOHN HILL was named avionics installation manager of Stead Aviation. Hill is responsible for all phases of avionics system installations and production. He formerly served as avionics manager for Garrett Aviation Services in Long Island, N.Y.
SAAB Model 2000 series airplanes (Docket No. 96-NM-233-AD) - proposes to require modification and sealing of the firezone compartment of the nacelle of the left and right engines. This proposal is prompted by reports indicating that firezone compartments have not been completely sealed. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent flame, fuel and vapor from entering compartments behind the firezone compartment. This condition could result in an uncontrollable fire outside the firezone compartment.
George Derby, who joined Dallas Airmotive some 30 months ago as executive vice president, was named president of the Dallas, Texas-based engine overhaul company. Tom Kincaid, chairman and chief executive of Dallas Airmotive, said Derby "has led the company into a period of growth through acquisition, high levels of quality and outstanding customer service.
International Aero Engines, the medium turbofan consortium jointly led by Pratt&Whitney and Rolls-Royce, plans to promote a new combination target-type thrust reverser/variable exhaust nozzle configuration developed by Whittier, Calif.-based Calcor Aero Systems on V2500s it sells to new customers, if 1,000 hours of tests due to start at IAE next month go well.
BOMBARDIER BUSINESS JETSOLUTION'S new FlexJet fractional ownership program appears poised to embark on the same sort of growth curve that Executive Jet Aviation's NetJets' program has enjoyed. FlexJet is operating 21 business jets now, plans to double that number within two years and placed an order for 25 new Learjets. See article below.
NATIONAL BUSINESS AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION attracted 24,565 attendees to its convention last week in Orlando, Fla., the second-largest total in the event's history. Attendance at 1995's record-setting show in Las Vegas jumped 40 percent over the 1994 level, and an official told BA Thursday "we are really thrilled" the attendance at Orlando came so close to breaking last year's record. This year's show set two records - 828 exhibitors who rented 3,107 booth spaces. Next year's NBAA show could be another record setter.
ALLIEDSIGNAL AEROSPACE received FAA certification for its accumulator staging valve (ASV) and shipped the first production units to Bell Helicopter Textron. Bell will install the ASV units, which reduce rotor droop, on its 206L-4T helicopters powered by two Allison 250-C20R engines. AlliedSignal said the ASV units also can be retrofitted on nearly all Allison 250 Series I, II, III and IV engines.
JETSTREAM Model 4101 airplanes (Docket No. 96-NM-243-AD) - proposes to supersede an existing AD that requires a one-time inspection of the airplane records to determine the serial number, the total number of hours time-in-service accumulated, and the date of installation of the yaw damper servo in the autopilot system; and to determine the date of installation of a particular kit, if installed. That AD also requires removing and replacing the yaw damper servo, or rendering the yaw damper servo inoperative.
DAVID LOTTERER was appointed vice president-technical services for the Regional Airline Association. Lotterer formerly served for 23 years as director of airworthiness and technical standards for the Air Transport Association.
RAYTHEON Model 1900C, 1900D and 2000 airplanes (Docket No. 96-CE-30- AD; Amdt. 39-9800; AD 96-22-12) - requires a one-time inspection of the fuel filter assemblies to detect any bypass valve that is glued shut. If a bypass valve is glued shut, the AD requires replacing the associated fuel filter assembly. This action is prompted by three in-flight occurrences in which the low fuel pressure light illuminated. In each of the instances, a bypass valve was glued shut with anaerobic thread lock adhesive.
Galaxy Aerospace Corp., a new corporate entity with substantial financial backing from the Pritzker family, is expected to be announced this week at the NBAA convention in Orlando, Fla.
AMR COMBS is launching a Miles For Gallons program that will reward fuel purchasers at its FBO network with American Airlines AAdvantage frequent flyer miles. Customers will receive one AAdvantage mile for each gallon of fuel purchased at any of its 12 U.S. FBOs, with the miles to be posted to a single AAdvantage member number provided by the customer. During an introductory period that runs from Dec. 1 through March 1, AMR Combs is offering double miles for fuel purchased.
EMBRAER expects to win Brazilian certification this month for the company's 50-passenger EMB-145 regional jet. The manufacturer said Centro Tecnico Aeroespacial (CTA), Brazil's airworthiness authority, expects to issue a type certificate as soon as FAA officials release some documents approving some American-made equipment on the EMB-145. FAA certification is expected next month.
RUSTY GUERRA joined Western Aircraft as an aircraft manager and sales representative. Guerra has 15 years of aircraft management experience with KaiserAir in Oakland, Calif. In his new position, he will provide sales and brokerage services and help Western establish management programs for its clients.
LITEF attitude heading system Model LCR-92, LCR-92S and LCR-92H (Docket No. 96-SW-12-AD; Amdt. 39-9789; AD 96-21-13) - requires either the installation of a placard adjacent to each primary attitude indicator stating that flight is limited to Visual Flight Rules operations only or the modification and inspection of the attitude heading system (AHRS) wiring cables, repetitive inspection of the cable shielding and insertion of a statement into the aircraft flight manual.
