Bell Helicopter Textron is seeking a local partner in the Indian aviation market to help expand its operations in that country. Mike Robbins, managing director of Bell Helicopter, visited India last month as part of a delegation of U.S. businessmen. The local partner initially would help the U.S. company set up training and maintenance facilities to pave the way for further market development. Bell Helicopter, in turn, would supply trainers, course material, syllabi and "support infrastructure," including engineers and pilots, sources said.
THE FIRST Global Express aircraft was scheduled to arrive at Bombardier's expanded flight test center in Wichita, Kan. over the weekend to begin an 18-month, 2,000-hour flight test program that will involve four test aircraft. The aircraft made its first flight Oct. 13 and now has logged more than 20 hours. The test program will be interrupted later this month so the Global Express can appear at the National Business Aircraft Association convention in Orlando, Fla.
Learjet, Inc. and the International Association of Machinists reached agreement on a new 47-month contract this month, making Learjet the last of the Wichita Big Four aerospace manufacturers to reach a long-term agreement with the union (BA, Oct. 21/179). The new pact, which covers more than 1,200 workers in the Learjet bargaining unit, was approved by some 81 percent of the 500 union members who cast votes. It provides for an immediate four percent wage increase, with three percent hikes in each of the next three years.
INDUSTRY OFFICIALS are concerned over what they called "stealth rulemaking" -FAA's growing tendency to make significant policy changes through the use of Handbook Bulletins rather than using the normal rulemaking process, which requires a public notice and comment period as well as a cost/benefit analysis.
THE FIRST MODEL 172 assembled at Cessna Aircraft's new plant in Independence, Kan., rolled off the line Thursday, the first of thousands of new single-engine aircraft the company hopes to build there. In addition to the 172 Skyhawk, Cessna plans to build the Skylane, Stationair and new Turbo Stationair in Independence.
HONEYWELL named Walt McConnell vice president and general manager of Air Transport Systems in Phoenix, Ariz. McConnell, currently vice president of Honeywell's Defense Avionics Systems in Albuquerque, N.M., will replace Don Schwanz, who will take over as president of Space and Aviation Control Jan. 1. Honeywell also named Bob Marrah to replace McConnell in the Defense Avionics Systems unit. Marrah has been serving as vice president of the company's Military Avionics Guidance and Navigation operation in Clearwater, Fla.
Boeing said a 1,500-element phased array antenna it developed has been installed by Associated Air Center of Dallas, Texas on a privately owned Boeing 757 business jet. With the antenna system installed, Boeing said the aircraft can receive live television as well as business data, including stock market reports and financial news from the EchoStar Communication Corp./DISH Network satellites, plus television broadcasts from the DIRECTV/USSB satellites.
Nav Canada, a new corporation formed to take over operation of the Canadian air traffic control system, began operations this month following issuance of the corporation's new operating certificate to Chairman John Crichton and Chief Executive Kenneth Copeland. The transfer of operations from Transport Canada to the new not-for-profit corporation follows months of negotiations between the parties. Crichton said "safety is at the heart of Nav Canada's mandate.
ALLIEDSIGNAL TPE331 series turboprop engines equipped with Woodward fuel controls (Docket No. 96-ANE-13) - proposes to require a revision to the Emergency Procedures or Abnormal Procedures section of the airplane flight manual or pilot's operating handbook to include a paragraph relating to a non-responsive power lever. In addition, this proposal would require replacing or reworking orifice fittings and restrictors, which would constitute a terminating action for the requirements of the airplane flight manual revision.
OPPONENTS of new air tour overflight restrictions at the Grand Canyon charge that the National Park Service's measurements and surveys "carefully exclude from intrusions upon 'natural quiet' the sounds of NPS-operated and NPS contractor-operated aircraft" that are flying within the Grand Canyon where their noise impact is greater than that generated by air tour operators, who are prohibited from flying below the rim of the canyon.
KARL DETWEILER was named accessory product development and technical service representative for Duncan Aviation. Detweiler formerly worked for two years as director of aircraft/FBO operations for Executive Aircraft Corp. in Wichita, Kan.
The Federal Aviation Administration in an Oct. 28 Handbook Bulletin outlined the definition of "unapproved" parts and called for the removal of such parts from air carrier aircraft and inventories.
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE opened a new marketing office in Hong Kong headed by Charles Williams. Bryan Moss, Gulfstream's vice chairman, said "the challenge is to acquire more landing slots for business aircraft and to make it easier or even routine for corporate jets to fly in China. Already, we are seeing cultural concerns over the use of business aircraft reduced as demand increases among Chinese business leaders for international competitive advantages."
FRANCINE OSBORNE, vice president-communications for Pratt&Whitney Canada for the past five years, is joining Bell Canada Enterprise, the telecommunications company headquartered in Montreal today (Nov. 4) as vice president-communications. Pratt&Whitney Canada did not immediately name her successor in the communications post.
The Federal Aviation Administration certified Flight Visions's FV-2000 head-up display (HUD) aboard Falcon 50 aircraft. KC Aviation in Appleton, Wis. installed the FV-2000 on Pillsbury Corporation's Falcon 50. The approval was the sixth aircraft type to receive certification for the Flight Visions HUDs. Other aircraft with the approval include the Gulfstream IV, Learjet 55, Citation 550, Beech King Airs and the Bell 230.
Senior FAA officials provided little comfort last week for aviation manufacturers who have been complaining about what they say are excessive delays in winning certification from the agency.
FLIGHTCRAFT added a Citation III to its charter fleet. The Citation, based at the company's Portland, Ore. facility, is the sixth turbine aircraft addition to the Flightcraft fleet this year. Flightcraft, which operates a range of aircraft from Beech Barons to King Airs and Citations, charters and manages more than 30 aircraft throughout its four service centers. Flightcraft also bases aircraft in Seattle, Wash., Eugene, Ore., and Hayward, Calif.
AIRCRAFT ELECTRONICS ASSOCIATION will hold its 40th Annual Convention&Trade Show April 20-23 at the Palm Springs Convention Center in Palm Springs, Calif. Show organizers expect nearly 1,400 people to attend the event, which will include technical workshop, general session and more than 150 exhibits. For more information, contact Debra McFarland, AEA, P.O. Box 1963, Independence, Mo. 64055; telephone: (816) 373-6565; fax: (816) 478- 3100.
JETSTREAM Model 4101 airplanes (Docket No. 96-NM-49-AD; Amendment 39- 9772; AD 96-20-06) - supersedes an existing AD that requires an inspection to determine the number of hours time-in-service on the landing gear control unit and modification of the cable (electrical wiring circuit).
Summary: Pursuant to FAA's rulemaking provisions governing the application, processing, and disposition of petitions for exemption (14 CFR Part 11), this notice contains a summary of certain petitions seeking relief from specified requirements of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR Chapter I), dispositions of certain petitions previously received, and corrections. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities.
WEATHERLY Models 620A and 620B airplanes (Docket No. 96-CE-42-AD; Amdt. 39-9763; AD 96-16-06) - publishes an AD previously made known to U.S. owners and operators of the affected airplanes. The AD requires inspection of wing hinge pins, P/N 40852-001, at the main wing-to-center section attachment for depth of the threaded ends, length of the pin and position of the pin. The AD also requires replacement or repositioning of any pin as necessary. The AD is prompted by a report of manufacturing deficient at the areas of the main wing center section attachment.
PRESTON A. (PRES) HENNE was named Engineer of the Year by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Henne is senior vice president of the Gulfstream V program at Gulfstream Aerospace Corp., Savannah, Ga. The award citation credits Henne "for leading the concurrent engineering team on the development of the Gulfstream V, first global business jet aircraft, and directing a worldwide partnership program through detail design, manufacture and flight-testing."
RUSSELL WIDMAR was selected as executive director of Salt Lake City International Airport. Widmar, former director of the Burbank-Glendale- Pasadena Airport, most recently was director of operations-Airport Systems Division for Hughes Aircraft Co. in Fullerton, Calif.
