FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION proposed special conditions for use of a dual head-up display as a primary flight display on Lockheed Martin L382J aircraft. FAA said the HUD will satisfy the basic requirements of Part 25.1231, but the application is the first attempt to a qualify the HUD as a primary flight display. The application would require the pilot using the HUD to limit head position and also to frequently transition to a different lighting condition and display format to acquire flight mode and navigation information.
NATIONAL BUSINESS AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION'S annual convention just keeps growing. Attendance at last year's show in Las Vegas was up nearly 7,000 to 24,884 (BA, Oct. 2, 1995/141). For next month's show in Orlando, NBAA has sold 3,085 booths to 813 exhibitors. The 1995 Las Vegas show drew 745 exhibitors who bought 2,760 booths.
Officials of the National Air and Space Museum are in the final phase of selecting a professional fund raiser to help the institution raise the funds necessary to construct a major new facility at Dulles International Airport. Don Engen, who was named director of the museum this summer (BA, June 17/269), told the Washington Airports Task Force Wednesday that he planned to interview the last candidate Thursday for the position of capital campaign director for the museum.
AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION cited four airports - Chicago's Meigs Field, Bader Field in Atlantic City, Denver Centennial and San Jose's Reid-Hillview - as examples of threatened general aviation airports. AOPA President Phil Boyer told attendees at the group's 1996 convention this month that preserving airports would be among "AOPA's most important goals during the next decade." See articles in this issue.
BUSINESS JETSOLUTIONS added a Gulfstream IIB to its fleet of charter aircraft. Addition of the Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.-based G-II brings to 72 the number of aircraft flown under the company's operating certificate.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100) airplanes (Docket No. 96-NM-246-AD; Amdt. 39-9778; AD 96-21-02) - requires a revision to the airplane flight manual to require the flight crew to check and reset, if necessary, certain instrument settings before each takeoff and after any event during which the generators are switched. This amendment is prompted by reports indicating that the co-pilot's air data reference system has intermittently failed following the switching of power between generators.
MILLION AIR said the president of two of its Connecticut FBOs died this month. Thomas Sullivan, 39, president and operator of Million Air Hartford and Million Air Bridgeport, Conn., died Oct. 13. Sullivan brought Million Air Hartford into the FBO chain in 1993 and Million Air Bridgeport joined two years later. Sullivan is survived by his wife and four children. A trust fund has been established for the Sullivan children. Donations may be sent in care of James Gaston, Esq., Trustee, Gaston&Ruane, 350 Fairfield Ave., Suite 403, Bridgeport, Conn. 06604.
KAL-AERO, Battle Creek, Mich., received Joint Aviation Authority approval under Joint Airworthiness Regulation 145 as a repair station for European- operated aircraft and components. The approval allows Kal-Aero to perform maintenance work on aircraft and components registered in JAA member countries. Kal-Aero provides a variety of aircraft services including airframe and engine support, paint and interior, avionics, instrument installation and repair and accessory overhaul.
While most aviation leaders in the House and Senate appear to be safe in next week's election, the aviation community is closely watching a race that many say is too close to call between Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Larry Pressler (R-S.D.) and the at-large representative from the state, Tim Johnson (D). Pressler, who has served since 1979, last won election against Democrat Ted Muenster in 1990 with 52 percent of the vote.
FLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL received an order from the NASA Ames Research Center to provide a VITAL ChromaView visual system. The order includes a VITAL ChromaView visual system for NASA's Boeing 747-400 flight simulator along with a VITAL MultiView display. The system includes a second system to be fitted to an advanced cockpit flight simulator used for innovative cockpit configuration studies.
HILLER Model UH-12, UH-12A, UH-12B, UH-12C, UH-12D, UH-12E, CH-112, H- 23A, H-23B, H-13C, H-23D, H-23F, HTE-1, HTE-1, HTE-2 and OH-23G helicopters (Docket No. 96-SW-06-AD) - proposes to supersede an existing AD that requires, for helicopters converted to turbine engine power in accordance with Supplemental Type Certificate No. SH177WE and SH178WE, inspections of the control rotor blade spar tube and cuff for corrosion or cracks and repair or replacement as necessary.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, under orders from Congress, extended the comment period for its controversial proposal to severely restrict air tour operations over the Grand Canyon from Sept. 30 to Nov. 14 and the comment deadline for the associated environmental assessment from Oct. 4 to Nov. 18. FAA originally said it would not extend the comment period because it scheduled four days of public hearings on the proposal (BA, Sept. 2/101), but Congress mandated the extension in the Federal Aviation Authorization Act of 1996 (BA, Sept. 30/145).
BRIAN MEYER was promoted to manager of STC programs for Hartzell. Meyer joined Hartzell in 1995 as engineering programs and certification manager and previously served with GE Aircraft Engines, Sikorsky Aircraft and Lockheed.
UNC Inc. completed another acquisition this month, buying the assets of The Stearns Company of Seattle, Wash., which produces a variety of aircraft components. Terms were not disclosed.
AOPA INSURANCE AGENCY is offering low-cost, non-owner aircraft liability insurance for pilots operating rented or borrowed aircraft. "Most renter pilots think the FBO's insurance protects them. Unfortunately, it does not," said Greg Sterling, AOPA Insurance Agency executive vice president and manager. The new insurance provides protection against common bodily injury and property damage claims as well as legal defense costs. It also provides coverage for family members.
FLIGHT SAFETY FOUNDATION developed an interactive aircraft ground deicing and anti-icing safety training program for air carriers. The CD-ROM-based software program, "Iceman," is aimed at pilots, ground crews and dispatchers and is designed to help air carriers obtain FAA approval for a ground deicing and anti-icing program as described in FAA Advisory Circular No. 120-60. The Iceman program was developed in conjunction with Aviation Education Software, a Colorado-based software developer. For more information, contact FSF at (703) 739-6700.
Boeing Business Jets, which announced plans this summer to market a business jet version of the 737 airliner, said it logged its first outside order for the aircraft.
AIRCRAFT ELECTRONICS ASSOCIATION Educational Foundation is accepting applications for its 1997-1998 scholarship program. The Educational Foundation plans to award 24 scholarships totaling more than $65,000 for the 1997-98 school year. To receive an application package, contact AEA Educational Foundation Scholarships, P.O. Box 1963, Independence, Mo. 64055-0963. Scholarship application deadline is Feb. 15, 1997.
After nearly a week of weather related delays, the first Global Express business jet made its second flight Tuesday, remaining aloft for three hours and reaching an altitude of 20,000 feet. The aircraft first flew earlier this month (BA, Oct. 21/181). The No. 1 aircraft, S/N 9001, is scheduled to continue flying in the Toronto area until mid-November and then relocate to Bombardier's flight test center at Learjet in Wichita, Kan., for aircraft handling and performance testing.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-2B16 (CL-601-3A and -3R) and CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100) series airplanes (Docket No. 95-NM-247-AD; Amdt. 39-9761; AD 96-19-15) - requires a one-time inspection of the spring bungee assembly of the nose landing gear to ensure proper torque of the collar and correct clearance between the collar and the body of the bungee, and replacement of the spring bungee assembly with a serviceable unit, if necessary.
SAAB Model 2000 series airplanes (Docket No. 96-NM-231-AD; Amdt. 39- 9755; AD 96-19-08) - requires repetitive visual inspections to detect whether the de-icing system boots on the horizontal stabilizer are inflating fully. It also requires modification of the stabilizer de-icing system tube as a terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This amendment is prompted by reports indicating that condensational water may collect in the de-icing system tube, freeze in lower temperatures and keep the boots from inflating fully.
SAAB SF340A and 340B series airplanes (Docket No. 95-NM-201-AD) - proposes to require inspections for damage or cracking of the forward and aft attachment lugs of the flap fittings at wing station 123.38. The proposal also would require an inspection to verify that the sizes of the holes of the flap fittings are within specified limits and the swaged bushing are not loose, and modification of the flap fittings.
DICK LISTRO has joined Pacific Propeller as head of marketing and sales in the Eastern region of the U.S., Europe and Central America. Listro spent the past 18 years with Hamilton Standard.
