Arinc said that, working with Mitre's Center for Advanced Aviation System Development (CAASD), it has demonstrated free-flight concepts using the CNS-12 integrated Global Positioning System/data link avionics unit. The CNS-12, installed in a Cessna 401 aircraft, transmitted GPS-based position reports using the automatic dependent surveillance (ADS) protocols and formats to the CAASD free flight workstation.
U.S. CUSTOMS service is now available for international arrivals on the ramp of the AMR Combs executive terminal at Palm Springs, Calif., Regional Airport. AMR Combs said operators can phone ahead to the fixed-base operation to make arrangements for the service. For more information, call AMR Combs Palm Springs at (619) 327-1201.
The House Ways and Means Committee formed an informal, bipartisan task force headed by Rep. Mac Collins (R-Ga.) that will develop recommendations and set the stage for next year's debate on transportation tax issues (BA, Oct. 14/167). "Our current system is a patchwork quilt, built up over time. We need to determine whether it represents a fair, consistent, or coherent national policy," said Ways and Means Chairman Bill Archer (R- Texas) in announcing the task force. The group was expected to begin initial meetings immediately and then reconvene in January.
In what it called a move to spur "efficiency and responsiveness to the customer," the Federal Aviation Administration is combining the system requirements elements of Air Traffic Services and Airway Facilities into a single unit - the Air Traffic System Requirements Service (ARS). The new unit will be headed by Neil Planzer, currently director of Air Traffic Plans and Requirements. Dennis Koehler, director of Airway Facilities Requirements, will be the deputy of the new organization.
FlightSafety International will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, the holding company controlled by renowned stock market investor Warren Buffett, under a definitive merger agreement announced by the firms Tuesday. FlightSafety shareholders can receive $50 in cash for each share held, but most will probably opt instead to accept $48 in Class A or Class B common stock of Berkshire.
Textron, Inc., announcing record third-quarter financial results, said revenues and earnings increased in the company's aircraft business. Overall, Textron reported operating income of $207 million on revenues of $2.24 billion for the third quarter ended Sept. 28. That compares with operating income of $173 million on revenues of $2.05 billion for the same period a year earlier.
PEGGY BATY, founder of the Women in Aviation Conference, was named Women in Aviation, International's first full-time president and chief executive officer. Baty assumed her new role this month. "The timing of this decision was due to the success of the organization's annual conference and surge in memberships during the first year and a half, which are due largely to the efforts of Dr. Baty," said WAI Vice President Carolyn Williamson. In addition, WAI opened its new office last week at the Morningstar Airport near Dayton, Ohio.
Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers accepted a five-year agreement with Cessna Aircraft last week, a pact that calls for steady improvements in wages during the life of the contract.
DEPUTY FAA ADMINISTRATOR Linda Hall Daschle is contemplating life after FAA and is looking forward to a non-government post outside the public spotlight. Because of government regulations, any substantive discussion about post-government opportunities will have to wait until Daschle steps down from her FAA post, probably late this year or early in 1997. If she had her druthers, Daschle would like to try her hand at running a small airline, but may begin her transition to the private sector by serving on a corporate board or two if such opportunities arise.
JAMES GOULARD was named Eastern region manager of Aon Aviation. Goulard has been involved in the insurance industry since 1964, holding several senior positions with Aon and its predecessor companies.
EDWARD NICHOLLS was named New York manager for Aon Aviation. Nicholls joined Aon predecessor company Frank B. Hall in 1976 and has specialized in aircraft products and space launch and liability insurance for the past 14 years.
RAYTHEON ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS signed a contract with the Estonian Air Navigation Services to supply a monopulse secondary surveillance radar for Tallinn, Estonia's capital city. The contract is valued at $1.8 million. Raytheon's Cossor unit in the United Kingdom will manufacture the radar, which is slated to go into service Jan. 1, 1998. The system is designed to provide aircraft identity and flight level information to a range of 250 miles, enhance the management of aircraft traffic in heavy congestion, and eliminate false radar replies to primary radars.
The Federal Aviation Administration hopes to speed up complaints and compliance proceedings involving federally assisted airports with new rules issued last week (BA, Oct. 14/174). The rules, which create a new Part 16 to be used in place of Part 13 regulations for certain proceedings, establish guidelines and procedures to be used in handling airport-related complaints. But they do not cover disputes between airlines and airport proprietors over the reasonableness of airport fees.
DE HAVILLAND Model DHC-7 series airplanes (Docket No. 95-NM-257-AD) - proposes to require modification of the power control relay installation of the emergency lights. The proposal also would require revising the FAA- approved airplane flight manual to include procedures for turning off and on the emergency light switch in certain conditions.
DASSAULT FALCON JET named Jim Sparks field service representative for the Southwest U.S., including Texas and New Mexico. Sparks replaces Carl Menne, who was reassigned as the field service representative in Singapore. Sparks has 17 years of experience with Falcon business jets, including nine years as a maintenance-training instructor for FlightSafety International. He helped establish and managed FSI's Falcon Little Rock, Ark. facility.
WAYFARER AVIATION named Amy Fischer and Paul Class, both formerly of K-C Aviation, to its customer service team as part of its continued service expansion. Fischer will focus on the expansion of Wayfarer's charter sales effort and Class will concentrate on department automation and customer service training in addition to charter sales.
PILATUS BRITTEN-NORMAN BN-2A and BN2A Mk. 111 series airplanes (Docket No. 96-CE-16-AD; Amdt. 39-9748; AD 96-18-21) - supersedes AD 75-26-15, which requires repetitive inspections of the aileron mass balance clamp unit attachment for looseness and modification, if necessary. FAA's policy on aging commuter-class aircraft is to eliminate or, in certain instances, reduce the number of certain repetitive short-interval inspections when improved parts or modifications are available.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION established new rules for filing complaints and adjudicating most compliance issues at federally assisted airports that are "intended to expedite substantially" the handling of complaints. The new Part 16 regulations, to be published in the Oct. 16 Federal Register, would be used in place of Part 13 regulations.
K-C AVIATION completed its first Challenger 604 aircraft. The aircraft, owned and operated by FMC Corporation, was completed within 18 weeks. K-C has six additional Challenger 604s in various stages of completion and others scheduled in 1997. FMC, based in Chicago, produces chemicals and machinery for industry, agriculture and government.
BRAD HARDWICK was promoted to operations manager for Stevens Aviation's Denver facility. Hardwick joined Stevens in April 1995 as avionics manager and most recently had served as the Denver facility's interim manager and avionics manager.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION issued special conditions for the Aerospatiale Model SA-365N, SA-365N1 and AS-365N2 Dauphin helicopters. The special conditions are intended to provide additional standards to cover the protection of the helicopter's electronic flight instrument system and digital standby system from the effects of external high-intensity radiated fields. For more information, contact Robert McCallister in FAA's Rotorcraft Directorate at (817) 222-5121.
PIAGGIO P-180 airplanes (Docket No. 95-CE-78-AD; Amdt. 39-9750; AD 96- 19-02) - requires modification of the passenger seat cushion next to the emergency exit door handle. This action is prompted by reports of interference between the passenger seat cushion and the emergency exit door handle, preventing the door from opening from the outside. The actions specified by the AD are intended to prevent the possibility of not being able to open the emergency exit door during an emergency evacuation of the airplane.
