DE HAVILLAND Model DHC-8-100 and -300 series airplanes (Docket No. 93- NM-194-AD) - revises an earlier proposal to supersede an AD requiring repetitive inspections for cracks of the nose landing gear and to verify tightness of the fitting attachment bolts. The proposal would have required the installation of a modification to terminate the repetitive inspections. This action revises the proposed rule by proposing to require a different modification. This action is prompted by data indicating that the previously proposed terminating modification is not effective.
SAAB Model SF340A and 340B series airplanes (Docket No. 95-NM-243-AD; Amdt. 39-9727; AD 96-18-03) - requires installation of an automatic flight idle stop on the control quadrant in the flight compartment. This amendment is prompted by several reports of one or both power levers being moved aft of the flight idle stop on approach. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent such movement of the power lever(s) during flight, which could result in the loss of power to one or both engines, as well as severe engine damage.
FOKKER Model F28 Mark 0100 series airplanes (Docket No. 93-NM-193-AD) - revises an earlier proposal that would have required repetitive inspections for cracks or corrosion in the wheel axles of the main landing gear sliding members and rework of any corroded areas and replacement of any cracked sliding member. That proposal was prompted by a report of failure of a main landing gear wheel axle during push-back of an in-service airplane from the terminal.
THE HONEYWELL/TRIMBLE team said its HT9100 navigation management system won Technical Standard Order (TSO C129A1) approval from FAA. The approval encompasses standard instrument departures, standard terminal arrival routes, GPS overlay and GPS approaches.
FOKKER Model F28 Mark 1000, 2000, 3000 and 4000 series airplanes (Docket No. 96-NM-224-AD; Amdt. 39-9752; AD 96-19-04) - requires a one-time inspection for cracks of the dimpled lap joints in the fuselage skin and repair of cracked lap joints. This amendment is prompted by a report indicating that cracks were found at various locations in the outer skin of the dimpled longitudinal lap joints of the fuselage skin.
Karen Purdy, a veteran public relations official who has worked for several original equipment manufacturers, joins the Regional Airline Association this week as director of public relations. She will act as liaison between RAA and the media, maintain contact with members and associate members on current industry issues and activities and will be responsible for writing and editing RAA publications.
Harry B. Adams, research director for Aviation Data Service, Inc., of Wichita, Kan., is retiring at month's end. A graduate of Yale University, Adams has been with AvData since January 1971 and has served as research director for most of that time. "Harry's work has been a large part of AvData's success through the years," said John Zimmerman, the company's president and founder. Peter Simmonds, another AvData veteran, will take over as research director. Adams plans to stay in Wichita where he will pursue aviation history writing.
The Federal Aviation Administration approved what manufacturer AlliedSignal claims is the world's first operational precision runway monitor (PRM) and the only FAA-certified solution for parallel runway approaches. The system, installed at Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport, uses a monopulse secondary surveillance radar that scans between five and 10 times faster than conventional surveillance radars, displaying each aircraft and updating position and speed every second.
ALLIEDSIGNAL TFE731 series turbofan engines (Docket No. 95-ANE-55; Amdt. 39-9737; AD 96-18-13) - requires removing certain fan rotor disks from service in accordance with a draw-down schedule and would establish new fan rotor disk life limits. This amendment is prompted after additional analyses revealed that stress levels in the fan rotor disk dovetail slots for the applicable engine models are higher than initially calculated.
Cessna Aircraft late last month successfully completed the first flight of the third model in its born-again single-engine piston line, the Turbo 206 Stationair prototype. The aircraft flew for one hour, climbing to an altitude of 5,000 feet and reaching an indicated airspeed of about 140 knots at 2,500 RPM. The aircraft was tested for basic handling characteristics and the new engine and instrumentation were monitored.
The Air Transport Association will host a conference on hazardous materials for support and logistics personnel from all segments of the industry. "Hazmat Comat: A Conference for Airlines and Suppliers," will be held Nov. 13-14 at the Washington Hilton and Towers.
The Carlyle Group this month completed the acquisition of Textron Inc.'s Aerostructures division in a $200 million deal (BA, Aug. 26/94). The Aerostructures division, housed in a 2.5 million-square-foot facility in Nashville, Tenn., designs and builds a variety of aircraft structures with advanced metals and composites for customers including Bell Helicopter, Cessna, Gulfstream, Boeing, and Airbus.
The Egyptian government wants to buy two more Gulfstream IV-SP business jets for $80 million, the Defense Department told Congress in a formal notification of proposed foreign military sales. The G-IV-SPs will be used by Egypt "to augment and enhance its existing airlift capability, including movement of its National Command Authority." The Egyptian government currently operates four of the business jets, which are manufactured by Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. of Savannah, Ga.
THOMAS STELTER was promoted to director, engineering for SimuFlite Training International. Stelter, who has been involved in the flight simulation industry for 20 years, previously served as senior manager, engineering and technical operations for SimuFlite.
Don Engen, who took over as director of the National Air and Space Museum in July, announced plans to revamp the museum's organizational structure and eliminate about 30 positions. The personnel cutbacks will involve only about five to 15 current employees because some positions are vacant and a number of those whose jobs are being eliminated can bid for other posts, Engen told BA. The museum currently employs about 300 people, including those working at the facility's storage and restoration facility in Silver Hill, Md.
Mooney Aircraft has developed new avionics packages and is offering a new pricing structure for its line of single-engine aircraft. Mooney said the base price of its three models is calculated on an instrument flight rules package that features an AlliedSignal audio panel, dual navcoms, DME and transponder with encoder.
House and Senate leaders have begun negotiations on a series of reforms and funding issues for the Federal Aviation Administration following last week's passage of Senate legislation to authorize the agency's programs, find new funding mechanisms and address a host of other aviation issues. The Senate approval follows similar action in the House this month on its own version of FAA reauthorization legislation (BA, Sept. 16/125).
JAMES NIELSEN joined Flight Visions as a demonstration pilot. Nielsen previously served with the University of North Dakota as a corporate pilot. He also was an instructor, training international students in the SPECTRUM flight training program.
CRITICS of Chicago's plans to close Meigs say much of the traffic from the lakefront airport will move to Midway Airport. FAA hasn't done anything to keep Chicago officials from proceeding with their plans, but last week Transportation Secretary Federico Pena announced a $663,000 grant to the city "for the city's program to soundproof schools in order to reduce noise impacts from Midway Airport. This investment will reduce the impact of noise from the airport as future air traffic grows."
DE HAVILLAND Model DHC-8-102 and -103 series airplanes (Docket No. 95- NM-163-AD) - proposes to require repetitive external inspections for cracks in the skin exterior of the fuselage at floor level and repair, if necessary. This proposal also would require repetitive internal inspections for cracks of the subject area, which terminates the repetitive external inspections.
WOMEN IN AVIATION, INTERNATIONAL scheduled its 1997 Women In Aviation conference March 13-15 at the Hyatt Regency-DFW in Dallas, Texas. For more information, contact Peggy Baty at Women in Aviation, International, P.O. Box 188, Dayton, Ohio 45402; telephone: (513) 839-4647.
THE OPENING NIGHT shakedown flight of the new Air and Space interactive gallery revealed minor problems with five exhibits or displays, but officials said all were quickly set right and back in operation the following day after minor repairs or adjustments. Maintaining the "hands- on" displays in the new ground floor gallery could be a challenge as the museum currently attracts more than eight million visitors annually, and that number is expected to grow.
LUFTHANSA CITYLINE, the wholly-owned Lufthansa subsidiary that flies intra- European routes, plans to move its administrative headquarters from Kriftel/Taunus, Germany to its maintenance and operations base in Cologne. Lufthansa Cityline said it plans to close the Kriftel operation in mid- 1998, pending the successful conclusion of negotiations with the Cologne/Bonn airport. Lufthansa Cityline operates a fleet of 46 aircraft - 28 Canadair Regional Jets, 15 Avro RJ85s and three Fokker 50 turboprops.
Aviation interests last week charged that political motivation is behind the Federal Aviation Administration's proposal to restrict flights over Grand Canyon National Park and said it is skewed towards the needs of a few, compromises safety, and fails to recognize and promote quiet noise technology.
