JACKSON HOLE AVIATION named James McPhaul president and general manager. McPhaul, former station manager for AMR Corp. at the Reno/Tahoe Airport, will be responsible for Jackson Hole Aviation's operations, including line service, flight operations and maintenance service. A 14-year-aviation veteran, McPhaul also has served as general manager for AMR Comb's fixed- base operation in McAllen, Texas.
Brunswick's Marion Composites unit unseated incumbent contractor Raytheon Aircraft to supply composite winglets and landing gear doors for McDonnell Douglas' C-17 Globemaster III airlifter, and could supply the components for all 80 remaining C-17s to be bought if all options are exercised. Under the initial $8.6 million subcontract to McDonnell Douglas, Marion will begin supplying the components in February 1998. If Marion remains on the program through its life, the contract could be worth more than $61 million.
SIKORSKY Model S-76B helicopters (Docket No. 96-SW-16-AD; Amdt. 39- 9696; AD 96-15-03) - supersedes an existing AD that requires inspection of the drive shaft for cracks or loose balance weights. This amendment also supersedes a Priority Letter AD that currently requires repetitive inspections for cracks in the driveshaft in helicopters with certain engine drive shaft assemblies installed. The action incorporates the corrective actions of both ADs.
Paula Derks, the veteran editor of the Aircraft Electronics Association's monthly magazine Avionics News, was named president of the association. Derks, who joined AEA on a part-time basis while in college at Central Missouri State University, will succeed Monte Mitchell.
NEW PIPER Models PA31, PA31-300, PA31-325 and PA31-350 airplanes (Docket No. 90-CE-60-AD; Amdt. 39-9654; AD 96-12-12) - corrects an AD that requires repetitive inspection of the upper section of the Fuselage Station 317.75 bulkhead for cracks and incorporates one of two reinforcement kits depending on whether cracks are found. This action corrects the AD to reflect the correct date of June 18, 1990 for the instructions to Piper Kit 763-917.
RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT named Phillip Fletcher vice president-quality assurance. Fletcher succeeds William Wise, who will retire this month after 37 years of service. He will oversee quality assurance programs throughout Raytheon Aircraft. Fletcher returns to the company after serving as general manager of a company specializing in services for large semiconductor wafer fabrication plants. Before that, he was assistant to the vice president of operations and group manager-industrial engineering for Raytheon Aircraft.
Washington, D.C.-based investment firm The Carlyle Group acquired two more aerospace manufacturers - Contour of California, Inc., Brea, Calif., and Contour Industries, Inc., Everett, Wash. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed, but officials said that the manufacturers combine for $60 million in annual sales. The Carlyle Group merged the companies, both formerly owned by Roger Berger, into Contour Aerospace, Inc.
The Federal Aviation Administration late last week was expected to impose new IFR wake vortex separation standards that by its own study are expected to increase aircraft delays - during good weather - by up to 72 percent at Los Angeles, 34 percent at San Francisco, 29 percent at LaGuardia, 19 percent at Atlanta and 17 percent at Newark, according to an Air Transport Association official. The standards will reclassify more than 880 commuter aircraft to small from large, which means they will have to increase the distance at which they follow larger aircraft.
AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION is joining the air tour industry in opposing new flight restrictions in the airspace surrounding the Grand Canyon. The nation's largest pilot organization, noting that the proposed changes "would create a 190-mile-long barrier to many general aviation aircraft and force most non-commercial traffic into five narrow corridors," said it is urging pilots to submit comments on the notice of proposed rulemaking published in the July 31 Federal Register (BA, July 29/47).
PIAGGIO P-180 airplanes (Docket No. 96-CE-28-AD) - proposes to require replacement of certain AlliedSignal outflow/safety valves in the pressurization system with new or serviceable valves. This action is prompted by reports of cracking of the poppet within the primary and secondary outflow valves on two of the affected airplanes. Investigation revealed problems during the manufacturing process of certain outflow/safety valves.
HOWMET CORPORATION appointed John Ritter chief financial officer. Ritter, most recently vice president of finance of contracts at AlliedSignal, has more than 20 years of experience in the aerospace industry. He also held executive financial positions with United Technologies.
SIGNATURE FLIGHT SUPPORT in Minneapolis, Minn. added engine turbine wheel and fan assembly, deblade/reblade and balancing capabilities for TFE731 engines to its engine shop. The facility is an authorized service center for the TFE731 engine family. In addition, the Minneapolis base received supplemental type certificate approval for installation of AlliedSignal- Bendix King traffic alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS I) in Cessna Citation 650 aircraft.
DASSAULT FALCON JET CORP. named Avion Pacific Ltd. its sales representative in the People's Republic of China. Avion will promote and sell the Falcon business jet line in China as well as assist in product and service marketing. Avion has 13 years of experience with the Chinese general aviation market and has facilitated and created several joint ventures between Chinese and Western business partners.
RICK JANUSZEWSKI was named aftermarket sales representative for BFGoodrich Avionics Systems' Business and General Aviation Group. Januszewski will coordinate work with BFGoodrich's dealer network and corporate operators in the Northeast.
M.A. "DUTCH" BARBETTINI was hired as a business development consultant for Sabreliner Corp.'s Neosho, Mo. engine overhaul and repair center. Barbettini, who has worked for Pratt&Whitney, General Electric and Textron Lycoming, will coordinate efforts between the Neosho engine center and engine manufacturers.
DPI LABS, La Verne, Calif., will supply a cabin management system for a Falcon 20E business jet being modified by South Star Aircraft Interiors of Uvalde, Texas. DPI said the cabin management system is being designed to provide "a one-of-a-kind entertainment experience." The system includes all interior and entertainment switching controls in passenger areas for reading and table lights, electric window shades and a movie sound system featuring specially designed speakers and system circuitry.
FLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL named Berton Beach director of safety and compliance. Beach, who's been with FlightSafety for five years, previously managed the company's Miami training center. He also has served as director of airline operations. Beach additionally has 33 years of airline experience, directing flight standards, training program design and implementation and regulatory compliance.
RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT completed installation of a new seven-axis, computer controlled fiber placement system that will produce the Premier I fuselage. The system, installed in Raytheon Aircraft's Plant Three, will be fully operational in early fall. The Viper system, manufactured by Cincinnati Milacron, places up to 24 one-eighth-inch fibers at speeds up to 1,800 inches per minute and with accuracy to five-thousands of an inch. Raytheon Aircraft President Roy Norris called the system "the future of low cost business aviation manufacturing.
WEST STAR AVIATION, Grand Junction, Colo., plans to enter the Cessna Citation maintenance market. West Star, which has specialized in Cessna Conquest maintenance, will provide Citation inspection, repair and refurbishment services. The company recently invested more than $100,000 for additional Citation tooling, employee training and parts support. West Star also hired two Citation crew chiefs, Dave Krogman and Ralph Stanyard, both formerly of Duncan Aviation.
R. CHARLES STRICKLAND was appointed manager of FlightSafety International's Miami training center. Strickland, who has been with FlightSafety for more than four years, most recently was assistant manager of the center.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION planned to implement a controversial change in aircraft separation standards over the past weekend and industry officials are concerned the increased separation distances - designed to reduce the risk of wake vortex encounters - will lead to significant air traffic delays. FAA took the action even though all but one industry member of the Wake Turbulence Government/Industry Team asked FAA Administrator David Hinson to delay implementation pending further study.
JOHN COSTA joined Western Aircraft as parts sales manager. Costa, who has 17 years of experience in parts sales, previously served with Atlantic Aviation as a sales representative.
INMARSAT will open regional offices to represent Latin America, South and East Asia and Africa. The Latin America and South and East Asia offices will open later this year and the Africa office will follow in early 1997. Member countries have submitted proposals for sites for the new bureaus. Inmarsat, which opened its first regional office in Beijing, China in January 1994, hopes to establish offices next in the Middle East and Central and Western Asia late in 1997. The Inmarsat Council will accept proposals for these ventures next year.
PROPOSED REVISIONS to Class B Airspace in the San Diego, Calif. area will be outlined by FAA officials at two public meetings in October. The agency said it will detail the proposed changes and solicit comments from airspace users during meetings scheduled Oct. 2 at National University in San Diego and Oct. 16 at the San Marcos Community Center in San Marcos, Calif. For more information, contact William Buck, in the Air Traffic Division of FAA's Western Pacific Regional Office at (310) 725-6556.
