Raytheon Aircraft, reviewing four proposals for the Ground Based Training System (GBTS) contract award, changed its selection process to retain the option of choosing two finalists. Raytheon Aircraft received proposals from FlightSafety Services, Hughes Training-Link Operations, Loral Systems and McDonnell Douglas Aerospace to provide the ground training software system for the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System (JPATS) program, which Raytheon Aircraft won in June 1995 (BA, June 26/271).
Precision Castparts Corp. of Portland, Ore., said it agreed to buy Astro Punch Corp., Santa Fe Springs, Calif., for $6.5 million. Astro Punch, a designer and manufacturer of cold heading tools for the aerospace and commercial fastener market, will become part of Precision Castparts's Speciality Products Division. John Prosser, president of PCC Specialty Products, Inc., said SPD's Reed-Pico business and Astro Punch "are currently strong in different geographical locations, and we will complement each other's strengths.
MARK MEDINGER was promoted to regional field sales for Keystone Helicopter's Engine Services unit. Medinger, formerly lead helicopter technician for the company's airframe division, joined Keystone in 1983 after working for Petroleum Helicopters.
ALLIEDSIGNAL GTCP85 series auxiliary power units (Docket No. 96-ANE- 15) - proposes to supersede an existing AD that requires removing the existing turbine wheel shroud and installing one constructed of Hastelloy S material, or installing a containment augmentation ring. This action would delete the option of installing a turbine shroud constructed of Hastelloy S material. This proposal is prompted by a report of insufficient APU containment capability with the Hastelloy S shroud alone installed.
FLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL installed a Citation II full flight simulator at its San Antonio, Texas learning center. FlightSafety, a factory-authorized training organization for Cessna Citation aircraft, also provides Citation flight simulator training at facilities in Wichita, Kan.; Toledo, Ohio; Long Beach, Calif.; Miami, Fla.; and Paris/Le Bourget, France.
CAROL COMER was named marketing services representative for BFGoodrich Avionics Systems. Comer will be responsible for trade show management, advertising, media and collateral and new product development.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION proposed changes to its water and hail ingestion standards for turbine engines. The changes would harmonize the standards with standards being adopted by the Joint Aviation Authorities. The harmonization would eliminate the need for manufacturers to meet different standards when seeking type certification from FAA and JAA. For more information, contact Thomas Boudreau in the Engine and Propeller Standards staff, at (617) 238-7117; fax: (617) 238-7199.
FAA will hold a briefing Aug. 28 on the status of the ICAO/CAEP process, which is the government/industry effort to recommend international noise and emission standards for civil aircraft and engines. The meeting will be held 2 p.m. at the Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh St., Washington D.C. 20590. Attendance is open to the public, but space is limited. For more information, contact James Muldoon or James Littleton in FAA's Office of Environmental and Energy at 800 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20591; fax: (202) 267-5594.
ASTRA delivered the first U.S.-bound Astra SPX to Sherwin-Williams Company, Cleveland, Ohio. The Astra SPX, which earned FAA certification in January, joins an Astra SP in the Sherwin-Williams flight department. Sherwin- Williams, a long-time operator of Westwind and Astra aircraft, expects to operate the Astra SPX an average of 400 to 500 flight hours annually.
BRITISH AEROSPACE Model BAe 146 series airplanes and Model Avro 146-RJ series airplanes (Docket No. 96-NM-41-AD) - proposes to require a one-time inspection for corrosion of the direction link subassembly of the main landing gear assembly, and repair or replacement of the direction link subassembly with a serviceable unit, if necessary. This proposal is prompted by a report of failure of the direction link subassembly due to corrosion.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION issued special conditions for the Embraer Model EMB-145 aircraft. FAA said the aircraft will use new avionics/electronic systems and current regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards to cover the protection of those systems from the effects of high-intensity radiated fields. The special conditions are intended to establish the necessary equivalent safety standards, FAA said. For more information, contact Gerry Lakin in FAA's Standardization Branch at (206) 227-1187.
GA TEAM 2000 organizers hope to select next week the advertising firm that will spearhead the group's new learn-to-fly promotional program. The GA Team 2000 Marketing and Public Relations Committee plans to interview the top three agencies Tuesday and make its selection by the end of the week. The selected firm will make a presentation of the advertising campaign in September and launch the program in time for the spring flying season next year.
Bombardier, which next week will formally roll out its long-range Global Express business jet, this month began the ground test program for the aircraft. Ground vibration tests started Aug. 5 at Bombardier's de Havilland facility in Downsview, Ontario, and will continue through the middle of the month. Engine runs are expected to begin shortly.
DAVID STORCH was tapped to succeed Ira Eichner as chief executive officer of AAR Corp., effective Oct. 9. Eichner will remain chairman. Storch has served as president and chief operating officer of AAR since 1989, overseeing day-to-day operations and working with Eichner in strategic planning. Eichner founded AAR in 1951 to distribute aircraft radios. The company, which topped $500 million in sales for the fiscal year completed May 31, 1996, supplies parts and equipment, performs technical services and manufactures proprietary products for the aviation industry.
THE WHITE HOUSE was putting out the word Friday that President Clinton will sign Tuesday (Aug. 20) legislation reinstating aviation excise taxes (BA, Aug. 12/67). Taxes would take effect seven days after the bill is signed.
ILS is creating a database of companies that have received parts manufacturer approvals (PMAs). The database, to be organized by part number, will be offered online for ILS customers who buy and sell aircraft parts and equipment. ILS hopes to launch the service this fall.
JETSTREAM Model ATP airplanes (Docket No. 96-NM-139-AD) - proposes to require repetitive inspections of the ram air inlet ducts for structural integrity and security of fasteners, and repair, if necessary. This proposal also provides an optional terminating modification for the repetitive inspections. This proposal is prompted by a report of the separation of a ram air inlet duct from the airplane during flight. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent such separation, which could pose a hazard to persons or property on the ground.
Charging that FAA's rationale for acquiescing to Chicago Mayor Richard Daley's plans to close Meigs Field is "utter nonsense," Illinois DOT Secretary Kirk Brown sent a strongly worded letter to FAA Administrator David Hinson last week urging him to reverse FAA's position.
SHORTS Model SD3-30 and SD3-SHERPA series airplanes (Docket No. 96-NM- 07-AD) - proposes to require inspections of the vertical fin-to-tailplane joint to detect any loose bolts and replacement with new bolts, if necessary. Additionally, the proposal would require inspections of the upper shear angle to detect pulled or loose rivets and replacement of the shear angle using new rivets, if necessary. This proposal is prompted by reports of loose bolts in the vertical fin-to-tailplane joint and pulled or loose rivets in the upper shear angle.
Tariq (Ted) Farid, the former top marketer for Learjet, joined Raytheon Aircraft as vice president-special mission sales. Farid will be responsible for all sales and marketing for Raytheon's line of special mission products - Hawker and Beechjet business jets and King Air and 1900D turboprops - to international customers. He will report to Richard Klass, vice president-government marketing.
SHORTS Model SD3-30, -60, and -SHERPA series airplanes (Docket No. 96- NM-08-AD) - proposes to require a visual inspection for signs of exfoliation corrosion on the brackets of the flap hydraulic units, and rework or replacement of corroded brackets. This proposal is prompted by a report that exfoliation corrosion was found on the brackets of the flap hydraulic units. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent such corrosion and consequent reduced structural integrity of the brackets of the flap hydraulic units.
AIRCRAFT BILLINGS by U.S. manufacturers are expected to soar next year as several manufacturers begin delivering new business jet models. Gulfstream Aerospace alone expects its sales to jump by nearly $1 billion in 1997, the first full year of G-V business jet deliveries. See article below. Learjet and Cessna also are expected to report significant sales increases as deliveries of the Model 45 Learjet and the Citation Bravo and Citation X pick up.
Engine manufacturer BMW Rolls-Royce won type certification for the BR710 turbofan engine from the European Joint Aviation Authorities Wednesday, less than four years since the BR710 program was launched and just two years after the first run of the BR700 engine core. BMW Rolls-Royce officials received the type certificate for the engine from the German certification authority (LBA) at the company's development and assembly center in Dahlewitz, near Berlin. Thrust rating for the BR710 is 14,750 pounds. Approval by FAA is expected in about a month.
Gulfstream Aerospace has orders for 63 Gulfstream V business jets, a firm backlog of $2.7 billion and pending orders for another half billion dollars worth of new aircraft, according to a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C., this month. The SEC documents outline plans for an initial public offering (IPO) of 28 million shares of Gulfstream common stock to U.S.
The U.S. Customs Service will establish a new telephone entry process for general aviation aircraft entering the U.S. from Canada beginning Nov. 4, Customs Commissioner George Weise announced during this month's Experimental Aircraft Association annual fly-in. The General Aviation Telephonic Entry (GATE) program, one of the initiatives that stem from the February 1995 "Our Shared Border" U.S./Canada accord, is intended to "reward" compliance with Customs and other agency laws, Customs said.
