BBA Group, which holds a 68 percent stake in Signature Flight Support, will acquire the remaining interest from Acadia Partners. The acquisition - which officials say will allow BBA to "take full advantage of Signature's future growth" - is subject to the approval of BBA shareholders this week. Acadia, former owner of the Butler fixed-base operation chain, retained a 32 percent interest in the company after Butler merged with Page Avjet to form Signature Flight Support (BA, Sept. 28, 1992/125).
MILLER AVIATION, Binghamton, N.Y., supplied its Fixed-Base Operator Management Information System (FBO.MIS) to Northeast Aviation Services, Inc., of Bedford, Mass. and E.U.A. Air Support, Inc., of Dallas, Texas. The software accommodates financial accounting functions, automated point of sale invoicing, inventory and maintenance management and a wide range of FBO-specific functions.
A GULFSTREAM III carrying Denmark's armed forces chief of staff Admiral Hans Joergen Garde and his wife reportedly crashed Aug. 5 on approach to the Faroe Islands airport, killing all nine aboard. Gulfstream last week had two people on site assisting in the investigation.
ATLANTIC AVIATION FLIGHT SERVICES added a Gulfstream III to its charter fleet. The aircraft, based in Trenton, N.J., is configured with an 11- place cabin and is equipped with a VCR, cassette tape and CD player, three flight phones, fax machine, printer, E-Mail connection, AC outlet and an AirShow system. Atlantic Aviation also operates G-II, Challenger 601, Hawker 700/800, Westwind II, Learjet 35, Citation V, and King Air 200 aircraft.
ALLIEDSIGNAL AEROSPACE is incorporating a number of improvements to its Bendix/King KLX 100 handheld global positioning system and communications radio. The improvements include special use airspace mapping, non- directional beacons (NDB) and intersections, runway diagrams and additional calculator functions. The improvements will be available on new KLX 100s at the original $1,400 retail price and can be retrofitted to existing units at no charge from Bendix/King avionics dealers. The upgraded software will be available by October.
French general aviation manufacturer Socata has selected Fort Lauderdale, Fla. as the new site for its U.S. operations and expects to complete the relocation by the end of October, officials announced early last week during the Experimental Aircraft Association annual fly-in (BA, July 15/25). Socata officials cited the need for newer and more spacious facilities in the decision to move from the current location in Grand Prairie, Texas, and said the Florida site would bring the company closer to its core customer base and training facilities.
FLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL received a contract to provide content and flight training expertise to Microsoft Corp. for use in developing Flight Simulator for Windows 95 software. The contract provides FlightSafety exclusive rights for five years to develop Microsoft-approved add-on products to Flight Simulator software. Flight Simulator for Windows 95 is expected be available in November.
RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT SERVICES received FAA and Transport Canada type approval for a cargo interior modification for Beech 1900C aircraft. The approvals enable Raytheon Aircraft Services to install a cargo-configuration that includes side panels, flooring, hold-downs and cargo nets. The cargo configuration accommodates up to 6,630 pounds of freight in about 575 cubic feet of cabin volume. The installation, performed at Raytheon Aircraft Services' Wichita, Kan., facility, takes approximately three weeks.
Cirrus Design Corp. has confirmed the performance figures for its SR20 four-place composite aircraft and hopes to win Federal Aviation Administration certification next summer, the company said during this month's Experimental Aircraft Association annual fly-in. Cirrus released its "SR20 Specification and Description" to position holders - which the company numbers at more than 100 - and has begun to convert those options into firm orders with nonrefundable deposits. Cirrus is offering the SR20 for $141,500 to current position holders and $144,500 for new orders.
FORMER BEECH PRESIDENT JACK BRALY, who has a background in nuclear physics and years of aircraft manufacturing experience, last week joined Sino Swearingen Aircraft Company as president and chief executive officer. Braly most recently was vice president and general manager of Rockwell's North American Aircraft Modification Division. He started his aerospace career in 1966 with Martin Marietta Aerospace and joined Beech Aircraft in 1978. Braly was tapped as president of the company in October 1990 and held that position for nearly three years.
SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE Chairman Larry Pressler (R-S.D.) asked Vice President Gore to add a representative of small community air service interests to the Aviation Safety and Security Commission that President Clinton called for in the wake of last month's TWA Flight 800 crash. "Expensive new security measures could unintentionally lead to a further erosion of air service in our small communities, and therefore I believe it is imperative the voice of small communities be heard on your commission," Pressler told Gore in a letter.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association established an organization charged with promoting the consideration of human factors in development of technology, programs and procedures for air traffic control, NATCA announced late last month. The National Aviation Research Institute, or NARI, is a not-for-profit corporation that will seek grants and industry, government and academia sponsorships for research and offer active controllers to participate in studies and act as consultants.
LORD CORPORATION'S Mechanical Products unit received ISO-9001 certification. The certification covers the unit's marketing, design and manufacture of shock, vibration, and noise control products for fixed-wing and rotor aircraft, railroad and rapid transit, motor vehicles and industrial markets.
AlliedSignal second-quarter earnings were up 16 percent from 1995 levels excluding special items, and Chairman Lawrence Bossidy declared that the company is on track for full-year profits as much as 17 percent ahead of last year's. Most of the company's business units enjoyed a strong second quarter, but engines and aerospace equipment stood out for substantial sales and net income gains. "We are well on our way to another record year in 1996," Bossidy said in a statement detailing the second- quarter results.
MCCAULEY PROPELLER SYSTEMS introduced a two-bladed, fixed-pitch aluminum propeller designed to achieve greater efficiency at lower revolutions per minute. The 72-inch propeller was designed in collaboration with Cessna and Lycoming for the new Cessna Skyhawk. McCauley officials said the reduction in propeller tip speed decreases cabin and flyover noise and increases fuel efficiency. The company adjusted the blade airfoil, twist distribution and blade chord to compensate for the greater load stresses that come with running at lower revolutions, officials said.
CONFERENCE ON QUALITY IN COMMERCIAL AVIATION, to be held Sept. 15-17 at the Westin Galleria Hotel in Dallas, Texas, will focus on new oversight requirements for inspectors monitoring repair stations and changes in operating procedures. The conference also will report on the Suspected Unapproved Parts Steering Team. For more information, call (817) 776-3550.
THE HOUSE, meanwhile, early this month adopted anti-terrorism legislation, H.R.3953, that would direct FAA to deploy commercially available explosives detection devices on an interim basis while it develops a fully certified system. FAA also would be required to issue regulations increasing security standards on passenger aircraft with fewer than 61 seats. The bill would authorize more rigorous background checks on security screening personnel and call for FAA to establish performance standards for security personnel.
EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY was selected as the winner of the NASA/FAA 1996 National General Aviation Design competition, which calls for student teams to address aircraft design challenges. Embry-Riddle students designed a four-passenger, twin-boom aircraft with pusher propulsion that NASA officials said "incorporates outstanding safety features with lowered vehicle production, maintenance and operating costs." The University of Kansas, Wichita State University and Kansas State University captured second prize with a design for a composite light airplane.
NATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION will hold a Part 135 operators conference Sept. 19-20 at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Dallas, Texas. The conference, organized in conjunction with FAA's Southwest Region, is intended to help clear up confusion on several operational issues including flights to Mexico. The conference, which will include guest speakers from FAA, U.S. Customs, NTSB and Mexico, also will cover drug and alcohol testing, FAA enforcement issues, U.S. Customs rules, aviation security and new Part 135 training rules.
FOUR HOUSE LEGISLATORS asked FAA Administrator David Hinson to strengthen procedures for training, testing and certifying airframe and powerplant mechanics. In a letter to Hinson, the legislators noted they have "recently become aware of serious weaknesses" in FAA's oversight of A&P mechanics. "We are concerned about the current testing requirements for A&P licenses, the manner in which these tests are conducted, and education and training requirements for A&P licensure," they said.
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, responding to accusations of Sen. John McCain that the association is "lying" about his proposal for a user-fee-funded FAA (BA, Aug. 5/57), expressed "disappointment" in the accusation and told the Arizona Republican that he is mistaken. "We take it seriously when we are accused of lying by a distinguished U.S. Senator whom we have long considered one of our most stalwart friends and supporters," AOPA President Phil Boyer said in an Aug. 2 letter to McCain.
BILL THORTON was named vice president and director of operations for Houston Helicopters. Thorton, who was vice president and general manager for Air Logistics for 12 years, has been involved in offshore helicopter operations in the Gulf of Mexico since 1960.
RICHARD LYON was appointed director of sales for Europe and Africa for Garrett Aviation Services. Lyon will be responsible for the sale of Garrett Aviation's Total Aircraft Services to corporate aviation customers in Europe and Africa.
PRATT&WHITNEY Wasp series and R-1340 series reciprocating engines (Docket No. 95-ANE-26; Amdt. 39-9693; AD 96-15-02) - requires initial and repetitive visual and dye penetrant inspections of the crankshaft counterweights for cracks, and replacement of cracked crankshaft counterweights with improved crankshaft counterweights. This amendment is prompted by reports of crankshaft counterweight cracking.
