Precision Castparts signed an agreement to purchase Newflo Corp., the Austin, Texas-based manufacturer of industrial fluid management products, in a transaction the company valued at $300 million. The transaction, which includes the assumption of $100 million of subordinated debt, is expected to close in four to six weeks, following regulatory approvals. Newflo, which produces fluid handling industrial pumps, industrial valves and fluid measurement instruments, posted annual sales of $216 million.
PILATUS AIRCRAFT, which has established a permanent U.S. sales and marketing base in Broomfield, Colo. (BA, July 8/14), selected Western Aircraft of Boise, Ida. as an authorized dealer of the Pilatus PC-12, single-turboprop utility aircraft. Western Aircraft, one of six Pilatus dealers in the U.S., will market the PC-12 in a 12-state region in the West that includes Hawaii.
JIM MCDONOUGH joined AR Group as an account representative for the central U.S. McDonough, who has a 25-year aviation career, previously was a regional sales representative for Atlantic Aviation and manager of the aircraft sales group for Nova Air International.
KEVIN DOLAN was promoted to vice president of marketing for AR Group. Dolan, who joined AR Group in 1994, formerly was director of sales and marketing. AR Group is a Houston, Texas holding company with several corporate flight support firms including Air Routing International.
A SETTLEMENT has been concluded between Canadian manufacturer Bombardier and Moya Olsen Lear, other members of the Lear family and a few other individuals who were involved in the design of the Challenger business jet and the Canadair Regional Jet, which was derived from the Challenger. The agreement, which calls for a substantial cash payment by Bombardier, provides for the purchase from the Lear interests of all remaining rights to the Challenger, the RJ and present and future derivative aircraft.
RICK NIEFIELD was appointed director of corporate sales for AR Group. Niefield, previously Air Security International's national marketing manager, oversees a sales staff that supports all the AR Group companies.
DASSAULT FALCON JET said Dassult Aviation received U.S. type certification for the company's 4,500-nautical-mile range Falcon 900EX business jet last week from FAA officials in Brussels. French authorities had certificated the 900EX earlier.
SUNDSTRAND AEROSPACE promoted James Smith to vice president, business development, and David Linton to vice president, programs. Smith, who has served with Sundstrand for 33 years, most recently was director, electric systems marketing. Linton, a 17-year company veteran, formerly was director, mechanical systems for marketing and advanced development.
FOKKER Model F27 Mark 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 and 700 series airplanes (Docket No. 95-NM-253-AD; Amdt. 39-9675; AD 96-13-07) - supersedes an existing AD that requires supplemental structural inspections for fatigue cracks and repair or replacement, as necessary, to ensure the continued airworthiness of these airplanes. This amendment adds and revises certain significant structural items for which inspection and repair or replacement is necessary.
NATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION warned members last week that increasing security concerns on the part of federal officials in the wake of the TWA Flight 800 explosion could have an impact on general aviation operators. The association noted that FAA recently issued new requirements for air carrier maintenance and training contractors and on Tuesday announced new emphasis on hazardous materials.
CIRRUS DESIGN CORP. appointed James Griswold vice president of engineering. Griswold will be responsible for the Cirrus SR20 certification program. Before joining Cirrus, Griswold helped develop regulatory policy for FAA, served as president of Questair and held positions at Piper, Cessna and Rockwell Aero Commander.
PRECISION STANDARD'S Pemco Aeroplex unit teamed with AIROD of Malaysia to compete for the U.S. Air Force's C-130 Programmed Depot Maintenance contract to be awarded later this year. Pemco, which will lead the joint effort, said it selected AIROD because it had several years of maintenance, overhaul and modification experience with the C-130.
FAIRCHILD SA226 and SA227 series airplanes (Docket No.93-CE-35-AD; Amdt. 39-9689; AD 93-15-02 R2) - revises AD 93-15-02, which requires, for airplanes equipped with a certain Simmonds-Precision pitch trim actuator, repetitive measurement of the freeplay of the pitch trim actuator and repetitive inspection of the actuator for rod slippage. The AD requires immediate replacement of any actuator if certain freeplay limitations are exceeded or rod slippage is evident, and eventual replacement of the actuator regardless of the inspection results.
Edward M. Scott, an eight-year veteran of the National Association of State Aviation Officials, is leaving the organization Aug. 2. Scott joined NASAO in 1988, was promoted to director of government affairs in 1991 and was named executive vice president in 1992. NASAO President Gary Adams is chairing a search committee to fill Scott's position.
PAUL SEYMOUR was appointed vice president, international trade controls. Seymour also serves as secretary on the Smiths Industries Aerospace and Defense Systems board of directors.
Raytheon Aircraft Co. received a $43.8 million contract from the U.S. Navy and Air Force to build and deliver three Beech Mk. II aircraft, the second lot of the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System (JPATS) program. The contract calls for Raytheon Aircraft to deliver the aircraft in early 1999. It also will deliver technical manuals, associated data and Aircraft Structural Integrity and Engine Structural Integrity airframes to be used in cyclic testing, Raytheon said. The order boosts the JPATS-related contracts Raytheon has received to more than $140 million.
TWO MEETINGS concerning the proposed conversion of Chicago's Meigs Field into a park are scheduled this week. The Chicago Park Board is scheduled to meet Wednesday afternoon, while the Chicago Plan Commission will address the issue the following evening.
NATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION released its 1996 NATA Compensation Survey, which details wages, salaries and benefits for a variety of positions in the general aviation services business. The survey, compiled from information collected from more than 420 companies, contains sections on company demographics, compensation for 30 different positions, insurance, vacation policies and other employee benefits. The report is available for $99 for NATA members and $150 for non-members. For more information, contact NATA at (800) 845-6282.
JETT AIRE opened a new fixed-base operation on the north end of Orlando- Sandford,/Central Florida Regional Airport (SFB). The facility includes a 12,000-square-foot FBO complex, two 30,000-square-foot hangars and a 164,000-square-foot ramp area. The FBO will provide Phillips 66 Jet A fuel and aviation gasoline, maintenance and aircraft storage. The main FBO complex includes a conference room, two pilot lounges, a pilot day room and office support areas. Additionally, Jett Aire refurbished an existing facility on the west end of the airport.
LISA SASSE joined AR Group as an account representative for the East Coast. Sasse has several years of corporate aviation industry experience serving in a variety of capacities for several flight departments including Trump Air.
Hawthorne Aviation reached an agreement with the City of Allentown, Pa. to take over the management of the fixed-base operation at Queen City Airport in Allentown. The Charleston, S.C. aviation management and services company already is under contract with the Lehigh Northampton Airport Authority to provide airline and general aviation services at Lehigh Valley International Airport, which also serves Allentown in addition to Bethlehem and Easton, Pa. Queen City Airport, base to about 65 aircraft, is a reliever to Lehigh Valley International.
ALLIEDSIGNAL TFE731 series turbofans (Docket No. 96-ANE-08) - proposes to require removal from service of certain low pressure turbine (LPT) seal plates before accumulating the new, reduced cyclic life limit, and replacement with serviceable LPT seal plates. This proposal is prompted by a report that the machined LPT seal plate geometry did not meet the design intent due to drawing ambiguity. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent fatigue cracking and subsequent uncontained failure of an LPT seal plate.
FRASCA obtained FAA Level 3 approval for a Model 141 single-engine flight training device (FTD) delivered to the University of Illinois. The Level 3 qualification allows the FTD to be used for checking as well as training. Frasca said its Model 141 is the first "off the shelf" FTD to receive Level 3 approval. The University of Illinois uses three Frasca FTDs - two Model 141s and a Model 142 - in its flight training program.
