HARRIS's Information Systems Division received a $72.5 million contract from the Federal Aviation Administration for weather and radar processors for en route, long-range radar facilities. Harris will develop, install and support 24 Weather and Radar Processor systems at air route traffic control centers and the air traffic control system command center. It also will provide a lease service to replace the Meteorologist Weather Processor system.
In an emergency action last week, the Federal Aviation Administration called for operators of up to 239 Beech 1900D aircraft to immediately deactivate the electrical power source to the windshield heat element and avoid flight into known icing conditions. The emergency airworthiness directive stems from two reports of short circuits in wiring around the cockpit windshield that produced arcing and excessive heat and led to smoke and minor fires in the cockpits. Both aircraft involved landed safety without injuries to passengers or crew members.
Federal Aviation Administration last week proposed requiring scheduled airlines to increase flight data recorder parameters from 11 to 17 for older aircraft and up to 88 on all commercial aircraft certified in the future. FAA said it will cost about $316.4 million to upgrade recorders on nearly 6,000 turbofan and turboprop aircraft in the U.S. fleet, but the rule exempts aircraft operating in non-scheduled service from retrofit requirements.
DON RONEY was named manager of FlightSafety International's learning center in San Antonio, Texas. Roney, who previously was the center's director of standards, has logged more than 18,000 flight hours and has experience as a corporate chief pilot and flight department administrator as well as a major airline captain and check airman.
TIM FALLON was appointed regional marketing manager, maintenance training, for FlightSafety International. Fallon, previously an accounts manager in the FSI customer support organization, will be responsible for the West Coast territory, which extends from Alaska to California and inland to Texas.
The Senate last week approved reinstatement of the lapsed aviation excise taxes through April 15, 1997 as part of the small-business tax relief bill, H.R.3448. The provision originally called for renewal of the aviation excise taxes through Dec. 31, 1996, but the Senate last week agreed to an amendment offered by Sen. William Roth (R-Del.) that extends the taxes until April 15.
CHARLES EMERING was appointed regional sales manager for the Northeast region for K-C Aviation. Emering, who has more than 20 years' aviation maintenance and management experience, previously was director of maintenance for Atlantic Aviation Flight Services in Teterboro, N.J.
TRIMBLE completed the acquisition of Terra Corp. in a deal valued at $2.7 million. Trimble will relocate Terra's operations to its Austin, Texas facilities this month and market Terra general aviation products under the brand name Terra by Trimble. Terra Corp., the 30-year-old Albuquerque, N.M. company, produces VOR/ILS receivers, communication radios, transponders, airborne telephone systems, radar altimeters, GPS receivers and audio panels. Trimble provides GPS aviation products for general, commercial and military aircraft.
Wyman-Gordon Co. reported a dramatic increase in profits for the year ended May 31, 1996. The North Grafton, Mass., producer of investment castings and forgings earned $25.2 million on revenues of $499.6 million. That compares with net income of just $1 million for the year earlier, on revenues of $396.6 million. In addition, the company's order backlog rose nearly 20 percent during the year to just under $600 million "due primarily to strong demand on the part of aerospace customers," the company said.
NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD will hold a public meeting Tuesday to review the final report on the fatal crash of a Simmons Airlines ATR-72 Oct. 31, 1994, near Roselawn, Ind.
DUNCAN AVIATION said its Accessory Shop now has the capability to conduct eddy current inspections for cracks in new style AlliedSignal TFE731 fan discs, P/N 3073563-2, following the purchase of a new eddy current probe and provision of necessary training for shop personnel. Duncan also performs other non-destructive tests on critical components, including dye penetrant, ultrasonic and magnetic particle testing.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association last month asked the Port of Portland to drop a proposal for landing fees on general aviation aircraft at Portland, Ore., International, Hillsboro and Troutdale airports. The draft plan calls for GA aircraft to pay a landing fee of $1.34 per 1,000 pounds at Portland International. GA aircraft in excess of 10,000 pounds would have to pay a landing fee of 80 percent of the Portland International level at Hillsboro and 60 percent at Troutdale.
Allison Engine Company named Richard R. Quirin executive vice president and chief financial officer of the Indianapolis, Ind. engine manufacturer, effective Aug. 1. Quirin will replace Joseph T. Doyle, who left Allison in February. Quirin has been with Lucas Electronics Systems Products of Birmingham, England and Hampton, Va., where he has been a vice president in a variety of financial positions. He is currently vice president-contracts and business development on a special assignment to Lucas Geared Systems.
OREGON METALLURGICAL CORP., Albany, Ore., filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission to sell 3.5 million shares of its common stock. Proceeds from the offering will be used to build a new electron beam cold hearth furnace, repay bank borrowings, make other capital expenditures and general corporate purposes. Oregon Metallurgical produces titanium sponge, ingot, mill products and castings for the aerospace, military and industrial markets.
DASSAULT FALCON JET CORP. appointed Kal-Aero Aircraft Service Center in Battle Creek, Mich., as an authorized Falcon service center. Kal-Aero, located on W.K. Kellogg Regional Airport, is authorized to perform after- sale service and support on all Falcon business jet models.
NEW PIPER Models PA31, PA31-300, PA31-325 and PA31-350 (Docket No. 90- CE-60-AD; Amdt. 39-9654; AD 96-12-12) - supersedes AD 80-22-04, which requires repetitive inspections of the upper section of Fuselage Station 317.75 bulkhead for cracks and incorporation of a certain reinforcement kit if any crack is found. This action requires an inspection of the upper section of FS 317.75 bulkhead for cracks and incorporation of one of two reinforcement kits depending on whether cracks are found.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION is requesting comments on a proposed advisory circular, AC 23.733-X, dealing with tundra tires. The proposed AC gives results of flight tests investigating the effects of tundra tires installed on a Piper PA-18. The proposed AC also provides information on the possible hazards associated with the type of operations common for tundra tire users and potential harmful effects of untested installations. In addition, it provides general information on the certification of oversize tundra tires.
FLAGLER COUNTY AIRPORT in Bunnell, Fla., ordered a DIAS-3100 Differential Global Positioning System Category I precision approach and landing system from Raytheon E-Systems. Installation is scheduled this fall.
NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD feels new flight and duty time rules that provide "a common framework...for all air transport operations regardless of the type of flight are appropriate." In comments on FAA's flight and duty time proposal, NTSB Chairman James Hall said that "with some exceptions, the daily rest requirements of crewmembers should not vary greatly as a function of type of operation conducted." While long-haul operators fly routes that can pose circadian difficulties that do not generally exist in short-haul operations, he said "the needs of pilots
Boeing's high-profile announcement that it's entering the business jet market with its 737-700 caused a mixture of surprise, skepticism and bemusement among manufacturers of very long-range business jets.
Beleaguered air traffic officials from FAA's New York area were criticized for management shortcomings last week by 24 members of Congress from both parties and by controllers' union officials. The legislators wrote President Clinton complaining about poor staff management at high- traffic-volume towers and radar facilities in the area and an increase in near-collisions between aircraft.
GULFSTREAM Model G-1159 (G-II), G-1159A (G-III) and G-1159B (G-IIB) series airplanes (Docket No. 95-NM-202-AD) - proposes a new AD that would require a one-time inspection to detect corrosion in the material layers of the lower aft fuselage skin in Fuselage Station (FS) 580 bulkhead assembly, and repair, if necessary. The proposal also would require modification of the aft fuselage area and various follow-on actions.
FOKKER Model F28 Mark 0100 series airplanes (Docket No. 95-NM-172-AD; Amdt. 39-9640; AD 96-11-16) - requires a one-time measurement during refueling to determine the pressure in each collector tank; for certain airplanes, non-destructive test inspections for cracking or deformations of the collector tank ribs on each wing and repair, if necessary; and modification of top-hat stringers in each outer wing tank. This amendment is prompted by a report of damage to the ribs of the wing collector tank caused by over-pressure in the collector tank during refueling.
United States Aviation Underwriters and its former chairman, John Brennan, plan to appeal convictions handed down this month in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn, N.Y. that found them guilty of 43 counts of mail fraud, in connection with settlements resulting from the 1987 crash of a Pacific Southwest Airlines BAe 146.
