WICHITA MID-CONTINENT AIRPORT officials are seeking FAA authorization to impose a $3 passenger facility charge from Nov. 1, 1996 to Oct. 31, 1998. The PFC, which would apply to all classes of carriers, is expected to generate $1.5 million to help pay for reconstruction of Runway 1R/19L, Taxiway E and an air carrier apron. For more information, contact Lorna Sandridge, PFC coordinator in FAA's Central Region, at (816) 426-4730.
Swiss aircraft manufacturer Pilatus Aircraft Limited, hoping to expand the North American market with its PC-12 single-turboprop utility aircraft, selected Broomfield, Colo. as the permanent site for its U.S. operation and is offering payload and cruising range boosts for the aircraft. Pilatus, which previously tested the U.S. market for the PC-12 from an office in Vero Beach, Fla., established a wholly owned subsidiary at Jeffco Airport in Broomfield.
CANADAIR Model CL-215-1A10 series airplanes (Docket No. 96-NM-61-AD; Amdt. 39-9653; AD 96-12-11) - requires repetitive inspections for discrepancies of the microswitches fitted at the water door actuator, and replacement of any discrepant micro-switch. This action also requires a terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This amendment is prompted by a report indicating that the water doors on one airplane opened inadvertently during flight, due to corrosion of the microswitches fitted to the water door actuator.
RAYTHEON Model BAe 125 series 1000A and Hawker 1000 airplanes (Docket No. 95-NM-180-AD; Amdt. 39-9641; AD 96-11-17) - requires a one-time inspection for adequate clearances between, and damage to, the flap cables and turnbuckles, airbrakes cables and turnbuckles, and all other flight control cables and turnbuckles at keel subframe 15A; and various follow-on actions, if necessary. This amendment is prompted by reports of chafing due to insufficient clearance between the flaps turnbuckle and the subframe, and between the airbrakes cable and the subframe.
Lucas Industries plc. formed a joint venture agreement with PT Pindad (Persero) and PT Metinca Dirgantara, of Bandung, Indonesia for operation of a new aerospace manufacturing facility in that nation. Lucas has a controlling interest in the joint venture with 51 percent of the equity, while PT Pindad will have 34 percent and PT Metinca 15 percent. The new company, PT Lucas Pindad Aerospace Indonesia, is primarily a precision machining operation serving both aerospace and automotive customers.
NATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION will hold its Line Service Supervisor Training Seminar July 25 and 26 at Million Air-Tulsa. The seminar, which focuses on line service management topics, also will include technical training on aviation fueling and quality control procedures, underground tanks and Part 139.321 fire safety. Cost is $195 for NATA members and $250 for non-members. For more information, contact NATA at (703) 845-9000.
TRANSPORT CATEGORY airplanes (Docket No. 95-NM-233-AD; Amdt. 39-9680; AD 74-08-09-R2) - revises an existing AD applicable to all transport category airplanes that currently requires installation of placards prohibiting smoking in the lavatory and disposal of cigarettes in the lavatory waste receptacles; establishment of a procedure to announce to airplane occupants that smoking is prohibited in the lavatories; installation of ashtrays at certain locations; and repetitive inspections to ensure that lavatory waste receptacle doors operate correctly.
JETSTREAM Model 4101 airplanes (Docket No. 95-NM-133-AD; Amdt. 39- 9643; AD 96-12-01) - requires replacement of the flexible cables of the engine power and condition controls with new flexible cables. This amendment also requires installation of protective tape on the outside case of these flexible cables, and reidentification of the cables. This amendment is prompted by reports of stiff operation of the power and condition controls of the engine due to heat damage to, and moisture contamination of, the flexible cable.
SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT named Dennis Campbell executive vice president of operations and engineering. He joined the United Technologies helicopter unit from Cummins Engine Co., where he had been vice president-power generation for the Americas. At Sikorsky, he will be responsible for production operations, development engineering and advanced programs, production engineering, product integrity and manufacturing engineering.
DUNCAN AVIATION opened its new lobby and pilot's lounge at the company's Lincoln, Neb. headquarters. The facilities, under construction since October 1995, include direct ramp access and views, a coffee bar, private telephone accommodations, data jacks and modem hook-up and additional baggage storage. The facilities also include a pilot's lounge with a private rest area and an improved weather-planning station.
LARRY GRAHAM was named president of West Star Aviation. Graham formerly spent 16 years with Duncan Aviation, holding positions that included Learjet program manager, director of customer service and director of engine and airframe shops.
CESSNA AIRCRAFT named Loyd's Investments Corp. an authorized sales representative in the former Soviet Union. Loyd's, established in 1990, has offices and representatives in New York, Moscow, Warsaw, Tel Aviv, Baku, Azerbaijan and other former Soviet Union republics.
SINO SWEARINGEN AIRCRAFT COMPANY selected the designs of Benn Isaacman for the SJ30-2 light business jet interior. Swearingen said the basic design criteria have been finalized with plans to offer four optional versions of a standard interior.
FAA ADMINISTRATOR David Hinson, who has made no secret of his intentions to depart the agency by the end of the year, has been telling industry officials that he expects to leave his post Nov. 8 - three days after the general election (BA, July 1/6).
THOMAS HENRY joined Duncan Aviation as a system designer in the avionics shop. Henry formerly served with Elliott Aviation for eight years, most recently as project engineer.
DASSAULT AVIATION'S Falcon 2000 business jet was approved for operations into London City Airport by the United Kingdom's Civil Aviation Authority. The manufacturer said the Falcon 2000 won clearance to operate into the airport, which has a 5.5-degree glide slope, after demonstrating its ability to fly glide slopes as steep as 6.65 degrees using flight spoilers on final approach to the 4,000-foot runway. It also performed a series of take-offs and landings to demonstrate compliance with the airport's noise program.
RALEIGH DRENNON, former director of aviation for BFGoodrich and former chairman of the National Business Aircraft Association, was selected by the association's board of directors to receive the 1996 John P. (Jack) Doswell Award for lifelong individual achievement on behalf of, and in support of, the aims and objectives of business aviation. Drennon, who was a member of NBAA's board for 13 years, retired from Goodrich in 1994 after 22 years with the company. He will be presented with his award during this November's annual convention in Orlando, Fla.
AVIAT Models S-1S, S-1T, S-2, S-2A, S-2S and S-2B airplanes equipped with aft lower fuselage wing attach fittings incorporating either P/N 76090, 2-2107-1 or 1-210-102 (Docket No. 96-CE-23-AD; Amdt. 39-9645; AD 96- 12-03) - requires repetitive inspections of the aft lower fuselage wing attach fitting on both wings for cracks and modification of any cracked aft lower fuselage wing attach fitting. Modification of the fitting on both wings will eliminate the repetitive inspection requirement.
FLIGHT SAFETY FOUNDATION'S 1997 Corporate Aviation Safety Seminar is scheduled for April 29-May 1 in Phoenix, Ariz., at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix at Civic Plaza. The theme will be "Safety in a Changing Environment." For more information, contact Ed Peery at (703) 739-6700; fax, (703) 739-6708.
BOB RUTKOWSKI was named aviation regional sales manager for Magellan Systems. Rutkowski, based in Pompano, Fla., will support Magellan's network of 500 aviation dealers. Before joining Magellan, Rutkowski served with Tropic Aero&Loran.
In an unusually pointed letter to Transportation Secretary Federico Pena, Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Larry Pressler (R-S.D.) put the DOT Secretary on notice that he's definitely supposed to appear before the committee on July 17 to discuss FAA safety oversight issues.
ISRAEL AIRCRAFT INDUSTRIES Model 1125 Westwind Astra series airplanes (Docket No. 96-NM-94-AD; Admt. 39-9635; AD 96-11-10) - requires a visual inspection for clearance between the hydraulic lines/vacuum lines and the elecritcal wire bundles, and repair or replacement of damaged lines or wire bundles with serviceable parts. This AD also requires installation of neoprene hose around the affected hydraulic lines and vacuum lines. This amendment is prompted by a report indicating that chafing was found on a hydraulic line.
ROBINSON Model R22 helicopters (Docket No. 95-SW-27-AD, Amdt. 39-9633; AD 96-11-08) - supersedes an existing AD that requires installation of a low-rotor revolutions per minute (RPM) caution light and resetting the low- RPM warning unit to activate the warning horn and caution light at 94 percent to 96 percent RPM.
Bombardier subsidiary Learjet got its third president in less than six months Friday, when Lachlan (Mac) Beatson - a veteran AlliedSignal executive who had been recruited to oversee manufacturing at Learjet - was named president of the Wichita manufacturer. Beatson, 58, who has more than 30 years of aerospace industry experience, will replace Jim Robinson, the man who had been negotiating to hire Beatson as vice president- operations at Learjet.
