The U.S. will adopt an international standard for reporting surface weather observations and terminal forecasts for commercial, general and military aviation and weather information providers July 1. The change "moves the country toward a single, worldwide standard," the Federal Aviation Administration said. The new standard is being implemented by FAA, the National Weather Service, the Defense Department and aviation organizations. The standard conforms to those of the International Civil Aviation Organization with some modifications for U.S. use.
Gulfstream Aerospace said a new agreement with the Aviation Register of Interstate Aviation Committee (AIC) permitting Gulfstream III, IV and IV-SP business jets more freedom to operate in the former Soviet Union "will bring a new era in the development of long-range business air travel throughout Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States."
DE HAVILLAND Model DHC-7 series airplanes (Docket No. 95-NM-264-AD) - proposes to require repetitive non-destructive inspections to detect disbonding of fuselage skin panels, and repair, if necessary. This proposal is prompted by a report of disbonding on fuselage skin panels that was attributed to a manufacturing process error. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent disbonding of the skin panels of the fuselage and subsequent degrading of the structural capability of the airplane fuselage.
MCI won a $165 million contract from FAA and the Defense Information Technology Contracting Office to build and deploy a nationwide satellite communications network "to enhance the flow of radar information and computer, navigational and weather data to air traffic control facilities," the company said. The FAA Telecommunications Satellite (FAATSAT) program is designed to complement FAA's voice and data communications network, the Leased Interfacility National Air Space Communications System (LINCS). MCI won the LINCS contract in 1992.
Federal Aviation Administration's flight and duty time proposal is "unworkable" and "economically catastrophic" and should be scrapped, according to three associations representing the small air charter, regional and major airlines.
DE HAVILLAND Model DHC-7 series airplanes (Docket No. 95-NM-158-AD) - proposes to require certain structural inspections and repair, if necessary. This proposal is prompted by a structural re-evaluation that identified certain significant structural items to inspect for fatigue cracking as these airplanes approach and exceed the manufacturer's original design life. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent fatigue cracking in these areas, which could reduce the structural integrity of the airplanes.
FAIRCHILD AIRCRAFT plans to transfer some product development work from its San Antonio, Texas headquarters to its new Dornier Luftfahrt joint venture in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany, including that of its proposed stand-up-cabin Metro and a wing modification for the 19-passenger aircraft. The company also plans to reduce the 2,200-person work force to 1,200 as part of an effort to cut costs and keep Do 328 production at the facility beyond 1999. Daimler-Benz will pay some $460 million to Fairchild to cover current and future losses and restructuring costs.
FAA'S CONTROVERSIAL proposal for new flight and duty time limitations drew nearly 1,700 comments by early last week, of which 683 were responses from Part 135 operators. Coyne said this issue attracted more comments from NATA members than any other FAA rulemaking. The deadline for filing comments was Wednesday. See article below.
NTSB MEMBER JOHN GOGLIA appeared sympathetic toward the majority of the Part 135 industry seeking exclusion from the flight and duty time proposal. "This business of fast-tracking Part 135 rules is crazy," Goglia said, adding, "Do you know of anyone who agrees" with actions FAA is taking toward Part 135 carriers and the pilot flight and duty time proposal?
ROBERT KUTER was named general manager of Million Air Farmingdale, Long Island, N.Y. Kuter joins Million Air from Atlantic Aviation, where he served for 26 years.
MESSIER-BUGATTI was selected to provide wheels and brakes for the Sikorsky S-92 helicopter, a 19-passenger model designed for both civil and military missions, including supplying offshore oil and gas exploration platforms. Messier-Bugatti said it was selected by Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer, which is responsible for the landing and braking systems for the multinational S-92 program (BA, Feb. 28, 1994/94). The French company said the contract, valued at $15 million, covers 730 helicopters over a 15-year period.
Clinton Administration officials drew fire from most corners of the industry last week with the forced retirement of FAA Associate Administrator of Regulation and Certification Anthony Broderick and related actions. Following are reactions from some industry leaders.
SOCATA has developed a new trailing-link landing gear for its fixed-gear line of TB9, TB10 and TB200 piston aircraft. The French manufacturer said the new trailing-link landing gear is more durable, allowing greater access to unimproved strips. Socata also said it received certification of a single Bendix/King EHSI 40 electronic flight instrument system for the TB20 Trinidad.
LEARJET has shipped the first two Learjet 31A aircraft with aft-lav configurations to a Brazilian and U.S. customer. Learjet added a solid wood divider to separate the lavatory from the rest of the cabin. In addition, the aft-lav configuration includes an extra 10 cubic feet of baggage space. The aft-lav configuration is one of three lavatory options for the 31A, which also can be configured with two types of forward lavatories.
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE's Gulfstream III, IV and IV-SP business jets won certification from the Aviation Register of Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC), which the company said makes the Gulfstream models "the first aircraft to be approved under the new joint [Commonwealth of Independent States] CIS certification rules for Transport Category Aircraft (AP25)." Gulfstream plans to celebrate the approval with a flight today (June 24) from London to Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport.
The May 11 crash of a ValuJet DC-9 in the Florida Everglades continued to reverberate through Washington, D.C., last week as Clinton Administration officials scurried to appear they are addressing the issues raised by the accident. After forcing ValuJet to ground its fleet and suspend flight operations at the beginning of the week, Transportation Secretary Federico Pena and FAA Administrator David Hinson held a press conference Tuesday to announce a new layer of inspections and regulatory compliance tests.
ELIOT BRENNER, a Treasury Department speechwriter, has been tapped to replace Sandra Allen as FAA assistant administrator for public affairs. Allen, who joined the agency shortly after current Administrator David Hinson arrived, left the agency in March (BA, March 11/115).
UNITED PARCEL SERVICE plans a major expansion of its regional sorting hub at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Conn., part of a $41 million investment in the Hartford area by the company. The new facility is scheduled to be ready for occupancy in late 1997 and then will be expanded in phases through 2003. The sorting capacity at UPS's present facility is 10,000 packages per hour, but that is expected to grow to 15,000 per hour in 1997 and 20,000 in late 1998.
PRECISION CASTPARTS CORP. named Dean T. DuCray to its board of directors. DuCray is vice president and chief financial officer of York International Corp., York, Pa.
NORMAN F. ACKERMAN was named vice president-airport services for Elsinore LP, Santa Ana, Calif. Ackerman, who formerly worked for Brown&Root Services Corp. and EDS Corp., will be responsible for operations and Elsinore's business development. The company provides airline and airport services to 30 airports across the U.S. from the West Coast to the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
FLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL is offering a new training and certification program for aircraft maintenance technicians. The Master Technician Program initially will be offered at the FlightSafety Gulfstream center in Savannah, Ga. for the G-IV business jet. The program will cover maintenance, initial engine run and taxi, maintenance update, electrical and avionics initial and advanced troubleshooting courses.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION issued special conditions for Dassault Aviation's Model Falcon 900EX aircraft and certain Falcon 50s modified by K-C Aviation of Appleton, Wis. The Falcon 900EX contains new avionics/electronic systems and the modified Falcon 50s will be equipped with a Flight Visions FV-2000 head-up display system, but current regulations are not adequate to address the protection of those systems from the effects of high intensity radiated fields (HIRF). The special conditions contain additional safety standards to cover HIRF protection.
TRISTAR AIRLINES and Eagle Canyon Airlines this month signed a joint marketing, ticketing and baggage agreement. TriStar provides daily departures from Los Angeles and San Francisco, Calif. to Las Vegas, Calif. and Eagle Canyon Airlines provides continuing service to the Grand Canyon, including air and ground tours.
NATIONAL BUSINESS AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION has released its 1996-1997 State Aviation Tax Report, with information on state fuel, sales and use, registration and personal property taxes. For more information, contact NBAA's Publications Department at (202) 783-8286.
Montgomery Country, Pa. commissioners voted last month to create an airport authority to explore buying Wings Field, the privately-owned, public use airport that serves as a reliever to Philadelphia International Airport. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association has warned that the airport, which has been in operation since 1929, is threatened by current zoning laws that would permit construction of 100 or more houses near the 200-acre property.
