The Senate Commerce Committee approved legislation Thursday that calls for an 18-month reinstatement of aviation excise taxes that expired at the end of 1995, and formation of an 11-member group to study long-term funding needs and revenue sources for FAA.
Maintenance and production workers at Bell Helicopter Textron reached agreement on a four-year contract with the company this month. Employees represented by the United Aerospace Workers Local 218 approved the agreement June 9. The contract provides for a three percent wage increase effective June 10, 1996, and a second three percent wage hike in June 1999. Lump sum payments of $1,500 were paid June 10 and similar payments will be paid in June of the next three years. In addition, the contract provides quarterly cost-of-living adjustments.
Dispositions of Petitions Docket No.: 28370 Petitioner: Cessna Aircraft Company Sections of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 25.562 Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit Cessna an exemption from the emergency landing dynamic conditions of Sec. 25.562 for multiple- occupancy, side-facing divans in the Cessna Model 750 airplane. Partial Grant, April 25, 1996, Exemption No. 6432 Docket No.: 28463 Petitioner: Cessna Aircraft Company
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS Model 369, 369A, 369D, 369E, 369F, 369FF, 369H, 369HE, 369HM, 369HS, and 500N helicopters (Docket No. 96-SW-02-AD; Amdt. 39-9615; AD 96-10-09) - requires initial and repetitive inspections of each main rotor blade root for either cracks or paint and sealant cracking or separation between the lower surface root end fitting and the doubler. This amendment is prompted by one accident in which a blade separated from the helicopter as well as other reports of cracked blades.
AIRCRAFT DEALERS NETWORK, an aircraft multiple listing and information service, has been purchased from Patch Communications of Titusville, Fla., by John R. Forehand, of Oklahoma City, Okla., who has headed operations for the firm for the past five and one-half years. Forehand said all operating departments of the company will be based in Oklahoma City, adding that the Aircraft Dealers Network name will be retained under the Oklahoma corporation, Aircraft Information Center, Inc.
SAMIR F. (SAM) GIBARA will become chairman of the board of Goodyear Tire&Rubber Co., effective July 1. Gibara, 57, was named president, chief operating officer and a member of the board in April 1995 and became CEO Jan. 1. He will retain those titles when he succeeds Stanley C. Gault, 70, as chairman. Gibara, a native of Cairo, Egypt, joined Goodyear originally in 1964 in France. He left the company in the early 1980s, but rejoined Goodyear as president of Goodyear France in 1983.
SENSENICH Models M76EMM, M76EMMS, 76EM8 and 76EM8S () metal propellers (Docket No. 95-ANE-03; Amdt. 39-9583; AD 69-09-03 R3) - revises an AD that restricts operators from continuously operating the propeller at engine speeds from 2,150 to 2,350 revolutions per minute (RPM) and specifies propeller inspection and rework or replacement.
AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION leveled another blast last week at an FAA proposed airworthiness directive covering some 46,000 Textron Lycoming engines (BA, March 25/133). AOPA said the AD would require inspection and possible replacement of crankshafts in Lycoming O-235, O- 290, O-320 and O-360 series engines with fixed-pitch propellers and replacement of all crankshafts with inner diameter corrosion pits within five years.
HELFER CORPORATION of Port Angeles, Wash., is marketing a line of customized aviation storage racks that it says are easy to use, completely mobile and provide protection for removable cowlings, main rotor blades, doors, panels and other components. Helfer said that by custom designing storage racks for specific items such as cowlings, damage and "hangar rash" during maintenance is reduced. For more information, contact the company at 115 E. Railroad Ave., Suite 16A, Port Angeles, Wash. 98362; (360) 452- 4458; fax, (360) 457-3100.
Donald Engen, a 36-year Navy veteran who retired as a vice admiral before serving as a member of the National Transportation Safety Board and FAA Administrator, was named director of the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum Thursday.
TOM BROWN was named manager of Citation training for SimuFlite Training International. Brown has served with SimuFlite for the past 10 years and before that, was a test pilot for Learjet.
FOKKER Model F28 Mark 0100 series airplanes (Docket No. 95-NM-99-AD; Amdt. 39-9551; AD 96-07-02) - requires inspections to verify the correct operation of the main landing gear (MLG) downlock actuators and replacement of any discrepant unit with a serviceable unit. This amendment also will require eventual replacement of the MLG downlock actuators with improved units. This amendment is prompted by reports of improper operation of the MLG downlock actuator due to jamming.
CESSNA AIRCRAFT said the first Citation business jet to be sold in Thailand, a Citation VII, will be used by that country's Ministry of Transportation for flight inspection duties. The aircraft will be equipped with Gull Electronics Systems Division flight inspection equipment and is scheduled for delivery next year. The Wichita-based manufacturer said the shipment of the Citation VII to Thailand will bring to 20 units in 10 countries the number of Citation flight inspection aircraft it has delivered.
UNIVERSAL AVIONICS SYSTEMS CORP. supplied a UNS-1M navigation management system to Navair Inc. of Toronto, Ontario for installation on a BAe 146 series 200 aircraft. The UNS-1M system includes internal GPS interfaced to Smiths Industries autopilot/flight director. Dual air data computers also were installed on the aircraft, which is operated by Swedish carrier Malmo Aviation Schedule AB.
BLAIR GREGG was appointed vice president of Eagle Aviation Service, Inc., a subsidiary of AMR Eagle, Inc. Gregg formerly was director of purchasing for AMR Eagle.
THE AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION is attempting to get Chicago Mayor Richard Daley's constituents involved in the debate over Daley's plan to convert Meigs Field from an airport to a park. AOPA began running newspaper advertisements last week in the Daily Southside, a suburban newspaper whose subscriber base includes the area surrounding Midway Airport.
J. BRENT POER was named manager of courseware for SimuFlite Training International. Poer is responsible for SimuFlite's written and electronic instructional materials.
JETSTREAM Model 4101 airplanes (Docket No. 95-NM-95-AD; Amdt. 39-9617; AD 96-10-10) - requires inspections of the handrail assembly at the main entrance door to detect loose or missing rivets, abnormal movement between the handrail pivot-tube and the spigot that attaches to the bearing assembly, and cracks on the handrail pivot-tube. It also requires repair or replacement of the assembly, if necessary, and provides for two optional terminating actions.
NORTH AMERICA COMMERCIAL HELICOPTER SHIPMENTS 1ST QUARTER 1996 AND 1 QUARTER 1995 Company and Model 1st Quarter 1996 1st Quarter 1995 ----------------------------------------------------------------- BELL 206B 9 7 206L/LT 4 14 212 8 8 230 0 2
GARMIN INTERNATIONAL introduced a handheld global positioning system unit that includes a 760-channel VHF transceiver. The GPSCOM 190, a 12-parallel channel GPS receiver, can be used as a stand-alone GPS, stand-alone comm or both simultaneously. The unit will be available in July with a suggested list price of $1,399.
AIR LINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION decided to oppose FAA's proposed rules on flight and duty time as written, because they increase flight time limits to offset stricter duty time limits. ALPA said the proposed rule fails to recognize scientific research into the effects of circadian rhythms on pilot fatigue. ALPA's executive board voted last week to oppose and call for the withdrawal of any notice of proposed rulemaking that increases daily flight time limits beyond eight hours.
PZL-SWIDNIK of Poland selected the Pratt&Whitney Canada PT6C-65 turboshaft engine to power a new model of its W-3 Sokol helicopter, a twin- engine, multi-purpose aircraft with civil and military applications. The original W-3 won FAA certification under Part 29 of the FARs in 1993. The PT6C-65 is part of a new turboshaft engine series rated at 1,200 to 2,000 shaft horsepower.
EAS Investments, Inc., which acquired the assets of the insolvent Colt Group earlier this year, has reorganized, recapitalized and moved the jet fuel discounter into new offices in Houston, Texas. The company, which is operating as Colt International, retained about 90 fixed-base operations and nearly its entire client base, Colt officials said. "The core staff of Colt Group, Inc.
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee last week approved legislation requiring Part 135 and 121 airlines to maintain and share pilot records. The legislation, the Airline Pilot and Safety Act of 1996, H.R.3536, calls for prospective employers to obtain FAA, air carrier employment and National Driver Register records before hiring a pilot (BA, June 3/247). In addition, airlines must maintain the records for at least five years.
Flush with success from a 500-unit launch order in December from American Airlines, Honeywell and Trimble have extended a year-old alliance on GPS equipment to cover the fast-growing business jet and regional carrier markets. Under the agreement, Trimble will supply HT9000 and HT9100 GPS Navigation Management Systems, while Honeywell will handle marketing, sales and support in an arrangement identical to one announced at last year's Paris Air Show covering the HT9100 for airline use (BA, June 26/276).
