EUROCOPTER Model BO-105, BO-105A, BO-105C, BO-105S and BO 105 LS A-1 helicopters (Docket No. 95-SW-14-AD; Amdt. 39-9570; AD 96-08-04) - requires a ground test and inspection of the tandem hydraulic switch-over system for component wear and parts replacement, if necessary. This amendment is prompted by incidents involving Model BO-105 series helicopters which, during the switch-over from hydraulic system 1 to hydraulic system 2, a three-inch drop in the collective occurred, caused by component wear in the switch-over system.
MOONEY Model M20J airplanes (Docket No. 95-CE-102-AD; Amdt. 39-9575; AD 95- 26-16 R1) - publishes AD 95-26-16 R1, which was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of certain Mooney Model M20 airplanes. This AD requires repetitive inspections of the alternate air door assembly to ensure a cotter pin exists and is secure, and replacement of the cotter pin if it is missing or is not secure. It also provides the option of incorporating an alternate air door plate assembly of improved design as a terminating action for the repetitive inspections.
Less than a week after it announced plans to cancel a $475 million Wide Area Augmentation System contract with Wilcox Electric, the Federal Aviation Administration awarded the new contract to one of Wilcox's subcontractors - Hughes Aircraft. FAA Thursday issued a 180-day bridge contract to Hughes on a single-source basis after it terminated the WAAS contract with Wilcox for the "convenience of the government" (BA, April 29/197).
COOPER AVIATION INDUSTRIES established a new California office and warehouse for its Cooper Express service, which provides overnight delivery of aircraft parts to dealers and fixed-base operators. The Cooper Aviation Supply facility is located at 589 Whitney St., San Leandro, Calif. 94577; telephone: (800) 934-2200.
MCCAULEY Model C35, C72, C74, C75, C80, C86, C87, C92 and C93 series propellers (Docket No. 94-ANE-47; Amdt. 39-9566; AD 95-24-05 R1) - revises an existing AD that requires initial and repetitive visual and dye penetrant inspections of the propeller hub for cracks. This existing AD also requires a one-time eddy current inspection for cracks in the threaded areas of the propeller hub followed by modification of the hub to contain oil with red dye as a terminating action to the repetitive inspections.
SAAB Model SF340A and 340B series airplanes (Docket No. 95-NM-243-AD) - proposes to require installation of the automatic flight idle stop on the control quadrant in the flight compartment. This proposal is prompted by several reports of one or both power levers being moved aft of the flight idle stop on approach. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent such movement of the power lever(s) during flight, which could result in the loss of power to one or both engines, as well as severe engine damage.
FAA Administrator David Hinson last week endorsed House legislation that would prohibit children from piloting aircraft during record-setting flights and said the agency is studying the need for further restrictions on child pilots. The legislation, H.R.3267, would require a pilot's license and thereby establish a mandatory age of at least 17 before a person could fly an aircraft in attempting to set an aviation record.
Robert Brown, who has headed North American aerospace operations for Canadian conglomerate Bombardier since 1992, has been named president and chief operating officer of a new Bombardier Aerospace Group that will encompass all the company's aerospace operations.
ALLISON named Terry Graham executive vice president of business operations, effective May 10. Graham, previously vice president of business development and product support for Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Company, replaces Colin Green, who recently was appointed managing director of the Rolls-Royce Aerospace Group in the United Kingdom. Graham has nearly 27 years of aerospace experience, having joined Lockheed Georgia's engineering flight test department in 1969.
HONEYWELL'S Primus 1000 integrated avionics system was selected by Sino Swearingen Aircraft Co., San Antonio, Texas, for installation in the SJ30-2 entry-level business jet. The Primus 1000 features a two-tube, eight-by- seven-inch CRT electronic flight instrument system (EFIS), dual integrated avionics computers, micro air data computers, Primus II digital integrated radios and Primus 650 weather radar.
MARTY GRIER was named manager of FlightSafety International's maintenance technician learning center that is devoted to Raytheon Aircraft products. Grier previously was director of maintenance for Raytheon Aircraft Service in Wichita.
GRIMES AEROSPACE COMPANY signed a marketing alliance agreement with DAC International of Austin, Texas under which DAC will market Grimes' SunVu three-inch airline transportation instrument (ATI) liquid crystal display cockpit systems. Grimes 3ATI is in flight testing on Boeing, Douglas and Saab aircraft.
THE ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE sent a joint resolution to the administration asking for relief from the Federal Aviation Administration's flight and duty time proposal. The resolution, which passed both the state House of Representatives and Senate last month (BA, April 22/179), notes that Alaska has unique geography and weather, and says regulations and standards designed for the contiguous 48 states "must be applied flexibly in Alaska." The resolution asked FAA to exempt state operators from the proposed regulations.
OVERLAND AVIATION SERVICES of St. Louis, Mo. opened facilities on the East and West Coasts. The East Coast facility, located in Northport, N.Y., will be headed by John Kneessy. Steve Baker was named general manager of the West Coast facility, located in San Leandro, Calif. Overland overhauls and repairs oxygen cylinders, oxygen masks and oxygen regulators, fire extinguishers and other safety protection equipment in addition to replacement parts sales.
Precision Castparts Corp., Portland, Oregon, a major producer of investment castings for aerospace customers, agreed to acquire Olofsson Corp., Lansing Mich., "a company involved in the design and manufacture of a broad line of computer-controlled metalworking machine systems," in a transaction valued at $52 million. Olofsson designs and builds custom- engineered turning and boring machines used for machining operations involving precision, high-volume production. The company also machines precision metal parts and fabricates metal assemblies.
BELL Model 206L-1 helicopters with a Kratos turbine outlet temperature indicator installed (Docket No. 95-SW-35-AD) - proposes to require replacement of certain Kratos indicators. This proposal is prompted by manufacturer's tests and FAA analyses that show certain Kratos temperature indicators may incorrectly provide low-temperature readings when battery voltage is below 10 volts.
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE mated the wing and fuselage of the fifth Gulfstream V business jet. Two Gulfstream Vs are currently flying and a third aircraft is scheduled to join the flight test program shortly.
Secretary of Defense William Perry late last month ordered the Army, Navy and Air Force to begin an accelerated program to add Global Positioning System gear and flight data recorders to their aircraft in response to the fatal crash of a T-43 earlier in April that killed Commerce Secretary Ron Brown and 34 others.
FOKKER Model F27 Mark 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 and 700 series airplanes (Docket No. 95-NM-253-AD) - proposes to supersede an existing AD that requires supplemental structural inspections for fatigue cracks and repair replacement, as necessary, to ensure the continued airworthiness of those airplanes. This action would add or revise certain significant structural items for which inspection and repair or replacement is necessary.
HAWTHORNE CORPORATION, Charleston, S.C., named William J. Thrift senior vice president. An 11-year veteran of the company, Thrift was previously vice president and chief financial officer. In addition to his financial duties, Thrift has had responsibility for a number of Hawthorne's airport related operations. Now he will assume responsibility for the balance of Hawthorne Aviation's companies as well as overseeing Hawthorne Services, the government and industrial service contract unit.
JEFFREY WEEKS was promoted to district manager for The CIT Group/Industrial Financing. Weeks, previously a senior credit analyst for CIT's Southern Business Center in Virginia, will be responsible for serving customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Mississippi.
ARTAIS WEATHER CHECK was awarded a contract from the State of Illinois to provide four automated weather observing systems. The systems will be installed at Fairfield Municipal Airport, Morris Municipal Airport, Pontiac Municipal Airport and Sparta Community Airport. ARTAIS will supply AWOS III systems, which detect and report temperature, dew point, wind speed, visibility, cloud height and sky coverage.
AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION will hold its Sixth Annual Fly-In June 15 at its headquarters on Frederick Municipal Airport, Md. AOPA is using the theme "Sharing the Experience of Flying" for this year's event. AOPA officials said the Fly-In has grown larger each year, with last year's event drawing more than 500 aircraft and 5,000 participants. For more information, call AOPA at (800) 872-2672.
COLTEC INDUSTRIES will relocate its corporate office from New York City to Charlotte, N.C. by the end of the year. The decision to move corporate headquarters follows Coltec's announcement of an agreement to sell the major portion of its automotive original equipment business. Coltec is a diverse manufacturing company that produces components for a number of industries including precision turbine blades for the aerospace propulsion market.
