BELL Model 214ST helicopters (Docket No. 95-SW-26-AD; Amdt. 39-9561; AD 96-07-12) - requires, for Model 214ST helicopters with certain tailboom assemblies and a certain emergency float kit installed, initial and repetitive inspections of the tailboom for cracks until modifications of the tailboom are accomplished. This amendment is prompted by several reports of cracks in the lower aft skin of the tailboom assembly.
A FORMER AIR FORCE OFFICER, J.C. Johns, was named "product lead" for FAA's Global Positioning System (GPS) team. Since coming to FAA in 1992, Johns has been working on development of the wide area augmentation system (WAAS). Johns replaces Joe Dorfler, who left the agency earlier this year to join the Air Transport Association as program manager-air traffic technology applications (BA, Feb. 5/59).
SOCATA TBM-700 airplanes (Docket No. 95-CE-67-AD) - proposes to require installing of four rivets on the right side of the rudder and drilling drainage holes at the areas of the elevators and rudder. This proposal is prompted by reports of water accumulating in the areas of the elevators and rudder and a report of a bonding defect between the skin and rudder rear spar on the affected airplanes.
PRATT&WHITNEY CANADA and French engine manufacturer SNECMA signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop and market a new turbofan engine in the 12,000- to 16,000-pound thrust class. The two companies said they will "leverage their respective technologies, industrial capabilities and global customer support presence to provide the most competitive, cost- effective engine for 70- to 90-passenger turbofan powered regional aircraft."
DAVID OPPENHEIMER was appointed vice president of finance for AlliedSignal Aerospace's Marketing, Sales&Service business. Oppenheimer will head the MS&S finance team.
RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT, which delivered 64 civil aircraft in the first quarter, also shipped 11 military aircraft during the first three months of 1996. The company shipped two Beech King Air B200 RC-12K aircraft and nine Beechjet 400T Jayhawks. Cessna Aircraft, which delivered 45 aircraft to civil customers, also shipped an OT-47B military aircraft.
Hudson General Corp., the airport fuel and service provider, is the object to a takeover proposal by a group that includes Swissair. A group of investors led by Joel N. Levy/Peter M. Schulte, LLC offered to acquire all outstanding shares of Hudson General for $44 per share in cash in what was described by the offerors as "a friendly transaction which would bring substantial value directly to Hudson General's shareholders." Levy/Schulte said potential investors include Carl Marks&Co., Inc. and Swissair who would make an equity investment of $25 million.
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION abolished radio licensing requirements and fees for domestic aircraft radios and aviation ground radios. The FCC, which issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to eliminate the licensing requirements and fees, has implemented the rule on an interim basis, pending final action after the May 20 close of the comment period. Aircraft owners previously were required to register aircraft radio equipment with the FCC every 10 years at a cost of up to $115 per transmitter.
ADRIENNE STEVENS was promoted to vice president, sales and marketing for BFGoodrich Aerospace Avionics Systems. Stevens joined the company in 1993 as a sales representative to the regional airline market and was promoted to manager of sales and contracts for general aviation in 1994.
FAA ADMINISTRATOR David Hinson won't do anything to keep Chicago Mayor Richard Daley from closing Meigs Field in Chicago (BA, March 25/134), and now one of Daley's top legal aides has been named to head FAA's entire airports program. Transportation Secretary Federico Pena announced the appointment of Susan Kurland, deputy corporation counsel of the City of Chicago since 1988, as FAA's Associate Administrator for Airports.
CESSNA AIRCRAFT'S network of eight domestic Citation Service Centers is now open seven days a week. The maintenance facilities are in: Greensboro, N.C.; Long Beach and Sacramento, Calif.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Newburgh, N.Y.; Orlando, Fla.; Toledo, Ohio; and, Wichita, Kan. A ninth facility in San Antonio, Texas is under construction and expected to be operational by yearend.
Textron, Inc. said revenues were up 15 percent in the first quarter and officials credited the strong performance of Bell Helicopter Textron and Cessna Aircraft with helping achieve those results. Textron reported revenue of $2.6 billion and net income of $125 million for the quarter ended March 30, increases of nine percent and 15 percent, respectively. "Double-digit revenue and income growth in our aircraft and industrial segments were the drivers behind our strong first quarter results," said Textron Chairman James F. Hardymon.
K-C AVIATION TRANSPORTATION SERVICES added a Hawker 700 to its base in West Palm Beach, Fla. The addition of the Hawker brings K-C Aviation's fleet at West Palm Beach to five, including three Hawker 1000s and another Hawker 700. K-C Aviation expects to have the most recent Hawker 700 available for charter services by the end of next month. K-C Aviation's Transportation Services Division manages a fleet of more than 35 aircraft throughout the U.S.
SIMUFLITE TRAINING INTERNATIONAL received FAA Level D approval for its Gulfstream IV-SP full flight simulator. The simulator also qualified as Level II under International Qualification Test Guide standards. The Gulfstream IV-SP simulator, manufactured by CAE Electronics Ltd. of Montreal, Canada, is the second SimuFlite simulator to receive Level D approval. The simulator incorporates CAE's Maxvue 150-degree visual system and includes a Honeywell SPZ-8000 integrated flight control system with an FMZ 2000 flight management system.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION set a June 7 deadline for comments on a proposed rulemaking covering inspection and possible replacement of crankshafts in 46,000 Textron Lycoming engines (BA, March 25/133). The proposed AD, which applies to all Lycoming 235 and 290 series and certain 320 and 360 series reciprocating engines, would require repetitive inspections of the crankshaft inner diameter for corrosion and cracks and replacement of cracked crankshafts.
KIMBERLY-CLARK CORPORATION'S board of directors approved the sale of the company's remaining 20 percent interest in Midwest Express Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Midwest Express Airlines. Kimberly-Clark, which owned all of the carrier's stock at one time, previously sold off its majority interest. The remaining 1.3 million shares will be sold through a secondary public offering.
AVIATION SALES COMPANY, Miami, Fla., filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission for an initial public offering of 3.25 million shares of its common stock, 500,000 of which are being offered by a selling stockholder. Managing underwriters for the offering are Smith Barney Inc., Alex Brown&Sons and Sanders Morris Mundy, Inc. Aviation Sales Company is a redistributor of aircraft spare parts to airlines, air cargo carriers and maintenance and repair facilities.
FOKKER Model F28 Mark 0100 (Docket No. 92-NM-71-AD) - revises an earlier proposal that would have required reinforcing the lower right-hand wing skin at the fueling adapter. That proposal was prompted by test results that revealed fatigue cracks can develop in the lower right-hand wing skin at the attachment bolt holes of the fueling adapter. This action revises the proposed rule by citing the latest service information. This action also revises the applicability of the proposed AD.
NATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION published a manual, Closing The Books On Federal Excise Taxes, designed to answer questions for aviation business operators about the expiration of federal excise taxes on aviation transportation and fuel at the end of last year. "The confusion over the expiration of the aviation excise taxes has reached epidemic proportions," said Andy Cebula, vice president of government and industry affairs for NATA.
FLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL reported record earnings and revenues for the first quarter ended March 31. Operating revenues were up 14.6 percent to $89.2 million and net income rose 3.4 percent to $20.8 million, an increase of $702,000 over the same period last year. A.L. Uelstchi, chairman and president, cited continued demand for business aviation, airline and government training. FSI said government revenues included approximately $7 million related to an increase in a U.S. Air Force contract which adversely affected overall profit margins.
International overflights, obstruction surveys and security fees are three potential targets for new user fees, but FAA Administrator David Hinson told a congressional committee last week that those fees are only a few of several the agency is considering in its request for $150 million in user fees. Hinson, who testified Tuesday before the House transportation appropriations subcommittee, was not specific about FAA's plans, but called international overflights, obstruction surveys, and security fees three areas where "clearly, we'd go...first."
LARRY SMITH was named vice president of human resources and administration for SabreTech Inc., a subsidiary of Sabreliner Corp. Smith will be responsible for human resources for Sabre-Tech units in Phoenix, Ariz., Miami, Fla. and Amarillo, Texas.
EXECUTIVE JET CENTER, which completed a $1 million building renovation and opened for business at Ft. Lauderdale Executive Airport in January, said it has doubled the fuel sales volume of the previous fixed-base operator and projects monthly fuel sales of 100,000 gallons by yearend. The new facility, at the north end of the field, provides Phillips 66 Jet A fuel, in addition to complete pilot facilities. The company added 200,000 square feet of ramp space and four hangars that can accommodate up to 15 large jets. Executive Jet hopes to add a fifth hangar this year.
AEROSONIC CORPORATION, Clearwater, Fla., said Herbert J. Frank, 73, the company's founder and chairman of the board, died April 18. Frank, who also served as president and chief executive, founded Aerosonic in 1953. The company, which designs and produces aircraft flight and navigation instruments, has 300 employees. Aerosonic reported revenues of $24 million last year.
NASA ADMINISTRATOR Daniel Goldin plans to cut the number of employees at the agency's Washington, D.C. headquarters by half over the next 18 months. Currently NASA has 1,430 headquarters personnel and was operating under a directive to cut that number to approximately 1,100 by October 2000. The new plan will see employment cut to 650 or 700 by Oct. 1, 1997.
