STANDARD&POOR'S revised its ratings outlook on BE Aerospace Inc. to negative from stable after news that the company signed a definitive agreement to purchase seat-maker Burns Aerospace. The rating affects $125 million in debt.
ERA Aviation, Inc., Anchorage, Alaska, said it completed the purchase of certain assets of Alaska Helicopters, Inc. for approximately $10 million. ERA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Rowan Companies, Inc., Houston, Tex., said the purchases includes the hangar and office space adjacent to ERA's existing facilities at Anchorage International Airport, 15 Bell helicopters and related spare parts. ERA paid $3 million in cash, with the balance in a promissory note due December 1996.
ROBERT MANIGOLD was appointed vice president, human resources and administration, for ARINC. Manigold joined ARINC in 1985 as a senior human resources representative and in 1994, was promoted to senior director, human resources. Before joining ARINC, Manigold was a senior associate with the Annapolis-based management consultant and executive search firm of Kors, Marlar, Savage&Associates.
NATIONAL AIRCRAFT RESALE ASSOCIATION said its membership topped 50 with the addition of three new associate members - Fleet Credit Corp., International Jet Interiors and Smith&Moore. Fleet Credit Corp., a subsidiary of Fleet Financial Group, provides aircraft financing to aircraft purchasers and lessees nationwide. International Jet Interiors, an aircraft modification center based at Islip MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma, N.Y., specializes in corporate jet interiors.
SOCIETY OF AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERS, INC. will hold its 1996 SAE Airframe Finishing, Maintenance and Repair Conference Exposition April 29-May 2 at the Marina Hotel in Jacksonville, Fla. The technical program will focus on airframe and component paint processes, continued airworthiness of transport and commuter aircraft, non-destructive testing/inspection, maintenance issues related to de-icing and refueling and maintenance implications and regulatory uses of SAE documents. For more information, contact SAE at (412) 772-7131.
MCCAULEY Model C35, C72, C74, C75, C80, C86, C87, C92 and C93 series propellers (Docket No. 94-ANE-47; Amdt. 39-9437; AD 95-24-05) - requires initial and repetitive visual and dye penetrant inspections of the propeller hub for cracks. This action 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. This amendment is prompted by reports of cracked propeller hubs.
TEXTRON LYCOMING 235 series, 290 series, and certain 320 and 360 series reciprocating engines (Docket No. 94-ANE-44) - proposes to require initial and repetitive inspections of the crankshaft inner diameter for corrosion and cracks, and replacement of cracked crankshafts with a serviceable part. This proposal permits operation of engines with crankshafts that are found to have corrosion pits, but are free of cracks, provided that repetitive inspections are performed until the next engine overhaul or five years after the initial inspection, whichever occurs first.
CENTURY FLIGHT SYSTEMS INC., Mineral Wells, Texas, received supplemental type certification from FAA for installation of the company's Century I autopilot in the Aviat Husky A-1.
FAIRCHILD SA226 series airplanes equipped with a Part No. 27-55001-229 actuator assembly (Docket No. 95-CE-25-AD; Amdt. 39-9452; AD 95-25-07) - requires replacement of the main landing gear door actuator tang and associated hardware with improved parts. This action is prompted by reports of the main landing gear doors hanging up and locking the landing gear links.
MORRIS COATE was named Gulfstream program manager for Midcoast Aviation. Coate previously served as manager of technical service at Midcoast-Little Rock and in St. Louis as NASA production control supervisor for the modification of a Gulfstream II into a shuttle training aircraft.
AVTEC, INC., Cahokia, Ill., added three employees. D. Chris Heredia, a 20- year industry veteran, was named vice president and general manager. Heredia most recently was vice president for JetBrokers and also has experience with Atlantic Aviation and Midcoast Aviation. James Welch joined Avtec's technical service sales department. Welch previously was manager of maintenance for Southwestern Bell Corp. and maintenance technician for Midcoast Aviation and Jet Corp. Jim Wilcox was appointed manager of avionics.
FOKKER Model F27 Mark 050 and Model F28 Mark 0100 series airplanes (Docket No. 95-NM-70-AD) - proposes to require an inspection to verify that adequate clearance exists between the insulation screen and the two adjacent terminal bolts and replacement of the circuit breaker terminal bolts with new bolts, if necessary. This proposal is prompted by a report that circuit breaker terminal bolts that were too long were discovered installed in the circuit breaker panels.
Federal Aviation Administration has extended until Feb. 12 the comment period for proposed regulations for pilot, flight and ground instructor, and pilot school certification (BA, Aug. 14/67). Helicopter Association International requested the extension, saying that the proposal contains several far-reaching changes and that "the sheer bulk and detail of those changes warrant more than 120 days to prepare well-reasoned comments," FAA said. For more information on the proposal, contact John Lynch in the General Aviation and Commercial Division at (202) 267-3844.
Robert G. Lambert, 65, who headed Dallas-based Aviall for nearly 20 years until his retirement three years ago, has taken over as president and chief executive of the company. Aviall said he replaced Marshall B. Taylor, who, the company said, "resigned to pursue other interests."
A SEMINAR ON "Business Aviation and Taxes" sponsored by the National Business Aircraft Association is scheduled for Jan. 12 at the Ft. Lauderdale Marina Marriott. For registration information about the seminar, which will be conducted by Nel Sanders, NBAA's senior manager of state and tax issues, call (202) 783-9263.
Citing the potentially "wide reaching effects on the Part 135 industry," the National Air Transportation Association asked FAA to extend the comment period on a proposal to implement more restrictive flight and duty time standards for commercial air carrier crew members. The NPRM, which was announced last month, would base flight and duty limits on the amount of time pilots and other crew members are on duty, rather than the current system based on flight hours (BA, Dec. 18/263).
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION issued special conditions for Beech King Air 200 and 300 series airplanes modified by Elliott Aviation Technical Products Development, Inc. of Moline, Ill. Elliott Aviation applied for supplemental type certificate approval to modify the airplanes with digital avionics including an electronic flight instrument system. FAA said the special conditions are necessary because applicable regulations are not adequate to ensure protection of the avionics from the effects of high intensity radiated fields.
SEVERAL TEXTRON DIVISIONS, including Cessna Aircraft and Bell Helicopter, will provide logistical support for participants in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Ga. Textron, which signed on as an official sponsor of the Olympic Games, said it will provide a fleet of 19 dedicated helicopters, a number of fixed-wing aircraft and nearly 1,000 golf carts and personnel and cargo carriers (from its E-Z-GO division) to carry staff and officials during this summer's games.
The Federal Aviation Administration and a number of other government and industry partners will use the occasion of the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta to demonstrate the capabilities of satellite navigation, data link and other technologies for helicopter operators. FAA will spend about $2 million in the Atlanta area for temporary duty personnel, overtime, security enhancements and installation and operation of four mobile air traffic control towers from July 15 through Aug. 9. An additional 75 employees will be on temporary duty before and during the Olympics.
ONE OF THE FIRST recommendations from the National Academy of Public Administration's study of National Air and Space Museum operations is the speedy appointment of a new director "who can implement changes in the organization." Smithsonian Secretary I. Michael Heyman, who requested the study, named a seven-member committee to recommend a short list. Several industry groups have suggested former NTSB member and FAA Administrator Donald Engen for the job (BA, July 17/24).
ELLIOTT AVIATION won FAA approval for two supplemental type certificates for Cessna Citation business jets. The STCs cover installation of AlliedSignal's Mk VI ground proximity warning system (GPWS) and CAS67 traffic alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS II) on Model 550 S550, 551 and 560 Citations. Elliott, headquartered in Moline, Ill., also is developing an STC to cover use of AlliedSignal's Mk VII GPWS in several Citation models. The Mk VII unit includes windshear detection, annunciation and recovery guidance capabilities.
Garrett Aviation Services is marketing a new supplemental type certificate for operators of Garrett 731-powered JetStar business jets that will permit those aircraft to meet FAR Part 36 Stage 3 noise regulations. The STC was issued to Star 3 STC, Inc., a company formed for the purpose of acquiring the STC, which in turn has signed an agreement making Garrett Aviation Services the sole marketing agent.
KAMAN CORPORATION, the parent company of Kaman Aerospace Corp., celebrated its 50th anniversary in December. The company was founded by Charles H. Kaman in 1945, who left his position as an aerodynamicist at the Hamilton Standard division of what was then United Aircraft Corp. The company began operations in an old gymnasium at Bradley Field in Connecticut, with a financial stake of $2,000 and a handful of employees, developing the K-125 helicopter. Now headquartered in Bloomfield, Conn., the company's eight operating divisions are widely diverse.
AIR TOUR OPERATORS expect 1996 will be challenging as they attempt to ward off additional federal regulation spurred by environmental interests. In addition to an ongoing rulemaking effort by FAA and the National Park Service to develop a national policy regarding park overflights, FAA has been asked to adopt a preemptive ban on overflights of Rocky Mountain National Park, located just northwest of Boulder, Colo., even though no air tour flights are operating there.
British engine maker Rolls-Royce will institute a number of executive changes over the next several months, including installation of a new chief executive. The current CEO, Sir Terence Harrison, will retire April 30 and will be succeeded by John Rose, currently managing director of the Rolls- Royce Aerospace Group. Rose will be succeeded as head of the company's Aerospace Group by Colin Green, currently vice president-business operations for Allison Engine Company. Rolls-Royce acquired Allison in March for $525 million (BA, March 27/130).
