JETSTREAM HP137 Mk1, Series 200 and Models 3101 and 3201 airplanes (Docket No. 95-CE-10-AD) - proposes to supersede an AD that requires repetitive inspection of the nose landing gear actuator support structure and the front pressure bulkhead and replacement of any cracked part. This proposal would retain the repetitive inspections, and would require repetitive inspections of the nose landing gear retraction jack upper mounting fitting and attachment hardware for security bolt failure or for bolts with improper torque levels.
Atlantic Aviation Corp. said its maintenance personnel overwhelmingly ratified a new labor agreement that extends into 1999. The new pact covers some 200 technicians and maintenance personnel represented by the United Auto Workers at Atlantic's principal maintenance facility and headquarters in Wilmington, Del. Those workers perform a wide range of maintenance, custom manufacturing, avionics installation, interior refurbishment and painting of corporate aircraft.
LINDA DASCHLE, FAA's deputy administrator, said the agency will tap the accumulated balance in the Airport and Airway Trust Fund to finance the agency's operations and acquisitions until the ticket, waybill and departure tax levies are reinstated.
NEW PIPER PA-31, PA-31-325, PA-31-350, PA-31P, PA-31T1 and PA-31T airplanes (Docket No. 90-CE-59-AD) - proposes to supersede an AD that requires repetitive inspections of the main landing gear inboard door hinges and attachment angles for cracks and replacement of any cracked main landing gear inboard door hinge or attachment angle. FAA's policy on aging commuter-class aircraft is to eliminate, or in certain instances, reduce the number of certain repetitive short-interval inspections when improved parts or modifications are available.
Learjet filled four management positions responsible for sales, public relations, and aviation services. Robert Butcher was promoted to sales director, responsible for South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia. He joined the company in January 1992 as a sales engineer and most recently served as a sales support administrator. In his new position, Butcher reports to Learjet regional Vice President Donald Bauer. James Flynn was named manager of used aircraft sales.
FAA OFFICIALS tell BA they're sticking with a Jan. 1, 1997 date for implementing new Reduced Vertical Separation Minimums (RVSM) for flights operating over the North Atlantic, even though many corporate aircraft that regularly transit the North Atlantic will not be able to obtain, install or get FAA approval of navigation equipment that will meet the stricter standards by those dates. Implementation of RVSM is designed to permit 1,000-foot vertical separation at altitudes between FL 290 and FL 410.
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE and Rolls-Royce extended the warranty for Tay 611-8 engines on Gulfstream IV-SP aircraft to five years/2,500 hours, up from four years/2,000 hours. The change, effective immediately, reflects the reliability and low level of maintenance required on the engines, officials said.
AN ELECTRONIC fuel price information service is being marketed to Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association members through AOPA ONLINE on CompuServe. AOPA said its Fillup Flyer Fuel Finder service offers data on the lowest fuel prices in four different reports: route-based; multiple destinations; by state, listing the 10 fixed-base operators with the lowest fuel prices; area, listing fuel prices within 150 miles of home base or fuel stop. AOPA said the fee for the service ranges from about $5 to $10 per report.
MAYRA AUSTIN was appointed regional sales manager, Latin America for UNC International. Austin, who joined UNC in 1993, will represent UNC Accessory Services and UNC Airwork's Auxiliary Power Unit throughout the Latin American region. She will be based in Miami, Fla.
OFFICE OF AEROSPACE at the Commerce Department is sponsoring an April 2-10 trade mission to Ankara and Istanbul, Turkey and Cairo, Egypt. Ellit Mottur, deputy assistant secretary of commerce for technology and aerospace industries, will head the delegation. The mission will feature one-on-one appointments with government and industry officials and site tours of aviation facilities. For more information, call Audrey Smerkanich in the Office of Aerospace at (202) 482-6235.
THE COST of the budget gridlock between Congress and the White House was expected to increase sharply with the advent of the new year. Barring any last-minute agreement to end the budgetary stalemate, a variety of excise taxes on aviation were due to expire Dec. 31.
LITTON INDUSTRIES signed a definitive agreement in mid-December with Black&Decker to purchase PRC Corp. for $425 million in cash. PRC, based in McLean, Va., had estimated sales of $720 million last year. John Leonis, Litton's chairman and CEO, said his company struck the deal because of its interest in PRC's information technology and systems integration expertise.
National Air Transportation Association President James Coyne made a successful landing at Steamboat Springs, Colo. last week after the No. 2 engine on his Beech Baron failed. Coyne, his wife, Holly, and three children were about 25 miles from Hayden Airport enroute to a ski vacation when the engine blew, covering the right cowling with oil. "It's not something you like to see, when the oil pressure drops to zero," Coyne said, "and it drops real fast."
UNITED PARCEL SERVICE said Teamsters Union members rejected a proposed five-year agreement that would have covered more than 800 UPS aircraft maintenance workers, based primarily in the Louisville, Ky., area. UPS said members of Teamsters Local 2727 rejected a contract offer that would have boosted wages by $3 per hour over five years - from $24.32 per hour to $27.32 per hour for senior aircraft mechanics.
HOUSE SCIENCE COMMITTEE Chairman Robert S. Walker (R-Pa.) announced he will not seek re-election this year, leaving Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. (R- Wis.) next in line for the chairmanship. Walker offered no reason for not seeking re-election after 10 terms in the House.
AMR COMBS opened a new transient aircraft storage hangar at Denver International Airport Friday, a 23,000 square-foot facility that officials said "is virtually sold out through the winter." AMR Combs has been taking reservations since they announced plans to build the new hangar in September. The company intends to add another 80,000 square feet of hangar space at DIA over the next three to five years, but officials say that schedule may be advanced based on demand from corporate pilots.
KOSOLA AND ASSOCIATES, Albany, Ga., plans to offer an FAA-approved fuselage modification kit that would eliminate the repetitive inspections and/or original parts replacement in compliance with an FAA airworthiness directive (AD 95-12-01) on Piper Model PA-25 series Pawnee aircraft. The modification would cover replacement of the original wing forward spar tubular fuselage attach cluster with a new wing attachment cluster. For more information, contact Lorinza Henry or James Sexton at Kosola and Associates, P.O. Box 3529, Albany, Ga.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, noting that the industry-wide random drug testing rate continues to be less than one percent positive, has decided to continue requiring random tests of 25 percent of covered employees through 1996. The agency formerly required that 50 percent be tested, but the new level still is far above the 10 percent test rate advocated by industry.
THE DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR also said the agency plans to meet an April 1 deadline to establish procurement and personnel reforms called for in the fiscal 1996 transportation appropriations bill. She said eight working groups - comprising outside consultants and FAA personnel - have been formed to address issues raised by the reform provisions of the legislation. The objective is to make FAA "the highest performing [government] agency at the lowest cost," according to officials.
Summary: Pursuant to FAA's rulemaking provisions governing the application, processing, and disposition of petitions for exemption (14 CFR Part 11), this notice contains a summary of certain petitions seeking relief from specified requirements of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR Chapter I), dispositions of certain petitions previously received, and corrections. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities.
BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON Model 206B and 206L helicopters (Docket No. 93-SW-04-AD; Amdt. 39-9438; AD 95-24-06) - supersedes an existing AD that requires a revision to the Limitations section of the FAA-approved Supplemental Type Certificate Rotorcraft Flight Manual Supplement until replacement of the engine power-out warning sensors on certain Model 206B and 206L helicopters equipped with Allison 250-C20R engines. This amendment also requires a revision to the Limitations section, but removes the requirement for replacement of the engine power-out warning sensor.
The U.S. Air Force issued a request for proposals and is seeking bidders for design and installation of upgraded avionics on the venerable T-38 Talon trainer. The winning contractor will have total system performance responsibility and receive three separate contracts, according to the USAF Aeronautical System Center.
THE BEST IDEA to promote understanding of aviation and air transportation is eligible for a $10,000 prize offered by The Alfred L. and Constance Wolf Aviation Fund of Philadelphia. The Wolf Fund is sponsoring its fifth annual competition to "promote new and creative ideas to make general aviation safer, less expensive, more fun and more useful," and this year is seeking proposals for "The Promotion of Public Understanding of Aviation and Air Transportation." Ideas involving the public benefits of general aviation air transportation are specifically being sought.
ROBINSON Model R22 series helicopters (Docket No. 95-SW-06-AD; Amdt. 39-9425; AD 95-23-05) - supersedes an existing AD that requires an inspection and repetitive visual checks for slippage of the tail rotor drive and replacement of the tail rotor gear-box, if necessary. This amendment requires disassembly of the T/R gearbox to verify the installation of the input and output shaft keys between the input and output pinions and their respective shafts.
SENSENICH Models M76EMM, M7EMMS, 76EM8, and 76EM8S() metal propellers (Docket No. 95-ANE-03) - proposes to revise an existing AD that restricts operators from continuously operating the propeller at engine speeds from 2,150 and 2,350 revolutions per minute (RPM). This action would delete propellers installed on certain Textron Lycoming O-360 series reciprocating engines with solid crankshafts from this requirement, and update the referenced Sensenich service bulletin with the latest revision.
