NEW PIPER AIRCRAFT Model PA-46-350P airplanes (Docket No. 95-CE-29-AD; Amdt. 39-9432; AD 95-23-12) - requires installation of a placard (to the right of the manifold pressure gauge in full view of the pilot) that specifies manifold pressure limits, and incorporation of a revision to the limitations section of the Pilot's Operating Handbook. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent fatigue damage to the propeller caused by operating above certain manifold pressure limits.
The U.S. aerospace industry "rebounded sharply" this year from its years-long slump as the backlog of commercial transport aircraft increased by $3.4 billion to $71 billion through the first three quarters, Don Fuqua, president of Aerospace Industries Association, said last week. Airlines ordered 215 commercial jets through September compared with 79 in all of 1994, he said. "We do not, however, expect an immediate boom in transport production.
ROBERT CRANDALL, chairman of American Airlines' parent AMR Corp., addressed the current opportunity to achieve enactment of FAA reform legislation during a Wings Club speech Wednesday in New York, urging formation of a broad-based industry task force to "define a financing approach at least minimally acceptable to all." Crandall and his lobbying forces have been backing legislation introduced by Sen. John McCain (R- Ariz.) that would make FAA completely user funded through a new series of taxes - including levies on business jets (BA, Nov. 13/210).
HOWMET CORPORATION appointed Norman Silverberg vice president-contracts and administration. Silverberg, who has served in a variety of capacities since joining Howmet in 1985, most recently was vice president-marketing and corporate planning. He also has been president of Rex Precision Products and senior vice president of Arwood Corp. In his new position, Silverberg will be responsible for the negotiation and administration of technological agreements, joint ventures and related business arrangements with third parties.
Just two months after announcing an agreement to buy Howmet Corp., one of the world's largest manufacturers of investment cast components, Thiokol Corp. and Carlyle Corp. said Thursday they had completed the $750 million transaction (BA, Oct. 16/164). The sale of its turbine components business by French conglomerate Pechiney International includes Howmet and its subsidiaries, along with the Cercast Group.
Pratt&Whitney Canada's PW306A turbofan, selected to power Israel Aircraft Industries' Galaxy business jet, received Transport Canada certification, officials announced last week. The PW306A, at 6,000 pounds of thrust, is touted as the "most powerful turbofan engine ever built by P&WC," officials said. P&WC also said the PW306A "is the first engine to be certified to the stringent 1996 emission requirements in this thrust class." The engine is part of the PW300 family jointly developed by P&WC and MTU of Germany.
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.
The nation's large scheduled airlines have agreed to share operational data from their aircraft fleets with the government in an attempt to spot unsafe trends. Airlines representatives will meet Jan. 22 in Washington with data from quick access recorders and provide it to the FAA. FAA Administrator David Hinson, in an interview with BA sister publication Aviation Daily, praised the union pilots who agreed to permit the agency access to in-flight recorded data as a means of improving safety.
BEECH Model C90A airplanes equipped with an optional Beech electric trim system or a Collins autopilot system (Docket No. 95-CE-82-AD) - proposes to require modification of the elevator electric trim tab actuator assembly. This proposal is prompted by a failure of the elevator electric trim tab system on a Beech C90A. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent possible failure of the elevator electric trim tab system, which could cause loss of airplane maneuverability and possible loss of control of the airplane.
CESSNA AIRCRAFT presented the first of 10 $150,000 checks to the National Air and Space Museum Thursday as part of a 10-year agreement to sponsor a major new exhibit. The $1.5 million will fund the design, operation and maintenance of the "Explainers" program, part of the new hands-on "How Things Fly" gallery. The new program, which will incorporate a Cessna Model 150, will employ college students to explain and demonstrate interactive devices to illustrate concepts such as the four forces of flight.
The Federal Aviation Administration and industry groups - including both the airlines and pilots - last week indicated they could support a National Transportation Safety Board recommendation that airlines share pilot training records, but warned against "rushing to judgment and action" before all issues surrounding such an information exchange are resolved (BA, Nov. 13/209).
ROCKWELL'S COLLINS COMMERCIAL AVIONICS received FAA technical standard order approval for a supersonic traffic alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS) antenna. The antenna, developed with Chelton Electrostatic for use on the Concorde, includes a radome built from an advanced thermoplastic with a preformed foam center. Collins officials said the radome underwent "extensive stress, airflow and temperature analysis" at the Rockwell Science Center. FAA certification of the antenna follows similar approval from the European DGAC in October.
GARY MILLER was named regional sales manager for Garrett Aviation Services' facility at Van Nuys, Calif. Airport. Miller will oversee sales of maintenance, interior and avionics to Gulfstream operators.
CHISHOLM-HIBBING, MINN. AIRPORT officials are seeking FAA authorization to impose a $3 passenger facility charge from June 1, 1996 to Oct. 1, 2004. The PFC is estimated to generate $340,667 and will help fund airfield and terminal improvements. Officials have requested that air taxi/commercial operators be exempt from the collection requirements of the PFC. For more information, contact Gordon Nelson in the Minneapolis Airports District Office at (612) 725-4358.
The April 27 crash of a homebuilt aircraft that killed aviation pioneer Steve Wittman and his wife occurred after the aircraft broke up in flight, the National Transportation Safety Board said last week. The board's probable cause statement blamed "aileron-wing flutter induced by separation at the trailing edge of an unbonded portion of wing fabric at an aileron wing station," adding that "the debonding of the wing fabric was a result of improper installation."
FAIRCHILD AIRCRAFT SA226 and SA227 series airplanes (Docket No. 95-CE- 01-AD; Amdt. 39-9441; AD 95-24-11) - requires installation of foreign object damage barriers in the floorboards of the cockpit between the pedestal and floor from Fuselage Station (FS) 79.38 to FS 88.06 and on the outboard forward edge of the left-hand floorboards at FS 79.38. This action is prompted by two incidents of objects falling through openings in the cockpit floor and jamming the elevator controls and the yoke.
Avio-Diepen management last week agreed to acquire the company from parent Fokker and operate it as an independent entity. Details of the transaction were not disclosed. Avio-Diepen, a distributor of spare parts to airlines and maintenance centers, sees the transaction as a strategic move to better position itself in the worldwide market. "Fokker's ownership of Avio-Diepen was rather confusing to the market because of the popular misconception that we sold spare parts exclusively for Fokker aircraft.
SYDNEY REAMES was appointed vice president-marketing for Saft America's Industrial Battery Division. Reames joined Saft in 1991 as director of sales and marketing for the Power Sources Division.
BFGoodrich acquired several de-icing product lines and associated technology from Lucas Aerospace. The products, most of which are standard equipment on regional and business aircraft, include regulator/reliever valves, check valves, water separators, timers and air ejector and distributor valves. They will now become part of the products and services of the BFGoodrich Aerospace Ice Protection Systems Division.
LYNCHBURG, VA., is soliciting proposals and qualifications from interested parties for the operation of a full service fixed-base operation at Lynchburg Regional Airport. For proposal documents, contact Lynchburg Regional Airport, Airport Manager's Office, 4308 Wards Road, Suite 100, Lynchburg, Va. 24502; telephone: (804) 582-1154; fax: (804) 239-9027.
THE DAY AFTER Crandall's call for a generally acceptable financing scheme, representatives of low-cost airlines, regional carriers, manufacturers of large and small airliners, business aircraft manufacturers and operators and other aviation interests held what attendees called a very promising meeting in Washington, D.C. as part of an effort to do just what Crandall suggested.
GEORGIA-PACIFIC CORP. purchased a Jetstream 41 Corporate Shuttle from JSX Capital Corp. The aircraft interior, which will have a 14-passenger layout, will be done by K-C Aviation in Appleton, Wis. The aircraft will be based at Fulton County Airport-Brown Field in Atlanta, Ga., where it will be used to fly company personnel on scheduled flights five days per week to the company's mill sites. Georgia-Pacific has been operating a shuttle service within its flight department since 1990.
RONALD PATRICK, vice president of distribution strategy and development for Aviall, was elected president of the Aviation Distributors and Manufacturers Association. Patrick has been active with ADMA for 17 years, most recently serving as vice president for two years. He also has chaired and been a member of several ADMA committees.
BOMBARDIER AVIATION SERVICES was named a Designated Alteration Station. Bombardier Aviation Service's Denver facility will house the DAS authority and provide engineering services to the entire network. The DAS authority allows Bombardier Aviation Services to engineer and approve supplemental type certificates on airframe and avionics modifications. Bombardier Aviation Services, a Learjet unit, provides factory service for Bombardier business aircraft as well as other aircraft and engine models. The unit operates facilities in Denver, Ft.
