SAAB Model 340B airplanes (Docket No. 95-NM-67-AD; Amdt. 39-9406; AD 95-21-19) - requires inspections for cracking of the beams located over the overwing emergency exits and replacement of the beam with a new beam, if necessary. This amendment is prompted by a report that a batch of cracked beams may have been installed on these airplanes. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent cabin pressure leakage, consequent loss of cabin pressurization and reduction of the load carrying capability of the associated structure, as a result of cracked beams.
A PROPOSED FINAL DRAFT of minimum operational performance standards for Global Positioning System Wide Area Augmentation System airborne equipment will be discussed at the Dec. 1 meeting of RTCA's Technical Management Committee. The session will begin at 9 a.m. at RTCA's offices at 1140 Connecticut Ave., N.W., Suite 1020, Washington, D.C. 20036. For more information, contact the RTCA Secretariat at (202) 833-9339 or fax, (202) 933-9434.
The Federal Aviation Administration reacted cautiously and the president of the Air Line Pilots Association said the union is "deeply disappointed" in recent National Transportation Safety Board recommendations that pilot training records should be made available to FAA and prospective employers. The board issued the recommendations as a result of its investigation into the fatal crash of a Flagship Airlines/American Eagle Jetstream near Raleigh-Durham, N.C. last Dec. 13 (BA, Nov. 13/209).
The Office of the DOT Inspector General concluded that the Los Angeles Department of Airports lost up to $32.7 million in revenues to inappropriate lease terms, overpayment for city services and other forms of revenue diversion during fiscal 1992 through fiscal 1994. In a report to FAA dated Oct. 30, the IG's office said the department will continue to lose about $8.8 million a year until corrective actions are taken. Responding to the draft report, FAA had concurred with most of the IG's recommendations for corrective action.
SCHWEIZER Model 269A, 269A-1, 269B, 269C and TH-55A helicopters (Docket No. 94-SW-02-AD; Amdt. 39-9387; AD 95-21-02) - supersedes an AD requiring a one-time radiographic inspection of certain main rotor drive shafts for cracks, distortion, corrosion or other surface damage, at specified time intervals or upon the occurrence of specified conditions. This amendment requires the same inspections, but expands the applicability of certain inspections to additional models of the affected helicopters, and excludes certain main rotor drive shafts from certain inspections.
SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT and the airlines serving the facility signed a memorandum of understanding on master plan projects to be developed at the airport. Airport officials said SFO's $2.4 billion master plan construction program is one of the largest airport programs in the U.S. and one of the only ones that has airline support. The MOU covers projects slated for near-term (1995-2000) implementation. The airport has agreed to limit airline landing fees and terminal rentals to $125 million annually in 1995 constant dollars through fiscal 1999-2000.
FLIGHTCRAFT INC. said AlliedSignal designated the fixed-base chain as a factory authorized line service center for the Garrett TPE331 series of turboprop engines. Geoffrey Pence, turboprop customer service manager for Flightcraft, said "It's great to have the capability to support the AlliedSignal product line.
DASSAULT FALCON JET CORP. named Peter Taylor Aircraft Sales Pty. Ltd. to sell Falcon business jets in the Australian region. Founder Peter Taylor is based in Brisbane, Australia. He will be responsible for sales in that country along with New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Fiji.
NTSB CHAIRMAN James Hall, speaking at the Regional Airline Association's fall meeting this month, held up corporate aviation as an example "of an industry that routinely exceeds the safety regulations under which it operates." Although most corporate flights are governed by Part 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations, Hall noted that corporate aviation's safety record is closer to that of the commercial airlines than general aviation.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION has made available Advisory Circular 21-2H, Export Airworthiness Approval Procedures. The AC provides guidance on the export of aeronautical products and special requirements submitted by foreign governments. To obtain a copy of AC 21-2H, contact the Department of Transportation, Utilization and Storage Section, M443.2, 400 Seventh St., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590.
ATLANTIC AVIATION said FAA exercised the option year in an existing contract under which Atlantic will continue providing maintenance for the TFE731-5 engines on British Aerospace 125-800 aircraft. FAA operates a fleet of Hawkers as flight inspection aircraft.
TAG Aeronautics Ltd. converted options for four Global Express very- long-range business jets into firm orders, according to Bombardier officials. TAG, a major distributor of business jets in the Middle East, signed a memorandum of understanding with Bombardier two years ago that included five firm Global Express orders and options for five additional aircraft. One of those options was exercised early this year and during last week's Dubai Air Show, the two companies said the four remaining options had been converted.
AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION may be in the market for a new site for its 1996 convention. The meeting, which is expected to draw some 10,000 attendees, has been scheduled for San Jose, Calif., for some time, but association officials want guarantees from city and county officials that they will continue to operate Reid-Hillview Airport. Some local officials want to see the airport closed and the land redeveloped.
INCREASING AVAILABILITY of low-cost air service from Colorado Springs offered by Western Pacific Airlines remains a possible area of concern for Denver International Airport revenue bond ratings. Moody's Investors Service affirmed Denver's Baa rating in connection with the airport's sale of $102.425 million in revenue bonds last week.
Mercury Air Group, Inc. reported a 23 percent jump in net income for the first quarter ended Sept. 30. The company said net income was $1.23 million, compared with just over $1 million during the same period in 1994. Revenue jumped 46 percent to a record $51.8 million, compared with $35.5 million in the same 1994 period.
TANYA HOFFMAN was promoted to account manager for The Avion Group. Hoffman, who joined the Lenexa, Kan. company a year ago, previously served as account coordinator.
THE BUDGET CONFRONTATION between Congress and the White House that shut down much of the government last week affected FAA in only a limited way and did not disrupt air traffic control. Slightly more than 14,000 employees, about 29 percent of FAA's total work force of 48,615, were deemed "nonessential" and sent home Monday.
SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE this month approved the nominations of Charles Hunnicut to be Department of Transportation assistant secretary for international aviation and Nancy McFadden DOT general counsel. Before approval, however, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) said she would place a hold on the Hunnicut nomination when it reaches the Senate floor because she is concerned about international aviation policy, particularly with regard to the U.K. and Japan.
WICAT named Mark Nelson president, replacing Rohit Patel, who is leaving the company to pursue other opportunities. Nelson joined Wicat in 1981 and most recently served as director of sales and marketing. Announcement of the management change follows a recent agreement transferring company ownership to a private investment group (BA, Nov. 6/205). Wicat, Lindon, Utah, provides commercial aviation computer-based training development services.
UNIVERSAL AVIONICS SYSTEMS CORP. received technical standard order authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration for the UNS-1C flight management system. The UNS-1C also recently received Joint Aviation Authority certification on the Falcon 2000. The UNS-1C FMS includes a navigation computer, a 12-channel GPS receiver and control/display functions in a single unit.
NEARLY ONE YEAR after the National Transportation Safety Board issued the results of a study on commuter airline safety that led to the Department of Transportation's "One Level of Safety" proposal (BA, Nov. 21/221), NTSB is expected to issue its findings on a study of aviation safety in Alaska. The safety board has held forums in the past six months to gather information on all aspects of aviation in the state, including air taxi and commercial general aviation operations.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION has proposed special conditions for Israel Aircraft Industries' Astra Galaxy. The aircraft will use new avionics/electronic systems, including displays and engine controls, that perform critical functions, but applicable regulations are not adequate to protect the systems from the effects of high-intensity radiated fields (HIRF), FAA said. The special conditions would add safety standards to cover HIRF protection, the agency said. For more information, contact Timothy Dulin in FAA's Standardization Branch at (206) 227-2151.
MARTHA MOLONEY, a long-time aviation aide to Sen. Wendell Ford (D-Ky.), died Nov. 4 after a long battle with cancer. Moloney, 48, joined Ford's staff in 1977 and most recently served as his executive assistant. The board of the Regional Airport Authority of Louisville and Jefferson County recently voted to name a street at Louisville International Airport in her honor.
SIX COMPANIES are bidding to run Atlantic City International Airport in partnership with the South Jersey Transportation Authority. The new public/private partnership is scheduled to begin in April, following the completion of an $8.4 million expansion. The companies that submitted bids for the partnership are: AMR Services Corp., Fort Worth, Texas; Airport Group International, Glendale, Calif.; Brown&Root Services Corp., Houston, Texas; Serco, Wales, United Kingdom, and Gibbsboro, N.J.; Comarco Inc., Arlington, Va.; and current airport operator Johnson Controls.
THE VALLEY-TODECO aerospace fastener unit of Lamson&Sessions of Cleveland, Ohio, was sold to McKechnie Investments, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of McKechnie plc, a British-based international plastics and metal components group. Terms of the sale were not disclosed.
