AIRLINES serving the new Denver International Airport are balking at the prospect that they will be stuck paying for legal expenses incurred by the City and County of Denver in defense of a Securities and Exchange Commission administrative action over airport bonds. Denver officials argue that airport funds should be used since the bonds were sold to finance airport projects. A United Airlines spokesman said, "If these improper actions are proven, we think that [legal fees] could be an improper cost to be imposed on the airport."
BAE AUTOMATED SYSTEMS, INC., which built the automated baggage handling system for United Airlines at Denver International Airport, said last week it "will meet its Nov. 15 deadline to substantially complete all phases of the system." Problems with the baggage system is one of the items that caused repeated delays in opening the new airport, which finally began regular operations in late February (BA, March 6/104).
BRITISH AEROSPACE Model BAe 146 and Model Avro 146-RJ series airplanes (Docket No. 95-NM-189-AD; Amdt. 39-9400; AD 95-21-13) - requires inspections for damaged and missing surface protective finish, corrosion and cracking on the servo tab brackets and the trim tab drive brackets of the aileron, and corrective actions, if necessary. This amendment is prompted by a report of corrosion on an aileron tab bracket between the two tab drive flanges in the area of the two attachment bolts, which resulted in cracking of the flanges at their base.
Aviation services and supplier UNC, Inc., noting improvements in its component services and engine overhaul operations as well as its cost- cutting efforts, late last month posted a 23 percent increase in operating income on a six percent increase in sales for the third quarter of 1995. The Annapolis, Md.-based company reported third quarter 1995 revenues of $137.4 million and operating income of $6.4 million, compared with third quarter 1994 sales of $129.7 million and operating income of $5.2 million.
INNOTECH AVIATION, Montreal, Quebec, named Francois Chaurette vice president-operations and Jerry Sosontovich director of sales and marketing for the Innotech/Execaire Aviation Group, including Innotech Aviation, Execaire, Inc., and Innotech Aviation Services. Chaurette will be responsible for all day-to-day activities at Innotech, including aircraft programs, maintenance, engineering, quality assurance and human resources. He had been chief financial officer and director of business development.
A BOMBARDIER spokeswoman reported it was "business as usual" last week at the company's Montreal, Quebec headquarters following the closely contested provincial referendum over whether Quebec should separate from the Canadian federation. The company had no official statement in the wake of the election, but officials were obviously pleased with the outcome.
RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT named Daniel Grafton vice president. Grafton, president of Raytheon Aircraft subsidiary Raytheon Aerospace, will report to Raytheon Aircraft CEO Art Wegner and President Roy Norris. Grafton joined Raytheon Aerospace in 1980 as supervisor-accounting and has been promoted to positions of increasing responsibility, assuming the title of president in 1990. Raytheon Aerospace provides contractor logistics and training support for military and government aircraft and missile target systems.
President Clinton, who has threatened to veto many of the funding bills currently in Congress, last week promised that when the fiscal 1996 transportation appropriations bill "hits my desk, I intend to sign it." The bill, which provides nearly $8.2 billion in funding and calls for personnel and procurement reform for FAA, received Senate approval last week and House approval late last month (BA, Oct. 30/188).
JOHN MOWLEM AND CO. PLC of the United Kingdom has sold London City Airport to several companies controlled by Dermot Desmond, former chairman of Irish airport operator Aer Rianta. John Mowlem received 14.5 million pounds - about $22.9 million (U.S) - in cash for the airport.
GROB AVIATION MARKETING ASSOCIATES formed a U.S. dealer network and appointed a national sales and marketing manager. George Rodgers, chief executive of Grob AMA, named Mark Huber to head marketing activities for Team Bavarian, which will sell the German-built Grob Model 115C and 115D Bavarian and Aero single-engine aircraft in the U.S. Huber, who previously was director of marketing at SunQuest Aviation, will be based in Phelps, Wis.
LUCAS AEROSPACE and Shinko Electric of Japan won a contract from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to supply electrically powered hoists for the Japanese UH60JA helicopter, formerly called the UHX. The aircraft, manufactured under license from Sikorsky, will be supplied to the Japan Ground Self Defence Force. Lucas' Cargo Systems unit will provide the hoists. The value of the contract was undisclosed.
JETSTREAM Model ATP airplanes (Docket No. 94-NM-242-AD; Amdt. 39-9405; AD 95-21-18) - requires an inspection to ensure that various components of the retraction actuator of the nose landing gear are secure and an inspection of the bearing cap mounting holes for correct hole and thread length. This AD also requires a later inspection for certain discrepancies of the retraction actuator, installation of revised tolerance bushings and correction of any discrepancy found.
SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE is expectd to act this week on Sen. John McCain's proposal to reform the Federal Aviation Administration, and McCain is expected to advocate some controversial changes.Sources say the Arizona Republican will call for a six-month assessment of FAA funding needs and a three-month cost allocation study of users.Other changes - which would be especially beneficial to the airlines - would eliminate proposed fees for safety, security and inspection costs incurred by FAA.
DOUGLAS H. CROWTHER, general manager of Signature Flight Support's Palm Beach, Fla., fixed-base operation, was named area general manager of Signature's Washington, D.C. operations at Dulles and National airports. Crowther, who will be based at Dulles, reports to Blake Fish, Northeast area vice president for Signature. Robert Mitchell, general manager of the company's operations at DCA, will report to Crowther. Crowther, 41, who began his career with Hangar One, replaces John Cartier, who recently resigned.
ALLIANCE ENGINES, Maryville, Tenn., won certification from the European Joint Aviation Authorities as a JAR 145 Repair Station, clearing Alliance to perform aircraft engine component repairs for aircraft operated in the 23 JAA signatory countries in Europe. FAA issued a repair station certificate to Alliance in August and amended it last month to include approval for additional component services for Garrett TFE731, TPE331 and GTCP36-100/150 engines.
Setting the stage for the transition of its top two executives to new positions, Lockheed Martin Corp. announced the promotion last week of two other senior officials into key posts. Vance D. Coffman was named to the new position of executive vice president and chief operating officer, effective Jan. 1. Lockheed Martin said Coffman's promotion will coincide with the previously agreed to plan of succession when Lockheed and Martin Marietta merged in August 1994. Daniel M. Tellep, chairman and chief executive officer, will retire as CEO on Jan.
JETSTREAM Model 4101 airplanes (Docket No. 95-NM-71-AD) - proposes to revise an existing AD that requires repetitive inspections for damage to the overwing fairings, and replacement or repair of structurally damaged fairings. That AD was prompted by a report indicating that an overwing fairing detached from an airplane. The actions specified by that AD are intended to prevent reduced controllability of the airplane due to loss of an overwing fairing.
WICAT SYSTEMS parent Jostens Inc. signed an agreement to transfer ownership of Wicat to a private investment group headed by Frank Pritt, primary shareholder and chairman of Attachemate Corp. Wicat President Rohit Patel will continue in his position and no changes in current operations are planned, the company said. The agreement also includes the acquisition of Denver-based TTI Inc., a privately held company.
PRUTZMAN&ASSOCIATES, INC., said it was selected to serve as the U.S. liaison to the Deutsche Flugsicherung (DFS), the German Air Navigation Services, to manage a business exchange conference for North American firms interested in pursuing business with the DFS. Prutzman, based in Frederick, Md., said DFS will be investing more than $800 million in capital investment and research projects during the next four years. The conference, set for Jan.
JERRY LAMOTTE was appointed to oversee environmental and safety issues for Midcoast Aviation. LaMotte previously held the same responsibilities for Midcoast parent company Sabreliner Corp.
PRAXAIR, INC., one of the largest commercial gas suppliers in the Americas, said it planned to commence a cash tender offer Friday (Nov. 3) for all outstanding shares of CBI Industries, Inc., at a price of $32 per share. The tender offer is scheduled to expire Dec. 4. With 45 million CBI shares outstanding, the transaction would have a total value of $2.1 billion. CBI, a holding company headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., also is a major producer of industrial gases.
FOKKER Model F28 Mark 0100 series airplanes (Docket No. 95-NM-52-AD; Amdt. 39-9407; AD 95-21-20) - requires a visual inspection for damage to the flexible fuel drain line of the auxiliary power unit, and replacement of the drain line, if necessary. This amendment also requires installation of two additional clamps to secure the flexible fuel drain line to the fuel supply line of the APU. This amendment is prompted by reports of electrical arcing between the flexible fuel drain line and the APU starter motor.
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.
New Egyptian carrier Orca Air reached an agreement to purchase up to six new Fairchild Metro 23 aircraft, the manufacturer said. The carrier's hub airport is in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt. Deliveries of the first two aircraft are scheduled for the first quarter of 1996. Orca Air President Diaa El Gabbani called the Metro 23 "the perfect aircraft for our operation in Sharm el Sheikh due to its superior performance in our climate, its passenger comfort and its low cost of operation.
NICHOLAS A. (NICK) GENTILE joined the commercial aircraft division of McDonnell Douglas as business unit manager of flight crew training. He will oversee ground school training, computer-based training, simulator and flight training for Douglas Aircraft in Long Beach. He reports to Diane Shapiro, general manager of flight operations. Gentile joins McDonnell Douglas after 31 years with Delta Air Lines. He has more than 22,000 flight hours in a wide variety of McDonnell Douglas aircraft.
