FLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL reached agreement with Raytheon Aircraft to provide a range of training support services for Raytheon Aircraft's Premier I business jet. FlightSafety will produce a Level D flight simulator for the business jet as part of the training program for pilots and maintenance technicians.
CUTTER AVIATION of Phoenix, Ariz. joined Avfuel's network of dealers. Avfuel officials said the addition of Cutter is part of the company's strategic plan for growth in the western U.S., noting that it has added 28 branded dealers west of the Rockies in the past two years. Avfuel provides fuel and services to more than 700 branded dealers across the U.S. Cutter Aviation, located at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, is a full service fixed-base operation that provides fueling, aircraft maintenance, sales and charter services.
In a move that surprised even his most ardent supporters, the Federal Aviation Administration reversed course last week and issued a restricted second-class medical certificate to veteran air show performer R.A. (Bob) Hoover, clearing the 73-year-old pilot to resume performing aerobatic flights at U.S. air shows.
SCHWEIZER AIRCRAFT appointed Heli-North Aviation as a distributor of Schweizer Models 300C, 300CB and 330 helicopters in Ontario, Canada. Heli- North, of Garson, Ontario, made an initial commitment for six Model 300CB helicopters in conjunction with its distributorship. The company, which provides airframe/engine maintenance and repair services, operates a fleet of seven helicopters for flight training and charter.
Rohr's Asian and European overhaul and repair facilities won certification from U.S. and Singaporean airworthiness authorities, clearing the way for the long-struggling nacelle and aerostructures specialist to start cashing in on big growth in the commercial aircraft aftermarket.
Evans&Sutherland Computer Corp., acquired Xionix Simulation, Inc., of Dallas, Texas, which E&S described as "a leading supplier of low-cost flight management system trainers." E&S said the move "further solidified its expansion into the civil airline training systems market," while Stuart Anderson, general manager of E&S commercial simulation business, added that "the changing needs of the civil airline industry has precipitated the need for value-oriented, mid-level training devices.
LOCKHEED MARTIN INFORMATION SYSTEMS won separate five-year contracts to provide simulation and training support at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. The company will receive $146 million to support the 58 Special Operations Wing, providing training for the MH-53J, MH-60G and the UH-1N helicopters, and for the Lockheed C-130, HC-130P and MC-130H.
FORMER FAA ADMINISTRATOR Najeeb Halaby was selected to receive the 1995 National Air and Space Museum Trophy for lifetime achievement. Halaby, who learned to fly in 1932, has held leadership roles in all facets of aviation. He served as a Navy carrier test pilot in World War II and created the Navy Test Pilot School at Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland. He co-chaired President Eisenhower's Advisory Commission and helped transform the Civil Aeronautics Administration into the independent Federal Aviation Agency in 1958.
Hi-Shear Industries signed a definitive agreement this month to sell substantially all of its operating assets to a French firm, GFI Industries, S.A. The proposed sale, for $46 million in cash, would include Hi-Shear's aerospace fastener subsidiary, Hi-Shear Corp., and related companies. Hi- Shear, based in North Hills, N.Y., said the transaction "represents the sale of substantially all of Hi-Shear Industries' operating assets except for its net operating loss carryforwards and its claims against the U.S.
AIR TRACTOR Models AT-802 and AT-802A airplanes (Docket No. 95-CE-59- AD) - proposes to require repetitive replacement of the main landing gear legs. This action is prompted by a failure of the main landing gear legs on an AT-802A in the field. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent possible failure of the main landing gear legs and loss of control. Comments on the proposal must be sent in triplicate before Dec. 5 to FAA, Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th St., Kansas City, Mo. 64106.
AVIATION RESOURCES PARTNERS, INC., filed a complaint in Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, against BAA USA, Inc., charging the British firm with reneging on a joint contract with the Chicago minority consulting firm for operation of six Indianapolis, Ind. airports (BA, Sept. 18/122). A spokesman for BAA USA responded that, "We maintain that all of the charges in their suit are without merit and we expect that we will contest them vigorously."
Scenic Airlines, the Grand Canyon air tour operator based in Las Vegas, Nev., plans to relocate its operations from McCarran International Airport to the North Las Vegas Air Terminal. Scenic plans to build a 67,350 square-foot building that will house the terminal, business offices and maintenance bay. Officials hope to move into the new $5 million facility by mid-March. Scenic operates a mixed fleet of 63 aircraft and also is the Delta Connection carrier to the Grand Canyon from McCarran.
Carnival Air Lines and Mercury Air Group, a provider of petroleum products, cargo handling and aviation services, have signed a letter of intent under which Mercury will acquire all of the common stock of Carnival Air Lines in a "merger of equals" transaction. After consummation of the transaction, expected in the first quarter of 1996 pending regulatory approval, Micky Arison, who controls Carnival Air, will become majority owner of the merged company, a Carnival spokesman said.
MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE lowered its ratings on Coltec Industries senior secured, senior unsecured and subordinated debt "to reflect Moody's opinion that it will be difficult for the company to meaningfully reduce debt from free cash flow given the rating agency's outlook for a more competitive operating environment and earnings pressure." Ratings downgraded were: senior secured debt to Ba3 from Ba2; senior unsecured debt rating to B1 from Ba2; and, subordinated debt to B3 from B1.
THE HOUSE AVIATION SUBCOMMITTEE hopes to vote this week on legislation to reform the Federal Aviation Administration. The legislation, lauded by industry and criticized by the administration, would establish FAA as an independent agency and remove the aviation trust fund from the federal budget. Also this week the full House is expected to vote on the fiscal 1996 transportation appropriations bill. The bill will go to the House floor without the controversial provision allowing FAA to raise up to $10 million in user fees. See article below.
House and Senate negotiators last week agreed to scrap some $10 million in proposed user fees included in the fiscal 1996 transportation appropriations bill. The Senate version of the appropriations bill contained language that would have allowed the Federal Aviation Administration to raise up to $10 million in user fees to help offset cuts in FAA's operations account (BA, Aug. 7/57). GA industry leaders, fearing such fees could open the door to an ever-escalating schedule of charges on users, launched an intensive lobbying campaign against the provision.
BAYLOR UNIVERSITY'S Aviation Sciences Department will host The First International Conference on Alternative Aviation Fuels, Nov. 2-4 on the Baylor campus in Waco, Texas. Sponsored in conjunction with Texas State Technical College, FAA and the Department of Energy, the conference will include presentations by fuel suppliers on alternative fuels and a discussion of the use of alternative aviation fuels in other countries. Registration fee is $300. For more information, contact Karin Erickson at (703) 528-2500.
The rate of defense industry consolidation will speed up in the next five years, but it will vary among sectors, according to the Electronic Industries Association's new 10-year forecast. The forecast, unveiled this month at EIA's conference in Phoenix, predicts as much as 50 percent more consolidation in worldwide aircraft primes and U.S. electronics subcontractors. But consolidation is mostly complete in space, U.S. missile primes, shipbuilding and combat vehicles, the study said.
DUNCAN AVIATION was appointed an authorized service center for Dassault Falcon Jet aircraft. Duncan Chairman Robert Duncan noted the appointment makes sense for both Dassault Falcon Jet and Duncan. "Through the last four years, we have seen an increase in the number of Falcon operators choosing to come to Duncan," he said. "Many of our long-term customers have migrated from lighter jets and are now Falcon operators." Duncan officials said more than 150 Falcon operators have received scheduled maintenance and custom modifications from Duncan in the last two years.
EUROCOPTER Model MBB-BK 117 A-1, A-3, A-4, B-1, B-2 and C-1 helicopters (Docket No. 94-SW-19-AD; Amdt. 39-9399; AD 95-21-12) - requires initial and repetitive inspections of the main rotor blade upper and lower surfaces for bulging. This amendment is prompted by two reported incidents in which a balance weight became detached from inside the main rotor blade structure and migrated toward the tip of the blade. The actions specified by the AD are intended to detect movement of a balance weight and to prevent severe vibrations and a subsequent precautionary landing.
ALLIEDSIGNAL AEROSPACE said its RE100 auxiliary power unit was selected as the "standard option" for the Model 45 Learjet. The APU weighs 75 pounds and is rated at 135 equivalent shaft horsepower and can be started and operated at altitudes in excess of 30,000 feet.
GENE HARBULA was appointed vice president, government marketing and corporate communications, for Sabreliner Corp. Harbula, who has been with Sabreliner since 1989, will be responsible for all government marketing and corporate-wide communications.
STEVE WEIK was named technical integrity team leader and chief engineer for Parker Bertea Aerospace's Customer Support Operations unit. Weik, who is responsible for all customer service engineering functions, joined Parker Bertea as a design engineer in 1979.
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA'S Darden School will hold its Managing the Corporate Aviation Function - II seminar Nov. 12-17, 1995 and Oct. 6-11, 1996 in Charlottesville, Va. The program will cover leadership skills for executives and chief pilots, including managing change, high-performing service operations, strategic thinking and conflict resolution. For more information, contact The Darden School Foundation at (804) 924-3000.
FAA AND NTSB are cooperating in an investigation of a Gulfstream II landing accident Thursday evening at Hopkins International Airport Cleveland, Ohio. Officials said the aircraft, N635AV, was completing a charter flight from England with two crew members and five passengers on board when it touched down short of the approach end of Runway 23L. The landing gear struck a barricade resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft, but no serious injuries were reported.
