NATIONAL AIRCRAFT RESALE ASSOCIATION will hold a tax seminar Aug. 28 at the Northbrook Hilton in Chicago, Ill. Nel Sanders, National Business Aircraft Association senior manager of state and tax issues, and Keith Swirsky, a partner with the Washington, D.C. law firm of Galland, Kharasch, Morse and Garfinkle, are scheduled to speak. Sanders will discuss how state sales and use tax laws relate to aircraft sales, and Swirsky will focus on how brokers and dealers can minimize their tax exposure. For more information, contact NARA at (703) 671-8273.
THOMAS MODLEY was appointed director of management technology for UNC Incorporated. Modley will coordinate UNC quality assurance initiatives including the Customer Valued Quality and the Cost of Quality programs.
The Federal Aviation Administration, which has come under fire from DOT's Office of Inspector General for its handling of the suspected unapproved parts (SUPs) issue, has created a special task force to evaluate the agency's efforts to prevent SUPs from compromising aviation safety. The DOT IG in May expressed concern over FAA's efforts in uncovering SUPs and alleged that Anthony Broderick, FAA associate administrator for regulation and certification, may have tried to interfere with the IG's investigation of the SUPs issue (BA, May 29/227).
KC AVIATION retained Dale Dunn of Dale Dunn and Associates to consult on the company's Challenger Interior Design Program. Dunn, who has 25 years of executive jet interior design experience, formerly consulted with Bombardier on the Global Express interior design. He will provide design concepts to KC Aviation for the interiors of both the Challenger CL604 and Global Express aircraft.
JAMES KOLSTAD, former chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, joined the American Automobile Association as vice president of public and government relations. Kolstad was a consultant with the American Trucking Association's Foundation after leaving NTSB and most recently had been senior vice president and general manager of VORAD Safety Systems, Inc. Washington, D.C. office.
CALLING LORAN C "proven, reliable and cost effective," the Senate agreed with the House that FAA should find ways to address future funding for the technology. The Departments of Transportation and Defense decided to phase out Coast Guard funding for the Loran C navigation program by 2000, but the House fiscal 1996 transportation appropriations bill directs FAA to cooperate with other agencies to develop a plan for "future funding, upgrading and support of Loran" (BA, July 10/11).
VisionAire, which relocated its headquarters to Chesterfield, Mo. in June (BA, June 4/243), expects to open the assembly facility for its all- composite Vantage business jet in Ames, Iowa by June 1997. The company late last month selected the site of its assembly facility after a six-week evaluation of both Ames and Cape Girardeau, Mo. (BA, Aug. 7/62).
National Air Transportation Association is launching an information campaign to clarify what it calls "misconceptions" about Part 135 operations - and shield its members from a government proposal to bring many Part 135 operators under Part 121 standards.
The Senate Thursday passed nearly a $500 million reduction in the Federal Aviation Administration's fiscal 1996 budget. In the fiscal 1996 transportation appropriations bill, the Senate approved $7.906 billion for FAA, compared with $8.379 billion enacted for fiscal 1995. The Senate- approved level is $437 million less than the House bill. The bills now go to conference where House and Senate negotiators will hash out the differences between them.
FLIGHTCRAFT, INC., the fixed-base chain headquartered in Portland, Ore., is offering a limited life-time warranty on its avionics installations. The warranty covers any defects in Flightcraft's workmanship and installation materials. Gary Picou, manager of avionics service and sales, said the warranty will remain in force for the life of the aircraft while it is owned by the person who had the avionics installed. The warranty can be transferred to a new owner for a records processing fee. For more information, contact Picou at (503) 331-4200.
Jefferson County, Colo. Airport Authority received approval from the Treasury Department to open a U.S. Customs office at the airport and recover the costs of that office through user fees. The office will open Sept. 1 and staff a Customs agent from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The airport, authorized to assess fees for use of the services, will be responsible for the costs of the office.
The Federal Aviation Administration has begun an evaluation project of data link equipment that will provide flight information services to general aviation pilots in the 60-mile radius surrounding Washington Dulles Airport, FAA said late last month. The area was selected because it is near the Frederick, Md., headquarters of the AOPA Air Safety Foundation, which is participating in the six-month evaluation of what is expected to be free flight advisory services in the U.S. through a publicly owned data bank.
DUNCAN AVIATION received supplemental type certification for installation of TCAS II and GPWS systems in Learjet Models 31A and 60. Duncan technicians installed a Bendix/King CAS 67A TCAS II and an AlliedSignal Mk- VII GPWS in the Learjet 31A and a Collins TCAS-94 and AlliedSignal Mk-V GPWS in the Model 60.
NATIVE AMERICAN AIR AMBULANCE has taken delivery of two Jetstream 31 aircraft equipped with dual advanced life support systems and neonatal capabilities. NAAA, the Native American-owned company that provides 24- hour services to Indian nations in the Southwest, also operates a J32.
FAA Friday issued a comprehensive proposal to revise its training standards for pilots, instructors and flight schools under Parts 61 and 141. The proposal covers everything from the deletion of medical certification requirements for recreational pilots to a revision of ground instructor certification requirements. FAA said the rule was designed to "provide [GA] economic relief from unnecessary, burdensome regulations."
AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION is opposing adoption of full-page flight plan forms. The association said the FAA proposal to drop the standard half-page format and adopt the International Civil Aviation Organization full-page international format is not necessary. "In any given day, the U.S. has more aircraft movements than the rest of the world combined," said AOPA President Phil Boyer.
STEPHEN RATCLIFFE was named general manager of the CFM International CFM56 and International Aero Engines V2500 engine product lines for Aviall Dallas Engine Services. Ratcliffe previously was director of powerplant operations for Continental Airlines.
ASTRA JET CORPORATION appointed Walter Kraujalis director of the Galaxy program. Kraujalis will lead the worldwide marketing effort for the widebody Galaxy business jet. In addition, he will found an Operators Advisory Board to develop input for the final configuration of the aircraft. Kraujalis formerly has served as a flight department manager as well as a chief pilot on a range of large business aircraft.
BRITISH AEROSPACE Model BAC 1-11 200 and 400 series airplanes (Docket No. 94-NM-183-AD; Amdt. 39-9310; AD 95-15-07) - supersedes an existing AD that requires structural inspections and repairs or replacements, as necessary. This amendment requires additional inspections of certain structural significant items (SSI) and expansion of the inspection area for certain other SSIs.
AEROSPACE FASTENERS will be the focus of the 1995 SAE Aerofast Conference and Exposition Sept. 26-28 at the Stouffer Concourse in St. Louis, Mo. SAE expects 45 companies that manufacture automated fastening systems, fasteners, support tooling and equipment and surface preparation equipment for the aerospace industry to exhibit the latest technologies. For information, call SAE at (412) 772-7131; fax, (412) 776-0002.
MENASCO AEROSPACE, a subsidiary of Coltec Industries, Inc., was selected to supply the main and nose landing gear systems for Bombardier's Dash 8 Series 400 regional aircraft. Menasco is developing a proprietary design that will include the nose landing gear steering system, electrical and hydraulic installations, retraction controls, braking systems and other electronic control systems. Manufacturing will be done at Menasco's Oakville, Ontario facility. Bombardier's Regional Aircraft Division launched the Series 400 at this year's Paris Air Show (BA, June 19/261).
BRITISH AEROSPACE Model Viscount 744, 745D, and 810 airplanes (Docket No. 94-NM-112-AD; Amdt. 39-9305; AD 95-15-02) - requires an inspection of fittings of the engine mount structure to determine whether fasteners have been installed in inspection holes and whether those holes are oversized. It also requires various follow-on actions, depending upon the results of the inspection.
GULFSTREAM last week confirmed Sept. 22 as the date the Gulfstream V long- range business jet will roll out. Gulfstream Vice Chairman Bryan Moss said during last week's Airshow Canada that the aircraft "is progressing on schedule." First flight of the 6,500-nautical-mile aircraft will follow in November with deliveries expected to begin by the end of next year.
The House transportation appropriations subcommittee, expressing serious concerns about the non-technical training efforts of the Department of Transportation, has proposed a measure that it says is "designed to ensure that training abuses such as these never happen again." The measure, included in report language accompanying the House fiscal 1996 transportation appropriations bill that passed the House last month, places restrictions on training that delves into areas dealing with religious and/or personal values, the subcommittee said.
