THE COLLINS COMMERCIAL AVIONICS/DASA TEAM successfully demonstrated capture, approach and autoland capabilities of GPS Landing Systems (GLS) in Glasgow, Mont. The industry program, led by Boeing, is intended to validate the use of GPS in precision approach in automatic landings and to develop requirements for CAT III GLS certification. The Collins/DASA team installed a prototype GLS on a NASA Boeing 757. The prototype includes receiver, navigation computer and ILS emulation in a single unit with a datalink receiver and data recorder in separate units.
THE LIKELIHOOD that the industry will face new fees increased last week as Senate drafters of a proposal to reform the Federal Aviation Administration leaned toward creating new charges to fund the agency.The proposal for new fees came as the Senate approved the fiscal 1996 transportation appropriations bill, which allows FAA to raise up to $10 million from new or increased fees on the industry (BA, Aug. 7/57). The possibility of new fees has raised the concern of industry leaders, who fear that new costs will hamper the recovery of general aviation.
RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT appointed Lider Taxi Aereo S.A. of Brazil as an authorized service center. Under the appointment, Lider Taxi Aereo's Sao Paulo center is authorized to service and support the entire Raytheon Aircraft product line, including the Beech Bonanza, Baron, King Air, Beechjet and Hawker series aircraft. Lider Taxi Aereo's facility in Belo Horizonte, Brazil is authorized to service the Beech King Air line of aircraft.
The Senate aviation subcommittee is drafting legislation that would make the Federal Aviation Administration a quasi-independent agency funded completely by user fees. The subcommittee, spurred into action after the Senate Appropriations Committee included FAA personnel and procurement reform in the fiscal 1996 transportation appropriations bill, last week was working closely with key officials from FAA and the Transportation Department to draft a reform bill. Sen.
HUGHES TRAINING, INC., Arlington, Texas, has been selected by Northrop Grumman to join Northrop Grumman's Talon II Avionics Modernization team, competing for a U.S. Air Force contract to upgrade the avionics on 425 T-38 training aircraft. Hughes Training would develop the T-38 air crew training devices and provide logistics support for both new and existing training devices operated by the Air Force.
Regulations regarding overflights of the Grand Canyon and airspace management issues in the area will be the subject of an Aug. 30 public meeting in Flagstaff, Ariz. sponsored by FAA and the National Park Service, the latest in a series of joint efforts by FAA and NPS to deal with the controversy that has pitted aviation interests against environmental advocates for control of the skies over the Grand Canyon.
CENTURY FLIGHT SYSTEMS has received an FAA supplemental type certificate for installation of its Century 2000 Autopilot on a Cessna Model T210K (14V). The panel-mounted flight control system includes advanced digital logic and automatic VOR/LOC coupling with optional electric and manual trim, glide slope capture, altitude hold and attitude hold. The system is available in one, two or three axis configurations.
PAN AM SYSTEMS, INC. received a contract from the State of Nebraska to collect aviation weather data from automated weather observing systems throughout Nebraska. PAN AM will collect the AWOS data through its Z-Link satellite communication system and submit the data to the National Weather Service for national dissemination. Z-Link, designed specifically for AWOS and Automated Surface Observing Systems weather data collection, collects and reports weather observations from more than 100 sites throughout the U.S.
A circuit board that "burned" may have triggered the power outage at the Oakland air traffic control center last week that caused the loss of radar and radio contact with aircraft and may have led to as many as three traffic alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS) alerts, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The agency has had repeated problems recently at its traffic control centers, either with power supply or aging computers. The Oakland outage knocked out the primary direct access radar channel (DARC) at 7 :12 a.m. PDT Wednesday, FAA said.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100) series airplanes (Docket No. 95-NM-116-AD; Amdt. 39-9325; AD 95-13-04) - publishes an AD previously sent to all known U.S. owners and operators of RJ Series 100 aircraft by individual letters. This AD requires a revision to the Airplane Flight Manual to prohibit the use of mach trim and to add speed restrictions if the autopilot is disengaged or inoperative. This AD also requires installation of an associated placard.
John Goglia and Robert Francis, nominees for the National Transportation Safety Board, Thursday received Senate Commerce Committee approval. The nominations, to fill seats vacated by former members John Lauber and Susan Coughlin, proceed next to the Senate floor for a vote. If they are confirmed, one vacancy would remain on the board, the seat formerly held by Carl Vogt.
HELICOPTER ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL elected Thomas Marlow, vice president of Era Aviation in Houston, Texas, as the new chairman. Marlow previously has served as vice chairman, treasurer and assistant treasurer for the association. He has held management responsibilities for helicopter operations in the petroleum, mining, forestry, shipping, agricultural, air taxi, heavy lift and military markets. He also has experience in helicopter manufacturing, flight operations and marketing.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS also pressed FAA Administrator David Hinson on his personal views of FAA reform. Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.), ranking minority member on the House aviation subcommittee, contended that the administrator personally favors the concept of an independent FAA but is too professional to take a public stand opposing his superiors, i.e. the secretary of transportation. When asked by the committee whether or not he favored an independent FAA, Hinson elicited laughter from the audience when he responded that he fully supports the secretary.
DAN KOMNENOVICH was named executive vice president-finance and chief financial officer for Dallas Airmotive. Komnenovich joined Aviall, which sold its Business Aviation Engine Services and Love Field fixed-base operation to Dallas Airmotive, in 1983 and has since served as vice president-finance and materials, senior vice president-finance and senior vice president-marketing department. He negotiated the divestiture of the Aviall units to Dallas Airmotive.
"Improperly installed electrical wiring for special mission operations that led to an inflight fire" was cited by the National Transportation Safety Board Tuesday for the fatal crash of a modified Model 35A Learjet last Dec. 14 in Fresno, Calif.
JOHN HEYNINCK was promoted to general manager of Burton Electrical Engineering. Heyninck joined Burton, which produces aircraft electrical power cables, in March 1994 as engineering manager. He previously was manufacturing manager of Montclair Molding.
ALLIEDSIGNAL AEROSPACE made a switch at the top of its Phoenix-based engine division, elevating James Robinson to replace Robert Choulet. See article below.
Walbar's Ontario, Canada, compressor blade plant can't make money, and will close before the end of next year, parent Coltec Industries reported. Volumes have been well off the pace at the Aerowood Drive plant in Mississauga for a long time, and "operating this plant has been a drain on our profitability," explained John M. Cybulski, Coltec's senior vice president-aerospace. The compressor blade plant chipped in only six percent of Walbar's sales -16 percent of the sales of Walbar Canada - and less than a half a percentage point of sales for Coltec.
BRITISH AEROSPACE Model BAe 146-100A, -200A and -300A airplanes (Docket No. 95-NM-27-AD; Amdt. 39-9308; AD 95-15-05) - requires modification of the elevator control system. This amendment is prompted by reports of low- frequency constant amplitude oscillations of the elevator control system and non-centering of the pitch control upon autopilot disconnect. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent uncommanded descent upon autopilot disconnect and reduced controllability of the airplane due to low-frequency constant amplitude oscillations.
Alliance Engines, the startup engine repair and overhaul company, moved into the firm's new production and headquarters facility in Maryville, Tenn., last week and announced the appointment of a K-C Aviation executive as chief operating officer of the new company.
AEROSPATIALE Model ATR-42 series airplanes (Docket No. 95-NM-100-AD; Amdt. 39-9306; AD 95-15-03) - requires replacement of the side brace pins of the main landing gear with new pins. This AD is prompted by a report of a ruptured pin on an in-service airplane. The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent failure of the side brace pins and the subsequent collapse of the main landing gear.
The Senate Appropriations Committee Friday approved legislation that would raise user fees and exempt FAA from certain personnel and procurement requirements. The legislation, the Senate version of the fiscal 1996 transportation appropriations bill, provides $7.906 billion for FAA, $437 million less than the House bill.
