BRITISH AEROSPACE Model BAC 1-11-200 and -400 series airplanes (Docket No. 94-NM-185-AD; Amdt. 39-9312; AD 95-15-09) - requires various inspections for discrepancies of fuselage frames at certain stations and correction of any discrepancies that are discovered. This AD also requires rework to limit the maximum differential operating pressure of the fuselage and eventual modification of fuselage frames at certain stations. The modification will serve as a terminating action for the repetitive inspection requirements.
The leaders of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, noting that their Truth in Budgeting Act (H.R.842) has garnered 220 co-sponsors, last week expressed hope that they would see movement on the bill to remove the transportation trust funds from the general budget. In a joint press conference, Rep.
MOONEY AIRCRAFT CORP. delivered an Ovation aircraft last month to the Korean government for the Forestry Aviation Office. The specially equipped aircraft will be used for fire prevention. FlightSafety International in San Antonio, Texas is providing transition training for the Ovation pilots.
LYNDA HARMISON was appointed manager-inside sales, for Cooper Aviation's Cooper Express Network. Harmison had served as a lead product support and customer service representative with AVSCO for the past seven years. She will manage the inside support staff of parts specialists for Cooper Express.
Orange County Board of Supervisors failed to pass a measure that would have called for a plan for the transfer of John Wayne Airport and Marine Corps Air Station El Toro to the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA). Supervisors Roger Stanton and William Steiner requested the agenda item to direct county officials - including the John Wayne Airport Revenue/Sale Task Force - to work with OCTA in evaluating potential benefits of the transfer.
SAAB Model 340B airplanes (Docket No. 95-NM-67-AD) - proposes to require inspections for cracking of the beams located over the overwing emergency exits and replacement of the beams, if necessary. This proposal is prompted by a report that a batch of beams with cracks may have been installed on these airplanes. The actions specified by the proposed 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.
RAYTHEON Hawker 1000 and BAe 125-1000A series airplanes (Docket No. 95-NM- 42-AD) - proposes to require an inspection for damage to the electrical cable loom (wire bundle). This proposal also would require tying back the loom with a cable tie to the cable loom support bracket, and repair, if necessary. This proposal is prompted by a report indicating that damage had occurred to the electrical cable loom.
The Federal Aviation Administration will spend about $65 million from a shrinking budget to replace aging computers at five air route traffic control centers (ARTCCs) by February 1998 despite the fact that the completely automated air traffic control workstation of the future - the Display System Replacement (DSR) - will go into operation at the five centers less than two years later, FAA Administrator David Hinson announced last week.
Duncan Aviation launched a new program aimed at achieving shorter turnaround times for major airframe inspections, interior refurbishment and paint jobs. The reduced turntime procedures will be marketed under the name "PowerTurns" and available for work scheduled in advance on most light and medium business jets.
A consortium headed by Wilcox Electric won a $475 million contract Thursday from FAA to develop the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS). The contract calls for the consortium - which includes Hughes Aircraft and TRW - to build and field a network of ground stations across the U.S. that will receive analyze and refine signals from the Global Positioning System satellites and transmit the information via communication satellites to all aircraft flying within U.S. airspace.
After serving as president of AlliedSignal Engines for the past six years, Robert Choulet is returning to AlliedSignal Aerospace headquarters in Torrance, Calif., while Arizona native James Robinson takes over as president of the Phoenix-based engine manufacturing operation. Robinson, 46, a 20-year company veteran, had been heading up the regional/business aviation segments of the company since early this year.
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION is not expected to make a decision on the regional aircraft joint venture between Aerospatiale, Alenia and British Aerospace "before the month of October at the earliest," a Commission source said. The European Union's competition watchdog decided last month to consider the proposed joint venture in light of Article 85 of the EU Treaty - regarding the prohibition of an abusive dominant position on the market - instead of the 1989 Merger Regulation. A consequence of this decision will be an extended investigation timetable.
FLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL is adding a new advanced visual system to its Gulfstream IV simulator in Savannah, Ga. and Challenger 601-3A simulator in Houston, Texas. FlightSafety said it expects the simulators will be re- certified in the fourth quarter with the VITAL ChromaView system. The system improves the visual capabilities providing a "new level of scene detail and...added weather-conditions realism," FlightSafety said. First use of the ChromaView system was in the ANA-All Nippon Airways simulators for the Boeing 777.
National Air Transportation Association last week urged FAA Administrator David Hinson to move quickly on a proposal to allow Part 135 operators to carry passengers in single-engine aircraft during instrument flight rule conditions. Tasked by the FAA to develop the proposal, the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee earlier this year finished work on a draft that would provide for Part 135 single-engine IFR operations under certain conditions (BA, June 5/239). As written, single-engine operations would be effectively limited to aircraft with turbine engines.
Saying he is "boldly confident about the future," but detailing a conservative business strategy, Chuck Suma, president of The New Piper Aircraft, Inc., outlined the company's plans to develop new derivative aircraft models, revive the Navajo and Cheyenne IA and add some "new technology platforms" to the Vero Beach, Fla. manufacturer's existing product line during the next 10 years.
PUBLICATION OF A FINAL RULE detailing new pilot medical standards is imminent, according to FAA Administrator David Hinson.The original proposal to revise medical rules generated widespread opposition, with pilots and attorneys charging that the changes would impose unnecessary restrictions and costs on pilots and severely limit their ability to appeal adverse medical rulings to the National Transportation Safety Board (BA, Jan. 23/35). Top FAA officials say privately that the final rule contains changes that will assuage most opponents' concerns.
CONKLIN&DEDECKER ASSOCIATES has developed Life Cycle Cost Analyzer software that provides analyses to aid decisions in the purchase of jets, turboprops and helicopters. The software compares life cycle costs for new and used aircraft, giving financial information for an individual aircraft for periods of up to 20 years. The package contains data for 88 aircraft and includes Financial Analyzer software that provides information on cash flow and revenue, taxes and depreciation, comparisons of purchase/finance/lease and net present value.
MAUREEN CULTRA was named sales administrator for BFGoodrich Aerospace Avionics Systems' business and general aviation sales group. Cultra will provide support to BFGoodrich Avionics Systems' dealer network.
RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT named Howard Stewart director-government contracts. Stewart will oversee administration of prime and subcontracts with U.S and foreign governments. He joined Raytheon Aircraft in 1984 as manager- aerospace business management and was appointed manager-contract administration in 1988.
Following a complaint by Learjet, the Council of Better Business Bureaus recommended that Cessna Aircraft change its advertising schemes to reflect how the company determines market share.
TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY Federico Pena got a rough reception at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing last week on FAA reform. Sens. Ernest Hollings (D-S.C.) and Wendell Ford (D-Ky.) each expressed frustration that the administration insists on sticking by its unpopular proposal for a government corporation to run the nation's air traffic control system. Hollings said Pena must be "hard-headed" to continue to pursue the proposal even though he continues to run into a wall of opposition.
THE CIVIL AIR PATROL signed a pact with the Experimental Aircraft Association to participate in the association's Young Eagles Program beginning this summer. The Proclamation of Mutual Association, signed late last month during EAA's annual fly-in in Oshkosh, Wis., will allow CAP cadets to participate in the Young Eagles Program. "Aviation is the stepping stone to the future of our CAP cadets," said Brig. Gen. Richard Anderson, national commander of CAP. "We are pleased and excited to support the EAA Young Eagles Program, its aims and goals.
ADRIANO DAVILA has joined Downtown Airpark, Inc. as director of international sales. Davila, who has 26 years of aviation experience, spent the past 14 years as an instructor for Colorado Aerotech and FlightSafety International.
