Wisconsin Aviation Thursday acquired the operating assets of the Madison, Wis. fixed-base operation Coldstream Aviation Corporation. Wisconsin Aviation, which is headquartered in Watertown, adds Coldstream to its own operations in Madison. John Carpenter, who owned and operated Coldstream, initially will remain in a consulting capacity. "We are extremely excited about the possibilities this acquisition presents," said Wisconsin Aviation President Jeffrey Baum.
THE NORDAM GROUP received a contract from Cessna to provide the thrust reverser system for the Citation Excel and Bravo business jets. Nordam, which in mid-1994 acquired Rohr's business jet nacelle and thrust reverser lines, will design, engineer and produce the thrust reverser system for both aircraft. In addition, Nordam will provide customer and product support. The Citation Bravo, the follow-on to the Citation II, is powered by Pratt&Whitney Canada 530A turbofans. Flight testing began in April and the first aircraft will be delivered in June 1996.
WOMEN IN AVIATION, INTERNATIONAL officials are predicting a 50 percent increase in registrants and exhibitors during the association's next conference March 7-9 at the Minneapolis Hilton and Towers. Women In Aviation Executive Director Peggy Baty said preliminary estimates indicate that the conference will host about 1,500 attendees and 80-90 exhibitors. Scheduled speakers include Chuck Yeager, Air Force Secretary Sheila Widnall and Air Transport Association President Carol Hallett.
Rockwell International joined Cessna last week in protesting the U.S. Navy/Air Force selection for the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System and Cessna formalized its JPATS complaint, but Lockheed Martin withdrew its protest saying it held little hope that the decision would be overturned.
CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS have expressed concern that a program allowing aircraft to receive preclearance for entering Canada may open the door for illegal activity. In report language accompanying the fiscal 1996 Treasury appropriations bill, the Appropriations Committee said the program "may result in increased smuggling along the Northern border, particularly if 'Operation Hardline' is successful at curbing smuggling in the South." The committee directed the U.S.
FLIGHT VISIONS, INC., said its FV-2000 head-up display (HUD) won FAA certification on the Gulfstream IV. The installation and certification was completed by Duncan Aviation of Lincoln, Neb., on an aircraft operated by DuPont's flight department. Randy Richards, manager and chief pilot for DuPont, said the HUD systems "will be especially useful in spotting traffic in low visibility, when transitioning from IMC to VMC and for all approaches." Flight Visions, headquartered in Sugar Grove, Ill., is a longtime supplier of HUDs for military and trainer aircraft.
AEROSPATIALE Model ATR-72-100 and -200 series airplanes (Docket No. 94-NM- 36-AD; Amdt. 39-9301; AD 95-14-07) - requires a one-time dye penetrant inspection for cracking in certain hinge pins of the nose landing gear and replacement of cracked pins. This amendment is prompted by reports of cracking of certain hinge pins of the nose landing gear. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent collapse of the nose landing gear due to cracked hinge pins.
THE GENERAL IGNORANCE of the airline business displayed by some airline passengers is demonstrated in a USAir captain's story, told in a new pilot- training video. A passenger outraged at arriving in New York 45 minutes late said even she knew before departure that there were thunderstorms along the East Coast. When the captain explained that he, too, had been aware of the weather through advisories, the passenger demanded to know why, then, the flight had not left 45 minutes ahead of schedule.
A fuel transfer problem first noticed, but not corrected, while an Air Force C-21A was being serviced at Andrews Air Force Base last spring led to the fatal crash of the aircraft later that day, according to an Air Force accident investigation report.
The Canadian government has implemented a new customs clearance program under which pre-registered general aviation aircraft can receive telephone clearance from the U.S. into Canada through seven border-area general aviation airports. Under the program, pilots first must apply for a CANPASS permit and then contact Revenue Canada through a toll-free number at least one hour, but not earlier than 72 hours before traveling into Canada. Operators will ask for basic entry information and CANPASS number. Spot inspections will be conducted at arrival airports.
THE U.S. AIR FORCE issued revised regulations establishing responsibilities, insurance requirements and procedures for requesting and granting civil aircraft access to Air Force landing facilities. The new regulations, covering civil aircraft landing permits and joint-use agreements, were published in the July 20 Federal Register and are effective immediately.
Issues related to qualification and approval of certain flight training devices, as defined in Advisory Circular AC 120-45, will be discussed during a three-day meeting this month in College Park, Ga. FAA's Southern Region is hosting the session, which will begin Aug. 29 and run through Aug. 31 at the regional headquarters on Columbia Avenue in College Park.
THE NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND said it intends to buy 69 Electronic Flight Information Systems (EFIS 50) from King Radio Corp., Olathe, Kan., for installation on EA-6B aircraft. The Navy said it evaluated six commercially available EFIS models, but added that the King EFIS 50 "was the only system that provided the necessary tactical modes of operation, ease of integration...and ability to meet the required delivery schedule." For further information, contact Lt. Commander Richard Fanny at (703) 604- 3900, Ext. 5919, or Wilma Washington at (703) 604-6100, Ext. 3593.
FAIRCHILD SA226 and SA227 series airplanes (Docket No. 95-CE-17-AD) - proposes to require replacement of the nuts that attach the power control cable to the lever attach point clevis with nuts that have safety wire holes. This proposal also would require safety wiring the power control cables to the lever attach point clevis and inspecting to assure that the power cable is securely attached to the power control cable bracket. This proposed action is prompted by reports of power control cable attaching hardware failure on two of the affected airplanes.
Rolls-Royce Inc. appointed two company veterans to new positions. Chris Hornblower was named vice president-Seattle operations, moving from director of engineering for Rolls-Royce Commercial Aero Engines Ltd., in Derby, England. Chris Winfield, who has been vice president-aircraft programs for Rolls-Royce in Seattle, is returning to the United Kingdom to assume a management position there. Rolls-Royce also said that John B. Hodson, senior vice president-engineering operations, will retire at the end of the year after 46 years with the company.
JENNIFER ANDERSON was named account coordinator for The Avion Group. Anderson, who recently graduated from the University of Kansas, will coordinate a number of existing accounts.
DUNCAN AVIATION opened a satellite avionics facility at Eagle Flight Services in Las Vegas, Nev. Duncan Avionics-Las Vegas holds Radio Class I, II and III and Limited Instrument ratings. Michael Roche, a 10-year Duncan Aviation veteran, manages the shop. Roche previously managed Duncan Avionics-Houston. The Las Vegas shop is the 13th satellite avionics location for Duncan.
BRITISH AEROSPACE'S Avro International unit received an order from Sociedad Aeronautica de Medellin Consolidada (SAM) for another RJ100. SAM, an affliate of Colombia national carrier Avianca, previously ordered eight aircraft. Avro valued the combined orders at $255 million. SAM plans to use the ninth RJ100 to open new international routes to Quito, Ecuador and Central American destinations. The aircraft, which is slated for delivery in August, will be configured in a 100-seat, five-abreast configuration.
FOKKER Model F28 Mark 0100 series airplanes (Docket No. 94-NM-249-AD) - proposes to require an inspection to determine the torque value of the attaching parts of the interlock mechanism of the large cargo doors and adjustment of the torque values that are outside certain limits. For certain other airplanes, the proposed AD would require removal of a spring from the inter-lock mechanism of the large cargo doors, and installation of a new microswitch bracket and two new springs in the interlock mechanism.
The House last week approved the fiscal 1996 transportation appropriations bill after defeating several amendments that would have changed funding levels or reallocated money for FAA. The House voted down, 416 to 5, an amendment sponsored by Rep. Robert Andrews (D-N.J.) to withhold fiscal 1996 funding for FAA's Military Airport Program. It also defeated, 295 to 122, an amendment sponsored by Rep.
NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD nominees John Goglia and Robert T. Francis have been cleared for a vote in the Senate Commerce Committee. The two nominees are expected to be on the schedule for the next mark up, which will be in early August. Francis, nominated in January to fill former member John Lauber's seat, has been serving on the board on a temporary basis since that time (BA, Jan. 9/13). If confirmed, Francis would serve on the board through the end of 1999.
GULFPORT-BILOXI, MISS. REGIONAL AIRPORT officials applied for FAA authorization to impose a $3 passenger facility charge from Jan. 1, 1996 to Jan. 1, 1998. The PFC is expected to generate $1.5 million to help fund terminal improvements, master plan updates, and construction of a charter ramp. The PFC would apply to all classes of carriers. For more information, contact Elton E. Jay in the FAA Airports District Office at (601) 965-4628.
SKYWAY AIRLINES pilots voted for representation by the Air Line Pilots Association. The National Mediation Board counted 58 votes for ALPA from the 101 pilots eligible to vote. Although the margin of victory was narrow, ALPA still described it as "solid" because of what it called an "aggressive anti-union campaign by the company." Skyway is the Milwaukee- based Midwest Express subsidiary that operates 15 1900Ds, mainly in the East and Midwest.
NASA selected McDonnell Douglas Aerospace to negotiate a contract potentially worth $160 million to build a 40-foot, all-composite wing and a full-scale wing box. Under the eight-year contract, the manufacturer will verify new wing technology through design, fabrication and testing of the semi-span wing component. Technology under the program will be transferred to all U.S. airframers as part of NASA's Advanced Composites Technology Program. Langley Research Center will manage the contract.
BWIA International Airways ordered up to 10 EMB-145 regional jets for its intra-Caribbean routes, giving the Embraer orderbook a much-needed boost as the EMB-145 program rapidly approaches rollout and first flight.
