OCTAGON PROCESS, INC., Edgewater, N.J., has introduced a new propylene glycol Type 1 deicing fluid, Octaflo. The fluid was designed at The University of Quebec, where the testing facility is capable of reaching temperatures lower than minus 40 degrees F. Octaflo was tested in a cold booth and wind tunnel.
JET AVIATION opened a new maintenance facility at Cologne/Bonn airport in Germany. The facility, recognized by the German Aviation Regulation for Maintenance Facilities and JAR 145-certified, can provide maintenance on Cessna, Piper, Beech, Learjet and Dassault Falcon Jet aircraft. The Cologne/Bonn base brings the number of Jet Aviation facilities in that country to six. Jet Aviation also has bases in Kassel, Saarbrucken, Hannover, Munich and Dusseldorf, Germany.
The Federal Aviation Administration last week unveiled a plan to conduct and apply human factors research to the National Airspace System. The agency also announced that the first Voice Switching and Control Systems became operational last week. A joint effort of FAA, the Defense Department and NASA, "The National Plan for Civil Aviation Human Factors" addresses a key goal of FAA's Strategic Plan - to eliminate accidents caused by human error.
THE DASH 8 SERIES 400 PROGRAM, officially launched during last week's Paris Air Show, has been in the works for so long that designers will be able to incorporate new engine technology into the finished product. When discussed some five years ago, officials were eying engine offerings from Allison and General Electric/Lycoming for the Series 400. Pratt&Whitney, which produces engines for other Dash 8 models, did not offer an engine deemed suitable for the Series 400 at that time (BA, April 30, 1990/137).
FOKKER Model F28 Mark 0100 series airplanes (Docket No. 94-NM-241-AD; Amdt. 39-9253; AD 95-12-03) - requires installation of reinforcement plates at certain fuselage stations. This amendment is prompted by a report indicating that fatigue cracks were found in the frame strips at certain fuselage stations on a Model F28 Mark 0100 series airplane test article. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent such fatigue- related cracking, which could reduce the structural integrity of the fuselage pressure vessel.
MILLER AVIATION is offering its new Entry Level Management Information System for general aviation. The system, designed for operations requiring only three to seven users, automates profit centers such as accounting, line service, parts, maintenance and charter. Miller has reduced the standard pricing of the FBO Management Information System by 50 percent for the entry level package.
JETSTREAM Models 3101 and 3201 airplanes (Docket No. 92-CE-13-AD; Amdt. 39- 9256; AD 95-12-06) - requires a modification of the shear fitting at the top of each escape hatch. This action is prompted by a report of interference between the shear fitting on an escape hatch and a ceiling panel. The actions specified by this AD are intended to ensure the ability to use the escape hatch during an emergency.
LARRY R. FLYNN, who has held senior management positions with several major FBO chains, joined Gulfstream Aircraft, Inc. as vice president of service and product support. Flynn most recently had been vice president-location based services for Stevens Aviation. Before joining Stevens, Flynn had been a regional vice president for Signature Flight Support and prior to that had been with Butler Aviation where he worked for Bill Boisture, who is now president of Gulfstream Aircraft, Inc.
NATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION sent an "Action Call" memo to its members Thursday asking them to submit comments by the June 27 deadline on FAA's proposal to require most scheduled commercial operators flying under Part 135 of the FARs to comply with tougher Part 121 standards.
Summary: Pursuant to FAA's rulemaking provisions governing the application, processing, and disposition of petitions for exemption (14 CFR Part 11), this notice contains a summary of certain petitions seeking relief from specified requirements of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR Chapter I), dispositions of certain petitions previously received, and corrections. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities.
Pemco World Air Services, the Copenhagen, Denmark unit of Precision Standard, has signed an agreement with Bombardier's Business Aircraft Division to develop and market a Cargo Variant (CV) of the Canadair Challenger. Under the agreement, Pemco will design and install the cargo conversions and Canadair will provide technical documentation and support. Officials see opportunities for air ambulance, quick-change, military and flight inspection uses with the CV version.
BOMBARDIER OFFICIALS, who won't reveal the exact number of orders received for the Global Express except to say that the total is more than 40, last week said the company will build 12 more of the very long-range business jets than originally planned through 1999. Deliveries of the $35 million aircraft are scheduled to begin in late 1997. Meanwhile, Bombardier is boosting production of two more aircraft programs, the Canadair Regional Jet and the de Havilland Dash 8.
Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) this month reintroduced legislation (S.905) that would give the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Park Service joint administration of airspace over national parks. The bill, S.905, modified from a version Akaka introduced last year, is "designed to mitigate the impact of commercial air tour flights over units of the National Park System," Akaka said.
RON STANDERFER was appointed senior vice president-marketing for Premier Aviation. Standerfer, a former Falcon Jet marketing director and Falcon 900 program manager, will oversee Premier's New York/New Jersey regional office in Upper Saddle River.
PATRICIA FIELDS has joined BFGoodrich Aerospace Avionics Systems as a sales representative to business and general aviation original equipment manufacturers. Fields is an Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University graduate who is rated in both helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft.
CENTURY FLIGHT SYSTEMS received FAA supplemental type certificate approval for installation of its Century 2000 Autopilot aboard Beech Model G17S aircraft. The panel-mounted, expandable 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.
Draft legislation under consideration by House Transportation aviation subcommittee Chairman John Duncan (R-Tenn.) would establish the Federal Aviation Administration as an independent agency governed by a five-member Federal Aviation Board. Under the draft bill, the new FAA would be funded by an off-budget aviation trust fund, consistent with legislation, H.R.842, supported by the House Transportation Committee. The draft, which still is subject to change, also would reform personnel and procurement requirements now imposed on FAA.
A GRUMMAN G-21 Turbo Goose Conversion crashed at the DuPage Airport in West Chicago, Ill., Wednesday, killing both persons on board and destroying the model 1961 aircraft. The aircraft, N121H, cartwheeled while taking off from Runway 28, crashed and burned.
JETSTREAM Model ATP airplanes (Docket No. 94-NM-242-AD) - proposes to require an inspection to ensure that various components of the retraction actuator of the nose landing gear are secure and an inspection of the bearing cap mounting holes for correct hole and thread length. The proposed AD also would require a later inspection for certain discrepancies of the retraction actuator, installation of revised tolerance bushings and correction of any discrepancy.
THE MATA HELICOPTER DIVISION of Israel Aircraft Industries and GE Aircraft Engines signed a memorandum of understanding "to explore helicopter re- engining opportunities for the T700 turboshaft engine."
AIR METHODS CORP., Denver, Colo., signed a five-year contract, retroactive to Jan. 1, 1995, to provide air medical helicopter services for newly created "Texas AirLife" in San Antonio, Texas. Texas AirLife is a consortium representing Baptist Memorial Hospital system and University Hospital System. Each hospital system provides a Bell 412 and Air Methods installed intensive care interiors in both aircraft. The contract provides for automatic renewals through December 2004. Air Methods has had an ongoing relationship with Baptist Memorial since the end of 1990.
NATIONAL AIR ACCESS COUNCIL selected Bassett Communications of Ellicott City, Md. to handle its public and media relations. In addition, Bassett will produce two informational videos about the air tour industry.
FOKKER AEROSTRUCTURES has delivered the first tail section for the Gulfstream V business jet. Fokker Aerostructures, which became a risk- sharing partner on the G-V since August 1993, assembled the tail section, excluding rudder, at its Papendrecht, Netherlands facility. The contract calls for Fokker Aerostructures participation through the design and certification phase. The long-range business jet is expected to complete its first flight in November with a full-scale testing program following. Certification is scheduled near the end of 1996.
AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION is offering its AOPA Aviation USA on CD-ROM. The electronic version of the directory contains both public-use and many private-use landing facilities in the U.S. While the electronic version does not contain runway diagrams offered in the bound volume, it does provide more business listings than the printed format. The CD-ROM requires an IBM-compatible personal computer running MS-Windows 3.1 (or greater) with a minimum of four megabytes of RAM, two megabytes of free hard disk space and an ISO 9660-compliant CD-ROM drive.
THE AIR FORCE issued a sole-source contract to Cessna Aircraft for five OT- 47B tracker aircraft. The $40.7 million contract calls for the military versions of the Cessna Citation IIs to be fitted with specialized radar and imaging systems. The contract, issued by the Aeronautical Systems Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is expected to be completed in March 1997.
