FOKKER F28 Mark 0100 series airplanes (Docket No. 95-NM-38-AD) - proposes to require replacement of the return filter diaphragm assemblies on hydraulic systems 1 and 2 with modified filter units. This proposal is prompted by a report that the brake units have insufficient running clearance because of overpressure in the hydraulic return system. This condition could lead to brake over-heating.
BEECH Model 400, 400A, and MU-300-10 airplanes (Docket No. 94-NM-162-AD) - proposes to require installation of an improved adjustment mechanism on the flightcrew seats and replacement of the existing aluminum seat reinforcement assemblies with steel assemblies. This proposal is prompted by reports of incomplete latching of the existing adjustment mechanism and cracked reinforcement assemblies, which could result in sudden shifting of a flightcrew seat. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent such shifting of a flightcrew seat.
ROBINSON HELICOPTER Model R22 series helicopters (Docket No. 95-SW-06-AD) - proposes to supersede AD 94-14-07, which requires an inspection and repetitive visual checks for slippage of the tail rotor drive and replacement of the tail rotor gearbox, if necessary. This action would require disassembly of the tail rotor gearbox to verify the installation of the input and output shaft keys between the input and output pinions and their respective shafts.
DEPARTMENTS OF TRANSPORTATION AND INTERIOR, which in March 1994 issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking suggesting ways to further regulate air tour operators, have received more than 2,500 comments on the joint proposal. The agencies plan another round of public hearings later this year on the ANPRM.
FAA has issued a proposed advisory circular, AC 39-XX, on continued airworthiness assessments of turbine engines, propellers and auxiliary power units used on aircraft certified under Part 25. Comments on the proposed AC must be sent before June 23 to FAA, Attn.: Engine and Propeller Standards Staff, ANE-110, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, Mass. 01803-5299. For more information, contact Thomas Boudreau at (617) 238- 7117.
CLARK STEVENS was appointed to the board of directors of Mesa Air Group. Stevens, who became president of Mesa Air Group's FloridaGulf Airlines division in 1993, was promoted to president and chief operating officer of Mesa in January 1995.
AAR combined its two Singapore-based aircraft support operations into an expanded facility near Changi International Airport in Singapore. The facility houses both the sales office and maintenance base. The new AAR Asia-Pacific facility is located at #1, Loyang St., Singapore 1750; telephone: 65-542-9800; fax: 65-542-9811.
DASSAULT AVIATION'S Falcon 900EX long-range derivative of the Falcon 900 completed its first flight last week from the company's facility at Bordeaux-Merignac Airport in France. The 4,500-nautical-mile 900EX, unveiled during last fall's NBAA convention in New Orleans (BA, Oct. 10/156), is powered by three AlliedSignal TFE731-60 engines rated at 5,000 pounds thrust each. The aircraft is slated for delivery beginning in the fall of 1996.
A proposed advisory circular designed to address the most efficient ways of complying with small aircraft certification requirements has been published by FAA.
PATS, INC., the Columbia, Md. supplier of auxiliary fuel systems, has signed a cooperative agreement with BFGoodrich Aerospace/Tramco to provide long-range fuel system installations at the Tramco aircraft maintenance/modification facility in Everett, Wash. The PATS long-range fuel tanks can be installed as a post-delivery modification to new aircraft or a retrofit installation to aircraft already in service.
PRECISION STANDARD, INC., Birmingham, Ala., signed a memorandum of understanding with San Bernardino International Airport Authority to lease about one million square feet of hangar, manufacturing and warehouse space on about 70 acres at the former Norton Air Force Base in Southern California. Under the agreement, Precision will use nearly 650,000 square feet of space for its aircraft maintenance and modification center and will be able to sublease the balance of the space to other tenants.
United Parcel Service, accelerating its schedule, launched international next-flight-out service from the U.S. late last month. The new, round-the-clock delivery option will get packages to major business centers in the Asia/Pacific region, Europe and Latin America within 24 hours. UPS said the success of its domestic same-day service, launched April 17 by subsidiary SonicAir, prompted it to start the international version ahead of its original target of late 1995.
National Transportation Safety Board last week renewed its call for a national standard for air tour operators and charged the Federal Aviation Administration to revisit its special restrictions imposed on operations in Hawaii to allow for industry input. The NTSB Thursday adopted 10 recommendations - which were largely welcomed by industry leaders - aimed at improving safety of the air tour industry. The recommendations concluded a special investigation into the industry that began after two air tour accidents occurred on the same day last July in Hawaii.
AOPA AIR SAFETY FOUNDATION is publishing a new quarterly for flight instructors. CFI Checklist, the successor to the Air Safety Foundation's Flight Instructor Quarterly, will be sent free to certificated flight instructors. The publication will cover teaching tips, ideas for attracting new students and Air Safety Foundation activities affecting instructors and students. For more information, call (800) 638-3101.
FlightCom of Florida, Inc., a privately held company whose principals include former FAA air traffic management personnel, hopes to begin providing real-time data this year to clients who want to track movements of general aviation and airline aircraft operating under instrument flight rules flight plans.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION issued special conditions for Raytheon Corporate Jets Hawker 800 aircraft equipped with Garrett TFE731-5BR-1H engines and a mach trim system. The aircraft will use new electronic systems, and FAA said its current regulations do not contain adequate safety standards for the protection of those systems from the effects of high-intensity radiated fields.
VISIONAIRE CORPORATION, which is developing an all-composite, single-engine business jet - the Vantage - has relocated its headquarters to the Spirit of St. Louis Airport in Chesterfield, Mo. Tom Stark, VisionAire president, said the new corporate headquarters will enable the company to coordinate all sales, marketing and engineering projects. "We can taxi directly from the runway to the hangar and office, so the location is extremely convenient for our staff as well as for our customers and shareholders.
HARTZELL PROPELLER Models HC-92WK-( ) and HC-92ZK-( ) propellers (Docket No. 95-ANE-05; Amdt. 39-9243; AD 95-11-08) - supersedes AD 73-02-01 that requires visual and penetrant inspections of the propeller blade shank area for corrosion at 1,000-hour time-in-service intervals and shotpeening after inspection. This amendment requires a one-time inspection of the blade clamp screws, then a dye penetrant inspection, compressive rolling of the blade shank, and replacement of blade clamp screws, all to be accomplished at intervals of 500-hours time in service.
FAA last week renewed its prohibition against flights between the U.S. and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro). The initial prohibition under SFAR 66-1 was implemented Aug. 26, 1993 and expired one year later. FAA has replaced that restriction with SFAR 66-2, which is effective immediately and expires June 2, 1997. SFAR 66-2 also prohibits flights to or from an intermediate destination between the U.S. and Serbia and Montenegro.
COMMERCE SECRETARY Ron Brown, Defense Secretary William Perry and NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin signed an agreement to combine the nation's military and civil weather satellite programs into a single system. The program, which is expected to save up to $300 million through 1999, stems from Vice President Al Gore's National Performance Review.
The Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee, charged by the Federal Aviation Administration to develop a proposal to allow Part 135 operators to fly single-engine aircraft under instrument flight rules, last week completed a draft notice of proposed rulemaking that would establish standards for such operations.
The Federal Aviation Administration approved Tridair Helicopters' Gemini ST aircraft for use in Part 135 operations. The Gemini ST, a Bell Helicopter LongRanger modified with twin Allison 250-C20R engines that operate through the Soloy Dual Pac combining gearbox, originally received certification for operation as a single- and/or twin-engine aircraft in September (BA, Oct. 3/142). The latest approval allows the aircraft to carry passengers for compensation or hire during day or night time operations within the continental U.S. without restriction.
AEROSPATIALE Model ATR-42-200, -300, and -320 series airplanes (Docket No. 94-NM-48-AD; Amdt. 39-9238; AD 95-11-04) - requires modification of the wiring in the elevator controls and the pitch trim dissymmetry monitoring equipment. This amendment is prompted by a report of loss of a propeller and engine gearbox, which damaged the fuselage. There also has been a report that a modification was implemented in the elevator control cables during manufacture that reduced the maximum physical separation between the elevator controls and the monitoring equipment.
The Federal Aviation Administration concluded in a draft report to Congress that expanded municipal solid waste or putrescible landfills should not be located within certain distances of runways or within certain approach/departure areas near an airport.
ALLIEDSIGNAL ENGINES Model LTS101-650B1, -750B1, -650C, and -750C turboshaft engines (Docket No. 95-ANE-08) - proposes to require installation of an improved power turbine rotor and electronic power turbine rotor overspeed controller as a terminating action to inspections required by AD 88-14-01. This proposal is prompted by reports of additional bearing failures since publication of AD 88-14-01, including one additional uncontained power turbine disk failure.
