MEANWHILE, Rep. Jim Lightfoot's (R-Iowa) reform bill, H.R.1392 - which would establish FAA as an independent agency (BA, April 10/153) - received the support of Southwest Airlines Chairman Herb Kelleher. Kelleher told a recent Texas Airport Operators Conference that "We really like that bill, we can support that bill." He added that FAA independence and off-budget status for the transportation trust funds have more of a chance of passing Congress than privatization or corporatization schemes.
JSX Capital Corporation received orders from California-based start-up Sierra Expressway for up to 23 Jetstream Super 31s, officials from the British Aerospace unit announced during this month's RAA convention in San Antonio, Texas. The deal calls for Sierra to take delivery of 13 J31s with options for up to 10 more aircraft. Sierra Expressway, scheduled to begin service in July, initially will operate the aircraft between Oakland, Calif. International Airport and Medford Eureka/Arcadia, Sacramento and Monterey.
NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD scheduled a meeting June 1 to address safety issues involving the air tour industry.The safety board, noting it has investigated 139 air tour accidents and incidents since 1988, began a special investigation of the industry after two air tour accidents occurred on the same day last July in Hawaii. NTSB will discuss the results of that investigation, compiled in a report called Safety of the Air Tour Industry in the U.S., at the June 1 meeting.
ALLIEDSIGNAL LTS 101 series turboshaft and LTP 101 series turboprop engines (Docket No. 93-ANE-64) - proposes to require a one-time inspection of the disk tenon area of the gas generator turbine disk. This proposal is prompted by a report of a gas generator turbine disk tenon failure. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent total loss of engine power, inflight engine shutdown, and possible damage to the aircraft.
FORT LAUDERDALE JET CENTER'S summer volume fuel discount plan begins June 1 and runs through Oct. 31. The fixed-base operator is offering the following per gallon discounts based on the amount of fuel purchased: 500- 1,000 gallons, 10-cent discount; 1001-1,500 gallons, 20-cent discount; 1,501-2,500 gallons, 25-cent discount; 2,501-3,000 gallons, 35-cent discount. For more information contact the Fort Lauderdale Jet Center at (305) 359-3200.
Gwendolyn O. Mayo, president of Mayo Aviation, Inc., was elected chairman of the National Air Transportation Associaton's board of directors at the group's annual meeting this month in New Orleans. Mayo, who has served on the board for the past two years, previously had chaired NATA's Air Charter Committee. Other new officers include Kurt A. Herwald, chairman of Stevens Aviation, Greenville, S.C., vice chairman, and Jeffrey D. Baum, president of Wisconsin Aviation, Watertown, Wis., treasurer.
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.
ALLIEDSIGNAL Model T5313B and T5317 series turboshaft engines (Docket No. 94-ANE-45; Amdt. 39-9221; AD 95-10-04) - supersedes an existing AD that requires initial and repetitive dye penetrant inspections of the centrifugal compressor impeller for cracks, and, if necessary, removal from service.
JACK HAMMOND, who retired as general aviation manager at Phillips 66 Company in December, has joined the FBO Resource Group as executive vice president, business development. Hammond, who has 34 years of aviation industry experience, will identify business opportunities and assist in asset management projects for FBO Resource Group clients.
SIKORSKY Model S-58 and S-58T series helicopters (Docket No. 93-SW-18-AD; Amdt. 39-9226; AD 95-10-09) - requires removal and replacement of the transmission main gearbox ring gear within certain time intervals and establishes a retirement life for the ring gear. This amendment is prompted by reports of ring gear failures from slow-growth fatigue cracks. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent failure of the ring gear, failure of the main transmission and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
THE SJ30 entry-level business jet program moved a step closer to production as the Sino-Swearingen L.P. joint venture received $48 million in funding from Taiwanese investors.A spokesman for the joint venture confirmed last month's cash infusion and said Lockheed Martin officials - who are contributing $10 million and management expertise to the SJ30 program as part of an offset agreement related to the sale of F-16s to Taiwan - are expected to begin hiring personnel for Sino-Swearingen L.P. next month. Officials of Swearingen Aircraft, Inc.
CHARLES CHILDS was promoted to vice president of operations for Underwood- Instrument Services. Childs, who spent more than 15 years with Sperry Flight Systems/Honeywell, joined Underwood two years ago as quality assurance manager.
SIGNATURE FLIGHT SUPPORT has tentatively set a meeting June 19 with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association to discuss the FBO chain's recently initiated handling charges. AOPA earlier this month asked Signature to "modify or scrap" the fees for small general aviation operators (BA, May 15/210). Signature officials said the handling charges "are here to stay," but said the company wants to make sure charges are applied as equitably as possible.
OGDEN CORPORATION, known primarily as an airport fuel provider, is part of a consortium awarded a 20-year contract by the Civil Aviation Authority of Colombia to finance, build and operate a second runway at Bogota's Eldorado Airport. The consortium will build the 3.8-kilometer runway at an estimated cost of $97 million and maintain it for approximately 17 years in return for runway landing fees. Ogden, which was selected earlier this year as part of a consortium that will provide services at the new Macau International Airport (BA, Feb.
MCCAULEY Model 2A37C223/90RB propellers (Docket No. 94-ANE -14; Amdt. 39- 9211 ; AD 95-09-08) - requires installation of internal steel components, replacement of a balance ring, replacement of cylinder mounting screws and modification to an oil-filled configuration with red dye. Replacement of the identified components redistributes propeller weight while the red dye oil-filling provides an "on-condition" (in-service) means of early crack detection of the propeller assembly and also improve lubrication and corrosion protection.
Precision Castparts Corp. finished its fiscal 1995 with profits up nearly a third to $29 million, and PCC chief William McCormick points to the performance as evidence of the beginnings of recovery in the aerospace marketplace. "We are encouraged by indications that the worst may now be over for us in the aerospace downcycle," McCormick says. In fact in fiscal 1995 - which ended April 2 - marked the first time that the company's Airfoils Division topped the Structurals Division in annual sales.
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association has asked the Federal Aviation Administration to reject Transport Canada's request to establish Class C airspace over the San Juan Islands in northwestern Washington (BA, April 17/167). Class C airspace in the U.S. usually is defined as a five- nautical-mile radius around a primary airport to 4,000 feet above ground level and from 1,200 to 4,000 feet AGL out to a 10-mile radius.
The Federal Aviation Administration is proposing that operators of certain model Learjets install a cockpit placard to warn that Omega navigation systems installed in the aircraft may become inoperative at certain engine speeds.
National Transportation Safety Board put more aviation issues on its "most wanted" list of safety improvements last week including stricter rules on commuter airlines. The FAA responded with a list of actions it is taking that Administrator David Hinson said responds to all the safety board's recommendations. The safety board dropped two aviation safety issues from its list - brake wear limits and performance for transport aircraft and structural fatigue testing.
CRITICISM of the proposed Part 135 upgrade stretched from south Texas to Alaska last week. FAA Administrator David Hinson and other agency employees who sat through a four and one-half hour hearing in Anchorage Thursday heard the proposal criticized by a cross section of operators, state and local officials and the traveling public.
Cash-strapped SNECMA is considering taking another shot at setting up a second European engine alliance - similar to BMW/Rolls-Royce - as one way to find new capital as it eyes launching the new 40,000-pound-thrust-class CFM-XX. "Capital link-ups can be envisaged, but all of this is still at a project stage," says Chairman Bernard Dufour in the French daily Le Figaro. "Apart from our occasional cooperation with European firms, we are also looking at possible structural links."
UNIVERSAL LIFT INC., Escondido, Calif., has developed a mechanical lift designed to help physically disabled and elderly passengers board and disembark from helicopters. The company said its UniversaLift system, which weighs 175 pounds, can handle weights up to 360 pounds and makes it possible to board passengers who either had difficulty entering and leaving helicopters by themselves or who had to be carried on and off by carrier personnel.
Continental Express placed orders for 25 new Beech 1900Ds in a deal valued at more than $105 million, including spares, training and support, Beech and Continental Express officials announced at last week's Regional Airline Association convention in San Antonio. Beech officially handed over the first 1900D last week and deliveries are scheduled to continue through mid-1996. Continental Express airline GP Express, which flies as Continental Connection, initially will operate the aircraft.
FRANCES CARLENE BYRNES has joined Piedmont Aviation Services as assistant charter manager. Byrnes, previously with Atlantic Aero in Greensboro, N.C., will be responsible for all scheduling and aircraft dispatch functions for Piedmont.
