CESSNA AIRCRAFT officials announced plans to resume production of three piston-powered aircraft - the 172, 182 and 206 - but at least one executive of Cessna's parent company has indicated a desire to see single- engine production expand to include additional models. Terry D. Stinson, vice president of Textron's Aerospace&Defense Group, told a recent McGraw-Hill/Aviation Week Group finance conference that his Cessna colleagues suggested he trade in his current aircraft when the new Cessna singles become available.
SAE General, Corporate and Regional Aviation Meeting&Exposition will be held May 3-5 in the Century II Convention Center in Wichita, Kan. The meeting will hold technical sessions on topics including international certification, computer-aided design, impact dynamics, aircraft propulsion, aircraft interior and exterior noise and structures systems. For more information, contact SAE at (412) 776-4841.
ATR received an order from Johannesburg, South Africa-based Comair for two 48-passenger ATR 42-320s. South Africa's Comair, privately held and not affiliated with the U.S. regional of the same name, was created 50 years ago and is the oldest in South Africa after South African Airways, ATR officials said. The two ATRs will join four Boeing 737-200s, one Fokker 28 and four Fokker 27s. ATR officials also said they delivered an ATR 42-300 to Palermo, Sicily-based Air Sicilia.
Helicopter Association International is providing educational programs for Federal Aviation Administration safety inspectors and designated pilot examiners on the requirements of special conditions issued for the Robinson Model R-22 helicopter. FAA in February issued an emergency Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR No. 73) that adopts new training and experience requirements for Robinson Model R-22 and R-44 pilots, pilot examiners and FAA safety inspectors (BA, Feb. 27/90).
Pat Boyarski, a 17-year Cessna veteran, is the new general manager of the company's single-engine piston business. Boyarski, who has held a number of positions in training, customer service and product support, has been deeply involved for the past two years in Cessna's planning for resumption of single-engine aircraft production (BA, Oct. 25, 1993/171). In his new post he will be responsible for planning, selection of the single-engine business team and oversight of construction of the new production facility in Independence, Kansas.
FlightSafety International and Air Security International have launched a series of training seminars for corporate pilots and flight department managers concerned about security threats on corporate aircraft and passengers and crew members using those aircraft. The one-day course is designed to expose and alert aircraft operators to possible preventive measures that will reduce risk and improve security. Topics examined include the dangers of kidnapping, sabotage, extortion, harassment and acts of terrorism.
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 named two men to head the units of the company that manufacture landing gear systems and auxiliary power units. Carl Montalbine was named vice president and general manager of the Aircraft Landing Systems (ALS) unit headquartered in South Bend, Ind. Montalbine had been director of engineering for ALS since 1993 and joined AlliedSignal in 1990. He will be responsible for all ALS products and customers. The division manufactures products for both commercial and military aircraft, including Bendix wheels and brakes, brake controls and landing gear.
FAIRCHILD SA226 and SA227 series airplanes equipped with a certain Simmonds Precision pitch trim actuator (Docket No. 93-CE-35-AD; Amdt. 39-9180; AD 93-15-02 R1) - requires repetitive measurement of the pitch trim actuator freeplay, repetitive inspection of the actuator for rod slippage, immediate replacement if freeplay limitations are not met or rod slippage is evident and eventual replacement of the actuator.
DORNIER Model 328-100 series airplanes (Docket No. 95-NM-24-AD; Amdt. 39- 9179; AD 94-04-51) - publishes an AD previously sent to all known U.S. owners and operators of the affected aircraft. The AD requires certain revisions to the Airplane Flight Manual, replacement of certain de-icing boots in the air intake duct assemblies of the engine and inspection of the boots for discrepancies.
PIPER AIRCRAFT appointed AMR Combs (at the AMR Combs-SACSA fixed-base operation at Toluca Airport in Mexico City) as its new distributor for Mexico. The facility will offer new aircraft sales, parts and technical services. Warner Hartlieb, Piper's director of marketing and sales, said "there's tremendous interest in general aviation in Mexico and we expect AMR Combs-SACSA to be effective in meeting those needs."
BOMBARDIER BUSINESS AIRCRAFT DIVISION has reached agreement with Federal Express Business Logistics Services to establish a Canadair Challenger spare parts facility in Memphis. FedEx will hold and ship spare parts to U.S. customers beginning May 1. Bombardier plans to relocate $4 million in parts to Memphis. "This is part of our goal to further enhance parts availability in the U.S....and to deliver them to our operators faster," said Keith Garner, executive vice president of the Business Aircraft Division.
LEARJET announced the appointments of James Ziegler as vice president- Bombardier Aviation Services and David Brant as vice president strategic planning for Learjet. Ziegler, formerly Learjet's vice president of strategic planning and business development, will oversee six factory service facilities that maintain Learjet and Canadair Challenger business aircraft. Brant, who replaces Ziegler, has held a number of senior positions at Learjet including vice president of program development.
AlliedSignal Engines is betting that its recent acquisition of Lycoming's gas turbine engine business will give it a commanding share of the hottest growth aircraft market - the 50- to 90-passenger segment - without having to pick sides in the turboprop versus turbofan debate. That market segment "can't decide whether it wants to be prop or fan," Noel Nightengale, vice president for regional airlines propulsion and a Textron Lycoming alumnus, told BA sister publication Aerospace Propulsion.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION has scheduled two informal meetings May 9- 10 to discuss a proposal by Transport Canada that seeks reclassification of U.S. airspace in the area of the San Juan Islands and Bellingham, Wash. as Class C. The Class C designation would match classification of adjacent Canadian airspace. FAA hopes to gather information on how the proposal would affect aircraft operations in the U.S. For more information, contact Melodie DeMarr in the Northwest Regional Office at (206) 227-1534.
Several industry associations and air tour operators late last month urged Transportation Secretary Federico Pena to protect the Federal Aviation Administration's jurisdiction over airspace in DOT's joint effort with the Department of Interior to further regulate the air tour industry. The industry officials met with Pena and FAA officials late last month to express their concerns about proposed restrictions on the industry.
PARKER HANNIFIN CORP., Cleveland, Ohio, declared a three shares-for-two stock split and an eight percent dividend increase last week. The cash dividend, which is increasing from 25 cents per share to 27 cents per share on a pre-split basis, will be paid and the additional shares will be distributed June 2 to shareholders of record on May 18. Duane E.
The captain of the American Eagle Jetstream Super 31 that crashed last Dec. 13 while on approach to Raleigh/Durham Airport had trouble maintaining his piloting skills, particularly in the terminal area, according to working group reports issued last week by the National Transportation Safety Board. The pilot previously had been allowed to resign from Comair in lieu of being terminated, the report said. The captain left Comair on Jan. 3, 1991, and went to work for American Eagle a few days later.
THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS Turbine&Aeroengine Congress, Users Symposium&Exposition (ASME Turbo Expo '95) will be held June 5-8 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston. ASME Turbo Expo '95 will include an exposition with more than 225 gas turbine manufacturers and 100 technical sessions. For more information, contact ASME's International Gas Turbine Institute, 5801 Peachtree Dunwoody Road, Suite 100, Atlanta, Ga. 30342; telephone: (404) 847-0072; fax: (404) 847-0151.
Robert Showalter, chairman of Showalter Flying Services who has promoted the ramp fee concept for some time, this month said fuel sales at his fixed-base operation have increased since the facility began charging the fees. SFS, located at Orlando's Executive Airport, instituted "facility charges" in December for transient aircraft that do not buy fuel. He called the concept of ramp fees "more than a passing fad" for the industry and revealed improvements in sales at his facility.
CESSNA AIRCRAFT officials, who said earlier they planned to break ground for the company's new single-engine piston aircraft plant in Independence, Kan., this month, still have not finalized the date for the groundbreaking ceremony (BA, Jan. 2/1).Announcement of a firm date has been delayed while officials attempt to coordinate schedules with a list of politicians and dignitaries who will be invited to the ceremonies.
REP. NORMAN MINETA (D-Calif.) this month introduced, at the request of the Clinton Administration, two Transportation Department reorganization bills. H.R.1441 would establish a government corporation to run the nation's air traffic control system (BA, April 10/153) and H.R.1440 would restructure DOT into three operating agencies - the Federal Aviation Administration, the Coast Guard and a new Intermodal Transportation Administration (BA, April 10/155).
Cessna Aircraft Chairman Russ Meyer and former National Business Aircraft Association Chairman Preston S. Parish will receive two of NBAA's most prestigious awards at the organization's convention in Las Vegas this fall. Meyer will receive NBAA's Meritorious Service Award, presented annually "to an individual who, by virtue of a lifetime of personal dedication, has made significant, identifiable contributions that have materially advanced aviation interests."
FAIRCHILD AIRCRAFT has established a distribution center for the company's Pacific Rim customers. Australian Jet Center in Sydney will distribute spare parts for Fairchild. The center is scheduled to begin business this month and officials said it hopes to initially process half of its orders to the Pacific Rim through the facility. Fairchild said 52 Metros are based in the region.
UNIVAIR AIRCRAFT Models Ercoupe 415-C, 415-CD, 415-D, 415-E and 415-G, Forney F-1 and F-1A, Alon A-2 and A-2A, and Mooney M10 airplanes (Docket No. 94-CE-05-AD; Amdt. 39-9173; AD 94-18-04 R1) - requires installation of inspection openings in the outer wing panels, a one-time inspection of the wing outer panel structural components for corrosion and repair of any corroded component. This AD is prompted by several reports of corrosion in the outer wing panels of the affected airplanes.
