THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD has published the proceedings of its March 29-31, 1994 Aviation Accident Investigation Symposium during which the board solicited recommendations from the industry on how it could change its policies and procedures to operate more effectively. Copies may be obtained by contacting the National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, Va. 22161; telephone (703) 487-4600. Reference Document No. NTSB/RP-94-01.
REQUIRED BACKGROUND CHECKS and paperwork related to the nomination of union official John Goglia to a seat on the National Transportation Safety Board are said to be complete, but there has been no indication from the White House about when, or whether, the nomination will be sent to the Senate. Goglia is the flight safety representative at USAir for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and was instrumental in lobbying for passage of the General Aviation Revitalization Act of 1994 (BA, Oct. 31/192).
The Federal Aviation Administration has proposed a series of amendments designed to "clarify standards adopted in 1986 concerning the flammability of components used in the cabins of certain transport category airplanes." The original rule, which required operators to install new fireblocking materials in the passenger cabins of their aircraft, was intended to apply only to large airliners. But because of the way the regulation was written, it was determined that operators of smaller aircraft used in commercial service also had to comply with the fire-blocking standards.
RAINER SCHWAB was named by German engine manufacturer MTU as deputy program manager of the Mid Thrust Family Engine (MTFE) project that is being conducted in conjunction with Pratt&Whitney. Schwab has held a variety of engineering and management assignments with MTU and also served as special assistant to Jost Schmidt, executive vice president of MTU and head of commercial programs and sales.
ROSEMOUNT AEROSPACE, Minneapolis, Minn., has opened an office in Beijing, China to give the company a presence in that country and to "investigate partnerships for future business ventures in China." The office is headed by Zhixiang Wei, an aerospace engineer with a wide variety of aviation experience over the past 20 years. Before joining Rosemount, Wei was at the China Aero-information Center as a senior engineer.
DUNCAN AVIATION, Lincoln, Neb., signed a three-year training contract designating FlightSafety International as Duncan's primary training organization. FSI will provide Duncan's maintenance and pilot training. Pilot training also will be available to customers of JetResources, Duncan's aircraft buyer's assistance program, at special rates. Over the three-year period, FSI will hold more than 220 classes for Duncan personnel.
MICHAEL (JOE) STOKEY was promoted to Team Leader II, Aircraft Services Coordinator in Duncan Aviation's Lincoln, Neb. engine shop. He will be responsible for tracking work orders, communicating with customers about the status of their engine work and scheduling engine shop personnel. A five-year veteran of Duncan, Stokey previously spent three years as a turbine engine technician with AlliedSignal's Springfield, Ill. facility.
The Department of Transportation issued its long-awaited policy on airport rates and charges and rules of practice for complaints and other proceedings regarding air carriers and tenant fees at airports. At the same time, the agencies requested comments on the new policy "because of substantial industry interest in the proposed policy and because the final policy differs in several respects from the proposal." The policy statement and rules of practice were published in the Feb. 3 Federal Register.
PROPOSED JOINT VENTURE between British Aerospace units Avro Aerospace and Jetstream Aircraft with Avions de Transport Regional (ATR) partners Aerospatiale of France and Alenia of Italy must pass scrutiny by the European Community's antitrust officials before the deal can be consummated. ATR failed to satisfy antitrust officials when it was bidding for de Havilland of Canada several years ago. Even if the necessary approval is received relatively soon, sources said it will be mid-1996 before people "really get together and get into the same building."
C. RICHARD (RICH) BEINE, a veteran aircraft marketing executive, was appointed vice president-marketing and sales for Astra Jet Corp., Princeton, N.J. Before joining Astra, Beine served as vice president-sales for the western U.S. for Gulfstream Aerospace and prior to joining Gulfstream in 1984 he spent seven years as district sales manager of the Mid-Atlantic Region for Gates Learjet. With Astra, Beine will direct the company's worldwide marketing efforts. A native of Baltimore, Md., Beine began his career as a corporate pilot for Black&Decker Manufacturing Co.
NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD will convene a public hearing Feb. 27 into the fatal crash of a Simmons Airlines/American Eagle ATR-72 that occurred Oct. 31 near Roselawn, Ind. The accident resulted in a temporary prohibition against flights of ATR-42s and -72s into known icing conditions and the imposition of new requirements for ATR operators (BA, Jan. 16/25).
THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT issued its long-expected policy on airport rates and charges last week, but ignored requests from airline and general aviation interests to eliminate references to peak-hour pricing. See related articles this issue.
Legislation to extend the airlines' exemption from a 4.3 cents-per-gallon fuel tax was introduced in the Senate by Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) and Slade Gorton (R-Wash.) and in the House by Mac Collins (R-Ga.) and Jennifer Dunn (R-Wash.). Dunn and Collins plan to propose privatizing the Government Printing Office as a "significant down payment" toward offsetting the revenue erosion the extension would cause. Airline passengers currently pay a 10 percent tax on the value of tickets purchased, but the airlines themselves are not subject to fuel taxes.
AIRPORT SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, Overland Park, Kan., said it is "very close" to finding a fix for problems with its line of airport signage that caused the company to suspend shipment of airport signs last month. Thomas Cargin, the company's vice president of finance and administration, told BA that when ASI employees began field installations of the VomaGlow line of signs it acquired in September, they found that some signs did not meet specifications for power output and light uniformity. As a result, shipments were suspended until problems are resolved.
DE HAVILLAND Model DHC-8-100 and DHC-8-300 series airplanes (Docket No. 94- NM-235-AD; Amendment 39-9122; AD 94-22-10 R1) - This amendment revises an existing airworthiness directive, applicable to certain De Havilland Model DHC-8-100 and DHC-8-300 series airplanes, that currently requires a revision to the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) to advise flight crew members that certain cockpit indications may reveal faulty anti-collision strobe light units, and to provide procedures for subsequent flight crew and maintenance action.
ARNIE BERRY, formerly manager of the Engine and Machine Shop at Duncan Aviation in Lincoln, Neb., has been promoted to technical services representative. In his new position, Berry will provide technical support to operators of aircraft powered by Garrett, Pratt&Whitney or General Electric engines, including telephone troubleshooting and providing technical expertise to Duncan personnel. Berry, a 17-year Duncan veteran, is a native of Creston, Iowa, a former helicopter flight engineer in the U.S. Air Force and former engine shop manager for Duncan.
The National Business Aircraft Association said Friday it has "serious reservations" about a proposed restructuring of the Transportation Department announced Thursday by DOT Secretary Federico Pena.
LEGISLATION to exempt airlines from a 4.3-cents-per-gallon tax that is supposed to go into effect Oct. 1 was introduced in Congress last week with the backing of more than 200 aviation and travel industry groups. The National Air Transportation Association is concerned, however, because as written, the bill would exempt only jet fuel from the tax. Operators of piston-powered aircraft weighing more than 6,000 pounds that operate scheduled air service still would be subject to the new tax unless the proposed legislation is modified to include aviation gasoline.
RICHARD S. (DICK) WIGTON was selected for the new position of manager of Challenger training programs at SimuFlite Training International, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Since 1988, Wigton had been director of operations for Rainin Instrument Co., Inc., Emeryville, Calif. Before that, he spent 15 years as manager of aviation for The Clorox Co., Oakland, Calif. Wigton, a former test pilot for both Lockheed and Boeing, served on the board of directors of the National Business Aircraft Association from 1984-1992.
ARIZONA ROTORCRAFT, INC., Mesa, Ariz., is acquiring a new Turbomotive, Inc., Turbocell 1000 engine test cell, which will initially be configured for Allison 250 C-18 through C30 and -B17 engines.
AEROSPACE LIGHTING CORPORATION Power Units and Power Supplies (Docket No. 94-ANE-31) - proposes the supersedure of an existing airworthiness directive, applicable to certain Aerospace Lighting Corporation (ALC) lamp connectors and fluorescent lamps, that currently requires an inspection, and adjustment or replacement of improperly installed, damaged, or improperly configured lamp connectors and fluorescent lamps used in cabin fluorescent lighting systems.
WICAT, the aviation training company, reported the death of Kevin Padden, the company's director of aviation sales. Wicat said Padden, who had been with the company for more than 10 years, died Jan. 14 during a business trip in Asia.
Sabreliner Corporation said it will sell its aircraft fueling facility at Lambert Airport in St. Louis in response to an antitrust complaint by the Justice Department.
National Air Transportation Association is concerned that FAA's policy statement on airport rates and charges released last week retains language that allows airports to impose peak hour pricing, purportedly to "enhance" efficient airport utilization. In a statement, NATA President James Coyne offered "general support" for the rates and charges policy statement. On peak hour pricing, however, NATA said, "The policy is confusing...and could result in local proposals to implement excessive fees on general aviation and non-scheduled air charter operations."
TOM DAVENPORT, a 26-year veteran of Pratt and Whitney, was selected to head initial organization of the P&W and MTU Mid Thrust Family Engine MTFE project, a program to design and build a family of engines in the 15,000 to 24,000-pound thrust class for the emerging 75-100-passenger airplane market. Davenport's deputy will be Rainer Schwab of MTU. See item below. Davenport has held a series of key engineering posts at Pratt&Whitney, most recently serving as program manager for the PW-4084, the launch engine for the Boeing 777.
