FOKKER Model F28 series airplanes (Docket No. 94-NM-174-AD; Amdt. 39-9087; AD 94-25-03) - requires a revision to the Airplane Flight Manual that prohibits takeoff in certain icing conditions unless either a tactile inspection is performed or specific takeoff procedures are followed. This amendment is prompted by several accidents in which Fokker Model F28 series airplanes lost aerodynamic lift when attempting takeoff with ice contamination on the wings.
FLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL said its new Model 31A Learjet simulator at the company's Tucson Learning Center received certification from the Luftfahrt Bundesamt (LBA) of Germany and Transport Canada for training German and Canadian pilots. FSI said the Level D Learjet 31A was the first business aircraft simulator in the world to receive Level D certification from FAA. The unit was commissioned in August.
SYMETRICS, a manufacturer of quick-disconnect valved couplings for the Space Shuttle, international space station and various defense aircraft and missiles, was acquired by Parker Hannifin Corp. Under the stock-for-stock deal, Parker will merge Symetrics into its Fluid Connectors Group. Symetrics, based in Newbury Park, Calif., had sales of $8 million last year.
In response to Transportation Secretary Federico Pena's challenge last week to the aviation industry to adopt a sweeping list of operating and training procedures to improve safety, the president of the National Air Transportation Association said the federal government should reduce aviation user taxes to offset increased costs of the new safety initiative.
In organizational meetings last week, the Senate's Appropriations and Commerce committees named subcommittee chairmen, including chairmen for the transportation and aviation subcommittees, respectively. As expected, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) was named chairman of the aviation subcommittee. On Appropriations, committee Chairman Mark Hatfield (R-Ore.) also will serve as chairman of the transportation subcommittee. Sen. Alfonse D'Amato (R- N.Y.), who had been the presumed new chairman, gave up a seat on Appropriations to take a Finance Committee slot.
BRODERICK DID NOT SPECIFY the individual aircraft types that may be subject to such a review, but he said it might include 12 to 18 different models, both turboprops and some small jets, that are equipped with de- icing boots.
THE COMMENT PERIOD has been extended again on FAA's supplemental draft environmental impact statement on the effects of changes of aircraft flight patterns over New Jersey. On Dec. 12 the deadline for submitting comments was extended to Feb. 9 and last week FAA extended the deadline to Feb. 23. The agency also said it will hold an additional public hearing on the issue Feb. 14 at the Holiday Inn on Route 37 East in Toms River, N.J. The hearing will consist of two sessions, from 1-4 p.m. and from 7-10 p.m.
MELISSA BAILEY was named director of technical services for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Frederick, Md. She specializes in airspace design, obstruction evaluation, charting and frequency assignment issues and weather service modernization. Before joining AOPA, Bailey was with Lancaster Aviation in Lancaster, Pa., and also was chief pilot for Conestoga Balloons.
The FAA's Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee will hold two meetings this month to solicit information from the aviation maintenance community concerning maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding and alteration and inspection of certain aircraft. The information will be used to assist the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee in a continuing review of Parts 43, Appendices A and D of Part 43 and Part 91.409.
ELLIOTT AVIATION, Moline, Ill., received multiple supplemental type certificates (STCs) for installation of AlliedSignal Mark VI ground proximity warning systems (GPWS) in Beech King Air Models 200, 200C, 200CT, B200 and B200T. The company also has applied for STCs that will permit installation of the system in the Beech 300, B300, 350, 300LW, B300C, 1900 and 1900D. Elliott also is seeking three separate STCs from FAA on the Beechjet 400.
Testing of a portion of the $52.9 million alternate baggage system at the new Denver International Airport last week went off without a hitch, the City of Denver said. A spokeswoman said the portion tested will serve United's outbound baggage, which accounts for about 50 percent of the system. The alternate system, although fully built, is in different stages of testing for each airline. In scheduling tests, Denver is trying to make each section of the system available to airlines for training by Jan. 31. Officials still hope to open the airport Feb. 28.
EXECUJET AVIATION SERVICES, LTD. was selected to provide fixed-base services at the Niagara Falls, N.Y. International Airport. The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority said Execujet will provide ground handling services and equipment for charter and scheduled flights and will manage leases of the various tie-down and hangar tenants. The new FBO also will manage the fuel farm, fuel aircraft and provide aircraft maintenance services. Execujet, which is headed by Gary W. Ondrey, also operates an FBO at Toronto's Pearson International Airport.
U.S. OPERATORS of ATR-42 and -72 turboprops could resume operations in known or forecast icing as early as this week, under the provisions of an airworthiness directive adopted by FAA last week. The AD imposes some additional training and equipment requirements and mandates certain operational changes for the ATR fleet. In addition, larger wing de-icing boots must be installed by June 1. See article below.
JETSTREAM Model ATP airplanes (Docket No. 94-NM-199-AD; Amdt. 39-9086; AD 94-25-02) - requires inspections for cracking in certain oil coolers and replacement with serviceable coolers. The amendment provides for termination of the inspections by installing certain reworked and reidentified oil coolers. This amendment is prompted by reports of cracking in the welded seams of certain oil coolers. The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent loss of engine oil due to cracking in the oil cooler, which may lead to a forced shutdown of the engine.
ORLANDO (DIT) PANFILE announced staff changes at two of the Million Air fixed-base operations in Panfile's operating group. Ken Allison was named regional vice president and general manager for Million Air Cincinnati at Lunken Airport. Allison had been vice president and general manager of Million Air Chicago Midway. Mike Kiefer, formerly general manager at Million Air St. Louis, was named to succeed Allison at Midway. The Panfile organization assumed management and operation of Million Air Cincinnati in October.
Hughes Aircraft Co. was chosen by Bell-Boeing to provide an advanced infrared night vision system for the V-22 Osprey. Hughes said it received a $4.8 million contract for engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) of the new system, which will combine production components from Hughes AN/AAQ-16B system with reflective optics and a 3.5-milacron, mid-wavelength infrared staring focal plane array detector assembly.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION and the American Association of Airport Executives is sponsoring a series of Airport Safety and Operations Specialist (ASOS) programs. The basic ASOS course will be held Feb. 26- March 1 in Orlando, Fla. and July 9-12 in Denver, Colo., while the advanced course will be offered June 18-20 in Philadelphia, Pa., and Nov. 12-15 in Los Angeles, Calif.
DENVIL D. TUCKER was appointed vice president, sales and marketing, for The Lynton Group. Tucker will oversee the company's jet and helicopter sales business as well as be responsible for expanding other facets of the company's business. The Lynton Group sells, charters, manages and services corporate jet aircraft and turbine helicopters in Morristown, N.J. and London, England.
RTCA, INC., was selected to received the International Civil Aviation Organization's 50th anniversary Medal of Honor for significant contributions to civil aviation development. ICAO cited RTCA, Inc., formerly known as the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics, "for consistently providing outstanding service to the United States and the international aviation community by developing government/industry consensus on major aviation issues." RTCA President David S.
The French-Italian ATR aircraft consortium hopes installation of a new de-icing system, which would roughly double the amount of protected wing area, will convince FAA to lift a ban on flying the 156 ATR-42 and -72 twin-turboprops owned or leased by U.S. carriers in known or forecast icing conditions. An ATR-72 recently passed icing tests four times as severe as FAA requires for certification (BA, Jan. 2/7), but an ATR official said that the consortium proposed new de-ice boots, made by French firm Aerazure, anyway just to be "prudent."
UNITED TECHNOLOGIES named Michael Hritsik, 46, president of United Technologies International-Russia, based in Moscow. David Manke, president of United Technologies International, said Hritsik will open a UTC office in Moscow from which to support the corporation's activities in the Russian Republic and throughout the former Soviet Union. Hritsik has a broad background in Russian business and legislative activities and has been a consultant for several U.S. companies. A former U.S.
Boeing's Precision Gear, Inc. subsidiary has purchased Litton Precision Gear of Chicago to augment the parent company's source of helicopter transmission gears. Boeing did not disclose terms of the purchase. It described the 170-person Litton unit as the main supplier of transmissions for the Boeing CH-47 Chinook and the McDonnell Douglas AH-64 Apache helicopters.
NEW MEDICAL STANDARDS for airmen, which have been the subject of increasing controversy among pilots since the proposed revisions were published in October (BA, Oct. 24/183), will be the subject of public meetings beginning next week in three cities across the country.
Documents were signed Thursday in Martinsburg, W. Va. and Taiwan by officials of Swearingen Aircraft, Inc. and Sino Aerospace Investment Corp., officially forming Sino-Swearingen L.P., a new entity that will build the SJ30 entry-level business jet. Last week's ceremony came three months after the collaborative effort between aircraft developer Ed Swearingen and the Taiwanese group was announced at the National Business Aircraft Association convention in New Orleans, La. (BA, Oct. 10/159).
JETSTREAM Model 4101 airplanes (Docket No. 94-NM-169-AD) - proposes to require modification of the spoiler system. This proposal is prompted by reports of fatigue failures of the tee fittings of the spoiler bleed nipples. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to ensure that the tee fittings do not fail and subsequently lead to loss of the main system hydraulics. Comments on the proposal must be sent in triplicate before Jan. 27 to FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-103, 1601 Lind Ave., S.W., Renton, Wash. 98055-4056. Specify docket number.
