J. TIM GERAC joined AeroSmith/Penny's aircraft marketing team. Gerac, who has seven years experience in data collection and analysis of business aviation, will be responsible for the in-house research department as well as sales support.
DASSAULT FALCON JET named Ron Velivis director of technical support for Dassault Falcon Jet. Velivis is responsible for technical representatives in the Western Hemisphere, the customer support control room and distribution of maintenance documentation to Falcon operators. Velivis joined Dassault Falcon Jet in 1981 as an account representative in the spares department and in 1990, became manager, service network administration.
AIR TRACTOR Models AT-301, AT-302, AT-400, AT-400A, AT-401, AT-402, AT-501 and AT-502 airplanes (Docket No. 95-CE-60-AD; Amdt. 39-9384; AD 95- 20-06) - requires inspection of the front spar attachment lugs and the rear spar for fatigue cracks and modification of the vertical fin, if cracks are found. This action also requires repetitive inspections until cracks are found, and then, incorporation of a modification as a terminating action to the inspections.
Gerald Czarnecki, who joined UNC Inc. in September 1994 as president and chief operating officer, has resigned, effective immediately, the company announced Friday. UNC credited Czarnecki with playing an important role in the company's restructuring over the past year, but said he decided to leave the company "to pursue personal business interests." UNC Chairman and CEO Dan Colussy will assume Czarnecki's duties, officials said.
FAA ADMINISTRATOR David Hinson was scheduled to be in Alaska over the past weekend where he was to participate in a "safety summit" with operators and address a dinner of the Alaska Airmens Association. Asked last week if he would be able to bring any good news to Alaska regarding 95-5, Hinson responded, "I'm very aware of the potential hardship that this rule could [have] on industry." He added that his emphasis is on human factors and operational issues, rather than equipment requirements. An FAA spokeswoman told BA later that Sen.
AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION is developing a funding reform proposal for the Federal Aviation Administration under which the current tax system would remain in place, but tax levels would be raised or lowered (within limits) annually according to the agency's funding levels. The proposal comes after Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) warned the industry to either come up with an alternative to his proposed user fee system or "we will try to move forward without their support" (BA, Sept. 18/117).
MARK MALKOSKY was appointed manager of maintenance training for SimuFlite Training International. Malkosky, a three-year SimuFlite employee, previously served as an aircraft technical instructor and supervisor of maintenance training.
SAN FRANCISCO and NASA's Ames Research Center at Moffett Federal Airfield are the site of the Second International Airborne Remote Sensing Conference and Exhibition scheduled for June 24-27. The conference will include display of more than 20 manned and unmanned aerial platforms equipped with remote sensing and mapping capabilities. For more information, contact: ERIM/Airborne Conference, P.O. Box 134001, Ann Arbor, Mich., 48113-4001, telephone (313) 994-1200, Ext. 3234; fax, (313) 994-5123.
In response to a federal appeals court decision, FAA has proposed to amend its notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) regarding Part 77 obstruction standards to include consideration of proposals that are received before the end of the public comment period on the required aeronautical study of the construction or alteration of a facility. The supplemental NPRM was published in the Oct. 16 Federal Register. A 1991 decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in Greater Orlando Aviation Authority vs.
GA LEADERS last week were encouraged by actions taken in the House that moved forward legislation to reform FAA and reinforced their efforts to fight proposed user fees. See articles below.
In the wake of its decision last week finding the pilot at fault for a fatal American Eagle Jetstream crash in North Carolina last December, the National Transportation Safety Board is expected to issue recommendations to FAA on a recurring problem that the accident spotlighted: the lack of employee-information sharing among airlines.
NATIONAL BUSINESS AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION warned its members that new noise rules will take effect Nov. 1 at Hong Kong International Airport limiting arrival and departure access to aircraft certified to ICAO Chapter 3 standards, which are nearly identical to FAA Stage 3 regulations. Noting that the U.S., the European Union, Canada and Japan have granted business jets of less than 75,000 pounds exemptions to Stage 3 noise rules, the association said it is seeking such an exemption at Hong Kong.
The California Supreme Court let stand a state Appeals Court decision to throw out a $57 million punitive damages judgment assessed against Beech Aircraft in 1991. The Supreme Court's decision ends a 20-year dispute that began after a Beech 95 Travelair aircraft crashed in 1974, killing the pilot and three passengers.
BFGoodrich Aerospace named seven executives to new positions last week. Ron Hodges moves from group general manager of Aircraft Integrated Systems, Vergennes, Vt., to group general manager, Rosemount Aerospace in Burnsville, Minn. Cal Purdin, formerly general manager of Aircraft Evacuation Systems in Phoenix, Ariz., will replace Hodges as group general manager of the Integrated Systems plant in Vergennes.
NEW PIPER Models PA-28-140, PA-28-150, PA-28-160 and PA-28-180 (Docket No. 95-CE-51-AD) - proposes to require replacement of the landing light support. This proposal is prompted by two accidents and two incidents resulting from the landing light retainer support seal breaking apart and entering the carburetor. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent the landing light retainer support seal from being ingested by the updraft carburetor, which could result in rough engine operation or engine stoppage.
SHIPMENTS AND BILLINGS of new general aviation aircraft increased in the third quarter, but not by as a large a margin as originally indicated (BA, Oct. 16/163).Several business jet manufacturers revised their earlier delivery reports last week to correct errors. See article below. An updated version of BA's worldwide shipment compilation is also shown below.
Scenic Airlines, the Grand Canyon air tour operator based in Las Vegas, Nev., plans to relocate its operations from McCarran International Airport to the North Las Vegas Air Terminal. Scenic plans to build a 67,350 square-foot building that will house the terminal, business offices and maintenance bay. Officials hope to move into the new $5 million facility by mid-March. Scenic operates a mixed fleet of 63 aircraft and also is the Delta Connection carrier to the Grand Canyon from McCarran.
In the latest of a series of actions to address the unapproved parts issue, the Federal Aviation Administration this month proposed an advisory circular that provides guidance on determining the disposition of undocumented parts and appliances. AC 120-PAAT III advises operators and repair station certificate holders on how to develop a system to determine the conformity of aircraft parts when there is insufficient documentation. FAA is requesting comments on the proposed AC by Jan. 3.
PIEDMONT AVIATION SERVICE, INC., Winston-Salem, N.C., acquired Altair Turbine Services, a firm headquartered in Melfa, Va., that specializes in overhauling auxiliary power units. Altair, located at Accomack County Airport, services APUs used on ground power vehicles as well as airborne units used on Lockheed C-130s and KC-135 tankers. Piedmont President Jim Taylor said Altair performed a significant amount of its APU work under contract to Piedmont, which made the acquisition a natural opportunity.
AIR TRACTOR Models AT-802 and AT-802A airplanes (Docket No. 95-CE-59- AD) - proposes to require repetitive replacement of the main landing gear legs. This action is prompted by a failure of the main landing gear legs on an AT-802A in the field. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent possible failure of the main landing gear legs and loss of control. Comments on the proposal must be sent in triplicate before Dec. 5 to FAA, Central Region, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E. 12th St., Kansas City, Mo. 64106.
MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE lowered its ratings on Coltec Industries senior secured, senior unsecured and subordinated debt "to reflect Moody's opinion that it will be difficult for the company to meaningfully reduce debt from free cash flow given the rating agency's outlook for a more competitive operating environment and earnings pressure." Ratings downgraded were: senior secured debt to Ba3 from Ba2; senior unsecured debt rating to B1 from Ba2; and, subordinated debt to B3 from B1.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS said St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center of Boise, Idaho ordered an MD Explorer helicopter for its airborne emergency medical services. Idaho Helicopters, Inc. will own and operate the helicopter for Life Flight, the medical center's flight service unit." The twin-turbine helicopter is scheduled for delivery in early spring. It will be configured to carry two patients, two medical attendants and a pilot.
HONEYWELL DEFENSE AVIONICS SYSTEMS was selected by Chrysler Technologies Airborne Systems, Inc., to provide global positioning system enhanced navigation equipment for the U.S. Air Force C-141.
