The Weekly of Business Aviation

Staff
BELL Model 206A and 206B helicopters (Docket No. 94-SW-16-AD) - proposes to supersede an existing AD that requires an inspection of the main transmission input driveshaft assembly at intervals of 300 hours time in service (TIS); the application of zinc chromate primer inspection visual aid, and, daily visual checks of the driveshaft. This action would require inspections of the driveshaft at 300 hours TIS intervals; the application of a self-adhesive temperature indicator visual inspection aid, and, pre- flight visual owner/operator checks of the driveshaft.

Staff
BEECH Model 400 and 400A airplanes (Docket No. 95-NM-31-AD; Amdt. 39- 9352; AD 95-18-04) - requires modification of the autopilot and rudder boost interlock. This amendment is prompted by a report indicating that the rudder boost system installed on these airplanes does not operate correctly during deployment of a thrust reverser. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent incorrect operation of the rudder boost system during deployment of a thrust reverser and to prevent the autopilot from exceeding certain bank angle limits.

Staff
FAA REFORM AND USER FEES will continue to be a focal point this week on Capitol Hill with hearings planned on reform legislation and debate scheduled for the fiscal 1996 transportation appropriations bill. House and Senate negotiators failed to reach agreement last week on some provisions in the appropriations bill - which calls for new and increased aviation user fees - and delayed action until Wednesday. The House aviation subcommittee is scheduled to hold its first hearing on legislation by Reps.

Staff
AOPA AIR SAFETY FOUNDATION petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration to permit a test program of instrument training using personal computer- based ground training devices. FAA requires a minimum of 35 hours of actual or simulated instrument flight experience for an instrument rating.

Staff
FLIGHTSTAR CORP., Rantoul, Ill., broke ground last month for a fixed-base operation at the airport that was formerly Chanute Air Force Base. Flightstar President Bill Giannetti said the new facility will include an 18,750-square-foot hangar large enough to accommodate Gulfstream IV-size aircraft, plus a 4,500-square-foot office building with crew lounge, conference room, flight planning room and passenger lounge. Mike Kochvar, Flightstar's manager of Rantoul operations, will continue in that capacity when the new FBO is completed.

Staff
NEW NTSB MEMBERS often take a few months to settle into their new jobs, but former USAir mechanic John Goglia is taking advantage of his new high-profile post to preach the virtues of maintenance resource management (MRM) training. Goglia, who joined the board last month (BA, Aug. 21/77), believes attention to human factors issues in maintenance will produce some of the same safety benefits that have accrued from similar programs for pilots. See article below.

Staff
DISRUPTIONS in operation of the air traffic control system due to breakdowns of aging computer equipment and power outages is drawing a lot of attention from senior DOT and FAA officials, but the problem could become a lot worse over the next several years as a large portion of the ATC maintenance work force becomes eligible for retirement. See article below.

Staff
GS Capital Partners, L.P., an investment fund managed by Goldman, Sachs&Co., has acquired a minority stake in Executive Jet Aviation, Inc. Kevin Russell, senior vice president of EJA, refused to disclose precisely how large a stake GS Capital acquired, describing it as "a significant, but still minority interest in EJA."

Staff
JETSTREAM Model BAe ATP airplanes (Docket No. 95-NM-129-AD; Amdt. 39- 9329; AD 95-16-09) - requires modification of the electrical connections at the switches of the scavenge oil filter and pressure oil filter. This amendment is prompted by reports indicating that the electrical connections were miswired at the switches of the scavenge oil filter and pressure oil filter. The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent the circulation of unfiltered oil through the engine without warning to the flight crew, due to miswiring of electrical connections.

Staff
BFGOODRICH purchased Hoskins Aviation, an aviation lighting manufacturer based in Tustin, Calif., from Sheldahl, Inc. The price was not disclosed. Hoskins designs and manufactures lighting for a range of business jets including those produced by Learjet, Raytheon Aircraft and Israel Aircraft Industries, plus airliners produced by Boeing, McDonnell Douglas and Fokker and a range of models built by Cessna, Commander and Mooney.

Staff
THE NEW LIGHT BUSINESS JET that Raytheon Aircraft Company plans to unveil at this week's NBAA convention is expected to be the first of several new models the company will introduce over the next several years as it attempts to become more aggressive in the commercial marketplace. The new business jet will incorporate a filament-wound composite fuselage to reduce aircraft weight and cut manufacturing costs and uprated Williams turbofans to boost performance.

Staff
ED MARTIN has joined Aviation Material and Technical Support, St. Louis, Mo., as manager, APU services. Martin most recently served as supervisor APU programs for KC Aviation in Dallas and also has experience with Sundstrand Power Systems, Tur-bomach and Solar Turbines.

Staff
DANIEL GYVES was named cargo development manager for the Massachusetts Port Authority. Gyves, a former Northwest Airlines manager, will market existing services and oversee the addition of new air cargo routes from Boston.

Staff
Randolph M. (Randy) Kennedy, who spent more than 20 years demonstrating and marketing Falcon business jets for Falcon Jet Corp., has rejoined that marketing team as director of market development for Dassault Falcon Jet Corp.

Staff
BILL EICKHOFF, president of Sun 'n Fun EAA Fly-In, Inc. and Sun 'n Fun Aviation Foundations, was elected to the board of directors of the Experimental Aircraft Association. Eickhoff, a 21-year industry veteran who is chairman and chief executive of the Tampa, Fla. investment management firm of Eickhoff, Pieper&Willoughby, will serve a three-year term.

Staff
NATIONAL BUSINESS AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION officials are concerned that proposed new separation standards on the North Atlantic could cost corporate operators a lot of money without providing any significant benefit.The new separation standards will require the use of avionics that meet certain performance and reliability thresholds.

Staff
Pratt&Whitney Canada is improving warranty coverage for new production units of seven jet and turboprop models. The warranty for new engines will now provide coverage for up to 2,500 hours from first operation, or up to five years after delivery to the first operator (whichever occurs first), for the following engines used in corporate/business applications only : JT15D-5, JT15D-5D, PT6A-21, PT6A-42, PT6A-60A, PT6A-64 and PT6A-67B. The warranty for basic unscheduled removals is available for engines damaged as a result of defects in manufacture or materials.

Staff
MOONEY Model M20K airplanes (Docket No. 95-CE-11-AD; Amdt. 39-9359; AD 95-18-12) - requires inspection to see if the airplane is equipped with a Gerdes fuel selector valve, part number A-2580 and replacement of any Gerdes fuel selector valve with an Airright fuel selector valve. This action is prompted by a malfunction of a Gerdes fuel selector valve, in which the valve did not allow the operator to select the appropriate fuel tank. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent such fuel selector valve malfunction.

Staff
Textron, Inc. will buy Elco Industries, a fastener manufacturer based in Rockford, Ill., for $180 million. Elco had sales of $249 million for the last fiscal year. It makes fastening products and systems for the automotive, commercial, construction and "do-it-yourself" home markets. Textron Chairman James Hardymon said Elco is an attractive acquisition because "it offers a balance to our long-cycle businesses, such as aircraft; has global growth potential; and serves many of the same customers and markets" that other Textron companies do.

Staff
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP has promised a vote either late this year or early next on a provision sponsored by Rep. Bud Shuster (R-Pa.) to remove the transportation trust funds - including the aviation trust fund - from the federal budget. Shuster had included the provision in a bill on the National Highway System, but agreed to strike the language from the bill in return for a guaranteed vote on it in the House.

Staff
Tyrolean Airways of Innsbruck, Austria ordered four Canadair Regional Jets valued at $80 million (U.S.) and took options on four additional aircraft. Canadian manufacturer Bombardier's Regional Aircraft Division said Tyrolean will become the fifth European airline to operate the 50- passenger RJ when it take delivery of its first aircraft in December. Tyrolean is a long time customer of Bombardier's de Havilland Aircraft, operating 17 Dash 8 Series 100 and 300 turboprops in a total fleet of 24 aircraft.

Staff
REGIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY of Louisville and Jefferson County, Ky. is soliciting bids until Nov. 8 for a full-service fixed-base operation at Louisville International Airport. A pre-bid conference will be held at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 2 at the Authority Administration Office Building, Louisville International Airport-Standiford Field. For bid documents, contact Kempton Lindquist, Director of Properties, Regional Airport Authority of Louisville and Jefferson County, P.O. Box 9129, Louisville, Ky. 40209-0129; telephone (502) 368-6524; fax (502) 367-0199.

Staff
Kaman Corp. named Admiral Huntington Hardisty (Ret.), a U.S. Navy veteran and a member of the company's board of directors, as president of Kaman Aerospace International Corp. Kaman, headquartered in Bloomfield, Conn., is a diversified company that provides products and services for a number of markets, including the SH-2G Super Seasprite Naval helicopter and the K-MAX "aerial truck" utility helicopter. Hardisty, a highly decorated Naval aviator who rose to vice chief of naval operations and commander-in- chief of the U.S.

Staff
National Air Transportation Association last week strongly supported a Federal Aviation Administration proposal to allow pilots in Part 135 operations to perform certain maintenance tasks including the removal and installation of aircraft seats (BA, July 31/48).

Staff
BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON opened an office in India to pursue new business opportunities. Michael Robbins, most recently director of marketing of Bell's Singapore office, was named managing director of the office in India and vice president, Textron India Inc. The office is located near Safdarjung Airport in the Golf Links area of southeast New Delhi.