NASA'S Glenn Research Center, Ohio, this week is expected to release a request for proposals for an advanced technology program called Revolutionary Aerospace Engine Research (RASER). In a Sept. 11 Commerce Business Daily notice, the NASA unit said the program will concentrate on the following areas: airbreathing engine technology, pulse detonation engine technology, auxiliary power systems, propulsion/airframe integration, rocket-based combined cycles, turbine-based combined cycles, design tools and cross-cutting technologies. The RFO will be posted about Sept.
Mercury Air Group, continuing to expand its chain of fixed-base operations through acquisitions, purchased the assets of the Raytheon Aircraft Services FBO at the Birmingham, Ala. International Airport (BHM). Under terms of the agreement, Mercury will operate the FBO (its 19th location) and also continue to operate the Raytheon authorized service center at BHM. The facility provides service for Beech/Raytheon models from the Bonanza through the King Air lines.
The Senate Commerce Committee has approved a National Transportation Safety Board reauthorization bill banning public disclosure of cockpit video recordings. The Commerce Committee bill extends the same protection of confidentiality that now exists for cockpit voice recorders to video recorders on aircraft, which the NTSB favors. The Commerce Committee language is virtually identical to the House-approved language and thus assures the prohibition on public disclosure of cockpit video will not be an issue in the House-Senate conference on the NTSB bill.
Ogden Corporation, which has been seeking a buyer for months for its aviation holdings, agreed to sell charter operator Flight Services Group and the FBO assets of its Transair facility at Le Bourget Airport in Paris, France to Latsis Group of Greece. Ogden said the deal is worth approximately $27 million, $2.2 million of which will be used to retire debt associated with the aviation operations.
Docket No.: 29672 Section of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 129.18(b) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit Corporate Express to conduct nonscheduled, charter operations in the United States without an approved Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) installed in each of its British Aerospace Jetstream 31 airplanes. Denial, May 19, 2000, Exemption No. 7227
MCKINNEY AEROSPACE, which refurbishes and installs interiors in business jets, dedicated the company's new 53,750-square-foot hangar at the McKinney, Texas Airport Thursday. The new hangar includes a 25,000-square-foot bay that can accommodate up to seven business jets simultaneously. The company, which was founded in 1997 by four former K-C Aviation officials, has grown rapidly and growth is expected to continue in the new hangar.
CHARLENE BOMAR was named customer development manager for the Million Air chain of fixed-base operations. Bomar will coordinate services with aviation managers and schedulers and dispatchers throughout the Million Air chain.
THE ADMINISTRATION has threatened to veto the fiscal 2001 Interior Appropriations bill unless House and Senate negotiators delete a provision that would ban land managers from using federal funds to permanently close an aircraft landing strip. The provision, strongly supported by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, was added to the Senate version of the Interior Appropriations bill in July as an amendment offered by Sen. Michael Crapo (R-Idaho) (BA, July 31/47).
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.
Boeing officials detailed a two-pronged plan last week to improve short-term rudder system safety on Boeing 737 aircraft and to design and install new rudder system components over the next several years.
Docket No.: 29648 Section of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 135.21, 135.255, 135.353, and Appendixes I and J to Part 121 Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit AOPA member-pilots to conduct local sightseeing flights at charity or community events, for compensation or hire, without complying with certain anti-drug and alcohol misuse prevention requirements of Part 135. Grant, July 26, 2000, Exemption No. 7112A
TANESE PAYNE was named manager, Gulfstream customer services/sales for BIZJET in Tulsa, Okla. Payne, an A&P mechanic, previously spent 21 years with Gulfstream Aerospace. She is qualified to work on G-II, G-III, G-IV and G-V aircraft.
SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT is teaming with a Finnish company in an effort to win a major Scandinavian helicopter contract. Sikorsky signed a Memorandum of Agreement Sept. 14 with Patria Finavitec Oy of Finland, which will perform final assembly, test and completion operations for the Sikorsky S-92 helicopter for the Nordic Standard Helicopter Program.
FAIRCHILD SA226 series and SA227 series airplanes (Docket No. 2000-CE-41-AD; Amdt. 39-11885; AD 2000-17-11) - requires repetitive inspections of the MLG drag brace assembly (consists of both brace and links) for cracks, and requires replacement or rework of any cracked MLG drag brace assembly. This AD is the result of several reports of cracks in the MLG drag brace assemblies on the affected airplanes. Continued airplane operation with such cracks could lead to MLG failure and result in loss of control of the airplane during takeoff or landing operations.
Docket No.: 29271 Section of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 91.109(a) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit Kerrick R. Philleo to conduct certain flight instruction to meet recent experience requirements in Beechcraft Bonanza and Beechcraft Debonair airplanes equipped with a functioning throwover control wheel in place of functioning dual controls. Grant, July 18, 2000, Exemption No. 6804A
SAFE PARTS PLUS, INC. was selected as a distributor for Kaiser Electroprecision couplings and other products that service aircraft. Kaiser Electroprecision, Irvine, Calif., produces couplings and related equipment for aircraft lavatory servicing, couplings for pressure re-oiling and rapid disconnect functions. Kaiser also produces secondary flight control actuators, horizontal stabilizer trim actuators, nose wheel steering actuators and throttle pedestal assemblies.
SOCATA Models MS 880B, MS 885, MS 892A-150, MS 892E-150, MS 893A, MS 893E, MS 894A, MS 894E, Rallye 100S, Rallye 150T, Rallye 150ST, Rallye 235C, and Rallye 235E airplanes (Docket No. 2000-CE-34-AD) - proposes to require repetitive inspections, and, if necessary, replacement of the elevator clevis and rudder governor control clevis units that are too thin. The proposed AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for France.
PRECISION CASTPARTS plans to add about 250 new workers to its PCC Structurals and Wyman-Gordon Castings plants in Portland, Ore. because of "significant increases" in aerospace and industrial gas turbine castings production. "Over the past six months, we have spoken frequently of our improving business conditions," said Chairman William C. McCormick, adding that he foresees a "healthy production picture."
Aerospace industry executives last week mourned the loss of Rep. Herbert Bateman (R-Va.), a senior member of the House Armed Services and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees, who died in his sleep Sept. 11 during a visit to Loudoun County, Va. He was 72. Bateman, a 17-year congressman, chaired the readiness subcommittee and sat on the research and development panel. He announced in January that he wouldn't seek re-election this year partly because he suffered from cancer.
Docket No.: 27821 Section of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 91.209(a) and (b) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit CRPD to conduct air operations in support of law enforcement and drug interdiction without illuminating the lighted position and anti-collision aircraft lights required by Sec. 91.209. Grant, May 19, 2000, Exemption No. 6780A
EMBRAER received government approval this month for construction of a new assembly plant. The state government of Sao Paulo, Brazil issued a decree expropriating land for the plant in a citrus-growing region. The plant, to be located in the municipality of Gaviao Peixoto, also will house an aerospace development center and a test airfield for new jet military and civilian aircraft.
SPECIAL METALS CORP. (SMC) will raise prices five to eight percent for orders placed Oct. 1 or after, the company said last week. The price hikes are necessary to cover rising energy, transportation and other miscellaneous costs, in addition to "the need to improve financial performance," SMC said. The company is the largest producer of nickel alloys, with primary manufacturing facilities in New Hartford, N.Y., Huntington, W. Va., and Hereford in the United Kingdom.
Docket No.: 29182. Section of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 121.434(c)(1)(ii) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit Continental to substitute a qualified and authorized check airman in place of an FAA inspector to observe a qualifying pilot in command (PIC) while that PIC is performing prescribed duties during at least one flight leg that includes a takeoff and a landing when completing initial or upgrade training as specified in Sec. 121.424. Grant, July 27, 2000, Exemption No. 6798A
Docket No.: 29190 Section of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 91.109(a) and (b)(3) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit Craig Roy Bailey to conduct certain flight instruction and simulated instrument flights to meet recent instrument experience requirements in certain Beechcraft airplanes equipped with a functioning throwover control wheel in lieu of functioning dual controls. Grant, May 19, 2000, Exemption No. 6763A
Mercury Air Group's net income plunged by nearly two-thirds last year, largely due to bankruptcies by its customers and resulting bad debt charges, the company said. The Los Angeles-based airline and FBO services provider reported net income of just over $2 million, or 30 cents per share, for the fiscal year ended June 30, compared with earnings of $5.93 million, or 68 cents per share, in the previous fiscal year.
