WORLD FUEL SERVICES CORP. retained Seabury Securities LLC, a New York-based investment bank, to "assist the company in developing strategic initiatives, operating strategy and financial market awareness." World Fuel President Jerrold Blair said the company is looking forward to working with Seabury "to continue evaluating strategic options and to position our company for future growth." Headquartered in Miami Springs, Fla., World Fuel Services Corp. provides aviation and marine fuel marketing at more than 1,100 airports and seaports worldwide.
Alcoa Industrial Components named James R. Stanley, 58, president and chief executive of the Howmet Castings business that Alcoa recently acquired. Stanley succeeds David L. Squier, who, Alcoa said, "led Howmet for eight years, a period during which Howmet made significant business performance improvements and became recognized as a worldwide industry leader."
AVIATION FACILITIES COMPANY began building a fixed-base operation in the emerging Business Aviation Center at Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT). The company is overseeing the construction of the 40,000-square-foot facility, which includes a passenger terminal, office building, hangars and maintenance area. AFCO is scheduled to complete the project by the end of December.
Air Partner, the 40-year-old European charter broker and services company, formally established offices in the U.S. three years ago and is focusing on the Internet for its next growth spurt. Air Partner links customers to available charter and provides other services such as ground transport and appropriate clearances to enter foreign countries.
AN FAA-OPERATED Boeing 727 caused quite a stir when it arrived on the ramp Thursday at the Yingling Aircraft fixed-base operation at Wichita's Mid-Continent Airport. A spokesman for the FBO said marshalers were directing the pilot of the 727, which was making a turn on the ramp, when the pilot apparently became concerned that he was too close to another aircraft. The pilot reduced engine power and came to a stop, but then had to add power to regain momentum and complete the turn.
DENNIS KOVALSKY was named vice president of aerospace coatings and sealants for PPG Industries. Kovalsky, who joined PPG in 1977 as an engineer, most recently was general manager of aerospace coatings and sealants.
Model AS332L2 helicopters (Docket No. 99-SW-82-AD; Amdt. 39-11781; AD 2000-12-03) - requires inspecting for interference between the transmission flexible mounting plate and the forward and aft shims, replacing shims and repairing the plate if interference is found, and inspecting the plate for a broken plate slat and repairing the plate if a broken slat is found or replacing the plate if slat damage beyond repair limits is found.
Memory lapses and procedural shortcuts are the main culprits in maintenance errors, suggest data from a ground-breaking Australian survey on maintenance human factors. More than 60 percent of workers responding believe management either doesn't know about shortcuts or tolerates them.
AMETEK AEROSPACE'S Gulton-Statham Products unit developed a new fatigue meter designed to replace older, electromechanical units that require extensive maintenance. The new meter, which weighs about .9 kilograms, is built "to provide years of reliable service" with solid-state electronics and a micro-machined accelerometer. The unit allows ground personnel to upload aircraft configuration information and download event and usage information for more than 300 flights.
Model 328-300 series airplanes (Docket No. 2000-NM-07-AD) - proposes to require replacement of the hydraulic line tube assemblies with improved tube assemblies and flexible hose assemblies. This action is necessary to prevent cracking of the hydraulic lines, which could result in loss of hydraulic pressure for certain braking systems on the airplane. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition. FAA estimates that nine airplanes on the U.S. Registry would be affected by this proposed AD at a cost of $2,700, or $300 per airplane.
THE AIR GROUP added a Gulfstream IV along with a G-III and Challenger 601 at its Van Nuys, Calif. base. A recent item incorrectly stated that The Air Group added a G-I.
FLIGHT SAFETY FOUNDATION issued a call for papers for its 13th annual European Aviation Safety Seminar March 12-14, 2001 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. FSF is seeking papers on: safety assessment, measurement, and tools; use of technology to improve safety; human factors in safety; safety organization and training; and, European safety environment. Abstracts should be submitted by Sept. 15. For more information, contact FSF at (703) 739-6700.
Model SF340A and SAAB 340B series airplanes (Docket No. 99-NM-51-AD; Amdt. 39-11785; AD 2000-12-07) - requires a one-time inspection to detect corrosion and scratches on the bearing housing surfaces of the support assembly on the main landing gear (MLG), and corrective actions, if necessary. This amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
Model SF340A and SAAB 340B series airplanes (Docket No. 2000-NM-25-AD; Amdt. 39-11792; AD 2000-12-14) - requires a one-time inspection to detect chafing of the wires and harnesses in the cabin compartment ceiling; repair, if necessary; and installation of protective sleeving. This amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
JEFF BOWLES was appointed chief operating officer for Avolo, an aviation online marketplace provider. Bowles formerly was senior vice president for Jet Support/Volvo Aero Services. He served with Jet Support for more than 11 years.
RAYTHEON TRAVEL AIR signed its 550th owner this month for the fractional aircraft program, less than three years after the program began. RTA now has 78 aircraft in service - 21 Hawker 800XPs, 38 Beechjets and 19 King Air B200 turboprops.
MARC TALMAN was named vice president of packaging coatings for PPG Industries. Talman has served as general manager of PPG's packaging coatings unit in London since January 1999.
Model BO 105 LS A-3 helicopters (Docket No. 99-SW-68-AD) - proposes to supersede an existing AD that requires, before further flight, creating a component log card or equivalent record, and determining the calendar age and number of flights on each tension-torsion (TT) strap, and inspecting and removing, as necessary, certain unairworthy TT straps. This action would establish a life limit for certain main rotor TT straps.
Beech Models 1900, 1900C, and 1900D airplanes (Docket No. 2000-CE-29-AD) - proposes to require the modification of the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) system. The proposed AD is the result of instances in which the recording quality of the CVR in the affected airplanes was so poor that the information was practically unrecoverable.
NATIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION named former NBAA chairman Dave Sheehan as its southeast regional representative. Sheehan managed Mobil Oil's flight department before retiring in 1996. Dean R. Saucier was named NBAA representative in the northeast U.S. Saucier has more than 6000 flight hours and formerly worked for Beech and Gulfstream.
GEORGE SELLERS was named manager of flight coordination for Flight Services Group's Charlotte, N.C. operations. Sellers will oversee day-to-day operations, office administration, staffing and compliance with FAA regulations. He joined FSG in 1999 as a flight coordinator in the West Palm Beach, Fla. office.
SCHWEIZER AIRCRAFT CORP. announced a 200-hour extension in the time between overhaul interval for the Textron Lycoming HO-360-C1A engine on its Model 300CB helicopter. Lycoming released Service Instruction Number 1009AP, which provides for an increase in TBO to 2,200 hours for engines that have been operated in frequent service.
Cessna Aircraft and TAG Aviation have joined forces in a new fractional ownership program that will focus on offering shares in smaller Citation models to customers in the eastern half of the U.S.
EMBRAER plans to use winglets on its ERJ-170 airliner to reduce fuel burn, improve climb capability, extend range and increase payload. Embraer said use of computational fluid dynamics, digital mockup and virtual reality will permit addition of winglets without slowing the aircraft's development schedule.
SALVATORE D'AMICO was appointed director of Bombardier Aerospace's Business Aviation Services center in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. D'Amico has 24 years of aviation maintenance experience, most recently serving as director of line maintenance for Bombardier's Commercial Aviation Services in Chicago, Ill. Before joining Bombardier in June 1998 he was vice president of technical operations for TransMeridian Airlines in Houston, Texas.
