Model F.28 Mark 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 series airplanes (Docket No. 99-NM-358-AD; Amdt. 39-11761; AD 2000-11-13) - requires a one-time review of the maintenance records to determine if tripping of the fuel boost pump circuit breakers has been recorded, repetitive inspections to detect fuel leakage from the fuel boost pump wiring conduits, and corrective actions, if necessary.
Air carriers can expect to see a substantial rise in premiums in the next two years as underwriters attempt to turn ongoing losses into profits, according to Gary Cooke, senior vice president and aviation underwriter at ACE Bermuda Insurance. Speaking at the Fourth Aviation Insurance Conference in Singapore recently, Cooke said underwriters have suffered losses amounting to $2 billion over the last 11 years. "I trust the airline industry would not think it is unreasonable when we attempt to put things straight to make a profit," Cooke said.
Congress this month sent a bill to the White House that will provide the Federal Aviation Administration with $75 million in additional funding for this fiscal year (2000). FAA officials complained for months that their operations budget was in dire straits and FAA Administrator Jane Garvey warned last month that without a supplemental appropriation, "we will not be able to hire 170 more safety inspectors and medical certification staff. The number of safety inspections will be cut 10,000 below last year's level" (BA June 26/295).
Three months after the agency mandated installation of terrain awareness and warning systems on turbine airplanes with six or more passenger seats, the Federal Aviation Administration Friday announced the release of guidance material on installation of the TAWS units on aircraft certified under Part 25. FAA is developing separate guidance for aircraft that are certified under Part 23, saying this will reduce confusion for applicants.
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, which has spent a lot of energy in recent years trying to restrict aviation operations at the Grand Canyon National Park and other venues, has taken a small step to support the nation's aviation heritage. In a July 3 Federal Register notice, NPS said it was changing a boundary to add approximately 0.181 of an acre of land at the Dayton, Ohio Aviation Heritage National Historical Park.
BOEING narrowly lost a hotly contested election at its Wichita plant last month as a slim majority of eligible employees voted for representation by the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA), the same organization that prevailed at Boeing's Seattle-area facilities after a 45-day strike earlier this year (BA, March 20/134). The union said 1,924 employees (50.8 percent) voted for representation by SPEEA, while 1,859 (49.1 percent) voted against representation.
Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer confirmed it will build a new manufacturing plant in Gaviao Peixoto in the inland region of the state of Sao Paulo. The new construction calls for investments of more than $125 million over the next 10 years. It will be the center of a new large industrial park being created by the public and private sectors of Sao Paulo. The new plant should be finished by September 2001.
SINO SWEARINGEN AIRCRAFT CO. plans to roll out its first production-conforming version of the SJ30-2 during ceremonies next Monday (July 17) at company headquarters in San Antonio, Texas.
ALF502R and LF507 series turbofan engines (Docket No. 99-NE-36-AD; Amendment 39-11763; AD 2000-11-15) - requires revisions to the airworthiness limitations section of engine manuals to require enhanced inspection of selected critical life-limited parts at each piece-part exposure. This action requires an air carrier's approved continuous airworthiness maintenance program to incorporate these inspection procedures.
NATIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION is negotiating with convention center officials in New Orleans to secure more exhibit space for NBAA's convention in October. Association officials said earlier they had contracted with exhibitors for nearly all available space in the exhibit hall, and still had a wait list of companies seeking another 160 booth spaces (BA, May 29/249). NBAA hopes to finalize an agreement this month that will permit some exhibitors to display their wares in a ballroom near the registration area.
Citing several examples of inadequate coating by repair shops playing roles in engine failures, NTSB wants FAA to require alternatives to nickel cadmium (NiCd) plating to protect steel rotating engine parts.
Model SA-365C, C1, C2, N, and N1; AS-365N2 and N3; and SA-366G1 helicopters (Docket No. 99-SW-62-AD; Amdt. 39-11766; AD 2000-11-18) - supersedes an existing AD that currently requires inspecting the tightening torque of the main rotor hub blade attach beam spherical thrust bearing bolts and either applying a specified torque or, if necessary, inspecting for a crack in the metal components. That AD also requires replacing the spherical thrust bearing with an airworthy bearing if a crack is found.
A CANADAIR CHALLENGER Model 601-3A sustained minor damage June 28 when it struck a deer while taking off from East Hampton, N.Y. The pilot elected to continue the flight to Bradley International Airport where an uneventful landing was accomplished. The aircraft, S/N 5109, sustained minor damage to the landing gear door.
Airports with Four or More Runway Incursions Airport 1999 1998 1997 Los Angeles Intl, CA* 10 12 3 Orange County, CA 9 3 8 Lambert-St. Louis Intl, MO* 7 8 7 Dallas-Ft. Worth Intl, TX * 7 5 8 Daytona Beach, FL 6 3 2 Boise, ID 6 0 1
LUFTHANSA TECHNIK ordered Internet Business Collaboration Software from MatrixOne "to implement a consistent and structured management of engineering data and processes for the VIP Aircraft operation" of the German aircraft outfitting and modification firm. According to the software developer, it will provide workflows, release and revise control mechanisms, and reliable data storage in a consistent engineering environment for more than 140 engineers at Lufthansa Technik. MatrixOne is headquartered in Chelmsford, Mass.
Adverse publicity resulting from an April FBI raid on the charter operator in Sanford, Fla., whose facility operated the Learjet that crashed in October killing golfer Payne Stewart and five others, is forcing the owner to sell the assets. "Everybody said we might as well get out because we'd never bounce back from a tragedy like this," said James Watkins, president of Sunjet Aviation. "The FBI thing really knocked us down hard."
BRAZILIAN MANUFACTURER Embraer filed a registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for the public sale of 18.9 million American Depository Shares, each representing four non-voting preferred shares. The shares to be sold are currently held by Brazilian interests that include the Brazilian federal economic development bank. Embraer also is offering 8.4 million preferred shares in a public offering in Brazil. The company said it will use the proceeds from the U.S.
Model 402C airplanes (Docket No. 99-CE-66-AD) - proposes to supersede an AD 99-11-13, which currently requires inspecting (one-time) the forward, aft, and auxiliary wing spars for cracks and repairing any cracks found. AD 99-11-13 also required reporting the results of the inspection to FAA to help determine whether the inspection should be repetitive.
PIEDMONT HAWTHORNE acquired Associated Air Center, one of the nation's oldest aircraft modification and completion centers, June 29. Associated Air Center was established in Dallas in 1948 under the name Associated Radio and continued under the ownership of one of the original founders, Lee Juan Lanford, who is the chief executive of the Love Field facility. The company will continue to operate under the Associated Air Center name and will become a division of Piedmont Hawthorne. Roy Gilbreath will continue as president.
Bombardier Aerospace signed a 30-year lease for 19 acres of additional land at Bradley International Airport (BDL) in Connecticut, the first step in a major expansion of the company's aircraft service facility there. Bombardier plans to build a new hangar and office complex that would add 100,000 square feet to its existing facilities and increase employment by up to 300 specialists and technicians over the next four years.
JOSEPH PATTI joined Sextant In-Flight Systems as director of marketing. A 20-year aerospace veteran, Patti previously was senior marketing manager for Sony Trans Com.
PUEBLO AIRMOTIVE INC., Tucson, Ariz., was named an authorized Honeywell T53 gas turbine engine service center for Mexico. Pueblo has serviced engines built by Honeywell and its predecessor companies for nearly 20 years.
NAV CANADA officially commissioned the Toronto air traffic control tower at Lester B. Pearson International Airport last week, Canada's busiest landing facility. The tower opened in November 1998. It is equipped with touch-sensitive screens and electronic information exchange systems to track aircraft flights.
AMETEK AEROSPACE said CitationJets equipped with two Ametek/Honeywell International AM-250 barometric altimeters have received FAA approval for operations in reduced vertical separation minimums (RVSM) airspace. The approval covers restricted North Atlantic and Pacific routes as well as Eurocontrol airspace, slated to adopt RVSM restrictions in January 2002. Ametek said it developed the AM-250 altimeter with Honeywell "to meet the specific need created by RVSM." The AM-250 integrates Ametek's cockpit indicator with Honeywell's silicon pressure sensor.
