National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Jim Hall last week renewed his call for mandatory video cameras in the cockpit, saying "we should not further delay the implementation of available technology that may help us more quickly determine the probable cause of accidents - and, therefore, prevent future accidents." NTSB originally noted a need for cockpit video recordings after a September 1989 USAir Boeing 737 incident in Kansas City, Mo.
GENERAL AVIATION officials are hoping that the Senate will include corporate operators in legislation to make permanent the visa waiver program.The House last week passed a bill, H.R. 3767, to permanently authorize the program to allow carriers to bring citizens of some 23 different countries into the U.S. without a visa. Corporate operators, however, were omitted from the program, requiring them to obtain visas or undergo costly and time consuming clearance procedures.
Beech Models 1900C, 1900C (C-12J), and 1900D airplanes (Docket No. 2000-CE-02-AD) -- proposes to require installation of a spiral wrap around the wing fuel quantity wiring harness and application of an adhesive sealant to the Wiggins couplings on the internal fuel tank wiring carry-through conduit. The proposed AD results from reports of chafed or shorted wing fuel quantity harness wires on the affected airplanes. These occurrences were found during regular maintenance inspections.
Model CL-600-1A11 (CL-600) and CL-600-2A12 (CL-601) series airplanes (Docket No. 99-NM-26-AD) _ proposes to require modification of the main landing gear (MLG) brake units and inboard MLG wheels; and a revision to the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) to include the increased cooling times for the modified brakes.
Federal Aviation Administration this month awarded a contract potentially valued at $22 million to Airsys ATM, Inc. for up to 105 Mark 20A instrument landing systems. The first five systems are slated for deployment at Stennis International in Bay St. Louis, Miss.; Burlington Alamance, N.C.; Zanesville, Ohio, and McCarran International and North Las Vegas, Nev. The contract calls for up to 15 ILS systems in the first year and 45 systems in two subsequent option years.
Pilots have noticed a "startling increase" in attempts to purposely restrict access to federally managed lands with federal agencies taking a number of actions to either close or neglect backcountry airstrips, Phil Boyer, president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, testified this month.
THE FLIGHT DATA RECORDER from the MV-22 Osprey that crashed April 8 in Arizona, killing all 19 Marines on board, was recovered last week and was being analyzed by investigators at the Naval Safety Center. The Marines also assigned Col. Dennis Bartels, a CH-46 pilot who has investigated several accidents, to Arizona to head up the investigation. Lt. Gen.
JAMES STANLEY was appointed senior vice president and chief operating officer for Howmet International. Stanley, who has served with Howmet for eight years, previously was senior vice president-North American operations. In his new position, he will oversee worldwide sales and manufacturing operations.
President Clinton Wednesday, in a small closed ceremony, signed into law comprehensive aviation legislation, The Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act For the 21st Century (AIR-21), which will dramatically boost funding for the nation's airports and ensure that tax revenues collected from aviation users and deposited into the Airport and Airway Trust Fund are dedicated to aviation spending.
TITLE I-AIRPORT AND AIRWAY IMPROVEMENTS Section 101. Authorizes for the Airport Improvement Program (AIP): Such sums as necessary for fiscal 2000, $3.2 billion for fiscal 2001, $3.3 billion for fiscal 2002 and $3.4 billion for fiscal 2003 Section 102. Authorizes for FAA's Facilities&Equipment (F&E) program: Such sums necessary for fiscal 2000, $2.6 billion for fiscal 2001, $2.9 billion for 2002 and $3 billion for 2003
ALL THREE people aboard a Bankair Model Learjet 35 were killed Wednesday after the aircraft crashed on approach to Marianna, Fla. According to preliminary FAA information, the aircraft, N86BE, had departed Opa Locka, Fla. at 1327 April 5 en route for Marianna. On approach to the airport, the pilot cancelled his IFR clearance and was attempting to land visually. The pilot did not report difficulties before the aircraft crashed. The aircraft was destroyed.
GLENN GOLDEN was appointed vice president of supply services for Aerospace Products International. Golden has 20 years of aerospace distribution, purchasing and inventory control experience. He has served with API since it was formed in 1988 and has served as operations manager, director of sales, director of inventory and logistics and senior director of product supply.
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE opened a new refurbishment and completions support facility at its headquarters in Savannah, Ga. The 53,650-square-foot building consolidates numerous completion and service shops in Savannah under one roof in a new facility, a move designed to streamline operations. "With our aircraft completions business running smoothly, Gulfstream has turned its attention towards building and investing in the aircraft refurbishment business," said Larry Flynn, senior vice president of aircraft services.
140 and KFC 225 autopilot systems (Docket No. 2000-CE-11-AD; Amdt. 39-11634; AD 2000-05-24) - requires, on aircraft equipped with the systems, inspection of the autopilot servo actuator for a loose fastener and modification, if necessary. This AD is the result of a report of failure of the autopilot servo actuator to disengage when the autopilot power was removed.
AVIDYNE last week announced new terrain awareness and avoidance capabilities for the FlightMax 740 and 440 flight situation displays, including terrain base maps, an interface with Honeywell's Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System, and pilot-selectable map overlay. Avidyne, which plans to offer these features by midyear, said its 740 and 440 units will have a high-resolution vector-graphic terrain and water base map providing a visual representation extending up to 500 nautical miles from the aircraft's position.
S-TEC Corp., the Mineral Wells, Texas manufacturer of autopilot systems for light aircraft, will be acquired by Meggitt PLC, an international aerospace and electronics group based in the United Kingdom.
CHARLES RENDELL was named chairman of the international architecture and engineering firm Daniel, Mann, Johnson&Mendenhall. Rendell has served with DMJM for 30 years, most recently as vice chairman. DJMJ's aviation projects include the Ontario, Calif. International Airport terminal.
PA-31 Series Airplanes (Docket No. 99-CE-49-AD; Amdt. 39-11646; AD 2000-06-06) - requires revising the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) to include requirements for activation of the airframe pneumatic deicing boots. This AD is the result of reports of in-flight incidents and an accident that occurred in icing conditions during which the airframe pneumatic deicing boots were not activated. The actions specified by this AD are intended to assure that flightcrews activate the pneumatic wing and tail deicing boots at the first signs of ice accumulation.
ALLYN ROBINSON was promoted to chief operating officer of Garrett Aviation Services. Robinson formerly served as vice president and general manager of Garrett's facility in Long Island, N.Y. In his new role, Robinson will oversee hangar operations of the company's facilities in Los Angeles, Houston, Augusta, Long Island, Van Nuys and Santa Barbara.
Solitair Corp. converted 20 options it held for the Embraer ERJ 145 into firm orders, boosting the total number of ERJ regional jets the company has agreed to buy to 45 with 45 remaining options. Solitair is majority owned by investment funds organized and managed by Wexford Management LLC. Chautauqua Airlines and other affiliates of Wexford Management are expected to operate a number of the aircraft. Chautauqua has code-sharing agreements with both US Airways and TWA to operate up to 40 ERJ 145 aircraft.
S2R series airplanes (Docket No. 99-CE-57-AD; Amdt. 39-11633; AD 2000-05-23) - requires, on all S2R series airplanes equipped with at least one main landing gear fuselage attach bolt with a grease fitting installed through the shank, replacing the main landing gear fuselage attach bolts that are drilled with a grease fitting with undrilled (no grease access) attach bolts. This AD is the result of a report of cracks found in all four main landing gear fuselage attach bolts on one of the affected airplanes.
Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. broke ground for a major expansion of its Brunswick, Ga. facility where business jets for the Gulfstream Shares fractional ownership program with Executive Jet are completed. The project, expected to cost more than $3 million, will include construction of a 24,000-square-foot completion hangar and the upgrade and lease of a 20,000-square-foot maintenance and storage building, which are scheduled to open this summer.
DOUG MCILDOWIE was appointed vice president of human resources for TRW Aeronautical Systems. McIldowie has served with TRW since 1990 and most recently was vice president of human resources for TRW Seat Belt Systems in Washington, Mich.
LOCKHEED MARTIN named a General Motors executive, Louis R. Hughes, president and chief operating officer. Hughes, 51, who has been executive vice president of the parent company and president of GM's international operations based in Zurich, Switzerland, a $36 billion per year enterprise, is slated to move into Lockheed Martin's headquarters in Bethesda, Md. April 27. He will succeed Peter B. Teets, 57, who retired and resigned from the board of directors last fall as the company announced its earnings would be lower than expected (BA, Nov. 1/205).
