CHRISTOPHER HOLMES joined PBS&J as a project manager in the Aviation Services Division. Holmes has 15 years of transportation consulting experience, working on projects including Boston Logan International Airport, Nashville International Airport and McGhee-Tyson Airport.
Pacific Aerospace&Electronics, Inc. (PA&E), Wenatchee, Wash., won a contract from Israel Aircraft Industries for the center fuselage production system for the Fairchild Dornier 428JET. PA&E said it will develop the system through its Nova Tech Engineering Division and build system elements with its Fabrication and Machining Division and with subcontractors in Israel. PA&E said the two-part contract is valued at about $4.4 million.
ADVANCED AERODYNAMICS&STRUCTURES INC., Long Beach, Calif., received the first $5 million of a $10 million private placement from a group of investors. The investors received convertible preferred stock from AASI that can be converted into shares of AASI common stock for $3.69 per share. Company officials said the proceeds from the deal will be used to complete FAA certification of the Jetcruzer 500 and to ramp up production for the aircraft. AASI claims orders for 182 of the aircraft, which is powered by a single Pratt&Whitney Canada PT6A-66A turboprop.
ALL FOUR PEOPLE aboard two single-engine Cessnas were killed March 9 when the aircraft collided on a runway at the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ). An NTSB spokesman said the Cessna 152 and 172 collided after a controller had cleared one of the aircraft to take off and the other aircraft requested permission to hold on the same runway, a request that controllers granted. The aircraft caught fire after the collision.
FAA is seeking comments on proposed advisory circular revisions that provide guidance on receiving approval for products imported into the U.S. The proposed AC 21-23A, Airworthiness Certification of Civil Aircraft, Engines, Propellers and Related Products Imported to the U.S., reflects current policies for U.S. certification under the Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement. Copies of the proposed AC can be obtained by contacting Marilyn DonCarlos in the International Airworthiness Program, at (202) 267-3319. Comments on the proposal are due May 8 to FAA, Attn.
BAKER ELECTRONICS said its parent company BI Technologies Inc. changed its name to VQuest Inc. VQuest will continue to expand its business through its Baker Electronics, Tier One Integration Inc. and End To End Inc. holdings. Baker Electronics provides LCD flat panel displays, in-flight entertainment systems, cabin management systems and cockpit audio equipment. End to End provides test engineering, design engineering and build-to-print manufacturing assemblies. Tier One provides design integration services for corporate aircraft systems.
CHC HELICOPTER CORP. said its operating division, Helikopter Service AS (HS) in Stavanger, Norway won a five-year contract from Phillips Petroleum Company valued at $130 million (Canadian). The contract, which includes an option for another five years, includes all helicopter support to Phillips operations in the Ekofisk area, plus shuttle services for BP Amoco's Ula, Gyda and Valhall fields in the same offshore region.
JIM HAYNES, who heads The Aviation Group of Leesburg, Va., has sold his interest in Air Group Aviation, LLC, the partnership he formed last year with Ben Bartel (BA, Sept. 13/120). Haynes will continue to provide consulting support for aviation service businesses, and also plans to continue his acquisition efforts in that market. See related item below.
SCHREINER FLIGHT SIMULATOR CENTER USA, a subsidiary of Schreiner Aviation Training, opened an FAA approved flight simulator near the Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport for the new 328JET. The new simulator received Level C approval and Schreiner is completing requirements for Level D certification. The Texas center also houses a 328 turboprop. Schreiner also operates 328JET and 328 turboprop simulators in The Netherlands. Schreiner Aviation Training, a subsidiary of Schreiner Aviation Group of Hoofddorp, near Amsterdam, is a major provider of aviation training.
CLINTON'S REMARKS Friday came during a media event at the White House to announce a new cooperative program between FAA and the airlines aimed at reducing ATC delays this summer. The plan calls for FAA and airline officials to consult every couple of hours by teleconference to find the best way to reduce delays and route planes around problem areas such as thunderstorms. Heavy thunderstorm activity last summer was a major factor in record airline delays.
Model MD600N helicopters (Docket No. 99-SW-54-AD; Amdt. 39-11604; AD 2000-04-21) - requires inspecting each internal fuel hose connection to verify proper installation. This amendment is prompted by the discovery that certain fuel hose connections between the fuel cells and the engine can be incorrectly installed. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent fuel starvation of the engine while the fuel gauge indicates fuel remaining in the tank, engine flameout, and a subsequent forced landing. FAA estimates that 40 helicopters on the U.S.
MICHAEL PAYNE was named eastern regional sales manager for the aircraft sales division of Innotech-Execaire Aviation Group. Payne, who will be based in Toronto, joins the team headed by Ray Kuliavas, vice president, and will assist in the sale of Cessna Citation business jets. Citation Team Canada, the joint marketing effort between Cessna Aircraft and Execaire, claims more business jet sales in Canada than any other company since 1994.
Model Mystere-Falcon 50 series airplanes (Docket No. 98-NM-262-AD; Amdt. 39-11602; AD 2000-04-19) - supersedes an existing AD that currently requires a revision to the Limitations section of the FAA-approved Airplane Flight Manual to include procedures to use certain values to correctly gauge the minimum allowable N1 speed of the operative engines during operation in icing conditions.
Model 222, 222B, 222U, and 230 helicopters (Docket No. 99-SW-43-AD) - proposes to require inspecting each flapping bearing to yoke attachment bolt and replacing each bolt that shows thread damage, shank wear, or corrosion pitting with an airworthy bolt. This proposal is prompted by the discovery of a fractured bolt during a post-flight inspection. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent a fracture of a bolt, failure of the bearing and yoke interface, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. FAA estimates that 101 helicopters on the U.S.
RAYTHEON AEROSPACE COMPANY won a one-year, $55.1 million contract with the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marines to provide total logistics support for C-9 (military versions of the DC-9) aircraft. The contract includes six one-year options that could drive the total value of the tri-service contract to nearly $475 million.
KELLY AEROSPACE opened a centralized Customer Care Center in Carrollton, Texas to accommodate sales orders for its Electrosystems, Inc., Consolidated Fuel Systems and Aviation Products, Inc. (AVPRO) units. "This new structure will allow us to take better advantage of the depth of Kelly Aerospace companies," said Chairman and CEO Kent Kelly. "We will do this with expanded hours, quick response time and factory trained sales personnel." The center is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CST Monday through Friday and can be reached at (877) FLY-KELLY or (877) 359-5355.
Model 222, 222B, 222U, and 230 helicopters (Docket No. 99-SW-77-AD; Amdt. 39-11598; AD 2000-04-15) - requires inspecting the swashplate assembly drive pin for damage or looseness, torque testing to determine if the interference fit between the drive pin and rotating ring is adequate, and replacing any unairworthy drive pin. This amendment is prompted by an accident investigation that revealed fatigue failure of a drive pin. The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent fatigue failure of a drive pin and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's proposed ergonomics standards are based on exaggerated information, are "an unwarranted governmental intrusion into the workplace" and should be rescinded until the agency can address concerns raised by the aviation industry, the National Air Transportation Association told the agency this month. NATA was among several aviation associations submitting comments that "vehemently opposed" the proposed OSHA standards.
RTS REWORK won FAA approval for a planetary pinion gear renewal repair for Bell 205, 212 and 412 helicopters. The repair improves the gearbox performance by providing more smooth, quiet and reliable planetary gear operation, RTS said. RTS also is offering a new FAA-approved turbine turboshaft gear and gear shaft inspection and repair process for the Honeywell T53 series turbine engine. The inspection and repair can be accomplished in less than 10 days, RTS said.
The Senate Wednesday approved the comprehensive FAA reauthorization package by an 82-17 margin after the chief architect, Rep. Bud Shuster (R-Pa.) agreed to further compromise on the funding provisions. House and Senate negotiators early this month struck a tentative agreement on a $40 billion three-year reauthorization package that would dedicate future excise tax receipts and Airport and Airway Trust Fund interest to aviation programs (BA, March 6/105).
Dart 511, 511-7E, 514-7, 528, 528-7E, 529-7E, 532-7, 532-7L, 532-7N, 532-7P, 532-7R, 535-7R, 551-7R, and 552-7R turboprop engines (Docket No. 99-NE-50-AD) - proposes to require the installation of a feathering probe and a steel retaining ring in the reduction gear housing (RGH), and replacement of a transfer bobbin installed in the torquemeter.
EATON CORP. received a $1 million contract from FAA and the Navy to develop an electrical wiring protection system for aircraft. Eaton will attempt to show that its arc fault circuit interruption technology can diagnose when arcing or jumping occurs in a wiring system, then act immediately to shut down the circuit.
"Fractional" Characteristics -- High Utilization: 1000-1200 Hours/Yr. -- Block Orders of up to 50 Aircraft - Accelerated 5 year delivery schedules -- Preponderance of first time users in share holder population -- Airline Type Dispatch Reliability Necessary -- Shareholder/Client Focus on Convenience, Comfort&Safety Leading Fractional Share Companies Fleet On Order Affiliation Executive Jet 200 250 Independent
PRESIDENT CLINTON has not given up on the idea of imposing higher user charges on aviation, despite the fact Congress has repeatedly rejected Administration proposals for such fees and is completing work on FAA reauthorization legislation that does not include new user fees.See article below.
BRIAN AMES was named Gulfstream program manager for Flight Services Group. Ames will supervise all aspects of Flight Services Group's Gulfstream managed fleet, including planning and budgeting, airworthiness, inspection and quality assurance. He has 24 years of management and maintenance experience, most recently serving with Tenneco, Inc.
