RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT won a contract valued at $11.4 million from the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command for two special mission Beech King Air B200 aircraft and "basic commercial spares consumption projected for two years of operation." Raytheon will modify the aircraft with commercial Zeiss camera systems for use in aerial mapping and photography missions. Raytheon Aircraft Parts Inventory and Distribution will provide the spares support. Raytheon will deliver the first aircraft, designated C-12R/AP, in spring of 2001 with the second to follow later that year.
HELEN PARKER was named unit leader of operations for DaimlerChrysler Capital Services. Parker most recently was a consultant to DaimlerChrysler Capital and, before that, was with NationsCredit Commercial Corporation in Stamford, Conn.
Model SE 3130, SA 3180, SE 313B, SA 318B, and SA 318C helicopters (Docket No. 98-SW-65-AD; Amdt. 39-11563; AD 2000-03-06) - supersedes an existing airworthiness directive that currently requires visual inspections and modification, if necessary, of the horizontal stabilizer spar tube. This amendment requires the same actions required by the existing AD, visually inspecting the four half-shell attachment clamps for cracks, and fitting a safety wire around the attachment clamps.
BOB REDING was appointed chief operations officer for American Eagle. Reding will report directly to American Eagle President Peter Bowler and be responsible for all flight operations, pilot training, aircraft maintenance and engineering. He formerly was president and chief executive officer of Canadian Regional Airlines and also has served as president and chief executive of Reno Air.
THE LAPSED Airport Improvement Program has put more than $1.2 billion in airport projects on hold, according to a survey conducted jointly by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials and the National Association of State Aviation Officials. The survey found that at least $425 million in additional projects are in danger of being canceled this year if AIP is not restored. "This is unconscionable given our country's aviation needs," AASHTO Executive Director John Horsley said.
National Air Transportation Association asked the Internal Revenue Service to adopt a policy that would recognize that air charter segment fees should be assessed on a per invoice basis rather than a per head. NATA noted that the industry typically has imposed the $2.50 segment fee on a per invoice basis, adding that this practice follows legislative intent.
AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION released taxi diagrams for 330 of the nation's busiest towered airports via the Internet. The diagrams are part of the association's effort to reduce the growing number of runway incursions. AOPA worked with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and FAA's Runway Safety Program Office to make available 600 dpi digitized scans of airport diagrams. The diagrams, published in the NOS Terminal Procedures Publication used by instrument pilots, detail the airport surface with names of all taxiways.
DANIEL MICHALOVE was named vice president of sales and marketing for Rosen Products, a manufacturer of flat panel display, entertainment, information and communication systems. Michalove formerly was vice president of business development and accessories for Collins&Aikman Automotive Interior systems.
LIGHT HELICOPTER TURBINE ENGINE COMPANY accumulated more than 300 test hours for its CTP800 propulsion system unit developed for the Ayres LM 200 Loadmaster cargo carrier and expects to ship the first test engine to Ayres in March. "Our engine program is on time and is delivering the performance we expected," said LHTEC President Mike Bush. The CTP800 PSU includes two CTP800-4T engines derived from the T800 powerplant and rated at 2,700 horsepower each. The engines are mated to the GKN Westland combining gearbox that will drive a single propeller.
BRYAN M. BURNS, general manager of Signature Flight Support's fixed-base operation at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport for the past several years, was named president of the Vail Valley Jet Center (VVJC) at Eagle County Regional Airport in Gypsum, Colo. "We have a world class FBO facility with a very dedicated staff, and now we have a president to oversee it who brings with him an extremely successful career in the aviation industry," said Jim Allen, chairman of VVJC. Before working for Signature, Burns was associated with Midcoast Aviation in St.
Los Angeles City Council last week delayed for one month a vote on a proposed rule that would cap Stage 2 operations at Van Nuys, Calif. Airport to currently based aircraft and aircraft arriving for short-term maintenance. The decision to delay the vote until March 24 comes as general aviation groups appeal to both the City Council and the Federal Aviation Administration for relief.
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.
Federal Aviation Administration last week issued an emergency AD requiring the replacement of an oil pressure switch on certain Model 172R, 172S, 182S, 206H and T206H single-piston airplanes. The AD, published in the Feb. 22 Federal Register, specifies replacing Part Number (P/N) 77041 oil pressure switches with P/N 83278 switches within the next 25 hours time-in-service. The AD, which covers nearly 1,900 airplanes, takes effect March 11. FAA issued the AD after receiving three reports that the diaphragm of the oil pressure switch failed.
ROCKWELL COLLINS and BFGoodrich Aerospace formed an alliance to provide commercial operators a "broad range of equipment, parts and maintenance services including single-stop solutions for avionics, instrumentation and other aircraft components," the companies announced last week. The alliance will draw on Rockwell's expertise in avionics and inflight entertainment systems, avionics integration and a global service network including maintenance, repair and overhaul of avionics equipment.
General aviation pilots and Part 135 on-demand air taxi operators posted some of the best safety numbers in history, the National Transportation Safety Board said Friday.
The Fractional Ownership Aviation Rulemaking Committee (FOARC) appointed by FAA Administrator Jane Garvey in October (BA, Oct. 11/161), delivered a draft notice of proposed rulemaking to her Wednesday that details a comprehensive plan to regulate safety of the rapidly growing fractional ownership segment of the industry. FOARC also proposed a number of changes in regulations governing Part 135 charter operators, which, if adopted, will remove some of the most glaring disparities in how fractionals and charters operate and are regulated.
NONSCHEDULED PART 135 OPERATORS and general aviation posted new lows in accident rates during 1999, the National Transportation Safety Board reported Friday. See article below.
Less than four months after it was formed, the Fractional Ownership Aviation Rulemaking Committee presented its recommendations Wednesday to FAA Administrator Jane Garvey. According to committee members who attended the handover ceremony at FAA, Garvey and other senior FAA officials indicated it could be up to two years before the agency adopts a final rule. Here are some likely milestones: BY THE END OF MARCH, FOARC is asking FAA to say whether it supports the concepts in the FOARC recommendations. If FAA backs those concepts,
FAIRCHILD AEROSPACE and Israel Aircraft Industries completed the preliminary design review for the 44-passenger 428JET and are beginning detail design. The aircraft is on track for first flight next year with certification and delivery in 2002, Fairchild said. The company said it has orders and options for 95 of the aircraft. IAI will design and build the fuselage as well as perform final assembly of the 428JET. IAI also is responsible for system engineering and integration, flight testing and certification support.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE AVIATION OFFICIALS renewed its memorandum of understanding with the Federal Aviation Administration to continue cooperative efforts to improve the safety and efficiency of the national transportation system. Under the MOU, NASASO and FAA are developing a runway safety program and a partnership to improve management of state block grants.
Smiths Industries last week announced plans for its second aerospace acquisition so far this year, the purchase of Actuation Systems subsidiary of BAE Systems North America, for $100 million. The cash deal, which is expected to close within a month, assuming approval of U.S. regulators, would follow the $175 million acquisition in late January of the aerospace division of Invensys plc. Actuation Systems, with revenue of $46.8 million and pretax profits of $9.4 million in its last fiscal year, supplies electrically operated actuators for civil and military aircraft.
Flight Safety Foundation developed a tool to help reduce the risk of approach-and-landing accidents, which account for the greatest number of fatalities in commercial air transport operations. The Risk Awareness Tool is a list of risk factors that can be integrated into the approach briefing a crew must conduct before beginning a descent, FSF said. It "will heighten the crew's awareness of risk factors that it is likely to encounter during the approach and landing," said FSF Chairman Stuart Matthews.
NOREEN GREENHALGH was appointed unit leader of credit risk management for DaimlerChrysler Capital Services. Greenhalgh formerly held the same title for Mercedes Benz Credit Corporation. She also held a number of financial posts with Westdeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale in New York.
BOMBARDIER AEROSPACE expanded the sales network for its Business Aviation Services (BAS) unit. The company promoted Bert Moas to regional manager, Mexico/Latin America with responsibility for Central and South America. Moas, who has served with BAS for five years in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., has 18 years of aviation experience, was formerly with AMR Combs, FXE Jet Center and United Airlines. Bombardier also named Walter Cram manager, sales and support at Lufthansa Bombardier Aviation Services in Berlin, Germany.
SOCIETY OF AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERS published the third edition of the Introduction to Internal Combustion Engines by Richard Stone. The latest edition includes new material covering new spark ignition technology, diesel common rail fuel injection equipment, emissions reduction technology, fuel chemistry, additive performance and variable geometry turbocharging. The book is available for $49 from SAE, 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, Pa. 15096-0001; phone: (724) 776-4970; fax: (724) 776-0790. Reference Order No. R-278.
