BOEING is beginning certification flight tests of winglets for the Boeing Business Jet, a program being done as part of a joint venture between the aircraft manufacturer and Aviation Partners, Inc. of Seattle.Base-line tests for the program were done in mid-1998 (BA, July 6, 1998/1) and officials believe the current series of flights "will be a relatively benign flight test series" that should result in certification within 30 to 40 days. The addition of the winglets is expected to boost the range of the BBJ by five to seven percent.
Model Hawker 800 and 1000 airplanes and Model DH.125, HS.125, BH.125, and BAe.125 series airplanes (Docket No. 99-NM-160-AD; Amdt. 39-11553; AD 2000-02-35) - requires replacement of cadmium plated fittings and cone caps in the oxygen system plumbing with improved fittings and cone caps, a detailed visual inspection of the oxygen system plumbing in the area of the replaced parts, and corrective actions, if necessary. This amendment is prompted by a field survey of the affected parts, which revealed that a reaction process was occurring, resulting in cadmium flaking.
Docket No.: 28576 Section of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 145.47(b) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit Taxi Aereo Marilia, S.A. to use the calibration standards of the Institute Nacional de Metrologia, Normalizacao e Qualidade Industrial in lieu of the calibration standards of the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology to test its inspection and test equipment. Grant, Jan. 11, 2000, Exemption No. 6855A
Mooney Aircraft Corp., which discovered a problem with a new riveting machine last year that affected some 48 aircraft (BA, Feb. 14/69), is working with the owners of those aircraft to bring the planes back to the company's Kerrville, Texas manufacturing plant for inspection and rework, if necessary.
NEW PIPER AIRCRAFT President and Chief Executive Officer Chuck Suma credited the Be A Pilot national promotional effort for contributing to the company's continued growth. The Vero Beach, Fla. manufacturer has enjoyed delivery increases, on average, of 50 aircraft per year over the past couple of years and Suma said that should continue at least through the next couple of years.
Docket No.: 29871 Section of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 25.723 Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit Construcciones Aeronauticas, S.A., to have one additional year to demonstrate compliance with Sec. 25.723 for the CASA Model C-295 landing gear system. Partial Grant, Dec. 17, 1999, Exemption No. 7088
WORLD FUEL SERVICES CORP., Miami Springs, Fla., completed the sale of its oil recycling business, the International Petroleum group of companies, to EarthCare Company of Dallas, Texas for $28 million in cash and $5 million in EarthCare common stock (BA, Jan. 17/25). World Fuel plans to focus on marketing aviation and marine fuel products and services.
FAA issued special conditions to Ayres Corporation to obtain a type certification for its Model LM-200 Loadmaster. The special conditions cover protection of the airplane's electronic flight instrument system displays from the effects of high-intensity radiated fields (HIRF). FAA noted that current regulations are not adequate to protect the systems from HIRF and special conditions are necessary to provide an appropriate safety level.
An interagency report being developed for President Clinton is expected to provide "a roadmap for the future mission demands of the Coast Guard," including assessing its needs for new ships and aircraft.
EXECUTIVE JET INC., which has been in protracted negotiations with maintenance personnel at its Columbus, Ohio operations headquarters, said Friday it reached an agreement with Teamsters Local 284 on a four-year agreement. The new pact is retroactive to March 15, 1999 and extends to March 14, 2003. The agreement covers aircraft maintenance technicians, avionics technicians, aircraft fuelers and aircraft cleaners.
AEROSPACE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL was appointed a distributor for Scott Aviation's complete aviation product line as well as for BFGoodrich Aerospace's Ice Protection Systems. Scott manufactures oxygen systems for commercial and general aviation and safety equipment and tailwheel assemblies and accessories. BFGoodrich produces pneumatic de-icing systems and propeller de-icing systems for regional and business aircraft. API will offer the products worldwide.
Hartzell Propeller owner and Chairman James W. Brown, Jr. promoted sons Joseph and James III to co-presidents. Both Joseph Brown and James III formerly served as vice president. In their new roles, Joseph Brown will oversee operations, while James Brown III will steer engineering and customer services activities. "I'm not retiring, but I am looking forward to enjoying some longer weekends," said James Brown, Jr., who bought the Piqua, Ohio propeller manufacturer from TRW in 1988.
REP. FRANK WOLF (R-Va.), who chairs the House transportation appropriations subcommittee, wants to hold a brainstorming session with industry leaders to drum up ideas on curing FAA's woes. Expressing exasperation at a recent hearing, Wolf noted debate keeps focusing on "on-budget" or "off-budget," but said the industry and FAA should look at broader issues. He said "there's something wrong" at FAA. Congress gave the agency procurement reform "and that hasn't worked. We gave personnel reform and [Administrator Jane Garvey] could not find a deputy.
AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION appointed Lance Nuckolls director of regulatory and certification policy. Nuckolls will oversee issues involving aircraft certification and maintenance regulations, environmental topics including aircraft emissions and alternative fuels, airman certification and operating regulations and medical certification. He previously spent 21 years with Avemco Insurance Company, where he provided safety risk analysis to fixed-base operations, flight schools and corporate flight departments.
AN EVEN BIGGER winglet test program will begin next month when Boeing and API begin flying a Boeing 747-200 freighter with 14-and-one-half-foot tall winglets installed. The 747 winglets are expected to result in up to a seven percent fuel savings, which officials say equates to "saving a million gallons of fuel per year" for a typical 747 or extending range by 50 minutes per flight.
DAN J. O'NEILL was named director of marketing for Superior Air Parts, Inc., Dallas, Texas. O'Neill has more than 25 years' experience in aviation. Most recently he was senior manager-marketing services at Aviall, Inc. A commercial pilot with instrument and flight instructor ratings, O'Neill holds a bachelor's degree in advertising/marketing from Ferris State University in Michigan.
THE FIFTH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT SCHOOL OPERATORS CONFERENCE is scheduled for March 28-30 at the Allentown Hilton in Allentown, Pa. The conference is designed to discuss issues concerning flight school owners and operators, flight instructors and suppliers. The conference also will include a static display at Lehigh Valley International Airport. For more information, contact Harold Johnson, conference chairman, at (215) 646-1800.
Docket No.: 29468 Section of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 145.37(b) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit China Aircraft Services Limited to qualify for a Part 145 repair station certificate without meeting the special housing and facility requirements of Sec. 145.37(b). Denial, Jan. 4, 2000, Exemption No. 7095
Honeywell purchased Quantum Laser Corp., a repair facility that specializes in laser cladding of turbine blades. Quantum will become part of Honeywell's Aerospace Services unit and will work closely with its Greer, S.C. repair and overhaul facility. "The acquisition of Quantum Laser presents an excellent opportunity for Honeywell to enhance its repair technology while at the same time generate revenue growth by serving a broader range of aerospace companies," said James D. Taiclet, Jr., president of Honeywell Aerospace Services.
Model MBB-BK 117 helicopters (Docket No. 99-SW-60-AD; Amendment 39-11509; AD 2000-01-11) - supersedes an existing emergency priority letter AD that currently requires, before further flight, creating a component log card or equivalent record and determining the age and number of flights on the tension-torsion (TT) strap. The AD also requires inspecting and removing, as necessary, certain unairworthy TT straps.
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE officials, who struggled with interior completion times for Gulfstream Vs when the airplanes first began rolling off the production line (BA, Aug. 3, 1998/48) are feeling much better about the situation after last year's performance. Gulfstream delivered 70 "green" airplanes into completion centers last year and completed 77 G-IVs and G-Vs.
TOM MCCLELLAND was named manager of SimuFlite Training International's QuickTurn Division. McClelland joined the Quick-Turn unit in 1994 and most recently was an instructor pilot in the Citation program. Before joining SimuFlite, he was assistant director of operations for Kitty Hawk Airlines. McClelland also has been a pilot for Eastern Airlines, general manager for MartinAire, test pilot/instructor on Sabreliner at Raisbeck Engineering and assistant director of aerospace sciences at Samford University.
NASA awarded a contract for development of a "Weakly Ionized Gas Shock Wave Modification System." By electrifying the air near an aircraft surface with a weak charge, the shock wave is pushed back from the surface, reducing the effect of the shock wave, scientists say. This could reduce fuel consumption, increase speed, reduce surface heating and allow longer flights, NASA hopes.
RON SILVERMAN joined TAG Aviation USA, Inc. as director of client services. Silverman, formerly president of International Aircraft Management, will be responsible for new and existing management clients in the Eastern region. He also will support marketing and sales efforts throughout the U.S. In addition to International Aircraft Management, Silverman also has served with East Coast Airways, National Air Fleet Corp. and Summit Aviation Corp.
UPS Aviation Technologies last week received FAA certification for its MX20 multi-function cockpit display used in the company's Alaska Capstone advanced technology demonstration program. UPS Aviation Technologies is combining the MX20 MFD with its GX60 GPS/Comm and a Universal Access Transceiver datalink to demonstrate Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) functions in more than 130 air taxi and charter aircraft in Alaska. The company won FAA approval to begin installation of the equipment in November (BA, Dec.
