THE SEMINOLES of Florida State University claimed most of the media attention last week, but the original Florida Seminoles recorded a notable aviation achievement the day after the Sugar Bowl. See article on Page 14.
DAMAGE TOLERANCE FOR HIGH ENERGY TURBINE ENGINE ROTORS is the subject of Advisory Circular 33.14-1 published by FAA. The AC provides acceptable methods for complying with Part 33.14 of the Federal Aviation Regulations, which details life management requirements applicable to the design and life management of titanium alloy high-energy rotating parts of aircraft engines. Copies of the AC can be obtained by contacting Tim Monuzakis of the Engine and Propeller Standards Staff at FAA's New England regional headquarters at (781) 238-7114; fax, (781) 238-7199.
Model 2000 series airplanes (Docket No. 99-NM-197-AD; Amdt. 39-11442; AD 99-24-17) - requires modification of the airplane by coldworking fastener holes at the front and rear wing spars and by installing modified support angles for the lower trailing edge panel of the wing. This amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
Citing the expense of the requirements, Federal Aviation Administration finally withdrew a 10-year-old notice of proposed rulemaking last month that called for improved crash resistance of fuel system components on aircraft certified under Part 23. The proposal, published in the Feb. 28, 1990 Federal Register, would have required upgrades to limit fuel spillage near ignition sources, improving crash resistance and allowing survivors of a crash more time to evacuate the airplane.
EDO Corp. plans an $87 million merger with AIL Technologies to create an integrated defense and aerospace technology company. AIL Technologies, Inc., formerly part of Eaton, is an employee-owned company that provides advanced electronics to government, commercial and industrial clients. The company produces antennas for aircraft, marine and satellite customers, including Boeing's entire commercial fleet, plus defensive avionics and jamming systems for military aircraft.
DIAMOND AIRCRAFT has begun flight testing its new Katana 100, a derivative of the Katana DA20-A1 with a 100-horsepower Bombardier/Rotax 912S engine. Diamond expects FAA and Transport Canada certification of the aircraft in March and plans to offer a retrofit option for owners of the DA20-A1 to replace the existing Rotax engine with the more powerful 912S model.
THOMAS STELTER was named managing director-specialized training for SimuFlite Training International. Stelter will oversee SimuFlite's courseware department, maintenance and training programs and training centers in Marietta, Ga. and Tampa, Fla. He also will be responsible for SimuFlite's QuickTurn training division in Grapevine, Texas. Stelter joined SimuFlite in 1991 and most recently was director of quality.
A GENERAL AVIATION INDUSTRY COALITION last week met with FAA Administrator Jane Garvey and other senior agency officials to continue a cooperative effort to resolve industry issues. The coalition is working with FAA to increase delegation authority in all areas. One source observed that FAA in recent years has trended toward centralizing its certification and approval activity and scaling back delegation authority. This comes during a time when FAA has had fewer resources to do necessary inspections and certification work, slowing down those processes.
Dart series turboprop engines (Docket No. 99-NE-30-AD; Amdt. 39-11485; AD 99-27-04) - requires a one-time visual inspection of the interior of the switch to determine the type of low torque switch, and removal from service of unapproved Klixon low torque switches and replacement with serviceable parts. This amendment is prompted by the discovery of unapproved low torque switches in fleet operation.
"FAA is making reasonable progress working toward the development of a cost accounting system," the Transportation Inspector General reported last month. The IG report is one of a series of expected reviews as FAA implements a cost accounting system for its Air Traffic Services. FAA initially is focusing on overflight costs so it may assess fees for providing services to aircraft that transit through U.S. airspace without taking off or landing in the U.S.
Docket No.: 29660 Section of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 135.299(a) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit NorthEastern pilots to accomplish a line operational evaluation in a Level C or Level D flight simulator in lieu of a line check in an aircraft. Denial, Oct. 5, 1999, Exemption No. 7022
Model AS-350B, B1, B2, B3, BA, and D, and AS-355E, F, F1, F2, and N helicopters (Docket No. 99-SW-41-AD; Amdt. 39-11443; AD 99-24-18) - supersedes an existing AD that requires inspecting certain versions of the tail rotor spider plate bearing for the proper rotational torque, axial play, and any brinelling of the bearing. This amendment has the same inspection requirements as the current AD. Also, this AD expands the applicability to include additional part numbers (P/Ns) and reduces the initial and recurring inspection compliance times.
Corporate pilots and their passengers traveling overseas face a multitude of dangers in certain locations, according to Air Security International's compilation of the "World's Most Dangerous Places: 1999." Air Security, a division of Air Routing of Houston, Texas, issued warnings about the following places: Algeria - visitors to the capital, Algiers, are urged "to avoid walking anywhere due to the high potential for spontaneous attacks and ongoing political and social unrest."
Docket No.: 29414 Section of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 121.383(c) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit pilots of North American Airlines (NAA) - to act as pilots in supplemental operations conducted under Part 121 after reaching their 60th birthday. Denial, Sept. 3, 1999, Exemption No. 7037
Raytheon's Brazilian subsidiary, Raytheon Brasil Sistemsas de Integracao, delivered the first operational equipment for a new system the Brazilian government will use to monitor the Amazon River basin.
CESSNA AIRCRAFT late last month delivered the 100th Citation X to Ted Townsend, president of Townsend Engineering based in Des Moines, Iowa. Cessna launched the Citation X program in 1990 and delivered the first of the Mach .92 business jets in August 1996. "Going from zero to 100 Citation Xs in just over three years is an enormous accomplishment for the entire Cessna team, and is only fitting for the world's fastest business airplane," said Cessna Chairman Russ Meyer.
ORENDA RECIP INC. said an Air Tractor 401 agricultural aircraft powered by the Orenda OE600A V8 engine completed its first flight last month and is expected to win supplemental type certification in the first half of this year. The liquid-cooled V8 OE600A improves payload, productivity and reliability over other reciprocating engines, Orenda said, adding that it provides turbine power for the cost of a piston engine.
Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. announced a major expansion of its Brunswick, Ga. completion facility, where it has been completing Gulfstream IV-SPs for use in the Gulfstream Shares program that Gulfstream and Executive Jet, Inc. operate. The $3 million expansion will include construction of a 23,000-square-foot completion hangar and the upgrade and lease of a 20,000 square foot storage and maintenance building. The new and refurbished facilities are expected to open in June.
BFGoodrich completed the consolidation of its landing gear equipment business following the merger in July with Coltec Industries. The structure of the combined entity will focus on the major market segments - commercial transport, regional and business, and military.
(Jetstream) Model 4101 Airplanes (Docket No. 99-NM-309-AD) - proposes to require installation of a placard on the left-hand instrument panel in the cockpit to prohibit push-backs of the airplane while the engines are running. In lieu of accomplishing the placard installation, this proposal would require repetitive installation of a new tow bracket sub-assembly that has the serial number and date of installation vibro etched on it. This proposal is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
Summary: 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.
Howmet International intends to acquire the 19 percent interest in its Japanese operation owned by Komatsu, under an agreement reached when the two companies established the Komatsu-Howmet Ltd. (KHL) joint venture company in 1994. With the acquisition, Howmet will own 100 percent of the Japanese operation, which manufactures precision investment castings in nickel-, cobalt- and iron-based alloys for aerospace and industrial gas turbine applications. Initially, the two companies were equal partners, but in July 1998 Howmet purchased an additional 31 percent interest.
FLIGHT OPTIONS, the Cleveland-based fractional ownership program, will commence customer flight operations this month with its fifth aircraft type, the Dassault Falcon 50 trijet. The company anticipates integrating 15 Falcon 50s into its existing fleet of aircraft. Flight Options, with more than 50 aircraft in service, has a mixed fleet of Citation IIs, Beechjet 400As, Hawker 800As and Challenger 601s. It is the only major fractional provider that utilizes previously owned airplanes instead of new models.
Model DHC-7-100 series airplanes (Docket No. 99-NM-107-AD) - proposes to require repetitive high frequency eddy current inspections for cracks on the locking pin fittings of the baggage door and locking pin housings of the fuselage; repetitive detailed visual inspections to detect cracks of the inner door structure on all four door locking attachment fittings; and corrective actions, if necessary. This proposal also would provide a temporary option, for certain cases, for revising the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM), and installing a placard.
