JOHN M. (JACK) FERRIS, 85, the former head of Avco Lycoming Engines in Williamsport, Pa., died Oct. 28 in Boca Raton, Fla. Ferris was one of the founding members of the General Aviation Manufacturers in 1970??? and served as the vice chairman, and then chairman of the organization during its first two years. Ferris was a pilot in World War II and retired as a colonel from the United States Air Force. He also served as chief of engineering and maintenance for the Hawaiian Air Deport, Hickham Field, Hawaii.
All three persons aboard a Beech King Air 200 were killed Oct. 11 when their aircraft crashed into Lake Michigan while attempting to take off from Meigs Field in Chicago, Ill. about 2015 local time Thursday evening.
THE U.S. SENATE approved eight nominations Wednesday for senior government posts, but the nomination of John Goglia for another term on the National Transportation Safety Board still has not cleared the committee. Goglia has widespread industry backing for another term on the safety board, but supporters fear his nomination may not be acted upon before the Senate adjourns this week.
AVCOM-COMMERCIAL AVIATION, a general aviation services provider and charter operator in Russia, opened a new general aviation terminal at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport last month. Officials said the new facility is specifically designed to meet the needs of VIP passengers and can accommodate five to six business jets at one time. Avcom officials say their new terminal provides a high level of confidentiality for VIP passengers.
COMPOSITE STRUCTURES, Monrovia, Calif., ratified a new three-year labor contract with the Metal Trades Council of Southern California and its affiliated unions. The new agreement calls for a 10 percent general wage increase over three years: four percent in the first year, with three percent raises in the succeeding years, increased pension benefits and inclusion of a profit sharing plan for all employees.
DENNIS KOVALSKY was appointed general manager of the aerospace coatings and sealants business unit for PPG Industries. Kovalsky joined PPG in 1977 as an engineer at its Circleville, Ohio resins plant and has since held positions of increasing responsibility. Most recently he was global director of pretreatment and specialty products.
CESSNA called last month's AOPA Expo in Atlantic City a success after its Cessna Sales Team Authorized Representative in Lincoln Park, N.J. - Lincoln Park Aviation - sold 12 new single-engine aircraft. Lincoln Park sold eight Skyhawk SPs, three Skylanes and one Turbo Stationair to customers in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.
RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT COMPANY is offering two avionics packages for its 2000 model year piston aircraft. The standard package for the Baron 58, Bonanza A36 and Bonanza B36TC models will include PS Engineering PMA7000M-S audio panel-intercom system, dual Garmin 430 NAV/COMM/GPS moving map systems with glideslope, AlliedSignal's KFC 225 autopilot/flight director with KCS 55A HIS/compass system and KT 76C transponder, BFGoodrich WX-500 Stormscope weather mapping system and Shadin ADC 200 fuel/airdata computer.
KEVIN KEITH was named charter sales representative for Atlantic Aviation Corp. in Teterboro, N.J. Keith formerly was charter sales manager for business aircraft and helicopters with LynStar Aviation. He has more than 15 years of aviation experience, managing several New York helicopter operations including the East 60th Street Heliport.
As regional jet service grows more common, airports must take steps to prepare for it, according to speakers at the recent Airports Council International-North America convention in Las Vegas.
(Jetstream) Model 4101 airplanes (Docket No. 99-NM-302-AD) - proposes to require repetitive inspections to detect loose or migrated levers of the elevator cable tension regulators, and replacement of the regulator assembly with a new assembly, if necessary. This proposal is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
Model F.27 Mark 050 series airplanes (Docket No. 99-NM-225-AD; Amdt. 39-11379; AD 99-21-33) - requires a one-time inspection to detect improper installation of countersunk screws used to attach the access panels to the bottom skin of the center wing; and corrective action, if necessary. This amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
The Federal Aviation Administration's attempt to come to grips with how to regulate fractional aircraft ownership programs moves into a new phase this week with the first meetings of the agency's newly appointed Fractional Ownership Aviation Rulemaking Committee (FOARC) (BA, Nov. 8/209). FAA is asking participants to "propose revisions to the Federal Aviation Regulations and associated guidance material with respect to fractional ownership programs."
JERRY ATKIN, president and chief executive of Skywest Airlines, was elected chairman of the Regional Airline Association at the group's fall membership meeting in Alexandria, Va. this month. Andy Price, president of Commutair, was elected vice chairman, Tim Coon of Mesa Air Group was named treasurer and Dan Wolf of Cape Air was re-elected secretary. Newly elected RAA board members are: Tom Moore, Atlantic Coast Airlines; Bryan Bedford, Chautauqua Airlines; James Ream, Continental Express Airlines; and Tom Hanley, US Airways Express.
British Aerospace shareholders approved the company's proposed merger with Marconi Electronic Systems, BAe reported last week, noting that more than 99.9 percent of votes cast at an Extraordinary General Meeting in London were in favor of the merger. At separate meetings Nov. 3, Marconi plc (formerly known as GEC) also received approval for the proposed merger. Completion of the deal now depends on the resolution of the outstanding regulatory issues.
WHILE GOGLIA'S NOMINATION remained in limbo, the White House announced that it plans to nominate the former U.S. representative to the International Civil Aviation Organization to fill another pending safety board vacancy. See article below.
CESSNA AIRCRAFT said it is developing a computer based instruction (CBI) program for instrument training in conjunction with King Schools. The development effort began early this year and Cessna said it expects to release the instrument course to Cessna Pilot Centers in the spring. King Schools previously developed Cessna's private pilot CBI program.
DUOCOMMUN INC. acquired the assets of Parsons Precision Products, Inc. (PPPI), a subsidiary of Jordan Industries. Located in Parsons, Kan., PPPI manufactures complex titanium hot formed sub-assemblies and components for commercial and military aerospace applications. Sales for the 12 months ended Sept. 30 exceeded $13 million. Duocommun said PPPI President Phil Stephens and the management team will remain with the company.
Model DHC-8-102, -103, -106, -201, -202, -301, -311, and -315 series airplanes (Docket No. 98-NM-321-AD; Amdt. 39-11352; AD 99-21-09) - supersedes an existing AD that requires a one-time inspection to detect chafing of electrical wires in the cable trough below the cabin floor; repair, if necessary; installation of additional tie-mounts and tie-wraps; and application of sealant to rivet heads. This amendment requires the accomplishment of these same actions on additional airplanes.
Steve Bassett, who has served as president of the United States Air Tour Association for nearly three years, will step down from that post at the end of the year. Bassett told BA he hopes to remain involved in the air tour business on behalf of individual air tour operators, but he said time constraints associated with administering USATA's Washington, D.C.-area office were interfering with his other business interests.
AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION promoted Warren Morningstar to vice president for communications. Morningstar has served as director of media relations since early 1995, responsible for media inquiries with a specialty in legislative and regulatory issues. Before joining AOPA, he served as senior producer for KTVX-TV in Salt Lake City, Utah. He also has worked for the U.S. Information Agency and the Utah Department of Transportation.
President Clinton will nominate Carol Carmody, the former U.S. representative to the International Civil Aviation Organization, for a seat on the National Transportation Safety Board. She is expected to succeed Robert Francis, who has served on the board since January 1995. Francis is vice chairman of NTSB and his term is due to expire at the end of the year.
ELIAS COTTI, a 20-year veteran of the aviation maintenance industry, has joined the National Business Aviation Association. Cotti, previously was director of maintenance for the Hewlett-Packard flight department in San Jose, Calif., was named senior manager-technical operations at NBAA. He begins his new duties Nov. 22 and will report to Bob Blouin, senior vice president-operations. Cotti replaces Fred Kirby, who left NBAA earlier this year to join Executive Jet.
Community outreach and involvement are essential for airport success, according to panelists at a recent George Washington University Global Summit on International Aviation Infrastructure in Washington.
Triumph Group, Inc. added two new firms to its stable of aerospace component manufacturers. Triumph bought Construction Brevitees d'Alfortville (CBA), located near Paris, France, a manufacturer of mechanical ball bearing control assemblies for the aerospace, ground transportation and marine industries. The company, which also has assembly facilities in Spain, has annual revenues of approximately $8 million. CBA will become part of Triumph's newly formed Control Systems Group, which includes Frisby Aerospace, Clemmons, N.C.
