National Transportation Safety Board, investigating the May 8, 1999 inflight separation of the propeller from Sen. Jim Inhofe's (R-Okla.) Grumman Tiger, is focusing on a propeller installation problem, which, by one account, also could be responsible for loose propellers on up to 40 percent of Grumman American AA-5B single-engine aircraft.
Model SF340A and 340B series airplanes (Docket No. 98-NM-244-AD; Amdt. 39-11377; AD 99-21-31) - requires removing the control quadrant, securing the power lever cam screws with Loctite, and reinstalling the control quadrant. This amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
Model BAe.125 Series 1000A and 1000B airplanes and Model Hawker 1000 Series airplanes (Docket No. 99-NM-80-AD) - proposes to require an inspection to determine the integrity of the duct connection on both ends of the turbine air discharge duct in the air conditioning system; an inspection to measure the bead height on the ends of the turbine air discharge duct; and corrective actions, if necessary.
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association board of directors elected UPS Aviation Technologies and DeCrane Aircraft Holdings, Inc. to the association during GAMA's fall board meeting.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) this month will begin upgrading the engines in its fleet of Cessna 172R single-engine aircraft at the school's Daytona Beach, Fla. campus from 160 horsepower to 180 horsepower. The decision to upgrade follows incorporation of new operating procedures by ERAU officials aimed at reducing an engine "hesitation" problem that led to the periodic grounding of the 172Rs in Daytona Beach.
The Senate last week passed legislation to authorize the Federal Aviation Administration's Airport Improvement Program through March after House and Senate negotiators reached a stalemate on the long-term comprehensive aviation package, H.R.1000. Ongoing negotiations on how to fund FAA caved Wednesday after House and Senate leaders realized that neither side was willing to budge.
Model 4101 airplanes (Docket No. 98-NM-296-AD) - proposes to require a one-time inspection of the bottom aft roller of the main baggage-bay door structure for cracking or damage to the sub-frame; repetitive operational tests to determine if the counter-balance motor functions properly; and corrective actions, if necessary. This proposal is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
Model ATP airplanes (Docket No. 98-NM-345-AD; Amdt. 39-11361; AD 99-21-16) - requires repetitive replacements of the weight-on-wheels microswitch harness subassembly with a new microswitch harness subassembly. This amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent a nose wheel shimmy, which could result in the collapse of the nose landing gear during takeoff or landing and possible injury to the flightcrew and passengers.
TALKS between House and Senate negotiators on long-term FAA reauthorization legislation collapsed last week.It was not immediately clear whether the two bodies will be able to reach agreement on a short-term reauthorization measure that will carry over until Congress returns next year. See article below.
TRW Friday named a senior General Electric executive to be president of the Cleveland, Ohio-based company. David M. Cote, 47, a 25-year veteran of GE, was named president and chief operating officer of TRW and given a seat on the board of directors. Cote will report to Joseph T. Gorman, chairman and chief executive officer. In his new post Cote will initially focus on TRW's $13 billion global automotive supply business. Along with Gorman and Ronald D.
NASA and Honeywell are testing a new system designed to permit simultaneous operations on more closely spaced runways. Called Airborne Information for Lateral Spacing (AILS) and Closely Spaced Parallel Approaches (CASPER), the systems expand on existing communication and navigation technology to allow planes to land safely in bad weather on parallel runways spaced as closely as 2,500 feet apart.
DALE KRUPLA was named general manager of flight support for Atlantic Aviation's Wilmington, Del. facility. Krupla previously was general manager for Mercury Air in Nashville, Tenn. He also has served with Stevens Aviation, Million Air, Aero Services, Scottsdale Aviation and Beckett Enterprises.
Model CN-235 series airplanes (Docket No. 99-NM-117-AD; Amdt. 39-11384; AD 99-22-06) - supersedes an existing AD that currently requires repetitive eddy current inspections to detect fatigue cracks in the nose landing gear (NLG) turning tube, and replacement of cracked tubes. This amendment adds a requirement for the replacement of the existing NLG turning tube constructed of aluminum alloy with a new NLG turning tube made of steel; such replacement terminates the repetitive inspections.
PRECISION CASTPARTS CORP. said some 27.8 million shares of stock in Wyman-Gordon (nearly 78 percent of the company's outstanding shares) had been tendered to it by last week. PCC also said the Federal Trade Commission has accepted for public comment the agreement and consent orders worked out between agency staffers and company officials. "We are pleased with the FTC's action," said William C. McCormick, chairman and chief executive officer of Precision Castparts Corp.
Teledyne Continental Motors, on the verge itself of being spun off from Allegheny Teledyne as part of a new corporation, completed the acquisition of Mattituck Aviation Corp., a major independent overhauler and supplier of parts for piston engines.
TROY ADAMS was named avionics manager for Elliott Aviation's facility in Minneapolis, Minn. Adams formerly was a lead avionics flight test technician for Dassault Falcon Jet. He also has served as an avionics technician for the U.S. Marine Corps.
Fractional Ownership Committee, As of 11/5/99, Subject to Revision Committee Participants Member (Not on Committee) Representation Gary Arber, Counsel Fractional Ownership Alpha Flying, Inc. Management Company- Shared Aircraft Committee
KAMAN INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGIES CORP. sold its Kaman Aircraft Products Division to Wesco Aircraft Hardware Corp. of Valencia, Calif. Terms of the sale were not disclosed. Kaman Aircraft Products, which has six employees and annual sales of about $6 million, is based in Simi Valley, Calif. and distributes airframe bearings, seals, lubricants and other aviation products. Kaman Industrial Technologies said the division serves a niche market and is not one of its primary lines of business.
Boeing Chairman Phil Condit last week expressed support for a Chapter 4 engine noise rule, but said any new rule must be based on worldwide consensus. Condit, speaking at George Washington University's Global Summit on International Aviation Infrastructure in Washington, said reaching industrywide solutions on aircraft engine noise and emissions is one of four "most critical" issues in moving from a regulated, bilateral system to a deregulated, multilateral system.
BAe Model ATP airplanes (Docket No. 99-NM-201-AD) - proposes to require modification of the engine intake ducts to provide new cable routes and improved contamination protection of connectors on the engine intake de-icing system. This proposal is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent chafing and subsequent damage to the engine intake deicing system wiring, and contamination of electrical connectors and plugs.
(Jetstream) Model 4101 airplanes (Docket No. 99-NM-115-AD; Amdt. 39-11356; AD 99-21-12) - requires a one-time visual inspection of the conduit pipe for distortion or repairs, and replacement of the conduit pipe with a new pipe, if necessary. This amendment also requires replacement of the cable assemblies to the fuel standby pumps with new cable assemblies that have improved sheathing protection. This amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
JEPPESEN won a three-year contract from Executive Jet to provide international trip planning support at the fractional provider's flight operations center in Columbus, Ohio. Jeppesen will staff the trip planning organization in Columbus on an around-the-clock basis. Jeppesen will assist in processing overflight rights, landing permits, fuel requests and trip kit orders. Jeppesen also will help schedule international aircraft handling services. Its Intellijet system will provide aircraft/crew-scheduling information.
RICK KIEWEL was named division controller for Atlantic Aviation's Flight Support Division. Kiewel will be responsible for the accounting and financial management for all of Atlantic's fixed-base operations. He formerly served as controller for The Healy Group, Gordon Wahls Executive Search and Rollins Leasing Corp.
Organizations specializing in providing high-altitude chamber training for pilots say there has been increased interest in such training from the pilot community in the wake of the Oct. 25 Model 35 Learjet accident that claimed golfer Payne Stewart and five others (BA, Nov. 1/200).
The Timken Company's board of directors elected James W. Griffith president and chief operating officer Friday and also elected him to a seat on the board. Griffith has been president of the Canton, Ohio manufacturer since 1997. Chairman and Chief Executive W.R. Timken, Jr. said the board's actions signal that Griffith has been selected "to play the key role of leading The Timken Company into its second century. Jim has been involved in a series of major growth and rationalization initiatives throughout the company.
