SF340A and SAAB 340B series airplanes (Docket No. 99-NM-118-AD; Amdt. 39-11328;AD 99-19-41) - requires modification of the insulation pads in the lower side of the fuselage at the wing aft area. 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 loose insulation from interfering with an aileron control cable, which could result in reduced aileron control. The FAA estimates that 303 airplanes on the U.S.
AD TRACKER, a computerized system for finding airworthiness directives, was developed by IHS TransPort Data Solutions of Denver, Colo. AD Tracker "makes finding documents easier than ever by automatically pulling up the relevant AD and keeping a record of it," said Tony Martinez, general manager. Available on CD-ROM or the Internet, AD Tracker links to the AD located in IHS's database, which contains more than 14,000 ADs dating back to 1941 and which is updated daily. For more information, contact the company at (303) 858-6325.
ALLIEDSIGNAL'S ANNUAL FORECAST of the business aviation market predicts increased shipments of all categories of business jets over the next 11 years, with the exception of entry-level jets, projections for which are down slightly from last year's forecast. The engine manufacturer expects business jet shipments to average more than 600 units per year during the forecast period. See article below.
Model DHC-8-100 and -300 series airplanes (Docket No. 97-NM-58-AD; Amendment 39-11321; AD 99-19-34) - requires modification of certain hydraulic systems that provide hydraulic pressure for the control of the rudder and for the main landing gear brakes. 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 damage to certain hydraulic system components in the No. 2 engine nacelle, which could result in loss of the No. 1 and No.
JON GRAY was appointed vice president-Aircraft Management Group for FLS Aerospace. Gray joined FLS Aerospace in 1991 and has served as finance director, group financial controller and most recently, director-corporate development.
The momentum toward labor organization at the Federal Aviation Administration continues to escalate with almost 3,000 employees - many at the Washington, D.C. headquarters - now seeking representation from unions. The latest petitions were filed by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association to represent up to 1,400 more employees and by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) for 800 additional headquarters employees.
DeCrane Aircraft Holdings added another acquisition last week, PCI NewCo, Inc., a Wichita, Kan.-based manufacturer of aerospace composites. The purchase of PCI "gives DeCrane the final component in its 'total cabin capability,'" the company said last week. DeCrane, which recently reorganized into three divisions (BA, Oct. 4/155), is positioning itself to provide "complete, customized, pre-fit, pre-engineered interior kits and individual cabin components to corporate jet OEMs and independent completion centers."
MUSE TECHNOLOGIES has developed software that, when integrated with Hewlett Packard workstation hardware, is designed to improve air traffic monitoring. The new technology allows air traffic flow researchers to observe aircraft from any view, not just "top down." Muse said the technology will provide a quicker understanding of aircraft altitude and direction and give graphic alerts and voice warnings of airspace congestion.
Carrying through on a decision reached by top agency officials last month (BA, Sept. 27/141), FAA Administrator Jane Garvey issued an order chartering a new Fractional Ownership Aviation Rulemaking Committee (FOARC) and closing meetings of that group to the public.
JET SUPPORT SERVICES INC. added the Raytheon Hawker 800XP and Beechjet 400A to its Tip-to-Tail guaranteed hourly cost maintenance program. The program, introduced this year through JSSI's FalconFirst and ServiceCare programs, includes new and in-service aircraft. JSSI recently introduced the program for King Air C90 and B200 aircraft.
THE BUSINESS AVIATION MARKET is so strong that even products that didn't fare well the first time are being recycled. Piaggio Aero Industries will exhibit its P.180 pusher prop executive aircraft at this week's NBAA convention in Atlanta. A company statement said, "Our plan is to enter the North American market before next fall by developing a strong marketing and maintenance infrastructure to ensure smooth operations and first deliveries of the P.180." Developed in the late 1980s, the P.180 Piaggio Avanti came to market in the early 1990s.
FLIGHTSTAR CORP., located in Savoy, Ill. near Champaign, Urbana, added a Falcon 20-5 business jet to its fleet. Flightstar also operates two Falcon 20s and three King Air 200s.
EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY won a contract from The Boeing Company to provide training for aircraft technicians at Al Salam Aircraft Co., a Saudi Arabian aircraft maintenance company that Boeing partially owns. Embry-Riddle will provide the yearlong training program at Al Salam's facilities in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia beginning in March. Embry-Riddle and Boeing are seeking FAR Part 147 approval for the program.
Mesaba Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Mesaba Airlines, named Paul F. Foley president and chief executive of the company and a member of the board of directors. Most recently Foley was with Atlas Air where he had been vice president-operations support since 1996. Before that he was with LSG/Sky Chefs in a number of senior posts, including group vice president-operations. From 1989-1992 he was president of Chelsea Catering Corp., a subsidiary of Continental Airlines, and from 1974-1989 he worked for Sky Chefs, a subsidiary of American Airlines.
SOUTHWEST JET AVIATION added a Citation X to its management fleet, the fourth Citation X that Southwest Jet Aviation will manage. The company, based at Scottsdale Municipal Airport in Scottsdale, Ariz., provides charter, aircraft sales and acquisition, aircraft management, maintenance management and hangar services.
The proposed merger of Honeywell and AlliedSignal won tentative approval from the U.S. Department of Justice last week after both companies agreed to sell small slices of their avionics enterprises.
RENE GSPONER was appointed director of high-wing aircraft customer support for Fairchild Aerospace Corp. Gsponer will oversee customer support for Fairchild's 228 and 328 turboprops as well as the 328JET/428JET line of regional jets. He previously served with Gulf Aircraft Maintenance Company in Abu Dhabi, where he oversaw maintenance for the Gulf Air fleet and other customer aircraft. He also has served with Shannon Aerospace, Swissair, Leutenegger AG and Scintilla/Bosch AG.
CONGRESS directed the Department of Transportation to study "the operational and cost advantages and tradeoffs" in replacing its executive aircraft with "a mix of light to mid-size jets to determine the flexibility, efficiency, and cost benefits of fractional aircraft ownership or leasing for the government." That directive was included in the fiscal 2000 transportation appropriations bill that passed the House late last month and the Senate last week.
THE APPROPRIATIONS BILL is drawing fire from the Clinton Administration because of shortfalls in FAA's operations account. The agency, which froze travel and hiring after suffering a $250 million deficit in fiscal 1999 (BA, March 1/95), already is seeking ways to accommodate this year's shortage.
FAA last month bid farewell to an employee who served with the agency and its predecessor, the Civil Aeronautics Administration, for 52 years and seven months. Joe Flaim, who joined the CAA in 1947, retired as manager of the Planning and Program Management Branch, AFS-120, in the Office of Regulation and Certification.
General aviation groups and the Clinton Administration expressed dismay after the Senate Monday voted 88 to 3 in favor of the fiscal 2000 transportation appropriations bill, which kills the general fund contribution to the Federal Aviation Administration. The vote, which followed House approval late last month, clears the bill for President Clinton's signature. The bill drew protests from the GA community because it completely pays for FAA's operations through the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, which is funded by ticket and fuel taxes (BA, Oct. 4/153).
Model S76A, B, and C helicopters (Docket No. 99-SW-44-AD; Amdt. 39-11317; AD 99-19-30) - requires a visual inspection to detect disbonding of the attachment angle between the tail gearbox forward fairing and the pylon and replacing or repairing the attachment angles as necessary. This amendment is prompted by incidents, two in flight and eight on the ground, of fairing bonding failures. The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent separation of the fairing, damage to the tail rotor blades, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
RYDER SYSTEM, INC., the logistics and transportation services provider, developed and implemented a program to recruit technicians throughout the U.S. Ryder will use a network of 26 Ryder Recruiting Centers that had been established to recruit drivers, but which now will focus on finding both technicians and drivers.
TFE731 series turbofan engines (Docket No. 97-ANE-51-AD; Amdt. 39-11332; AD 98-17-01 R1) - revises an existing AD that currently requires installation of an improved flexible (flex) fuel tube. This amendment clarifies that installation of the improved flex fuel tube and use of a clamp on the original rigid fuel tube are optional for engines installed on Learjet 35, 36, and 55 series airplanes. This amendment is prompted by confusion regarding the applicability of these Learjet engine installations.
BOMBARDIER received an order from Air Nippon Co., Ltd. (ANK) of Tokyo for three Dash 8 Q800 turboprops. ANK, a subsidiary of All Nippon Airways, will operate the aircraft on routes between Tokyo International Airport and islands within Tokyo's domain.
