GREGORY STEINER was named vice president of global strategy development for Rockwell Collins. Steiner joined Rockwell Collins in 1986, holding positions in program management and marketing. Most recently, he was director of programs for Air Transport Systems.
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bud Shuster (R-Pa.) and ranking Democrat Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.) Wednesday strongly objected to some 70 "legislative and unauthorized provisions" that the Senate included in its version of the fiscal 2000 transportation appropriations bill.
ALLISON AE 2100A and AE 2100C series turboprop engines (Docket No. 99-NE-14-AD; Amdt. 39-11257; AD 99-17-09) - requires initial and repetitive visual inspections of the propeller gearbox (PGB) and power section (P/S) strut fittings for notches and cracks, and, if necessary, replacement with serviceable parts. In addition, this action requires removing and replacing strut fittings as well as reworking them to the latest configuration identified by a new part number. This amendment is prompted by reports of P/S strut fitting notches and cracks.
THE FAIRCHILD CORPORATION reported a $36.3 million loss from continuing operations, or $1.46 per share, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 1999, ending June 30. The company took a one-time pre-tax charge of $58 million in the fourth quarter related to its acquisition of Kaynar Technologies and inventory reserves for its Dallas Aerospace subsidiary. Excluding the one-time charges, pro forma earnings from continuing operations in the fourth quarter were $1.4 million, or $0.06 per share.
AIRCRAFT TECHNICAL PUBLISHERS is offering a Learjet CD-ROM version of its Maintenance Library that includes maintenance manuals, illustrated parts catalogs, wiring diagrams, service bulletins and letters and structural repair manuals. The Learjet libraries, which include airframe, engine and thrust reverser publications, are available for Model 23, 28 and 29 and series 24, 25, 35, 36 and 55 aircraft.
ALSO IN OCTOBER, JAA plans to examine ways to change its fundamental organizational structure and methods of operation. The changes would come in anticipation of the new European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA) which is expected to eventually supplant JAA. Although that change may not come for three or four years, JAA officials are considering ways the organization could operate more like EASA is expected to operate.
ASKED TO QUANTIFY the level of turnover among corporate pilots, Blouin responded that "there's not a big hue and cry," but flight department managers are concerned. "People are moving around" and there are "reports of...losing people to the airlines," he said.
RAYTHEON Model Hawker 1000 series airplanes (Docket No. 99-NM-156-AD) - proposes to require a visual inspection of the PS wire bundle, shielded wires going to fuel probe "G," and any other wire or wire bundle for chafing in the forward wing spar and forward ventral tank area; and corrective actions, if necessary. This proposal is prompted by reports indicating that, due to improper routing of a wire bundle, the wire bundle chafed against the forward ventral tank transfer/crossfeed valve, which caused an electrical short and resulted in failure of the landing light.
CESSNA AIRCRAFT delivered a Citation X to Red Aviation in Yeadon, England. The aircraft is the first of the high-speed business jets to be registered in the United Kingdom and the third to operate in Europe. Red Aviation, a private company wholly owned by Barry Rubery, provides air charter throughout Europe.
INCREASING DEMAND for pilots by the large scheduled airlines is manifesting itself in turnover within corporate flight departments. "We are finding pressure on flight departments to provide job incentives" to pilots to keep them flying for flight departments, NBAA President Jack Olcott said last week. The most important incentives are not necessarily higher salaries, he said, but rather more predictable schedules, improved working conditions and increased job security.
HOUSE TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE Thursday approved a resolution that calls the European Commission ban on hushkitted or re-engined aircraft unfair to U.S. aircraft. House approval of the resolution is expected as early as this week. The resolution directs the Clinton Administration to take "all appropriate actions" to ensure that the EC drops its plan. The Senate has approved a similar resolution.
UNITED STATES AIRCRAFT INSURANCE GROUP will hold a free conference on corporate aircraft safety Nov. 5 at The Westin Morristown Hotel in Morristown, N.J. The safety conference will discuss ground handling, Y2K and corporate aircraft response planning. To register, contact Lynda Joyce at (212) 859-3701.
Federal Aviation Administration's Alaska Region awarded a contract valued at $3.9 million to UPS Aviation Technologies to supply advanced navigation equipment for small commercial aircraft that operate in Alaska. The contract calls for UPS Aviation Technologies to provide at least 150 shipsets of avionics and support equipment, including GPS navigation receivers, advanced multi-function cockpit displays and ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) datalink radios.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE AVIATION OFFICIALS issued an "Action Call" to its members Friday warning that "the Senate Appropriations Committee is attempting to hijack the General Fund contribution from federal aviation investment legislation." NASAO noted that maintaining the General Fund contribution, which represents about 25 percent of FAA's annual budget, "is critically important to the success of the agency and its programs.
RAYTHEON Beech Models C90A, B200, B300, and 1900D airplanes (Docket No. 99-CE-56-AD; Amdt. 39-11281; AD 99-18-15) - requires replacing the landing gear hand pump for airplanes that had a pump within a certain serial number range installed at manufacture; and prohibits the future installation of any of these pumps on all of the affected airplanes. This AD is the result of information from the manufacturer of improper machining of the pump housing on certain landing gear emergency hand pumps on the affected airplanes.
BRITISH AEROSPACE BAe Model ATP airplanes (Docket No. 99-NM-19-AD) - proposes to require repetitive inspections for chafing on the fuel manifold drain hose and the adjacent access panel; and corrective actions, if necessary; and installation of a protective spiral wrap on the fuel manifold drain hose. This proposal also would provide for an optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This proposal is prompted by reports of chafing between the fuel manifold drain hose and the access panel due to contact between the two components over time.
AIR CANADA ordered 25 Rockwell Collins Flight Dynamics Head-up Guidance Systems (HGS) for installation on its fleet of Bombardier CRJ-100 and -200 regional aircraft. The HGS system will permit Cat IIIa landing capability in visibility conditions as low as 700 feet runway visual range. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in December.
NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD is investigating the fatal Sept. 18 crash of a Pitts (Aero Design 11, Inc.) Model 11 aerobatic airplane, N11PU. The aircraft was registered to Starting Line Products, Inc. and crashed about six miles east of Iona, Idaho while operating under Part 91 in visual meteorological conditions.
The Federal Aviation Administration, which has been meeting for months with industry representatives to consider how it should regulate fractional aircraft ownership programs, now plans to establish a formal committee to consider the issue.
AERODYNAMICS INCORPORATED is celebrating its 40th anniversary at Oakland County, Mich. International Airport. ADI, a long-time Raytheon distributor, provides support for the line of Raytheon aircraft as well as aircraft and parts sales, international charter, flight management, aircraft refurbishment and ground support. ADI, which also provides completion services, is in the midst of completing a 24,000-square-foot expansion to its refurbishment center.
EMBRAER Model EMB-120 series airplanes (Docket No. 98-NM-233-AD; Amdt. 39-11253; AD 99-17-04) - requires replacement of the fairlead support assemblies of the aileron control cable located in the nacelle outboard fittings with new, improved assemblies; and replacement of certain attachment screws with new screws. This amendment also provides an option for performing repetitive inspections until accomplishment of the replacement. This amendment is prompted by reports of aileron cable wear due to chafing found between the aileron control cables and nylon grommets.
A group of corporate business aircraft operators in Georgia formed the Georgia Business Aviation Association to address state and local issues that affect the use of business aircraft. Brian Ross, aviation director for Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc., is chairman and president of the new organization and Ralph W. Lloyd, a regional sales manager for Cessna Aircraft, is vice chairman. GBAA membership is open to corporations, small businesses and individuals.
TAC Air, the aviation division of Texas-based Truman Arnold Companies, signed a definitive agreement to acquire Signature Flight Support fixed-base operations at Bradley International Airport (BDL) in Windsor Locks, Conn. and at Centennial Airport (APA) in Englewood, Colo. Closing of the Bradley deal is anticipated by Sept. 30, but the APA transaction is not expected to close until early April after Signature moves its operations into a new facility now under construction on Centennial.
HAWAIIAN AIRLINES ordered 13 Boeing 717-200 regional jets powered by BMW Rolls-Royce BR715 turbofan engines and took options on seven more 717s. Deliveries are to begin in February 2001. Boeing also delivered the first 717-200 to launch customer AirTran Airways, the former ValuJet. Boeing now has orders for 115 717s and options for another 110.
BRITISH AEROSPACE Model BAe 146 and Model Avro 146-RJ series airplanes (Docket No. 97-NM-129-AD; Amdt. 39-11260; AD 99-17-12) - requires a one-time measurement to determine the thickness of the outer links of the side stays of the main landing gear (MLG), and corrective actions, if necessary. This amendment also provides for replacement of a thin outer link with a new or serviceable part in lieu of certain follow-on inspections. This amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
