House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee leadership, warning that "our aviation system is hurtling toward gridlock and potential catastrophes," last week pressed Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) and Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) to move forward on comprehensive FAA reauthorization legislation. In a Sept.
JEFFREY WOOD was named president of Airfoil Technologies International, which specializes in component repairs for commercial turbine engines. Wood previously was director, international business office and partnership programs for Pratt&Whitney Aircraft. He also has served as vice president for U.S. flight repair operations for Interturbine Corp.
MERCURY AIR GROUP named Jim Ritchie general manager of its fixed-base operations at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Ritchie, who retired with the rank of Colonel after 32 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, will manage Mercury's ground services operation including commercial airline fueling, aircraft maintenance and fixed-base operations.
Model DHC-8-102, -103, -106, -201, -202, -301, -311, and -315 series airplanes (Docket No. 99-NM-32-AD) - proposes to require modification of the wiring of the emergency lighting system. This proposal is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority. The action specified by the proposed AD is intended to prevent the pilots from having full authority over the cabin emergency lights, which could result in delayed egress of the passengers and crew from the cabin during emergency evacuation.
BEN GRIFFIN, the president and chief executive of Avemco Insurance Company, departed Aug. 30. Officials of the aviation insurance company, based in Frederick, Md., did not return numerous telephone calls seeking information about a successor. Avemco is owned by HCC Insurance Holdings of Houston, Texas, which also did not respond to questions about Avemco's leadership.
LUFTHANSA TECHNIK named Wolfgang Gohde senior vice president-aircraft overhaul and modification services. Gohde had been managing director of Shannon Aerospace Ltd. in Shannon, Ireland for the past four years.
HONEYWELL and Garrett Aviation Services have teamed to assist Gulfstream II and IIB operators meet reduced vertical separation minimum (RVSM) standards. Under the agreement, Honeywell will be responsible for the technical development of products to meet RVSM compliance, and Garrett Aviation will install, integrate and perform the supplemental type certificate work. Garrett also will obtain RVSM certification and approvals.
WESTERN AIRCRAFT, an authorized Pilatus Center, appointed Cheyenne Airmotive in Cheyenne, Wyo. as a satellite service center for the PC-12 single-turboprop aircraft. Cheyenne will provide support, carry spare parts, handle 100-hour and annual inspections and perform warranty service for the PC-12. Western said the appointment comes as a direct result of an increase in sales for the Pilatus PC-12 in the Rocky Mountain region.
GENERAL AVIATION MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION President Ed Bolen hailed a House aviation subcommittee hearing Thursday on the European Union's hushkitting proposal as a positive step in shedding light on a host of trade issues between the U.S. and E.U. Bolen, noting that he hopes "nobody thinks this is an isolated issue," cited problems with the European regulators on other contentious topics such as aircraft and parts certification, extended range twin-engine operations (ETOPS) and flight training.
Model 269A, 269A-1, 269B, 269C, 269C-1, and 269D helicopters (Docket No. 99-SW-31-AD; Amdt. 39-11258; AD 99-17-10) - requires inspecting the tail rotor swashplate shaft nut for looseness and, if it is loose, inspecting the shaft for proper size; subsequently inspecting the shafts not previously inspected; and replacing any undersized shaft prior to further flight. This amendment is prompted by the discovery of an undersized replacement shaft during routine maintenance.
SEXTANT, a subsidiary of Thomson-CSF, reached an agreement to acquire from B/E Aerospace the remaining 49 percent stake in Sextant In-Flight Systems, which is headquartered in a 120,000-square-foot facility in Irvine, Calif. Sextant said the purchase of the remaining shares represents its "total commitment to in-flight entertainment systems as one of our mainstream competencies." The Irvine plant, which employs 400, manufactures interactive passenger video entertainment units and related systems.
S-TEC CORPORATION is offering two new autopilots, the System Forty X and Fifty X, which are self-contained and mount in the radio stack. The systems can fly 429 digital composite roll steering commands out put by GPS navigators through the GPS Steering mode. The Forty X is a single-axis autopilot while the Fifty X is a two-axis autopilot.
Models PC-12 and C-12/45 airplanes (Docket No. 99-CE-54-AD) - proposes to require modifying the flap inboard attachment fittings through the installation of a reinforcement angle bracket on the inside of the center web of both flap inner attachment fittings. The proposed AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for Switzerland.
CONTINENTAL EXPRESS introduced its new 37-seat Embraer ERJ-135 regional airliner in North American passenger service last week from the airline's Cleveland hub to Knoxville, Tenn., White Plains, N.Y., Chicago Midway and St. Louis, Mo.
Astra SPX series airplanes (Docket No. 99-NM-204-AD; Amdt. 39-11254; AD 99-17-05) - requires repetitive inspections for cracking of the main fuel tube assemblies of the left and right engines, and corrective action, if necessary. This amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority. The actions specified in this AD are intended to detect and correct fuel line fractures, which could result in in-flight engine shutdowns or an increased risk of engine nacelle fires.
Models PC-12 and PC-12/45 airplanes (Docket No. 99-CE-10-AD; Amdt. 39-11256; AD 99-17-08) - requires modifying the generator 2 excitation by removing certain diodes and installing a new five-amp circuit breaker and suppression filter. This AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for Switzerland.
NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD reports that a Sukhoi Su-29 fighter was destroyed this month in a Florida crash. The aircraft, registered to Aerial Three, Inc., was being operated under Part 91 in visual meteorological conditions on a personal flight when it crashed about 9:30 a.m. Sept. 1 in an unincorporated area near Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. The plane had taken off 30 minutes earlier from the North Perry, Fla. Airport. A witness reported seeing the aircraft in a steep nose-low turn to the right before it hit the ground. The pilot suffered serious injuries.
Model DHC-8 series airplanes (Docket No. 99-NM-55-AD; Amdt. 39-11262; AD 99-17-14) - requires a one-time inspection of the spring assemblies located in the rudder control feel unit to verify that dual rate configuration springs are installed; and revises the Airplane Flight Manual to prohibit airplane operation from runways less than 75 feet wide. This amendment also requires eventual replacement of any single rate configuration springs with dual rate configuration springs, which terminates the requirement for the AFM revision.
Models DHC-6-1, DHC-6-100, DHC-6-200, and DHC-6-300 airplanes (Docket No. 97-CE-10-AD; Amendment 39-11279; AD 99-18-13) - requires amending the Limitations Section of the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) to prohibit the positioning of the power levers aft of the flight idle stop while the airplane is in flight. The AFM amendment includes a statement of consequences if the limitation is not followed.
IN A CONTINUING TREND, the Professional Airways System Specialists union last week reported that 176 inspectors in FAA's Aircraft Certification Service Manufacturing branch petitioned for representation by PASS. The union, which represents FAA and Defense Department inspectors, technicians and other employees, cited concerns about a hiring freeze FAA placed on its aircraft certification branch following a budget shortfall (BA, March 1/95).
US AIRWAYS EXPRESS requested bids from Bombardier, Embraer and Fairchild for up to 100 small regional jets, seating 30 to 40 passengers, with options for 300 larger regional jets seating 40 to 69 passengers.
FAA is unlikely to announce its policy on how FOs should be regulated until next month at the earliest. An FAA working group is meeting with industry representatives on the FO issue today (Sept. 13) and FAA Administrator Jane Garvey has agreed to meet with chief executives of major FO providers Sept. 23.
