Top Maryland officials announced a program Thursday to increase the visibility of the state's 33 general aviation airports and boost funding for improvements.
Raytheon Aircraft Corp. (RAC) probably will miss yearend targets for certification and first flight of two new aircraft models, but the growing order backlog for both the Premier and Hawker Horizon has led officials to significantly boost production of both models.
The Wide Area Augmentation System, part of the next generation of satellite navigation systems, successfully completed "Performance Build," the third signal-in-space test and the final milestone before acceptance testing, developer Raytheon Company reported last week. Raytheon said the test "demonstrates significant progress toward achieving WAAS's system capabilities."
MICHAEL LOTZ was appointed chief financial officer for Mesa Air Group. He previously was chief operating officer at Mesa and, before that, COO at Virgin Express in Brussels.
(Beech) Model 400A airplanes (Docket No. 99-NM-157-AD) - proposes to require replacement of certain bus bars connecting the battery and external power receptacle to the airframe ground with a new, improved bus bar. This proposal is prompted by reports of electrical arcing at the battery and external power receptacle of the airframe ground in the aft fuselage due to a deficiency in the bus bar and washer design.
SIMUFLITE TRAINING INTERNATIONAL won a contract to provide C-20H simulator and ground school training for U.S. Air Force personnel involved in executive and VIP transport. SimuFlite will use its Level D Gulfstream IV simulator to provide C-20H initial and recurrent training for about 50 Air Force pilots and flight engineers per year. The one-year contract includes options for four years.
Docket No.: 29539 Section of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 65.3 Description of Relief Sought: To permit mechanic certificates to be issued under Subpart D of Part 65, outside the U.S., to persons trained by CCSF who are neither U.S. citizens nor resident aliens when the certificate is not needed for the operation or continued airworthiness of U.S.-registered aircraft.
JOHN RAHILLY, the former president of K-C Aviation, was hired by BBA Aviation to oversee aircraft maintenance activities for Signature Flight Support. Rahilly was named vice president of a new Technical Services Operations unit within BBA and will report directly to Dick Dodson, president of BBA Aviation. Rahilly will be responsible for managing several businesses including the six Signature Regional Maintenance Centers, Precision Avionics and special airline technical service projects.
Docket No.: 29604 Sections of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 135.251, 135.255, 135.353, and Appendices I&J of Part 121 Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit Lacon to conduct local sightseeing rides at the Marshall County Airport for an annual fly-in/drive-in breakfast on June 20, 1999, for compensation or hire, without complying with certain anti-drug and alcohol misuse prevention requirements of Part 135. Grant, June 18, 1999, Exemption No. 6903
Model 600N helicopters (Docket No. 98-SW-16-AD; Amdt. 39-11264; AD 99-17-18) - requires applying serial numbers to several life-limited components related to pitch control and removing and replacing the components according to new life limits. This amendment is prompted by fatigue tests that indicate a need for shorter service lives for these components.
Docket No.: 29462 Section of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 21.325(b)(3) Description of Relief Sought: To allow DAI to issue export airworthiness approvals for Class II products that are located but not manufactured in the U.S.
Docket No.: 29562 Section of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 91.109(a) and (b)(3) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To allow Russell M. Hustead to conduct certain flight instruction to meet recent-experience requirements in Beechcraft Bonanza airplanes equipped with a functioning throwover control wheel in place of functioning dual controls. Grant, June 29, 1999, Exemption No. 6909
Shareholders of AlliedSignal, Inc. and Honeywell, Inc. approved the companies' proposed merger last week. AlliedSignal shareholders approved the deal with about 98 percent in favor. About 76 percent of Honeywell voters were in favor of the merger. The companies are still waiting for regulatory approvals from the U.S. Department of Justice, which requested more information from the firms a month ago (BA, Aug. 2/51), and the European Community, which expressed initial reservations about the merger.
MARY ENGEN, widow of Donald Engen, the former National Air and Space Museum director who died in a glider accident in July, will accept the National Business Aviation Association's 1999 Award for Meritorious Service to Aviation on behalf of her late husband during NBAA's annual meeting and convention next month. The meritorious award is presented annually "to an individual who, by a lifetime of personal dedication, made significant identifiable contributions that have materially advanced aviation interests."
HOUSE APPOINTMENTS TO FAA REAUTHORIZATION CONFERENCE TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE Bud Shuster (R-Pa.), chairman John Sweeney (R-N.Y.) Don Young (R-Alaska) James Oberstar (D-Minn.), ranking minority Thomas Petri (R-Wis.) Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) John Duncan (R-Tenn.), chairman of aviation subcommittee William Lipinski (D-Ill.), ranking minority on aviation subcommittee Thomas Ewing (R-Ill.) Pete DeFazio (D-Ore.)
Nearly 70 percent of applicable employees within FAA's Regulation and Certification branch have joined the effort to seek union representation, according to union organizers, who say the support is running even stronger for organization in three of the agency's other units. Four groups within FAA's Washington, D.C.
BFGOODRICH AEROSPACE received FAA approval for the installation of its FASTboot pneumatic de-icers on Cessna 208 and 300/400 series aircraft. FASTboot systems already have won approval for the Saab 340 and 2000, de Havilland Dash 8 series, Embraer 120 and Beech King Air and 1900 aircraft. BFGoodrich said FASTboot de-icers reduce installation time and eliminate adhesive drying time.
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, citing concerns of illegal curfews and plans to displace general aviation operators, urged the Federal Aviation Administration to decline San Jose International's application to impose a $3 passenger facility charge to raise $13 million for airport construction and noise abatement. AOPA filed comments in opposition to both the PFC application and a draft environmental impact statement.
Pursuant to FAA's rulemaking provisions governing the application, processing, and disposition of petitions for exemption (14 CFR Part 11), this notice contains a summary of certain petitions seeking relief from specified requirements of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR Chapter I), dispositions of certain petitions previously received, and corrections.
Model AS 332C, L, and L1 helicopters (Docket No. 98-SW-78-AD) - proposes to require a one-time inspection of the length of the main gearbox epicyclic module upper casing bearing attachment bolts, and if they exceed a certain length, replacing the epicyclic module to preclude potential interference between the attachment bolts and the second stage planetary gear cage web. This proposal is prompted by a report of interference between the attachment bolts and the second stage planetary gear cage web of the epicyclic module in the main gearbox.
AIR ATLANTIC, the regional aircraft maintenance division of the Innotech-Execaire Aviation Group, won contracts from Mesaba Airlines and Executive Aircraft Corp. to provide major airframe and engine inspections, perform airworthiness directives and other related work on 15 Avro RJ85 and BAe-146 series aircraft. The contract includes C checks, avionics functionality testing, engine teardown and inspection, structural repairs and other necessary modifications.
Docket No.: 29612 Sections of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 135.251, 135.255, 135.353, and Appendices I&J of Part 121 Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit Blue Sky to conduct local sightseeing rides at an airshow at the Lake in the Hills Airport on June 19, 1999, for compensation or hire, without complying with certain anti-drug and alcohol misuse prevention requirements of Part 135. Grant, June 18, 1999, Exemption No. 6904
Model R44 helicopters (Docket No. 99-SW-08-AD) - proposes to require inspecting the wire harness for contact with the fuel line assembly, removing and replacing the fuel line assembly if chafing has occurred, and installing spiral wrap tubing on the fuel line assembly. This proposal is prompted by four incidents of contact between the wire harness and the fuel line assembly. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent contact between the wire harness and the fuel line, which could result in chafing of the wire harness and a potential fire hazard.
GENERAL AVIATION MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION is hosting an Air Safety Investigators Technical Workshop Sept. 21-23 in Wichita, Kan. The workshop is designed specifically for general aviation accident investigators and will cover a number of topics including toxicology interpretations, OSHA bloodborne pathogens training, GPS and radar tactical mapping, NTSB and FAA headquarters briefings and investigation techniques for the turbocharger, fuel controls, avionics/glass cockpit and turbine engine.
Docket No.: 29596 Section of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR C36.9(e)(1) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To allow Embraer to use the 1-g stall speed for the 14 CFR Part 36 noise certification for the approach reference and test limitations on the EMB-135 model airplane. Grant, June 30, 1999, Exemption No. 6910
