FRASCA INTERNATIONAL delivered a Model 242 twin-engine flight-training device to Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind. The FTD, which will be used for multi-engine and instrument refresher training, is equipped with Frasca's Graphical Instructor Station, FVS-200TX, textured visual system Dynamic Control Loading, pilot and cockpit flight controls and instruments and operable circuit breakers. Purdue, which has operated Frasca FTDs for more than 30 years, also owns five Frasca Model 141 single-engine trainers.
DESPITE THE APPARENT stalemate in the Senate, House Transportation Committee Chairman Bud Shuster (R-Pa.) continues to hold out hope that FAA reauthorization will pass this year. He said Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) wants to move some reauthorization legislation to a House/Senate conference "now." Shuster expressed optimism that a conference bill would be ready when Congress returns from the August recess. However, a meeting of key House and Senate appropriations, budget and authorization staff members yielded no movement Thursday, sources told BA.
BFGOODRICH AVIONICS SYSTEMS is jointly developing an interface between Skywatch Traffic Advisory System and Avidyne's FlightMax Flight Situation Display Systems. Avidyne expects to receive supplemental type certificate approval for the interface this month. Skywatch is a surveillance traffic advisory system that operates air-to-air or ground-to-air. Avidyne's FlightMax displays offer a number of features including navigation and IFR and VFR charts.
An outcry from certain Senate leaders helped stall the latest efforts to move forward on FAA reauthorization and led Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) to conclude that only a short-term extension of the Airport Improvement Program is possible in the near term.
Federal Aviation Administration, in the latest attempt to improve the safety of commuter turboprops and business jets operating in icing conditions, issued a series of proposed airworthiness directives covering more than 3,000 aircraft that call for pilots to immediately activate the deicing boots when they encounter icing conditions. The proposals, which apply to 17 aircraft types with pneumatic deicing boots, would require the immediate use of the boots at the first sign of ice formation on the aircraft or when the ice detector system issues an alert.
Docket No.: 29620 Section of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 25.1435(b)(1) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: In lieu of a static proof pressure test on the 737-900, Boeing proposes to demonstrate compliance with Sec. 25.1435(b)(1) by similarity to the 737-700 hydraulic system (compliance for which was established during certification of that aircraft) and by engineering design review of the added straight-line hydraulic tube installations on the 737-900.
BMW ROLLS-ROYCE GMBH and Aircraft Maintenance and Engineering Corp. (AMECO) in Beijing, China signed a letter of intent leading to close cooperation in the area of repair and overhaul of the BR 715 engine that powers the Boeing 717-200 airliner. AMECO, founded 10 years ago as a joint venture between Air China and Lufthansa, is an airframe, engines and component repair and overhaul facility. AMECO and Rolls-Royce agreed to further explore the requirement for repair and overhaul of BR 715 engines by AMECO through a feasibility study.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE AVIATION OFFICIALS Friday named Rep. Bud Shuster (R-Pa.) the winner of the organization's 1999 National Award of Excellence. Announcement of the award, which came during NASAO's annual luncheon at the Experimental Aircraft Association AirVenture Oshkosh '99, cited Shuster, the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, for "his visionary leadership" this year on the Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR-21).
Docket No.: 29516 Sections of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 43.3(a) and (g) and Paragraph (c) of Appendix A of Part 43 Description of Relief Sought: To permit pilots employed by WLL to perform the preventive maintenance functions listed in paragraph (c) of Appendix A to Part 43 on an aircraft operated under 14 CFR Part 135.
Docket No.: 29518 Sections of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 43.3(a) and (g) and Paragraph (c) of Appendix A of Part 43 Description of Relief Sought: To permit pilots employed by BBA to perform the preventive maintenance functions listed in paragraph (c) of appendix A to Part 43 on an aircraft operated under 14 CFR Part 135.
THE WHITE HOUSE Friday said President Clinton intends to nominate Edward W. Stimpson as the U.S. representative to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) with the rank of ambassador.Stimpson spent 25 years as president of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association and is credited with being a driving force in passage of the General Aviation Revitalization Act of 1994 that reformed product liability laws to help shield general aviation aircraft manufacturers from product liability lawsuits (BA, Aug. 22, 1994/79).
Models MTV-9-B-C and MTV-3-B-C propellers (Docket No. 99-NE-35-AD; Amdt. 39-11216; AD 99-14-06) - requires initial and repetitive inspections of Torx head blade root lag screws for torque values and breakage, and, if any screws are found broken or with insufficient torque, replacement of all screws with new lag screws. In addition, this AD requires replacement of certain model Torx head blade root lag screws with improved, hexagonal head blade root lag screws. This amendment is prompted by reports of broken Torx head blade root lag screws.
Tommy H. Thomason, a veteran of the helicopter industry who has held key posts at Bell Helicopter Textron and Rolls-Royce, was named vice president-civil programs at Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. by President Dean Borgman. Thomason will direct all civil helicopter business activities, including marketing, sales and program management and encompassing all corporate, petroleum and related industry business.
TONY F. FAZIO, a veteran FAA employee, was named director of FAA's Office of Rulemaking, effective today. He will be responsible for developing national policies on rulemaking procedures and priorities. Fazio succeeds Joseph Hawkins, who was named deputy associate administrator for commercial space transportation. Fazio reports to the associate administrator for regulation and certification. Fazio joined FAA in 1982 as an economist in the Office of Environment and Energy.
The Browning-Ferris flight department, facing the prospect of being merged out of existence, is seeking a new owner. John Williams, who has been associated with the company's flight department, BFI Aviation Services, for 28 years, said the operation is scheduled to close soon because the parent company was bought out by Allied Waste of Scottsdale, Ariz. BFI has one Falcon 50 and five employees, but Allied Waste has a Cessna Citation X operated by a management firm, and the decision has been made to eliminate the BFI operation.
Docket No.: 29548 Section of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 121.344(b)(3) Description of Relief Sought: To permit Continental Express to operate its Avions de Transport Regional ATR 42 and ATR 72 aircraft, Beechcraft 1900D aircraft, and Embraer EMB-120 and EMB-145 aircraft without installing, in each aircraft, the required, approved digital flight data recorder (DFDR) until the next heavy maintenance check after the aircraft manufacturers have made the DFDR modification kits available, but no later than Aug. 20, 2001.
FLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL installed its second Learjet 60 full flight simulator at its Tucson, Ariz. learning center. The simulator is slated to receive FAA Level D approval by yearend. FlightSafety installed its first Learjet 60 simulator at the Tucson center two years ago. The facility is equipped to train pilots for Learjet 20 series, 31A, 35, 45, 55 and 60 aircraft as well as Challenger 601-3AR and 604 business jets.
Model BAe 146 and Avro 146-RJ series airplanes (Docket No. 99-NM-27-AD) - proposes to require installation of modified roller sub-assemblies in both the main landing gear (MLG) door lock and the MLG uplock. 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 failure of the roller sub-assemblies, which could result in failure of the MLG to retract and lock after takeoff, or to deploy properly for landing.
Docket No.: 29499 Section of the FAA Affected: 14 CFR 43.3(a) and (g) Description of Relief Sought: To permit pilots employed by AELL to perform the preventive maintenance functions listed in Paragraph (c) of Appendix A to Part 43 on an aircraft operated under 14 CFR Part 135.
The Los Angeles World Airports Board of Airport Commissioners last week recommended a noise ordinance that would include a non-addition rule and caps for Stage 2 aircraft at Van Nuys, Calif. Airport. The ordinance, which proceeds next to the Los Angeles City Council for approval, would bar the addition of new Stage 2 aircraft based at Van Nuys and puts a 30-day per year limitation on transient Stage 2 aircraft.
The Department of Justice has requested additional information from AlliedSignal, Inc. and Honeywell, Inc. about their proposed merger, the two companies said Monday (BA, June 14/272). "The companies intend to cooperate fully with the Department of Justice and comply with the request for additional information," they said.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, long criticized for its lack of accurate information on agency costs, completed the first phase of a new cost accounting system. FAA hopes to use the system to improve agency management as well as "provide cost data supporting overflight fees," the agency said. The first phase of the system covers the cost of FAA en route and oceanic services. FAA quantified its costs for en route services in fiscal 1998 at $2.39 billion and oceanic services at $81.39 million.
Docket No.: 29598 Section of the FAA Affected: 14 CFR 25.571(b) and 25.671(c)(1) Description of Relief Sought: To allow McDonnell Douglas time to substantiate, including redesign and retrofit, as necessary, that the flap system on the Model 717-200 meets the damage-tolerance and fail-safe criteria of the subject regulations.
RICK DUNNING was named Challenger program manager for BIZJET International Sales&Service, Inc. of Tulsa, Okla. Dunning has 22 years of industry experience and previously served as a flight engineer/technician on a Challenger 601-3A ER and a Gulfstream IV business jet.
JAMES MCGRATH was appointed senior planner in PBS&J's National Aviation Services Group. McGrath has more than 15 years of aviation and transportation planning and development experience. He previously managed a number of airport planning projects at Barnstable Municipal Airport, Minneapolis International Airport, Bishop International Airport and Gainesville Regional Airport.
