ORBCOMM and Echo Flight, Inc., of Boulder, Colo., introduced a satellite-based weather information service for the general aviation industry that will provide hourly NEXRAD weather images to pilots flying over the 48 contiguous states and several hundred miles off the East and West Coasts. The service is expected to be available in September. "The ability to preview weather conditions at a remote destination gives pilots a greater sense of security and can help save lives," said Scott L. Webster, chairman and chief executive of ORBCOMM.
Strong public and environmental opposition to airport development in Europe was apparent last month when 50 representatives of a variety of advocacy groups staged an event at which they presented an oversized check to European transport ministers representing subsidies to aviation. The check, made out for 45 billion Euros, represents the money going to the transport sector through tax exemptions and other European Union subsidies, the advocates claimed.
Model 328-100 series airplanes (Docket No. 98-NM-366-AD) - proposes to require a one-time inspection to measure the offset of the deicing tubing adjacent to the refueling panel on the right-hand wing, and replacement, if necessary. 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 a blockage in the de-icing tubing, which could result in a malfunction of the de-icing boot.
ALLIEDSIGNAL INC. won technical standard order (TSO) approval from FAA for its new Airborne Collision Avoidance System (ACAS II). The new system is designed to satisfy new European requirements for airlines and cargo carriers. ACAS II is a derivative of the Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS II). The new system incorporates enhanced software to reduce nuisance alerts.
RAYTHEON won a one-year, $25.4 million contract to provide contractor logistics support for the U.S. Navy's fleet of 116 TH-57B and TH-57C helicopter trainers. The contract, with four one-year options, has a potential value of $130.4 million. Raytheon will provide off-equipment maintenance, services, material and tools to support TH-57s based at Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Fla. The contract also includes options for maintenance and services for two TH-57Cs at the Naval Air Warfare Center, NAS Patuxent River, Md.
Embraer's stock price soared 18 percent on July 22 as the company denied speculation it might be taken over. The value of shares in Embraer more than tripled since the start of the year and were up 35 percent in one week last month. There is "no negotiation under way involving the sale or control of Embraer," the company said in a statement to Brazil's Bovespa stock exchange, rejecting the speculation that has helped drive up its share price.
Benn J. Isaacman, who has designed aircraft interiors for 35 years, joined Bombardier Aerospace as chief of design for the company's Business Aircraft unit.
SIGNATURE FLIGHT SUPPORT named Joseph Goldstein vice president and general counsel. Goldstein will oversee the legal and safety departments as well as property and casualty insurance claims. He previously was counsel in the Orlando, Fla. Office of Jackson, Lewis, Schnitzler&Krupman and had his own law practice.
National Transportation Safety Board, while noting it already has priority authority at accident scenes, this month asked Congress to adopt language that explicitly restates its jurisdiction. In testimony before the Senate Commerce Committee, NTSB Chairman Jim Hall noted that the Independent Safety Board Act of 1981 clearly provides NTSB priority at accident scenes.
France Model AS332C, L, and L1 helicopters (Doc-ket No. 99-SW-13-AD) - proposes to require inspecting and replacing certain bolts that secure the hoist arm lower fitting. This proposal is prompted by a report of a failure of the bolts that secure the hoist arm lower fitting during a factory load test. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent failure of the bolts that secure the hoist arm lower fitting, separation of components from the helicopter, impact with the main or tail rotor, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
The United States Air Tour Association and the National Air Transportation Association blasted proposed new restrictions on air tour overflights of the Grand Canyon National Park that will severely limit the number of such flights permitted to operate over the Grand Canyon (BA, July 12/14). The FAA proposal, which references an April 22, 1996 Earth Day memorandum by President Clinton (BA, April 29, 1996), was published July 9 in the Federal Register.
NATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION published its annual salary survey of general aviation service employees including pilots, line service personnel and maintenance technicians. Wages are broken down by geographic region, the employer's gross sales, the size of the community in which the employer is located and the number of employees in the company. NATA said the data was compiled by Association Research, Inc. of Rockville, Md. and that none of the individual responses was made available to the association.
U.S. general aviation manufacturers posted $3.5 billion in billings and topped 1,000 deliveries in the first six months of 1999, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association reported Friday. U.S. GA manufacturers shipped 1,082 aircraft in the first half of the year, a 13.5 percent improvement over the 953 units delivered in first half 1998. This increase, coupled with strong deliveries at the top end of the market, boosted billings by more than 45 percent compared with 1998 first half billings of $2.4 billion.
PAUL BROADAWAY was appointed manager of aviation systems for Russell Adams Ltd. Broadaway will oversee a range of new corporate business projects as well as support and development of current customer information technology systems. Broadaway previously directed resource management, quality assurance and finance for a leading aircraft maintenance organization in the United Kingdom.
Paul R. Kuhn will take over Aug. 2 as president and chief executive officer of Kaman Corp., succeeding founder Charles Kaman, who continues as chairman of the board of directors. Kuhn, 57, also will become a member of the board. He previously was senior vice president-operations, aerospace engine businesses, for Coltec Industries, which recently merged with BFGoodrich.
TIDAL WAVE of media coverage about the crash of John F. Kennedy Jr.'s Piper Saratoga July 16 while en route to Martha's Vineyard - and the search for the wreckage and victims - is raising some concerns of possible legislative or regulatory backlash affecting general aviation. An Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association spokesman noted that some media outlets have raised the issue of restrictions on night VFR flights.
NEW AIRCRAFT SHIPMENTS in the first half of 1999 were up only slightly over last year's first six months, but the value of deliveries this year soared to $3.5 billion, according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.Industry billings were $2.4 billion in the first half a year ago. See BA's compilation of worldwide aircraft deliveries on Pages 41-42.
Airports in the U.S. Pacific Northwest will experience higher-than-average rain and snow this winter, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration long-term forecasts. The east faces drier-than-normal conditions aside from a more active Atlantic hurricane season. NOAA predicts "La Nina" will promote warmer, drier conditions in the southwestern states during the same period.
AMETEK'S Aerospace Group and Eaton Aerospace Control's Tedeco Division joined forces to produce the hydraulic reservoirs for the Fairchild Dornier DO 328 turboprop and DO 328JET aircraft. The hydraulic reservoir includes a tank level sensor, fill port, sight gauge and valves and fittings. Ametek will oversee product support for the hydraulic reservoir, including director sale of spares to airlines and repair stations.
Model 1124 and 1124A series airplanes (Docket No. 98-NM-332-AD) - proposes to require installation of an independent circuit breaker and associated wiring changes for the hydraulic low pressure warning lights. 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 loss of the hydraulic low pressure warning lights. Low pressure in the hydraulic system can reduce controllability of the airplane.
MARK TAYLOR was named manager or customer service/sales for Falcon aircraft for BIZJET International Sales&Support. Taylor has 22 years of aircraft maintenance industry experience.
EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY received FAA approval to offer Beech 1900 type rating programs under Part 142 regulations. Embry-Riddle will use a Level D certified Beech 1900D simulator in its Advanced Flight Simulation Center to prepare students for airline transport pilot initial certification, Beech 1900 aircraft ratings, instrument proficiency checks, airplane proficiency checks, second-in-command qualification, flight reviews, recency of instrument rules experience and recency of landing experience.
AMERICAN AIRCARRIERS SUPPORT, INC. said its AAS Landing Gear Services subsidiary received European JAA certification to overhaul and maintain landing gear for commercial aircraft operators in Europe.
LARRY SIEGRIST was appointed manager for BIZJET International Sales&Support's aircraft interior completions department. Siegrist, who has 26 years of industry experience, most recently was with Nordam in Tulsa. He is an FAA structural designated engineering representative.
EMBRAER staged a delivery ceremony at company headquarters Friday to hand over the first ERJ-135 regional jet to Continental Express. The aircraft is scheduled to begin commercial service Sept. 9, connecting Continental's main hubs to cities such as White Plains, N.Y., Nashville, Tenn., Charlotte, N.C. and Detroit, Mich. Embraer announced a go-ahead decision for the ERJ-135 - a shortened version of the ERJ-145 that also is powered by twin Rolls-Royce Allison 3007 turbofans - less than two years ago (BA, Sept. 22, 1997/120).
