AIRCRAFT ELECTRONICS ASSOCIATION, in cooperation with FAA's General Aviation and Vertical Flight Program Office, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and the Experimental Aircraft Association, will survey aircraft owners to gather data on navigation equipment. AEA will administer the surveys during EAA's AirVenture 99 Convention and Sport Aviation Exposition July 28-Aug. 3 in Oshkosh, Wis. The surveys will be divided into categories including light single-engine, complex single and light twins, and medium twin through heavy turbine.
SEN. ERNEST Hollings (D-S.C.), the ranking Democrat on McCain's Commerce Committee, has drafted a letter to McCain that supports taking the aviation trust fund off budget. The letter stresses the need to ensure a reliable funding source for FAA and says aviation trust fund funds should be "used exclusively" for aviation programs. Hollings as of late last week was holding the letter while he attempted to pick up co-signatories.
JIM LAIR joined FlightSafety International as assistant manager of the company's Bell Helicopter training center in Fort Worth, Texas. Lair previously was with the Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems unit. A retired U.S. Navy officer, Lair served as director of operations of the U.S. European Command and held the rank of rear admiral.
McKinney Aerospace, which began offering refurbishment services for corporate aircraft just two years ago, broke ground this month for a new hangar/headquarters facility at the McKinney, Texas Airport (BA, July 12/20). The new 53,750-square-foot hangar will be built on a three-acre tract. The new building will include a 25,000-square-foot hangar bay capable of accommodating up to seven business jets, including a mix of Challenger, Gulfstream, Falcon and Hawker models.
THE FUTURE of FAA reauthorization legislation remains unclear as the Aug. 6 expiration date for the Airport Improvement Program approaches. Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) version, which had been expected to receive full Senate consideration last week (BA, July 12/13), now may not receive Senate consideration at all. The Senate this week, however, may consider yet another short-term extension of the AIP program - for 60 more days, sources say.
ALLEN S. NOVICK was named vice president-supplier relationship and alliance management for the Rolls-Royce engine manufacturing facility in Indianapolis, Ind. Novick, who previously was vice president-customer operations, corporate and regional airlines, now will "serve as an advocate" for the company's supply chain management business with the supplier community, including establishing "improved communications with suppliers and creating collaborative arrangements." Novick will report to Gary Swartz, vice president of supply chain management.
ROBERT RANDALL was named director of avionics for BIZJET International Sales&Support Inc. in Tulsa, Okla. Randall has 21 years of aircraft maintenance industry experience, most recently as avionics manager at Mountain Air Cargo in North Carolina. At BIZJET International, Randall will oversee avionics engineering, installation and service.
AVIATION TRADE ASSOCIATIONS were inundated with media calls related to the Kennedy accident. An AOPA spokesman said that organization alone had conducted an estimated 150 media interviews in just the first four days after the accident.
Model DHC-8-100 and -300 series airplanes (Docket No. 97-NM-58-AD) - proposes to require modification of certain hydraulic systems that provide hydraulic pressure for the control of the rudder and main landing gear brakes. This proposal is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
Industry representatives who met with senior FAA officials Thursday to discuss the agency's forthcoming policy on how fractional aircraft ownership providers should be regulated believe it could be weeks or even months before that policy is promulgated. More significantly, there is a growing feeling that FAA will not stop with a simple policy statement, but also will pursue a new rulemaking initiative governing fractional operators after the policy is in place.
Moody's Investors Service confirmed its Prime-2 short-term debt rating of Bombardier Capital, Inc. after the amendment of its support agreement between BCI and Bombardier, Inc., its parent company, and the increase of BCI's authorization for commercial paper issuance of up to $1.2 billion.
Two weeks after taking over as president and chief executive of Sikorsky Aircraft (BA, July 5/4), Dean Borgman announced that the company plans to eliminate 15 percent of the company's work force in Connecticut, part of a broad-based consolidation effort.
THE CARLYLE GROUP signed an agreement to buy Gemini Air Cargo, Inc., in partnership with the carrier's management and employees. Gemini, which operates a fleet of eight DC-10-30F freighters, specializes in providing aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance (ACMI) contract cargo services for other airlines. The Carlyle Group is a Washington, D.C.-based investment firm, while Gemini is headquartered at Washington Dulles International Airport.
Model SA-360C, SA-365C, C1, C2, SA-365N, N1, AS-365N2, and SA-366G1 helicopters (Docket No. 98-SW-26-AD) - proposes to require inspecting and, if necessary, replacing certain circuit breakers. This proposal is prompted by the manufacturer discovering the loss of electrical continuity between the terminals of a circuit breaker. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent loss of electrical power, loss of instrumentation, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. FAA estimates that the AD will cover 136 helicopters on the U.S.
Summary: 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. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities.
TOM FISHER was appointed facility director for Alpha Flying, Inc.'s Nashua, N.H. operation. Alpha Flying founded the fractional ownership program PlaneSense, which offers shares in Pilatus PC-12 turboprops. Fisher, a 5,000-hour ATP-rated pilot, has served as commanding officer of Air Station Clearwater, Fla., chief of the Aviation Division at Coast Guard headquarters and chief of staff of the Eighth Coast Guard District in New Orleans, La.
Docket No.: 26237 Sections of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 91.611 Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit MCI to conduct ferry flights with one engine inoperative in MCI's Falcon Trijet airplanes, Models No. 50 and 900, without obtaining a special flight permit for each flight. To change the name of the exemption holder from MCI Systemhouse Corporation to MCIWORLDCOM Management Company, Inc. Grant, May 21, 1999, Exemption No. 5332D
MERCURY AIR CENTERS, INC. named Malcolm Rich as general manager of its Nashville, Tenn. fixed-base operation. Rich previously was general manager and controller of Airkaman, Jacksonville, Fla., where he was responsible for all operational functions. Mercury Air Group acquired the Nashville, FBO from Stevens Aviation in 1997. It is of 15 FBOs the company operates nationwide.
Fairchild Dornier, which early last year had plans to develop several new aircraft models but had received only a relative handful of orders, is poised to become a major player in the regional airline market with receipt of the latest in a series of major airline orders.
Model SD3-SHERPA, SD3-60 SHERPA, SD3-30, and SD3-60 series airplanes (Docket No. 98-NM-369-AD) - proposes to require a one-time visual inspection of the emergency brake accumulator mounting structure for evidence of cracking; and corrective action, if necessary. This proposal is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION hopes to use a computer database developed from FAA's new streamlined administrative action process to track trends in common violations.AOPA President Phil Boyer, who asked FAA to supply a summary of common violations, said the AOPA Air Safety Foundation would cover those violation areas during the 300-plus safety seminars it conducts each year. "This kind of dialogue, education and cooperation between FAA and industry are keys to improved aviation safety," Boyer said. See article below.
SANDEL AVIONICS added runway diagrams and special use airspace to its SN3308 electronic horizontal situation indicator. The unit will contain a Jeppesen NavData database with airports, VORs, NDBs and intersections. Sandel is incorporating the enhancements in new units and is offering the upgrade free for existing SN3308 owners.
Docket No.: 29565 Section of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 119.71(b) Description of Relief Sought: To permit Bob Bouffard to continue to act as Director of Operations for Acadia, a certificate holder operating under 14 CFR Part 135, without Bouffard holding a commercial pilot certificate and instrument rating.
BFGoodrich Co., Coltec Industries Inc. and AlliedSignal Inc. settled the AlliedSignal lawsuit opposing the BFGoodrich-Coltec merger, the three companies reported. BFGoodrich agreed to honor Coltec's strategic marketing alliance with AlliedSignal for landing gear and wheels and brakes when integrated system bids are requested. The alliance will remain in effect for the balance of the original 10-year term and safeguards will be implemented to protect confidential information.
Federal Aviation Administration last week drew expressions of praise and relief as it detailed plans to implement its streamlined administrative action process Aug. 30, an effort to simplify the agency's approach to minor regulatory violations. FAA first announced the streamlined administrative action process (SAAP) late last year as an alternative to its controversial "ticket program" (BA, Jan. 4/3).
