LYDIA H. KENNARD was appointed interim executive director of Los Angeles World Airports by Los Angeles Mayor Richard J. Riordan. Kennard, who has been first deputy executive director of LAWA for the past five years, will assume her new duties Aug. 18 upon the retirement of John J. Driscoll.
TRIUMPH GROUP, INC. entered into a five-year revolving credit agreement for $250 million with PNC Bank and other lenders, double the previous level. "The new credit facility provides us with the resources to continue expanding operating capacity and acquiring aggressively, as we pursue our long-term growth objectives," said Richard C. Ill, chairman and CEO.
Air BP has named a number of individuals to new posts as a result of the company's merger with Amoco and the ensuing move from Houston, Texas to new headquarters in Warrenville, Ill., west of Chicago (BA, May 31/255).
Fairchild Aerospace, which is attempting to ramp up development and production of several new aircraft models simultaneously, signed an $80 million deal with Israel Aircraft Industries under which the Israel-based company will be responsible for system engineering and integration, flight testing and certification support of the 428JET regional jet program. Fairchild also said that depending on the outcome of ongoing discussions, IAI could manufacture the fuselage and perform final assembly of the 44- seat aircraft.
SCHEDULED OPERATORS were put on notice that FAA will begin carefully checking records of pilots operating under Parts 121 and 135 of the FARs to ensure that flight and duty time requirements are being complied with.FAA said it will be particularly vigilant of rest periods for pilots who are "on reserve." After an opportunity for operators to review their scheduling practices and get their houses in order, FAA plans to "deal stringently with any violations discovered" when it begins comprehensive audits late this year. See article below.
BELL Model 204B, 205A, and 205A-1 helicopters (Docket No. 98-SW-73-AD) - proposes to supersede an existing AD that requires modification and inspections of the vertical fin spar for cracks. This action would require modification and visual and dye-penetrant inspections of the vertical fin spar for cracks, and if a crack is discovered, replacing the vertical fin spar. This action also would require a tapping test for disbonding and replacing certain finspars within 12 calendar months.
INNOTECH-EXECAIRE AVIATION GROUP added Air Atlantic to its list of operating companies. Air Atlantic, which until October had been operating as a regional airline, now specializes in maintenance, service parts supply and aircraft leasing from its headquarters in St. John's, Newfoundland. It currently has third-party maintenance contracts for several U.S., European and Canadian airlines operating de Havilland Dash 8, BAe 146/R85, Jetstream 41 and Fokker F-28 aircraft. Air Atlantic previously was operated directly by the IMP Group International, Inc.
A VETERAN AVIATION LOBBYIST, assessing FAA's planned enforcement program on flight and duty regulations and new rules on aircraft repair stations, told BA last week he sometimes feels there are "two FAAs." One is the agency headed by Administrator Jane Garvey, who is always talking about cooperative programs with industry. The other "is a bunch of guys in a back room somewhere writing regulations to put us out of business."
By David Collogan (business aviation @mcgraw-hill.com)
The Federal Aviation Administration put Part 121 and 135 operators on notice last week that FAA inspectors will undertake a comprehensive review of the industry's crew scheduling practices to ensure compliance with flight and duty time regulations and will "deal stringently" if violations are found. The enforcement policy was effective June 15, but FAA will give operators six months before beginning widespread enforcement action.
What had been a six-month deadline to develop a new protocol for testing the fire resistance of aircraft insulation has come and gone," FAA said this month and a spokesman said the agency is "not going to speculate on when this whole effort might be done." A study was ordered following the crashes of TWA 800 and Swissair 111. FAA now says the new protocol is likely to prove costly to industry and that it needs more time to study the impact.
CESSNA Model 402C airplanes (Docket No. 99-CE-21-AD; Amdt. 39-11184; AD 99-11-13) - requires inspecting the forward, aft, and auxiliary wing spars for cracks; repairing any cracks found; and reporting the results of the inspection to FAA. This AD is the result of an accident involving one of the affected airplanes in which the right-hand wing failed just inboard of the nacelle at Wing Station (WS) 87. Investigation of this accident revealed fatigue cracking of the forward main spar that initiated at the edge of the front spar forward lower spar cap.
Raytheon Aircraft won the largest business jet fleet transaction in its history with an order from Executive Jet for 50 of the manufacturer's new Hawker Horizons and options for 50 more of the composite fuselage aircraft, a deal valued at $2 billion announced Sunday at the opening of the Paris Air Show. Executive Jet is scheduled to accept delivery of its first Horizon in 2002.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100) and CL-600-2B16 (CL-601-3R and CL-604) series airplanes (Docket No. 99-NM-99-AD; Amdt. 39-11170; AD 99-09-52) - publishes an AD that was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of Model CL-600-2B19 and CL-600-2B16 series airplanes by individual notices.
THE RICKENBACKER PORT AUTHORITY is requesting proposals to establish a full service fixed-base operation at the Rickenbacker International Airport, Columbus, Ohio. The authority said it seeks proposals "from experienced operators" who are interested in turning LCK into a corporate aviation business center. For an RFP package, call Robert Selig, airport director, at (614) 491-1401.
DONALD WEINER was appointed vice president of sales for the Pacific for Fairchild Aerospace Corp. Weiner has 15 years of sales and marketing experience with Rolls-Royce North America and International Aero Engines, most recently as vice president-sales and customer support for Asia-Pacific with IAE and director of U.S. airline marketing for Rolls-Royce. He also spent 10 years with Pratt&Whitney.
FAA Administrator Jane Garvey asked the RTCA to assist in overhauling the certification process by helping to implement 15 recommendations to make the regulatory oversight process less lengthy, less costly and more user-friendly. The recommendations issued earlier this year came from the RTCA Certification Task Force co-chaired by Anthony Broderick, former FAA associate administrator for regulation and certification, and Ed Stimpson, vice chairman of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.
AlliedSignal Inc. signed a definitive merger agreement to pay $13.79 billion in stock for Honeywell Inc., the companies reported Monday, and the deal could set off a wave of mergers in the sector, an analyst said. The transaction will create a Fortune 50 company with revenues of $25 billion and a combined market capitalization of more than $45 billion. "The aerospace synergies are dramatic," Michael Bonsignore, Honeywell chairman and chief executive officer, said in a telephone press conference. "Think about this as a total cockpit solution."
TROY TOLLEN was appointed vice president-marketing for Pegasus Aviation. Tollen will be responsible for assisting the company in acquiring aircraft and remarketing currently owned aircraft. He formerly held senior marketing positions with Airbus Industrie and Tombo Aviation, a Japanese lessor.
FOKKER Model F.28 Mark 0070 and Mark 0100 series airplanes (Docket No. 98-NM-202-AD; Amdt. 39-11151; AD 99-09-18) - supersedes an existing AD, which requires a one-time inspection for heat damage of the fuselage skin and stubwing structure; either repetitive tests of certain seals or repair of heat damage, as necessary; and eventual replacement of corrujoint seals with new, improved seals. This amendment adds a requirement for repetitive inspections for heat damage of the subject area, and provides a new optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections.
DOUG OLIVER was named director-media relations for Fairchild Aerospace Corporation. Oliver has 15 years of media relations and corporate communications experience, most recently as a senior public relations representative with Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Systems.
TOM HAYES joined CIT Ireland Leasing Ltd. as vice president-aerospace and will be based in Dublin. He will be responsible for marketing and business development in Europe. Hayes joined The CIT Group/Capital Finance unit after four years with Sunrock Aircraft Corp. Ltd. Before Sunrock he spent seven years with Aer Lingus as an aircraft interior systems engineer.
Keith Nadolski, a veteran manager of fixed-base operations and aircraft sales, joined Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. as division vice president-North American sales. Nadolski, who will be responsible for managing the sales function for the southern and western U.S. and will lead a team of regional sales managers, will report to Shawn Vick, vice president-North American sales.
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE Tuesday approved the fiscal 2000 transportation appropriations bill, which recommends $10.54 billion for the Federal Aviation Administration budget (BA, May 31/254). The recommendation, nearly $500 million more than the Senate recommendation and $400 million more than the Clinton Administration request, would boost FAA funding in nearly all areas over fiscal 1999. The recommendation, however, would provide $100 million less for FAA operations than the Administration requested.
FAA's lawyers, expressing fear that big salary increases to unions and management will "fill their wallets" at the lawyers' expense, took the unprecedented step Thursday of voting to join a union. The Office of Chief Counsel (AGC) said the decision follows a June 7 announcement by FAA Administrator Jane Garvey that a "new core compensation system" would be imposed on "all non-bargaining unit FAA employees." FAA said it had not been informed of the results of the election and would have no immediate comment.
AlliedSignal has delivered the first of what it hopes will be hundreds of upgraded TFE731-2C engines that are designed to provide Learjet and Falcon business jet operators with improved temperature margins and increased intervals between major inspections. For customers enrolled in the AlliedSignal Maintenance Service Plan (MSP), the upgrade kit - which includes all necessary components for the upgrade - is priced at $79,500.
