Fairchild Aerospace selected CASA of Spain to build the wing and empennage for the new 728JET family of large regional jets. Government-owned CASA previously built the wing for the Saab 2000, which is now out of production. Fairchild also selected the team of AerMacchi of Italy, a long-time supplier, and France's Hurrell-Dubois, to produce the nacelle for the GE CF34-8D turbofans. Fairchild will build the fuselage itself at its plant in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany.
The number of business jets listed for sale has nearly doubled in the past year, causing prices - which had been escalating rapidly - to begin declining. That, in turn, is giving potential aircraft buyers a wider selection of available aircraft and more buyer-friendly prices, according to Rick Engles, one of the principals in Vance and Engles, the aircraft brokerage firm headquartered in Annapolis, Md.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION issued draft updates to AC 27-1A, Certification of Normal Category Rotorcraft, and AC 29-2B, Certification of Transport Category Rotorcraft. The changes update guidance material on rotorcraft certification in compliance with Parts 27 and 29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. For more information or to obtain copies of the ACs, contact Kathy Jones in the Rotorcraft Standards Staff at (817) 222-5359; fax: (817) 222-5961.
National Transportation Safety Board concluded Wednesday that all Boeing 737s in airline service, even the next-generation aircraft, have a rudder system "that could lead to a loss of control." The board said that the dual-concentric servo valve used in all 737 main rudder PCUs is not "reliably redundant." It said a "reliably redundant" rudder actuation system is needed for all 737s, "despite significant improvements made in the system's design." The investigation covering four and a half years was the longest in U.S.
Aviation associations and educators need to join forces to develop a single strategy for attracting people into aviation and increasing the labor pool, according to a senior Bombardier executive. "We're in a crisis. We cannot find people...It is a major issue," David Orcutt, vice president and general manager of programs and customer service for Bombardier Aerospace in Montreal, Quebec, this month told the Women In Aviation International Conference in Orlando, Fla.
CARL DE BRUINE joined Securaplane Technologies as director of engineering. De Bruine previously was systems and display department manager for BFGoodrich Avionics Systems. He has 33 years of design experience, including work on autopilots, attitude indicators and multifunction LCD displays.
The United Kingdom's GKN and Italy's Finmeccanica Thursday formally agreed to merge their Westland and Agusta helicopter interests, the latest step in a process that began nearly one year ago (BA, April 20/175). Due diligence procedures to achieve a definitive agreement now will commence.
PILATUS Models PC-12 and PC-12/45 Airplanes (Docket No. 98-CE-73-AD; Amdt. 39-11069; AD 99-06-05) - requires removing the "Alternate Flap System" from the airplane flight controls and inserting a temporary revision that specifies this change in Section 2 - Limitations of the PC-12 Pilot's Operating Handbook. This AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for Switzerland.
Bombardier Aerospace, which previously selected AlliedSignal's AS907 turbofans to power the company's new Continental business jet (BA, Oct. 26/183), last week announced that AlliedSignal also will supply the auxiliary power unit for the Continental.
The United States Air Tour Association, which has been battling the National Park Service for several years over proposed noise and operating restrictions on air tour operators at the Grand Canyon National Park (GCNP), issued a warning to other aviation groups this month that the latest NPS rule could affect all segments of the industry.
RUSSELL WILBANKS was appointed as Learjet consultant for Professional Aviation Associates. Wilbanks has served with PAA since 1993 as a sales associate. Before that, he was parts manager for Stevens Aviation and sales manager for Hangar One.
AVIONS PIERRE ROBIN Model R2160 airplanes (Docket No. 98-CE-79-AD) - proposes to require replacing the wing attachment bolts and associated hardware. The proposed AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for France. The actions specified in this proposed AD are intended to prevent a wing from separating from the airplane caused by damaged wing attachment bolts.
FAA Administrator Jane Garvey testified this month that FAA will have "the first cost information available this summer" to support the previously authorized overflight fees which the agency has been unable to collect. But DOT Inspector General Kenneth Mead said a reliable cost accounting system will not be fully implemented until 2001 or later. Oceanic cost information and en route air space (high altitude) cost information will be available by yearend, an FAA spokesman said.
MOONEY AIRCRAFT named Thomas Gibson to the newly created position of senior vice president for corporate affairs. Gibson, who will be based in Washington, D.C., will focus on industry and government relations, fleet sales and new business. Before joining Mooney, Gibson was strategic adviser to MCI Chief Executive Jerry Taylor for international projects. He also has served as senior vice president of the Washington-based consultants Wexler Group and as a special assistant to President Reagan and director of White House Public Affairs.
DUNCAN AVIATION opened a new 20,000-square-foot engine shop at its Lincoln, Neb. facility. The new shop includes increased room for engines, bench space, toolboxes and technicians, a nondestructive testing area, a separate room for flow and balance equipment and an APU repair and overhaul area. The shop also consolidates the engine parts inventory, shipping/receiving and offices for sales, technical service and shop management.
GENERAL ELECTRIC'S new CF34-8C1 turbofan completed its initial test flight March 10. The engine, installed as an auxiliary powerplant under the port wing of GE's Boeing 747 flying testbed, will power Bombardier's new 70-passenger Canadair Regional Jet Series 700.
JEPPESEN received a multi-year, single-source contract from Business JetSolutions for flight planning, aviation weather, instrument charts and international trip planning services for its fleet of aircraft. The contract will "help Business JetSolutions' Flexjet program to gain greater control and cost efficiencies in our international and domestic operations," said Bruce McNeely, Business JetSolutions vice president of operations.
BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON Model 214B and 214B-1 helicopters (Docket No. 94-SW-23-AD; Amdt. 39-11055; AD 99-05-07) - requires creation of a component history card or an equivalent record using the Retirement Index Number (RIN) system, establishing a system for tracking increases to the accumulated RIN, and establishing a maximum accumulated RIN for the pillow block bearing bolts of 17,000 before they must be removed from service.
RAYTHEON Model 1900D airplanes (Docket No. 98-CE-123-AD) - proposes to require, for 1900Ds equipped with the electric elevator trim option, installation of an electric elevator trim servo covers. The proposed AD is the result of reports of the affected airplanes leaving the factory without electric elevator trim servo covers installed. If the covers are not installed, moisture could freeze on parts of the electric actuator.
John A. Janitz, who has spent most of his career in the automotive industry, was named president and chief operating officer of Textron, Inc., the Providence, R.I.-based conglomerate that is the parent company of Cessna Aircraft and Bell Helicopter.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model AS 332C, L, and L1, and L2 helicopters (Docket No. 98-SW-01-AD; Amdt. 39-11068; AD 99-06-04) - requires replacing certain circuit breakers. This amendment is prompted by the manufacturer discovering, upon testing a circuit breaker installed in a helicopter, the loss of electrical continuity between the terminals of the installed circuit breaker.
Fairchild Aerospace Corp. named two men to senior posts with the company last week. Daniel G. Kirkpatrick, a veteran airline engineering executive, was named vice president-technical support, and Robert Stangarone, a veteran public relations manager, was appointed vice president-corporate affairs.
GENERAL AVIATION MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION promoted Darby Becker to general counsel. Becker joined the association in January 1997 as director of government and international affairs. Before that, she served as legislative director for Rep. Jerry Costello (D-Ill.).
