BREEZE EASTERN AEROSPACE Rescue Hoists (Docket No. 98-ANE-37-AD) - proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive that would require a one-time inspection of the mounting brackets for cracks, and, if necessary, replacement with serviceable parts. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent mounting bracket cracks, which could result in mounting bracket failure and separation of the rescue hoist from the aircraft.
AVIATION RESEARCH GROUP/US (ARG/US) acquired a 50 percent stake in aviation data publisher AeroKnowledge Inc. of Trenton, N.J. AeroKnowledge develops CD-ROM applications of aviation safety information, including NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System. "ARG/US has been the exclusive distributor of AeroKnowledge's CD-ROM's for the last two years," said AeroKnowledge founder and President Mark Fisher.
FLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL won FAA certification for its Citation Excel full flight simulator. The Citation Model 560 simulator initially was certified to Level C, but is expected to win Level D certification when the necessary data is available. The simulator, located at FlightSafety's learning center in Wichita, Kan., was designed and built by FlightSafety Simulation Systems Division in Tulsa, Okla.
ZOUHEIR ABDELNOUR was appointed director of new business development for Unison Industries. Abdelnour, who has spent 14 years at Unison, most recently was engineering manager for a group of alternator and ignition products. In his new role, he will be responsible for new sources of business through mergers, acquisitions and licensing of new technology.
ROLLS-ROYCE Bristol Engines Division Viper Series Turbojet Engines (Docket No. 98-ANE-06-AD; Amendment 39-10940; AD 98-25-14) - This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive that requires a one-time visual inspection of the barometric flow control unit (BFCU) augmentor and bypass valve joint washer for joint washer integrity, and replacement, if necessary, with serviceable parts. This amendment is prompted by a report of a high pressure fuel leak at the BFCU augmentor and bypass valve assembly joint, washer interface.
The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) launched an effort last month "to foster a more competitive environment" among airlines serving Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP). Airline service from the Twin Cities is dominated by Northwest Airlines, which is based there. Jeff Hamiel, executive director of the MAC, said officials will examine landing fees, ground handling arrangements and gate leasing practices at MSP and conduct a study to determine which routes from MSP offer little or no choice of airlines.
Raytheon Aircraft celebrated Christmas three days early with the Dec. 22 first flight of the long-awaited Premier I, the first of what Raytheon hopes will be a family of business jets built with composite materials.
TODD THOMPSON was named line service manager for Million Air-Tulsa. Thompson, previously with Raytheon in Wichita, Kan., will supervise Million Air Tulsa's general aviation and military fueling programs.
SimuFlite Training International promoted four executives at its Dallas-Fort Worth-based facility. Allison Blankenship, formerly managing director-courseware and communications, was named managing director-project management. Blankenship will oversee SimuFlite's initiatives to expand business, including the 130,000-square-foot addition scheduled for groundbreaking this year. James Jetton, regional sales manager, was appointed director-sales.
Fairchild Corp., a leading manufacturer of aerospace and industrial fasteners, signed a definitive agreement to acquire Kaynar Technologies, Inc. of El Segundo, Calif., another significant player in the aerospace and industrial fastener industry.
JETCORP, a fixed-base operator and aircraft charter operator based at Spirit of St. Louis Airport in Chesterfield, Mo., received a supplemental type certificate for installation of satellite TV, provided by Airshow TV, on a Falcon 900EX business jet. The company said approvals are pending for similar installations on Falcon 50 and 900 aircraft. The system includes a custom-built radome that houses the antenna unit on top of the aircraft's vertical stabilizer. For more information, call Ken Schnurbusch at (314) 530-7000.
CFE COMPANY Model CFE738-1-1B turbofan engines (Docket No. 98-ANE-69-AD) - proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive that would require a one-time dimensional inspection of the curvic coupling tooth profile of certain high-pressure compressor (HPC) rotor components to check for machining mismatches in the curvic coupling, and, if necessary, replacement with serviceable parts. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent failure of certain HPC rotor components, which could result in an uncontained engine failure and damage to the aircraft.
AGUSTA A109 helicopters (Docket No. 98-SW-14-AD; Amdt. 39-10907; AD 98-24-22) - requires within the next five hours time-in-service replacement of the tail rotor blade grip assemblies with modified airworthy grip assemblies. This amendment is prompted by cracks that were found on the grip assemblies during maintenance inspections. This condition, if not corrected, could result in separation of a tail rotor blade. FAA estimates that the AD will cover 17 helicopters and that the cost of compliance for those helicopters will be $321,062.
EUROCOPTER Model AS-365N2, SA-360C, SA-365C, C1, C2, N, N1, and SA 366G1 helicopters (Docket No. 98-SW-05-AD; Amdt. 39-10918; AD 98-24-32) - requires inspecting for broken or out-of-tolerance attachment springs on the tail rotor hub fairing, replacing broken attachment springs and attachment rings that are out-of-tolerance, and marking the fairing to indicate compliance with the AD. This amendment is prompted by three in-service reports of failed attachment springs.
KELLSTROM INDUSTRIES, INC. moved into a new headquarters and warehouse facility at 1100 International Parkway in Sunrise, Fla. last month. The company also announced signing of a five-year, $250 million syndicated credit line with NationsBank Business Credit, a $150 million increase over the company's previous credit line.
AIRPORTS COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL - NORTH AMERICA elected its 1999 officers: Bailis Bell, director of airports for the Wichita Airport Authority, is chairman; Jeffrey Fegan, executive director of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, is first vice chairman; Ernie Caron, president and chief executive of the Calgary Airport Authority, is second vice chairman; and, Jeffrey Hamiel, executive director of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Metropolitan Airports, is secretary/treasurer.
BOMBARDIER de Havilland Model DHC-7 series airplanes (Docket No. 98-NM-143-AD; Amdt. 39-10879; AD 98-23-12) - supersedes an existing AD that requires certain structural inspections and repair, if necessary. This amendment requires an additional structural inspection. This amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
PETERSEN AVIATION promoted Ken Curry to vice president-general manager and George Walker to executive director. Curry formerly served as general manager for the Van Nuys, Calif. fixed-base operator. Walker, most recently director of marketing and sales, will continue to oversee marketing and sales while assuming additional management responsibilities.
ELFRIEKE VAN GALEN was appointed managing director of KLM Cityhopper. Van Galen joined KLM in 1987 and most recently was vice president of customer service for KLM Cargo.
Boeing Business Jets and Executive Jet signed a letter of intent with Raytheon Systems Company to provide VIP interiors for nine Boeing NetJets aircraft with options for up to 16 more in a deal potentially valued at $150 million to $160 million. Raytheon's Waco, Texas operation, which recently completed a full scale mock-up of NetJets BBJ, has begun work on the first two aircraft and hopes to have the initial Boeing NetJets aircraft completed by mid-1999. The LOI increases the number of BBJ interiors under contract with Raytheon to 21.
Banner Aerospace reached a definitive agreement to sell aircraft rotables distributor Solair, Inc., Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to Kellstrom Industries. Under the agreement, Kellstrom will pay $75 million in cash and provide Banner a warrant to purchase 300,000 shares of Kellstrom common stock at $25.50 per share.
BOMBARDIER received a follow-on order from Midway Airlines for three Candair Regional Jet Series 200ER aircraft in a contract valued at $64 million (U.S.). The order converts three existing options with delivery slated for December 1999 and February and March 2000. Midway, based at Raleigh-Durham, N.C., originally ordered 10 CRJ Series 200s in late 1997. The most recent deal increases the total number of CRJ orders from Midway to 23. Bombardier has delivered nine of the aircraft to Midway to date.
BOMBARDIER Model DHC-7 series airplanes (Docket No. 98-NM-295-AD) - proposes to require removal of all attachment bolts and pre-load indicating washers of the wing-to-fuselage attachment fittings; a one-time visual inspection to detect attachment bolt corrosion and installation of new attachment bolts and PLI washers on the wing-to-fuselage attachment fittings. This proposal is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
JOHN DIEBOLD was named senior vice president of technical services for Signature Flight Support. Diebold, who will report directly to Signature President and Chief Executive Bruce Van Allen, will be responsible for developing the fixed-base chain's Regional Maintenance Centers. He formerly served as vice president of product support for Raytheon Aircraft. He also held posts with Cessna and Dassault.
GALAXY AEROSPACE named International Corporate&Cargo Services (ICCS) its sales representative for Mexico and Puerto Rico. ICCS, based at Mexico City's Toluca Airport, will sell both the Astra SPX and Galaxy business jet. The company, which offers a range of flight planning services to corporate and cargo operators, has a number of operations throughout Latin America. Jaime Zamorano, a 20-year aircraft sales veteran in Mexico, joined ICCS as director-commercial.
