EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model SA 330F, G and J helicopters (Docket No. 97-SW-38-AD; Amdt. 39-10875; AD 98-23-09) - requires initial and repetitive inspections of each tail rotor shaft flapping hinge retainer for cracks and replacement of a retainer if a crack is discovered. This amendment is prompted by a report of high vibrations due to retainer cracking on a helicopter while it was in service.
EMBRAER Model EMB-145 (Docket No. 98-NM-317-AD; Amdt. 39-10904; AD 98-24-19) - requires revising the Performance Section of the Airplane Flight Manual to provide the flightcrew with procedures to adjust landing distances for landings performed with the anti-icing system active. This action requires revising the Limitations Section of the Airplane Flight Manual to prohibit certain types of approaches with the anti-icing system active. This amendment is prompted by a report that increased flight idle thrust may occur when the anti-icing system is active.
R. TERRY MARLOW was named vice president of procurement and finance for Aerospace Industries Association. Marlow formerly established a Washington, D.C. office for Syracuse Research Corp., which specializes in information operations and network security. He replaces LeRoy Haugh, who is retiring after nearly 14 years with the association.
MATRIX AVIATION, a provider of avionics, instruments and radar systems for business and regional aircraft, was named worldwide distributor for Sextant Avionique's line of business and regional Line Replaceable Unit spares. Sextant produces a range of avionic systems and equipment, including flight control and navigation systems, computers, traffic alert and collision avoidance systems, man-machine interfaces and displays, sensors and instruments.
TAMMY KALTER joined General Aviation Services' research and acquisition team. Kalter, who previously helped coordinate marketing and advertising for General Aviation Services, will be responsible for turboprop and jet aircraft purchasing.
AVIATION RESOURCE GROUP INTERNATIONAL (ARGI), Aurora, Colo., was selected by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) to perform a comprehensive general aviation study at Van Nuys Airport. The study will cover six principal areas: contract compliance evaluation; leasing policy; rates and charges policy; minimum standards; real estate management practices; and, an air operators permit analysis.
The Federal Aviation Administration has revised inspection and repair provisions pertaining to the Eurocopter MBB BK-117 helicopter for the third time since a fatal 1997 accident, following procedures developed by the manufacturer.
American Eagle, the American Airlines affiliate network of regional air carriers, will acquire Business Express Airlines (BEX) of Dover, N.H. under an agreement announced Friday. BEX, one of the largest independent regional carriers in the U.S., is owned by several shareholders including the Philadelphia-based investment partnership Dimeling, Schreiber&Park. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
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.
SCHWEIZER AND HUGHES Model 269C-1 helicopters (Docket No. 98-SW-39-AD) - proposes to require a visual inspection of the bond line between the main rotor blade abrasion strip and the blade for voids, separation or lifting of the abrasion strip; a visual inspection of the adhesive bead around the perimeter of the abrasion strip for erosion, cracks or blisters; a tap rig test of the abrasion strip for debonding or hidden corrosion voids and removal of any blade with an unairworthy abrasion strip and replacement with an airworthy blade.
THE LIST OF COMPANIES reimbursing their employees for at least some of the costs of flight training continues to grow. Participating firms include AlliedSignal, The Boeing Commercial Airplane Group, Cessna Aircraft and Honeywell, among others.
Israel Aircraft Industries reported net profits of $30.8 million during the first nine months of 1998, compared with net profits of $12.1 million during the same period a year ago. Nine-month sales totaled $1.42 billion, an increase of 22 percent over the $1.165 billion in the first nine months of 1997.
Federal Aviation Administration has proposed to renew once again a Special Federal Aviation Regulation allowing repair stations to return aircraft products to service without direct FAA approval of major repair data. Under the proposal, SFAR No. 36, slated to expire on Jan. 23, 1999, would be extended through Jan. 23, 2004.
FLYTE COMM OF FLORIDA reached a strategic partnership agreement with Data Transmission Network Corporation of Omaha, Neb. Under the agreement, subscribers to DTN Aviation Center, a satellite weather, flight planning and operations service, will have the ability to track the location of aircraft flying IFR worldwide and display both radar and satellite weather overlays with real-time graphical air traffic information. The system, including flight tracking capability, weather overlays and the DTN satellite equipment, starts at $230 per month.
GLENN NASH, 76, a former chief pilot of Gates Rubber Company, died in Colorado after suffering a heart attack. He is survived by his wife and a grown son.
AIR NEW ZEALAND will acquire seven ATR 72-500 turboprops for its Air New Zealand provincial routes. The carrier already operates seven 66-seat ATR 72s. The new aircraft will be operated by Mount Cook Airline, a wholly owned subsidiary of Air New Zealand.
Northwest Airlines code-sharer Mesaba plans to build a 126,000-square-foot aircraft maintenance hangar at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. The $12.5 million maintenance hangar, which will be in Delta connector Comair's backyard, will maintain Mesaba's fleet of Avro RJ85s.
RAYTHEON TRAVEL AIR, the fractional ownership operation of Raytheon Aircraft, named Tony Marlow vice president-operations and Drew McEwen vice president-sales. Marlow, who joined Raytheon in 1978 as a line service attendant in Van Nuys, Calif., most recently was director-marketing for Raytheon Travel Air. In his new position, he will oversee all Raytheon Travel Air operations, including scheduling, dispatch, customer service, maintenance, flight operations and flight crews.
Regional operators agree with general aviation leaders that FAA's cost estimates for requiring terrain awareness and warning systems (TAWS) on turbine aircraft with six or more seats are "grossly inaccurate" and asked the agency to change the compliance schedule.
LOCKHEED Model L-188A and L-188C series airplanes (Docket No. 98-NM-84-AD; Amdt. 39-10911; AD 98-24-25) - requires revising the Airplane Flight Manual to provide the flightcrew with modified procedures and limitations for operating in icing conditions. This amendment is prompted by incidents and accidents involving turboprop airplanes that experienced tailplane stall due to ice accretion on the horizontal stabilizer.
A Model 45 Learjet set a new speed record on a Nov. 23 flight from San Diego, Calif. to Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., Bombardier Aerospace said. The aircraft departed Lindbergh Field in San Diego at 3:10 a.m. with four passengers and two pilots and landed at 10:28 a.m. local time, covering the 2,021 nautical miles in four hours, 18 minutes. The aircraft was flown by Bob Agostino, director of flight operations for Bombardier Aerospace-Learjet and co-captain Dave Ryan.
Cessna Aircraft started construction of a new Citation Service Center in Sacramento, Calif. that will replace a facility there that has been used since 1973. The new 40,000-square-foot complex, situated just 100 feet east of the current maintenance facility, will be completed in the fourth quarter of 1999. The old building will be razed, but not until the new one is completed.
STEVE PALMER, assistant secretary for government affairs for the Department of Transportation, will leave that position Nov. 30 to become vice president of the Washington, D.C. consulting firm Van Scoyoc Associates, Inc. Palmer, who was sworn in Oct. 27, 1993, is the "longest serving" assistant secretary for government affairs in DOT history, the department said. Before joining DOT, Palmer served on the staffs of the U.S. Senate Commerce and Budget Committees. DOT has not yet named a successor.
SABENA AIRLINES finalized an agreement with The New Piper Aircraft for the purchase of 10 new airplanes for use in the carrier's ab initio training program. Sabena operates training centers in Scottsdale, Ariz. and Brussels, Belgium, but the aircraft just ordered will replace Sabena's Scottsdale training fleet. Deliveries of the five Archer IIIs for primary training, three Saratoga II HPs for advanced instrument training and two Seneca Vs for advanced multi-engine training will begin in January.
BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON Model 214B, 214B-1 and 214ST helicopters (Docket No. 98-SW-12-AD) - adopts a new AD that requires a visual inspection of thin-flanged attachment barrel nuts manufactured by Kaynar Technologies, Inc. for cracks or lubrication residue, and replacement of the barrel nuts and corresponding attaching bolts, as necessary.
