FOKKER Model F27 Mark 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 and 700 series airplanes (Docket No. 98-NM-102-AD; Amdt. 39-10607; AD 98-13-19) - requires a one-time detailed visual inspection of the forward fuel feed lines in the left- and right-hand engine nacelles for chafing, replacement of damaged parts and modification of the supports and improved routing for the high-
Signature Flight Support promoted two executives in the finance department following the departure of Elizabeth Haskins, senior vice president and chief financial officer, to a senior post in a sister company. Haskins, who has served with Signature since 1994, moved to BBA Group's Nonwoven Textile Division. BBA Group, Signature's parent company, comprises three units - Nonwoven Textiles, Friction Materials and Aviation.
ATR won an order valued at $50 million from Tel Aviv, Israel-based ARKIA for three ATR 72-500 aircraft. Delivery of the first aircraft is slated for December with subsequent aircraft following in February and March. ARKIA also operates a fleet of 12 Dash 7s.
Orenda Recip won a manufacturing certificate from Transport Canada for the OE-600A liquid-cooled V-8 aero engine, allowing the Toronto-based engine manufacturer to begin full production. The engine won Type Approvals from Transport Canada in March and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration in May, and Orenda began delivery of the initial units to Stevens Aviation for retrofit on King Air C90B turboprop aircraft (BA, May 18/220). Orenda plans this fall to open its manufacturing facility for the 600-
THE BOEING BUSINESS JET would appear to be hardest hit by Gulfstream's pending acquisition of K-C Aviation. K-C announced a year ago it had acquired a 54,000-square-foot hangar in Dallas specifically to do BBJ completions (BA, July 21, 1997/31), but last week Forstmann said "we will not" do BBJ completions at K-C after it becomes part of Gulfstream. Industry sources say they have "never seen it like this" in terms of completion center demand that cannot be met, particularly for large aircraft.
FLIGHT VISIONS expanded its production space by 6,000 square feet to accommodate new contract demands. The space, which will allow the Sugar Grove, Ill. company to triple production, follows the award of a $9 million contract from Northrop Grumman to retrofit the U.S. Navy's F-14B Tomcat fighter with its Sparrow Hawk Head-Up Display. The contract calls for 82 units to be delivered beginning in second quarter 1999.
Gulfstream Aerospace doubled its aircraft production rate in less than two years, but the glut of "green" airplanes swamped the company's completion facilities, forcing Gulfstream to acquire additional completion capacity by buying K-C Aviation from Kimberly-Clark (BA, July 27/38).
ANN THICKEY joined NationAir Insurance to manage new and existing accounts in the Southwest. Thickey previously was with CIGNA Aerospace for 16 years as an account executive.
MARK EBANKS joined CIT Group/Capital Finance as assistant vice president/aerospace. Ebanks, who will be based in CIT's Fort Lauderdale office, will develop new business in Latin America and the Caribbean. He spent 10 years with United Airlines, where he was responsible for aircraft sales in Latin America.
CESSNA Model 172R airplanes (Docket No. 97-CE-96-AD; Amdt. 39-10641; AD 98-14-07) - requires modifying the lower forward doorpost bulkhead by installing rivets. This AD is the result of a report from the manufacturer that these rivets were erroneously omitted during manufacture of some of the new production airplanes. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent reduced structural integrity of the forward doorpost bulkhead, which could result in structural cracking and possible loss of control of the airplane.
A veteran employee and a private investor have acquired The Servicenter in Bethany, Okla., which has been a service facility for Twin Commander aircraft for many years. The new owners are Dr. Charles Howard and David Hobza, who has been general manager of the facility since 1987.
SAAB Model 340B airplanes (Docket No. 98-NM-176-AD) - proposes a new AD that would require: a one-time inspection for moisture or other contamination of a certain wiring harness, electrical relay and relay socket; a one-time inspection for electrical damage of the same electrical relay and socket; corrective actions, if necessary; and replacement of certain nut plates with new, improved parts.
RICK SCARBROUGH was named a sales associate for Professional Aviation Associates' Learjet Division. Scarbrough, who has been with the Atlanta, Ga.-based company for four years, has been training in the Learjet program for the past year. PAA is a subsidiary of Banner Aerospace, Inc.
RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT SERVICES expanded the hours of its Tampa, Fla. location, providing 24-hour service Monday through Friday and from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
GENERAL AVIATION INDUSTRY AWARDS PROGRAM, the cooperative effort between FAA and several GA associations, is accepting nominations for its Aviation Maintenance Technician, Avionics Technician and Certified Flight Instructor of the Year awards for 1999. Applications must be submitted to the applicant's safety program manager at the local FAA Flight Standards District Office by Dec. 31, 1998. The recipients, selected from regional award winners, will be notified by Aug. 2, 1999 and presented the awards during the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Expo Oct.
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE Chairman Ted Forstmann, asked about Warren Buffett's planned acquisition of fractional ownership pioneer Executive Jet, Inc. (BA, July 27/35), responded: "Warren Buffett's a very smart guy. He's been right a whole lot more than he's been wrong. He's made a significant bet on a part of this business. It pleases me that Warren Buffett thinks that demand for private aircraft will continue in a strong way," he told BA at Gulfstream headquarters in Savannah, Ga. Tuesday.
BMW ROLLS-ROYCE'S BR710 engine, which was modified for use in the Nimrod MRA4 maritime patrol aircraft, completed its first run on schedule on a test bed at its Development and Assembly Center in Dahlewitz, Germany. The modified BR710 is slated for certification in summer of 2000 with series production beginning in first quarter of 2001. The powerplant, the BR700-710B3-40, is based on the BR710 engine powering the Bombardier Global Express and Gulfstream V long-range aircraft.
The National Air Transportation Association sent petitions to all 50 states seeking a moratorium on enforcement of new requirements for the installation of ticket printers on aviation fuel trucks. The requirements stem from standards developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and used by the Division of Weights and Measures for fuel trucks to install ticket printers by Jan. 1, 1999.
Cessna Aircraft, which in March 1997 announced plans to develop a computer-based training program for flight students (BA, March 24/129), last month began shipment of the first programs to Cessna Pilot Centers. The Private Pilot Computer-Based Instruction kit, developed jointly with King Schools, "is a major and necessary component to the revitalization of the general aviation industry," said Cessna Vice President of Marketing Phil Michel. The company hopes the programs will enable its Cessna Pilot Centers "to reach an untapped market of would-be pilots."
DORNIER Model 328-100 series airplanes (Docket No. 98-NM-103-AD; Amdt. 39-10639; AD 98-14-05) - requires modification of the ground cooling fan. This amendment is prompted by the issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent failure of the ground cooling fan, which could result in smoke in the flight deck and cabin and consequent inability of the flight crew to perform duties or possible passenger injury due to smoke inhalation.
TOM TROSKE was named director of operations for the Salt Lake City Airport Authority. Troske, who has served with the authority for 28 years, has spent the past eight years as airfield operations superintendent, responsible for daily airfield management of the three airports the authority operates.
Federal Aviation Administration last week met its July 31 deadline to renovate 60 percent of its mission-critical computer systems so they recognize the year 2000 date codes and said it is on track to meet the Sept. 30 deadline for complete compatibility. The agency Friday said that it has fixed 67 percent of the 159 mission critical systems that required renovation. FAA has 433 mission-critical systems, but the agency said 224 of those did not require renovation and it plans to retire or replace an additional 50.
EMBRAER EMB-145 series airplanes (Docket No. 98-NM-66-AD; Amdt. 39-10605; AD 98-13-17) - requires modification of the windshield heating system in the flight compartment. This amendment is prompted by reports of overheating and delamination of the windshield because the windshield heating system failed to shut off during flight. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent windshield heating system failure, which could reduce pilot visibility and cause structural degradation of the windshield. FAA estimates the AD will cover 17 airplanes on the U.S.
NATIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION'S Schedulers&Dispatchers Committee awarded $4,000 scholarships to Dawn Niese of Executive Jet Aviation and Christina Spence for training toward a dispatcher's license from FlightSafety International. The committee also selected Kellie Rittenhouse from Volkswagen of America, Inc. for a $2,000 scholarship for classes at the University of Phoenix. The scholarship awards are funded by Exxon Company's Avitats and Signature Flight Support.
CESSNA named Martin Jurich general manager of its Toledo Citation Service Center. Jurich, who has served with Cessna since 1980, most recently was manager, aircraft maintenance for the Wichita Citation Service Center at Cessna headquarters.
