SUZANNE ALTON was named customer service supervisor for AMR Combs' operation at Denver International Airport. Alton had served as a customer service representative with AMR Combs since 1994 and, before that, was with Continental Airlines for nine years.
A NEW LEAK DETECTION SYSTEM for use in fuel pipelines has been developed by Vista Research, Inc. Vista, based in Mountain View, Calif., claims its system can detect leaks as small as .004 percent of the pipeline volume within a three-hour test. The system works by calculating the expected change in volume as the outside ground and air conditions cause temperature changes in the fuel in the pipeline.
AEROSPATIALE AND ALENIA, partners in the ATR consortium, appointed Antoine Bouvier president and chief executive of the regional aircraft manufacturer. Bouvier joined Aerospatiale's Aircraft Division in 1990 and moved to ATR two years later. Most recently he headed the ATR Business Unit, which was created in 1995 following an Aerospatiale reorganization.
BRITISH AEROSPACE named four new managing directors. Kevin Smith, deputy group managing director, was promoted to group managing director-new business. Smith is responsible for the international marketing and sales organization. Tony Rice, formerly chief executive for British Aerospace Asset Management, was named group managing director-commercial aircraft. Rice is responsible for Airbus, Regional Aircraft and Asset Management.
DeCrane Aircraft Holdings, Inc., which has been expanding its aviation business base, acquired Dettmers Industries, a designer and manufacturer of seating and other cabin interior products for the corporate aviation completion market.
SIGNATURE FLIGHT SUPPORT named Paul Shira general manager of the company's fixed-base operation at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. An eight- year veteran of Signature and a 1989 graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Shira has held a variety of positions at Signature's Meigs Field and O'Hare bases, including serving as operations supervisor at both airports and business manager at O'Hare.
SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE'S latest bill to reauthorize FAA programs does not include any new user fee provisions, but Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) last week continued his campaign for a user fee system to fund FAA.McCain, in stating opposition to a proposed passenger facility charge hike, said Congress should reform the entire aviation tax system before it looks at specific measures such as PFC increases.
WILLIAM B. GOULD IV resigned as chairman of the National Labor Relations Board. Gould had been chairman of NLRB since March 1994. He is returning to his duties as a law professor at Stanford University Law School.
AVIATION CHARTER SERVICES added a Hawker 800A to its charter fleet. The business jet is the second Hawker 800 in Aviation Charter Services' fleet of 11 aircraft, which also include Learjets and King Airs.
B/E Aerospace struck an agreement in principle to purchase Aerospace Lighting Corporation (ALC), marking the third acquisition for the cabin interiors specialist this year that will further its corner on the corporate market. The acquisition, subject to definitive documentation, is expected to be complete by early fall. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Federal Aviation Administration late last month proposed increasing the maximum weight limit for normal category rotorcraft from 6,000 pounds to 7,000 pounds and allowing up to nine passenger seats. The proposal is the result of an industry working group review, which agreed that a 7,000- pound limit would allow some rotorcraft to remain within Part 27 while meeting the latest standards. The working group also determined that with technological advances a 7,000-pound limit may accommodate a nine-passenger capacity in the future.
CESSNA Model 182S airplanes (Docket No. 98-CE-59-AD; Amdt. 39-10598; AD 98-13-10) - adopts an AD without prior notice that requires repetitive inspections of all engine exhaust muffler end plates (four total) for cracks and replacement of any muffler where an end plate is found cracked. The AD also requires fabricating and installing a placard that specifies immediately inspecting all engine exhaust muffler end plates any time the engine backfires upon start-up.
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. MUNICIPAL AIRPORT requests proposals until 3 p.m. Aug. 7 for management and development of the old Colorado Springs Airport passenger terminal, including the construction of new fixed-base operation facilities. For information and to obtain proposal documents, call Regina Willingham at (719) 550-1900.
General aviation aircraft manufacturer Lancair will test a new NASA ice removal system on its Lancair IV aircraft and then offer the system later this summer on its Columbia 300 four-seat aircraft. NASA nicknamed the Electro-Expulsive Separation System the "ice zapper," calling it a "lightweight, patented device [that] will zap dangerous ice from wings and other aircraft parts during flight." NASA said the system could help meet its goal of improving commercial aircraft safety.
Steven M. Sliwa, who has served as president of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University during a period of dramatic growth for the Daytona Beach, Fla. school, will step down at the end of the year to pursue opportunities in the private sector.
BOMBARDIER AEROSPACE won firm orders for two additional de Havilland Dash 8Q Series 400 turboprop regional airliners from SAS Commuter. The Scandinavian carrier now holds firm orders for 17 of the 70- to 78-seat aircraft and options for another 18 Dash 8 aircraft. The aircraft on option can be either Dash 8Q 400s or 50-seat Dash 8Q 300s, depending on the customer's wishes. SAS became the largest single Dash 8 400 customer last August with a $350 million (U.S.) order for 15 of the 350-knot turboprops. The latest order for two is valued at $45 million (U.S.).
PILATUS Model PC-12 airplanes (Docket No. 97-CE-08-AD; Amdt. 39-10596; AD 98-13-08) - requires replacing and re-routing the power return cables on the starter generator and generator 2, inserting a temporary revision to the pilot operating handbook and installing a placard near the standby magnetic compass. This AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for Switzerland.
LUFTHANSA TECHNIK appointed Andreas Kaden to oversee aircraft maintenance and overhaul at its Berlin-Schonefeld facility and manage Lufthansa Bombardier Aviation Services GmbH. Kaden formerly was manager of engineering for the Lufthansa fleet in Frankfurt. He succeeds Bernhard Conrad, who is returning to company headquarters in Hamburg to head up engineering projects and development.
BRITISH AEROSPACE Model 3101 airplanes (Docket No. 98-CE-32-AD) - proposes to require replacing the elevator trim servo motor with a new, improved motor and inspecting the cable tension and electrical operation of the elevator and trim tab for proper operation and making any necessary adjustments. The proposed AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for the United Kingdom.
THE WOLF AVIATION FUND is soliciting applications for grants to support "worthwhile general aviation projects in areas such as aviation advocacy, safety, technological innovation, public awareness, education and pilot training." For more information, contact: The Alfred L.&Constance E. Wolf Aviation Fund, c/o Wolf, Block, Schorr&Solis-Cohen, Attn: Grants Program, Packard Building, 15th&Chestnut Streets, Philadelphia, Pa. 19102.
BRITISH AEROSPACE Model H.P.137 Jetstream Mk. 1, Model 3101, Model 3201 and 200 series airplanes (Docket No. 97-CE-110-AD; Amdt. 39-10577; AD 98-12-23) - requires replacing the wind-shield wiper arm and attachment bolts, measuring the material thinness of the upper and lower toggle attachment brackets, and replacing the toggle attachment bracket lugs. This AD stems from mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for the United Kingdom.
ATLANTIC AVIATION is beefing up its international capability with the addition of several long-range business jets. In the past two months the company added a Gulfstream III and a G-IV and last month a Falcon 50 based in Teterboro, N.J. joined its charter fleet. The addition of the Falcon 50 "gives us nine long-range aircraft to provide the extra range that many of our clients need in today's global economy," said Bob Smith, Atlantic's marketing vice president.
PRATT&WHITNEY R-1340 series reciprocating engines (Docket No. 97-ANE-58-AD) - proposes to require initial and repetitive visual and fluorescent penetrant inspections of cylinders, Part Number 399359, for head cracking. This proposal is prompted by reports of cylinder head cracking. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent cylinder head cracking , which could result in engine power loss, forced landing and aircraft damage.
SENATE TRANSPORTATION APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE last week approved a $9.85 billion fiscal 1999 budget for FAA, the highest level ever, despite earlier concerns that the budget would be squeezed as appropriators sought money to pay for highway projects included in this year's highway spending bill (BA, June 15/259). The Senate subcommittee provided $2.1 billion for the Airport Improvement Program, an increase over the fiscal 1998 enacted level of $1.7 billion, as well as increases in the operations account.
