HARTZELL PROPELLER received FAA approval for installation of its three- bladed Top Prop propeller system on Rockwell/Gulfstream/Commander 112, 112A and 112B aircraft. The 75-inch, aluminum hub, constant speed system is compatible with the "Hot Shot" turbo-intercooler conversion from RCM Normalizing Inc. of Big Piney, Wyo.
SHELLY MEDLIN joined Western Aircraft as a customer service representative. Medlin has customer service experience with AIM International and the former West One Bank.
Cessna Aircraft has increased training for its Model 172R final assembly employees and increased the number of inspection stations in response to quality control problems found in the flight control systems of the new piston aircraft (BA, June 29/283).
Senior Federal Aviation Administration officials last month reaffirmed that they have delayed implementation of the agency's so-called "ticket program," which allows inspectors to issue administrative actions on the spot, but industry leaders remained skeptical and called on the agency to permanently shelve the program (BA, June 8/247).
FLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL won FAA Part 142 approval for its international airline training center at New York's LaGuardia Airport. The new federal standard replaces previous exemptions to the regulations and is designed to increase the use of flight simulators and flight training devices. With Part 142 approval in hand, FSI said it can train pilots as a certificate-holding entity similar to an airline.
EXTEX added a platinum aluminide coating to extend the durability of its Inconel 738 stainless steel #1 turbine nozzle for the Allison 250 engine. The coating protects against cracks under severe operating environments and reduces oxidation, sulfidation and erosion. Extex provides more than 200 replacement parts for combustion, compressor, gearbox and turbine modules on Series I through IV A250 engines.
Sextant Avionique and Dassault Electronique formed a partnership to market their communication, navigation and surveillance products to airlines and aircraft manufacturers. The two French firms call their partnership CNS Avionics GIE. The company, as an economic interest group, can use a common vehicle for marketing and coordination, but cannot earn or retain profits itself since these accrue directly to the participating companies.
CONAIR AVIATION LTD. opened a new aircraft painting facility at Abbotsford Airport in British Columbia, Canada. The 18,000-square-foot facility can accommodate large corporate aircraft such as the Global Express. While the facility was created primarily for corporate aircraft business, it will be used to paint regional aircraft as well. Along with painting, Conair provides interior refurbishment, avionics upgrades and aircraft maintenance on Cessna, Learjet, Falcon, Gulfstream, Bombardier and Raytheon aircraft.
MIDWAY ISLANDS' Henderson Field has opened to commercial, general aviation and military traffic. The airport, which previously was a military installation, won Part 139 limited airport certification and has published GPS and TACAN approaches. Midway Atoll, located 1,200 miles northwest of Honolulu and 2,200 miles from Japan, served as a U.S. Naval Air Facility from 1941 to 1996, when jurisdiction was transferred to the Department of Interior.
WOLFGANG HEUBERGER was appointed director of maintenance for Banyan Air Service. Heuberger has 21 years of aircraft maintenance experience, most recently as a service manager for Raytheon Aircraft Services.
FOKKER Model F-28 Mark 1000, 2000, 3000 and 4000 series airplanes (Docket No. 98-NM-45-AD; Amdt. 39-10580; AD 98-12-26) - requires a one-time inspection to determine the torque values of the coupling fitting attachment bolts at Fuselage Station 10790 and corrective action, if necessary. This amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
FAA Administrator Jane Garvey, who has announced a number of key personnel changes in recent weeks, named another group of individuals to new slots last week, including the head of the National Aeronautic Association.
DE HAVILLAND Model DHC-8-100, -200 and -300 series airplanes (Docket No. 98-NM-70-AD) - proposes to revise an existing AD that requires modification of the attitude and heading reference systems AHRSs. The AD stemmed from a report of loss of power to both AHRS's during flight due to a faulty terminal block that is connected to the AHRS signal ground. This action limits the AD's applicability to aircraft with Serial Numbers 3 through 472. FAA estimates that with the revision, the AD will cover 167 Series 100, 200 and 300 aircraft at a combined cost of $41,750.
DECRANE AIRCRAFT HOLDINGS, INC. completed the acquisition of Avtech Corp., a Seattle-based provider of electronic systems for the aerospace industry. Avtech, founded in 1963, provides a variety of electronics products for business, regional and commuter aircraft manufacturers and leading avionics manufacturers.
CASA Model C-212 series airplanes (Docket No. 98-NM-97-AD; Amdt. 39-10582; AD 98-12-28) - requires repetitive inspections for cracking in the false spar of the wing and repair, if necessary. This amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority. The actions specified by the AD are intended to find and correct false spar cracking, which could reduce the structural integrity of the wing. The AD is expected to cover 41 aircraft on the U.S.
GENERAL AVIATION MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION published the 1998 General Aviation Statistical Databook, which provides historical statistical information on U.S. general aviation aircraft shipments and billings, aviation safety, hours flown by GA aircraft and related information. Copies are available for $10 from GAMA, 1400 K St. N.W., Suite 801, Washington, D.C. 20005-2485.
ONE YEAR after the White House nominated George Donohue as deputy FAA administrator, not only is there not a deputy administrator, there is no nominee. The position has been vacant since December when the acting deputy, Barry Valentine, left the agency (BA, Dec. 22/270). After months of Senate inaction on his nomination, Donohue withdrew from consideration in February (BA, Feb. 16/71).
Raytheon Aerospace, a subcontractor providing logistics for the U.S. Navy's Joint Undergraduate Flight Officer (UNFO) program, won a one-year contract valued at $21.2 million as the primary contractor on the program. Sabreliner Corp., which had acted as prime contractor on the program for the past eight years, switches roles, continuing as a subcontractor.
AEROSPACE CONCEPTS, a new firm specializing in the management of the interior completion process for ultra long-range business jets, was formed by Terry Habeck, former general manager of aviation for Toyota/AirFlite. Aerospace Concepts is based at 5140 Birch St., Suite 100, Newport Beach, Calif. 92660, telephone, (949) 955-1834.
JOSEPH GRAMZINSKI was promoted to chief inspector for Professional Aircraft Accessories. He formerly was shop manager and director of maintenance. Before that, he served with Beechcraft and World Jet in South Florida.
BRITISH AEROSPACE Model ATP airplanes (Docket No. 97-NM-312-AD; Amdt. 39-10579; AD 98-12-25) - requires a one-time inspection for corrosion, wear or damage of the main landing gear forward door operating mechanism, operational inspections to ensure smooth operation of the mechanism and follow-on actions. This amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
National Transportation Safety Board recommended that the Federal Aviation Administration designate a radio frequency at all Part 139 airports that enables direct communication between airport rescue and firefighting personnel and flightcrews during an emergency. The board also recommended development of a universal set of hand signals for use among fire/rescue personnel, flightcrews and flight attendants for situations in which radio communication is lost. NTSB cited an April 28, 1997 incident involving an American MD-82 at Tucson, Ariz.
SIGNATURE FLIGHT SUPPORT named Gary Boekenkamp senior vice president of marketing. Boekenkamp, who has 18 years of fixed-base operation and aviation maintenance experience, previously was vice president and general manager of aircraft and terminal sales for Dallas Airmotive, a Signature sister company under the BBA Aviation Division. "By moving Gary to Signature, the BBA Aviation Division is using the synergies of the group to ensure our ambitious objectives are met," said Signature President and Chief Executive Bruce Van Allen.
DAVE MUTH joined Western Aircraft as an aircraft maintenance technician. Muth, most recently with Phoenix Air Group in Klamath Falls, Ore., also has maintenance experience with Felts Field Aviation in Spokane, Wash., and Galvin Flying Service in Seattle.
National Air Transportation Association urged the Federal Aviation Administration to continue to exempt on-demand aircraft operated under Part 135 from new fire detection and suppression standards for Class D cargo compartments. FAA in February issued a final rule calling for commercial aircraft with Class D cargo compartments to meet either Class C or E fire detection and suppression requirements. The agency, however, provided Part 135 operators a reprieve from the requirements, pending further study (BA, Feb. 16/71).
