Bombardier's Learjet unit in Wichita, Kan. hopes to deliver six of its new Model 45 business jets within the next few weeks following completion of a series of extensive modifications designed to fix problems with the new plane's anti-icing system. About 20 percent of the 155 Model 45s on order will have to be modified before they are delivered to customers, while subsequent deliveries will have the changes incorporated during the normal production schedule.
CONCERN about possible regulatory changes is not affecting the growth of fractional ownership. As of last week, Keith said Business JetSolutions had 43 aircraft and 180 pilots dedicated to fractional owners. The number of pilots will grow to 200 soon while the fleet total is expected to reach 65 aircraft by the end of 1998, 100 by the end of 1999 and 140 at the end of 2000.
Model DHC-8-102, -103, and -301 series airplanes (Docket No. 96-NM-58-AD; Amdt. 39-10546; AD 98-11-21) - requires a one-time inspection for wear and breakage of wire segments of the individual lighting units of the ceiling and the sidewall lights and replacement of any damaged wiring. This amendment also requires installation of teflon spiral wrap on the wiring of the ceiling and sidewall lights. The AD is prompted by reports of the cabin ceiling lighting system chafing.
HOW IMPORTANT is it to fractional aircraft ownership providers to continue flying under Part 91 rather than the more restrictive provisions of Part 135? Dennis Keith, president of Bombardier's Business JetSolutions, told BA that 60 percent of trips flown by his company would be affected by having to meet Part 135 standards. Of particular concern are requirements for on-site weather observations at destination airports and rules that limit operators to 60 percent of the available runway length when calculating minimum requirements for landing.
STEVE EGERT was promoted to parts and instrument sales manager for Elliott Aviation. Egert joined Elliott in 1979 and most recently served as assistant parts manager at the Moline, Ill. facility.
SNH AEROSPACE SERVICES, San Antonio, Texas, has doubled its production space and increased its welding capacity by 20 percent at its facility near San Antonio International Airport. It also has expanded its services to include work on helicopters as well as fixed-wing aircraft . A certified repair station specializing in aerospace welding, SNH has more than 100 DER-approved repair procedures.
AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL, based at Houston's Hobby Airport, added a Model 35 Learjet and a Beech King Air 200 to its charter fleet. Both aircraft can be configured for a medical stretcher and air ambulance crew.
Raytheon Corp., in a move that surprised a lot of people in the aviation industry, named AlliedSignal executive Daniel P. Burnham president and chief operating officer of the Lexington, Mass.-based company and said he is in line to succeed Dennis J. Picard as chief executive officer of Raytheon.
Model 340B and 2000 series airplanes (Docket No. 97-NM-134-AD; Amdt. 39-10551; AD 98-11-26) - requires modification or replacement of the airfoil de-icing system check valves. This amendment is prompted by 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 check valves, which could result in loss of airfoil de-icing capability during single-engine operation and consequent reduced airplane controllability.
DAVE GARVEY joined Elliott Aviation as parts manager for its Moline, Ill. facility. Garvey has more than 25 years in management of parts purchasing, sales distribution and operations.
Model F28 Mark 0070 and Mark 0100 series airplanes (Docket No. 98-NM-153-AD; Amdt. 39-10529; AD 98-11-02) - requires revising the airplane flight manual to provide the flight-crew with instructions not to arm the liftdumper system before extending the landing gear. The AD stems from mandatory continuing airworthiness information from the airworthiness authorities of The Netherlands. The actions are intended to prevent inadvertent deployment of the liftdumpers during approach for landing, and consequent reduced airplane controllability.
Rockwell Collins unveiled an ambitious and comprehensive management initiative last week designed to radically change the way the Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based avionics manufacturer conducts business.
SECURAPLANE won a contract from Bombardier Aerospace to supply its BC-1301 main ship battery charger for the Canadair Regional Jet Series 700. Securaplane also supplies battery chargers to Bombardier for its Challenger 604 and Canadair Regional Jet Series 200 aircraft. Securaplane, Tucson, Ariz., designs and manufactures emergency battery systems, aircraft electronic security systems and wireless aircraft smoke detection/reporting equipment.
THE U.S. AIR FORCE opened a new test facility at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base that officials hope will help save the service millions of dollars in aircraft stripping and painting costs. The Air Force Research Laboratory, run by the Coatings Technology Integration Office, will replicate numerous climates where U.S. Air Force aircraft could be painted with temperatures ranging from 40 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit with 10 to 90 percent humidity.
JIM JOHNSON was appointed director of operations for Downtown Airpark's Downtown AirCharter operation. Johnson has more than 9,800 flight hours in fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft and extensive charter experience.
CN-235 series airplanes (Docket No. 97-NM-331-AD; Amdt. 39-10538; AD 98-11-11) - requires modification of the passenger and crew doors and repetitive visual inspections, adjustments and tests of the passenger and crew door latching and locking systems to ensure correct operation. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent the door from inadvertently opening during flight.
SHORTS AIRCRAFT, owned by Bombardier Aerospace, announced a $14.6 million expansion of its Dunmurry advanced composites factory in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The company said the project was necessary to "cater to the increased volume of composites aerostructures required by Boeing, Bombardier Aerospace and other major international customers." Shorts plans to join two existing factory buildings, which will provide 50 percent more floor space and create an assembly area with overhead gantries.
Model AS 332C, L, L1, and L2 helicopters (Docket No. 98-SW-07-AD) - proposes to adopt a new AD to require visually inspecting the intermediate gearbox-to-structure attachment stirrup front tabs for cracks, and if a crack is discovered, removing the intermediate gearbox and replacing it with an airworthy intermediate gearbox. The proposal also calls for inspecting for the conformity of the attachment parts.
Dassault Aviation is attempting to find ways to clear a number of technical hurdles in its pursuit of an affordable supersonic Falcon business jet, and hopes to convince potential customers that total travel time - rather than nonstop range - should be the determining factor when buying a high-speed aircraft.
THE "BUSINESS WINGS" exhibit opened to the public Friday at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. Jack Olcott, president of the National Business Aviation Association, which was instrumental in providing funding and materials for the exhibit, said many people in the business and general aviation community felt the Air and Space Museum "had a gap" in its collection that the new exhibit is designed to fill.
Model B200, B200C and B200T airplanes (Docket No. 97-CE-72- AD; Amdt. 39-10516; AD 98-10-05) - requires replacing the engine fire detector system wiring with fire resistant wiring. The AD stems from the discovery during aircraft production that high heat or fire could cause the engine fire detector system wiring to fail. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent failure of the engine fire detector system if high heat and/or fire stopped an electrical signal between the engine fire detectors and the engine fire warning annunciator lights in the cockpit.
Model ATR-72 series airplanes (Docket No. 98-NM-118-AD) - proposes to require a one-time inspection of certain anchor nuts and replacement with new or serviceable nuts, if necessary. This proposal is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent failure of anchor nuts on the upper surface of the wings, which could reduce the structural integrity of the airplane.
ALLIEDSIGNAL said Bombardier's Business JetSolutions enrolled four Model 31A Learjets in the engine manufacturer's Maintenance Service Plan (MSP) and plans to enroll additional Model 31s as they are delivered to the fractional aircraft ownership program. "The addition of Business JetSolutions to our existing maintenance agreements is testimony to the value of AlliedSignal's MSP to the fractional market," said Ralph Alberto, director of business aviation customer support for AlliedSignal Engines.
ATLANTIC COAST AIRLINES will build a 69,000-square-foot regional passenger concourse at Washington Dulles International Airport. The 36-gate concourse, scheduled to open in Summer 1999, will support ACA's expanding operations as a Untied Express carrier. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority will provide financing for the $18 million concourse through passenger facility charges and airport facility bonds.
NASA chose research proposals from eight industry teams to create an aviation weather distribution and display system that will allow pilots to get up-to-the-minute weather information in flight.
