NASA's Glenn Research Center in Ohio has awarded 15 fixed-price contracts for new aircraft propulsion technologies. The contracts total $1.5 million over nine months and will focus on establishing the scientific or technical merit, feasibility, benefits and challenges of the proposed technologies. A two-year Phase II period may follow the initial awards, to be funded at no more than $250,000 per year. Awards went to M-DOT Aerospace of Phoenix, Ariz.; Nielsen Engineering&Research of Mountain View, Calif.; Technology in Blacksburg Inc.
MORE THAN a dozen legislators encouraged Transportation Security Administrator John Magaw to consider the "smart card" concept - using identification cards with encoded biometric data - for passenger screening at airports as advocated by the National Air Transportation Associaton and other groups. In a Feb. 8 letter authored by Rep. John Culberson (R-Texas) and signed by 14 members (BA, Feb. 4/59), the members said they supported the use of such cards.
PILATUS BN-2, BN-2A, BN-2B, BN-2T, and BN2A MK. III series airplanes (Docket No. 2001-CE-39-AD; Amendment 39-12639; AD 2002-02-11) - requires repetitively inspecting certain oleo attachment brackets for cracks and replacing any cracked bracket found during any inspection. In working with the United Kingdom, FAA determined that the bracket may, as an option, be replaced with a newly designed steel bracket, increasing the length of time between the repetitive inspections. The actions specified by this AD are intended to detect and correct cracked oleo attachment brackets.
CESSNA finished 2001 with sales revenues totaling $3 billion and an order backlog of $5.2 billion. The manufacturer delivered more than 1,200 units: 76 Caravans and 821 single-engine piston aircraft and a record 313 Citations. "Although we were planning to ramp up Citation production in 2002, the declining economy caused us to reevaluate our original plan," said Gary Hay, Cessna chairman and CEO. "Our quick reaction mid-year has, thus far, allowed us to hold our production schedule and employment numbers stable for our Citation and Caravan lines."
HONEYWELL won FAA certification for its MARK XXI Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System designed for non-radio-altimeter-equipped helicopters. The safety system and Honeywell's KMD 550 Multi-Function Display will be installed on Blue Hawaiian EC-130B4 helicopters.
HONEYWELL last week unveiled two new traffic alert and collision avoidance systems for general aviation aircraft. The new products - the KTA 970 TCAS I and the KMH 980 TCAS I/GA-EGPWS - will be marketed toward high-performance piston twins, turboprop and light-to-medium business jets. The systems can track up to 60 aircraft and display up to 30 aircraft that are 40 nautical miles away. In addition to TCAS I, the KMH 980 includes a Class B terrain awareness and warning system. Honeywell will begin delivery of the new units next month.
To commemorate what would have been Charles Lindbergh's 100th birthday, grandson Erik Lindbergh announced plans to recreate his grandfather's historic Spirit of St. Louis flights, including his nonstop, solo flight across the Atlantic. The New Spirit Flights are scheduled in the spring. Beginning April 14, Lindbergh, 36, will depart San Diego's Lindbergh Field and follow the "Lone Eagle's" 1927 flight plan from San Diego to St. Louis to New York.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model AS350B, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350BA, AS350B3, AS350C, AS350D, AS350D1, AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, and AS355N helicopters (Docket No. 2001-SW-74-AD; Amendment 39-12626; AD 2001-26-55) - publishes an amendment adopting AD 2001-26-55, which was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of ECF Model AS350B, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350BA, AS350B3, AS350C, AS350D, AS350D1, AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, and AS355N helicopters by individual letters.
EDO CORP. said CEO James M. Smith, 60, will take on the additional post of chairman when Neil A. Armstrong retires in May. The former Apollo astronaut has been chairman of EDO since its merger with AIL in 2000 and served as chairman of AIL since 1989.
VANCE&ENGLES opened a sales office in Mexico City and named Sergio Maza as vice president of Mexico operations. The new office is the seventh that Vance&Engles has opened since the partnership was formed in 1993. Maza has 46 years of business aviation experience in marketing, charter and fixed-base operations in Mexico. In addition to the continental U.S. and Mexico, Vance&Engles has representation in Western and Eastern Europe.
BAE SYSTEMS LTD. Model BAe 146 series airplanes (Docket No. 2001-NM-05-AD; Amendment 39-12631; AD 2002-02-03) - requires repetitive inspections to detect cracking of the horizontal butt joint of the rear pressure bulkhead and repair, as necessary. This amendment also requires installation of new joint plates on the aft face of the rear pressure bulkhead, which terminates the requirements of this AD. This action is necessary to prevent cracking of the horizontal butt joint of the rear pressure bulkhead, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane.
SCOTT SWAIN was promoted to director of maintenance at Aerodynamics, Inc. He will supervise a 32-person team that provides 24-hour maintenance support. Swain has worked at ADI since 1986 and was most recently service manager.
THE HOUSE TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE later this month is expected to consider Rep. John Mica's (R-Fla.) bill to provide up to $7.5 billion in direct aid and loan guarantees to aviation businesses ravaged in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The general aviation relief bill, H.R.3347, cleared the aviation subcommittee in December and has been one of several efforts brewing on Capitol Hill to compensate the industry for its losses.
THE NIMBUS GROUP secured a financial commitment of up to $1.2 billion to help finance its dreams of building one of the world's largest air taxi services with a fleet of up to 1,000 Eclipse 500 jet aircraft. Formerly known as Take to Auction, Nimbus struck a deal with start-up jet manufacturer Eclipse Aviation for 1,000 of the "micro jets" and an equity stake in the company. The company got a financial commitment from Royal Bank of Scotland affiliate DAFIN Asset Finance for $1.2 billion to pay for the Eclipse aircraft.
CLIFTON R. BUKOWSKY was appointed vice president, sales and marketing for HeliFlite Shares' northeastern U.S. region. Bukowsky was most recently mid-Atlantic sales director for Bombardier Flexjet.
ROCKWELL COLLINS AVIATION SERVICES signed a Dispatch 100 contract with Atlantic Southeast Airlines of Atlanta, Ga. to provide service and support for Collins avionics on the airline's fleet of Canadair regional jets. Under the five-year agreement, Rockwell Collins' Atlanta service center will provide spares, logistics management, maintenance repair and support as well as technical training under a single per flight hour price.
PIAGGIO AERO INDUSTRIES Model P-180 airplanes (Docket No. 2002-CE-02-AD) - proposes to require replacing the four defective horizontal stabilizer hinge bushings. This proposed AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for Italy. The actions specified by this proposed AD are intended to replace defective bushings, which could result in reduced or loss of control of the aircraft. The proposed AD would affect an estimated two airplanes on the U.S.
RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT COMPANY President James Schuster has deferred action on the Hawker 450 business jet until at least the third quarter of the year as the Wichita-based aircraft manufacturer works through its financial problems, attempts to ramp up production of the Premier 1 and certificate the Hawker Horizon. Skeptics have questioned whether Raytheon would ever get around to building the Hawker 450 since the program was announced - with very few details - by former RAC President Hansel Tookes (BA, Oct. 16, 2000/177).
SOCATA Model TBM 700 airplanes (Docket No. 2002-CE-01-AD) - proposes to supersede AD 2001-05-03, which applies to certain SOCATA Model TBM 700 airplanes. AD 2001-05-03 currently requires the application of Loctite on attaching bolt/screw threads of inboard, central, and outboard carriages; increased tightening torques of associated hardware; and replacing central carriage attaching bolts.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration will go ahead with a sweeping modernization plan to address the nation's air transportation problems with technological solutions, according to a document released by the administration this month.
BUSINESS AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURERS appear poised to ride through the current recession relatively unscathed. Billings for new domestic aircraft set a record for the sixth consecutive year in 2001 at $8.65 billion, according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, while worldwide general aviation/business aviation billings for new aircraft rose to $14 billion. The value of 2002 deliveries may be relatively stable, but officials anticipate deliveries will turn upward in 2003.
KEITH RYAN was named president and chief executive officer for Aircraft Service International Group. He will be responsible for ASIG's commercial aviation services businesses in North America and the Caribbean. ASIG is part of BBA Aviation. Ryan has more than 22 years of aviation industry experience and was most recently senior vice president of operations for ASIG.
NATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION last week formally launched its National Air Transportation Security Identification System, which uses biometric identification cards. The association began its push for biometric identification cards last fall, teaming with I/O Software and Microsoft to develop a system that both passengers and employees of aviation businesses can use (BA, Nov. 19/238). FlightSafety International will be the first to use the "smart" card for its students at its flight-training academy in Vero Beach, Fla.
