Gulfstream Aerospace, which acquired Galaxy Aerospace and that company's new aircraft completion facility at Alliance Airport in Ft. Worth, Texas just eight months ago, now plans to quit doing completions at the Ft. Worth plant and will lay off most of the workers there over the next three to six months.
MD HELICOPTERS Model MD900 helicopters (Docket No. 2001-SW-56-AD; Amendment 39-12601; AD 2001-25-51) - publishes an amendment adopting AD 2001-25-51, which was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) Model MD900 helicopters by individual letters. This AD requires performing a dual power confirmation test on the Integrated Instrument Display System (IIDS) and inserting a revision to the rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM), as applicable. If the IIDS fails the power test, replacing it is required before further flight.
AVA MIMS was named director of FAA's Office of International Aviation, overseeing both the Washington headquarters staff and 130 FAA representatives on five continents. Mims became acting director of the Flight Standards Division in September 2001. She had been deputy director of Flight Standards since May 1999.
CESSNA AIRCRAFT founder Clyde Cessna was inducted into the First Flight Shrine at Kitty Hawk, N.C. by the First Flight Society and the National Park Service. Since 1966, the First Flight Society has selected individuals annually to recognize their "first" contributions to aviation. Cessna was honored for his aircraft designs and contributions to general aviation. Cessna Aircraft, in its 75th year of business, has produced more than 190,000 aircraft.
The parent company of Cincinnati Machine named two new senior executives, including a new president. Dan Janka, a 17-year veteran of the company, was named president of Cincinnati Machine's U.S.-based machinery business. He will be responsible for its U.S. and worldwide operations. Janka was instrumental in the development of the Composites Machinery business, which provides the highly automated composite filament machines used by aircraft manufacturers, including Raytheon Aircraft, for its composite-construction aircraft such as the Premier I and Horizon.
BOMBARDIER Model DHC-8-100, -200, and -300 series airplanes (Docket No. 2001-NM-241-AD; Amendment 39-12589; AD 2001-26-23) - requires replacement of the observer's seat latch assembly with a new, improved seat latch assembly. This action is necessary to prevent the observer's seat from separating from its attachment points in the event of an accident or emergency landing, due to an understrength seat latch assembly. FAA estimates that this AD will affect 35 airplanes on the U.S. Registry at a cost of $56,420, or $1,612 per airplane. Effective date is Feb. 8.
MICHAEL SCOTT CHEAIRS was named Southwest regional sales manager for Jet Aviation in Dallas, Texas. He will be responsible for aircraft charter and management sales in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Arizona. Cheairs, who has more than 14 years of sales experience, was most recently director of sales for e-Suite, Inc.
The Federal Aviation Administration is calling for more closely tracking life-limited aircraft parts but says it will allow a number of options, including the use of existing record-keeping, to prevent outdated parts from entering service on an aircraft. The rule, released last week, comes at the direction of Congress, which feared that old, used-up parts continue to get installed on aircraft.
An aviation venture capital group bought the long-time family-owned helicopter services and air medical specialist, Keystone Helicopter Corporation of West Chester, Pa. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. The venture capital group, assembled under the name of Keystone Ranger Holdings, includes aviation services investor Ranger Aerospace and the private equity investment firms Meridian Venture Partners and CD Ventures.
CORPORATE ANGEL NETWORK, celebrating its 20th year of service, made its 14,000th flight, carrying a nine-year-old leukemia patient home. BellSouth Corporation, a participant in the network since 1998, flew the patient from Teterboro, N.J., near Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, to Atlanta, Ga., where the patient lives.
RAYTHEON Model 58P, 60, A60, B60, and 65-88 airplanes (Docket No. 2001-CE-32-AD) - proposes to require installation of new exterior operating instruction placards for the exit doors. The proposed AD is the result of Raytheon improving the visibility and understandability of the door operating instruction placards. This was done as a result of difficulty opening the emergency exits of a similar type design airplane. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to assure that clear and complete operating instructions are visible for opening the exit doors.
Computer Sciences Corp. won a 10-year contract from Gulfstream Aerospace to provide wide-ranging support of the aircraft manufacturer's computer systems. CSC, headquartered in El Segundo, Calif., said the 10-year information technology outsourcing agreement is valued at $510 million. CSC is responsible for mainframe, midrange and desktop computer operations as well as development and maintenance of all applications software. Approximately 220 Gulfstream information systems professionals transitioned to CSC when the contract commenced Dec. 29.
GENERAL AVIATION is losing a long-time advocate on Capitol Hill with the planned retirement of Rep. James Hansen (R-Utah) at the end of the year. Hansen, 69, a 22-year veteran of Congress, serves as chair of the House Resources Committee, where he has been a strong defender of access to airspace over public lands and a supporter of the air tour industry. Hansen also was a key backer of the General Aviation Revitalization Act, which provided product liability protections to small plane-makers.
GULFSTREAM Model G-IV series airplanes (Docket No. 2001-NM-361-AD; Amendment 39-12571; AD 2001-26-07) - requires an inspection of the electrical connections for the fire extinguisher bottles; an inspection after any subsequent maintenance affecting the fire extinguisher bottles; and corrective action, if necessary. This action is prompted by a report indicating that the electrical connections for the fire extinguisher bottle squibs had been improperly installed either during manufacturing or during subsequent maintenance.
FAA ADMINISTRATOR JANE GARVEY signed off on a plan to relocate a number of FAA headquarters personnel - including the Office of the Administrator and Deputy Administrator - to another building. Most of FAA's Washington, D.C. headquarters staff has been housed in the 10-story FOB 10A building at 800 Independence Ave. S.W. since 1963. The plans calls for leaving Regulation and Certification (AVR), the revamped Air Traffic Control and expanded Security functions - a total of about 3,400 employees - at 800 Independence.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION Tuesday will publish rules for air carriers to reinforce flightcrew compartment doors to deter unauthorized entry into the cockpit. The rules - one that outlines the requirements and another that sets aside certain certification requirements for the modifications - are aimed chiefly at Part 121 air carriers and Part 25 transport category aircraft with 20 or more seats.
JET AVIATION BASEL won a contract from Armaments Corporation of South Africa Ltd. to outfit a Boeing Business Jet for the South African Air Force. The aircraft will be fitted with a head-of-state interior and is slated for delivery in the third quarter of 2002.
Embraer will acquire a Nashville, Tenn. maintenance and overhaul operation from Reliance Aerotech, subject to approval from the city's Airport Authority. Embraer Aircraft Maintenance Services, a division of Embraer Aircraft Holding, will purchase the operating assets of Celsius Aerotech. The company "provides full service maintenance, repair and overhaul capability including scheduled inspections, airframe repairs, aircraft painting and comprehensive component repair capability," Embraer said.
GE AIRCRAFT CT7 series turboprop engines (Docket No. 2000-NE-61-AD; Amendment 39-12594; AD 2002-01-03) - requires removal of Stage 2 turbine aft cooling plates of a certain part number (P/N) and installation of cooling plates of a new design. This amendment is prompted by a report of a Stage 2 turbine aft cooling plate cracking, resulting in an uncontained engine failure. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent Stage 2 turbine aft cooling plate cracking, which could result in uncontained engine failure, and damage to the airplane.
Flightcraft opened a new $4 million aircraft maintenance facility at Portland International Airport, which will allow the Pacific Northwest company to service aircraft as large as a Gulfstream G-V with quicker turnaround times, said Ernie Sturm, Flightcraft president. In addition to space for the maintenance floor and aircraft support and administration, the 72,000-square-foot facility includes 12,000 square feet of space for future expansion.
LARRY STEPHENSON was appointed global military program manager at Bii. He will be responsible for business development and customer support for military and governmental organizations. Stephenson was most recently program manager, global aeroderivative/industrial at the company, which specializes in turbine engine bearing inspection and reconditioning.
NBAA reminded members last week that flight restrictions will remain in place in New Orleans from Jan. 30 through Feb. 4 for the Super Bowl and in the Salt Lake City area for 19 days beginning Feb. 5 for the Winter Olympics. FAA has implemented a Special Traffic Management Program for both New Orleans Louis B. Armstrong Airport and New Orleans Lakefront Airport, the association said. It also alerted members to complete an application form by Jan. 21 if they plan on flying in restricted airspace during the Winter Olympics.
Bryan Moss, vice chairman of Gulfstream Aerospace and a major player in the high-end corporate aircraft business for more than three decades, announced his plans to retire from Gulfstream in April. "Gulfstream is a remarkable company and it has been a privilege to participate in its exciting growth," he said. Moss plans to continue working as a consultant to Gulfstream after his formal retirement.
The general aviation industry last week welcomed a series of "suggestions" for improving airport, fixed-base operation and flight school security that the Federal Aviation Administration sent to its inspectors in the wake of the deliberate crash of a Cessna 172R into a 42-story building in Tampa, Fla.
NATIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION promoted Joe "Jay" Evans to director of operations, Robert Lamond to director of air traffic services and infrastructure and Joe Hart to assistant manager of the Operations Services Group. Evans covers professional development, pilot certification, medical regulations and other operations issues for the association. Lamond is responsible for air traffic services, airspace obstructions, special use airspace, aviation weather and air traffic safety issues.
