RAYTHEON plans to raise some quick cash by selling a majority stake of Raytheon Aircraft's Aerospace Company to Veritas Capital Inc. for $270 million, including $153 million cash. Under the deal, New York-based investment firm Veritas will buy a 70 percent ownership of the Madison, Miss.-based subsidiary, and Raytheon will retain a 30 percent interest. Raytheon Aerospace provides inventory and logistics management, aircraft maintenance and technical service to a range of government, military and private sector customers.
BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON said Canadian and FAA officials lifted the airspeed restriction limiting the Vne speed of the Bell 407. FAA ordered the restriction earlier this year, reducing the Vne (never exceed) speed of the Model 407 to 110 knots due to questions about a 407 crash in December. The agency said then that the restrictions were "intended to prevent tail rotor blades from striking the tailboom" and causing separation of the aft section of the tailboom (BA, Feb. 19/92).
GENERAL ELECTRIC began flight tests this month of the CF34-8 growth engine that will power the Fairchild Dornier 728JET airliner. A test engine is mounted on GE's Boeing 747 flying testbed. The -8 engine is designed to produce 12,500 pounds of thrust at takeoff. First flight of the 728JET is planned for early 2002, with first delivery in mid-2003.
Model EMB-120 series airplanes - (Docket No. 2001-NM-36-AD; Amendment 39-12165; AD 2001-06-18) - supersedes an existing that currently requires revising the Airplane Flight Manual to include requirements for activation of the ice protection systems and to add information regarding operation in icing conditions; installing an ice detector system; and revising the AFM to include procedures for testing system integrity. That AD also requires installing the ice detector system in accordance with revised procedures.
Model SF340A and 340B series airplanes (Docket No. 2000-NM-222-AD; Amendment 39-12161; AD 2001-06-14) - requires installation of a new circuit breaker and related wiring, and relocation of circuit breaker 12FG, if applicable. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent loss of the nose wheel steering and reduced controllability of the airplane on the ground. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition. FAA estimates that 312 airplanes on the U.S. Registry will be affected by this AD at a cost of $186,264, or $597 per airplane.
THE U.S. AIR FORCE awarded a 10-year, $601 million contract to GE Aircraft Engines to provide hardware upgrade kits for 1,202 J85-5 engines powering the service's fleet of 509 T-38 Talon supersonic jet trainers. The upgrade kits are being produced at GE's Lynn, Mass. plant, where the J85 engine was first developed more than 40 years ago. The J85 upgrade is part of an overall modernization program designed to continue the service life of the T-38 through 2040.
FLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL received FAA Level D certification for its fifth Gulfstream IV business jet flight-training simulator. The simulator is installed at FlightSafety's Philadelphia/Wilmington training facility, with other simulators stationed in Long Beach, Calif. and Savannah, Ga. FlightSafety Simulation in Tulsa, Okla., built the simulator.
SUPERIOR AIR PARTS increased its certificated Millennium Pre-Owned Engine manufacturing facilities to 10 with the addition of four international locations. The new facilities are Aero Engineering&Powerplant of Pretoria, South Africa; Westair Aviation (Pty) Ltd. of Windhoek, Namibia; Flugmotoren-Reparatur of Munich, Germany; and Scanaviation of Kastrup, Denmark. Superior Air Parts announced the Millennium used piston-engine program in October 1999 and has trained employees at all 10 of the certified manufacturing sites.
FAA said U.S. carriers must carry automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and enhanced emergency kits (EMKs) on domestic and international flights within three years. Nine airlines either have the AEDs and enhanced kits on board already, or have made a commitment to do so, said FAA Administrator Jane Garvey. All crewmembers will receive initial training on the EMK and on the location and function of the AEDs.
HONEYWELL developed a family of three-inch electronic display systems for general aviation. The Bendix/King KI 825 will provide traditional heading and navigation functions with mapping and the option for traffic display. It can be combined with the Bendix/King integrated hazard avoidance system and interfaces with GPS products. The system, which will reach the market later this year, is priced at $11,950 and includes a 5,000-hour warranty.
Model CL-600-2B19 series airplanes (Docket No. 2000-NM-68-AD) - revises an earlier proposal that would have required repetitive eddy current inspections for cracking of the main landing gear (MLG) main fittings, and replacement with a new or serviceable MLG, if necessary.
LADISH CO. approved a four-year, $75-million capital investment plan for its Cudahy, Wis. forging operation. The plan includes new equipment, facility upgrades and process improvements. "Nearly every airframe and jet engine manufacturer worldwide uses Ladish forgings in their products," said President and CEO Kerry Woody. "Our expenditures over the course of the next four years are targeted to take advantage of opportunities in both commercial and military markets."
The Bush Administration will ask Congress for $15 million to fund the next step in NASA's Small Aircraft Transportation System program that is designed to increase availability of low-cost general aviation aircraft and access to small airports. In NASA's fiscal 2001 budget, Congress awarded NASA $9 million in seed money for the program and directed the agency to ask for more money in future years, saying members "recognized that the expansion of SATS is a technically high-risk program...and will require additional resources" (BA, Oct. 23/185).
Used retail jet and turboprop deliveries inside and outside North America for March 2001 (see related graphs on Pages 189 and 190 of the hard copy of this issue.) Used Retail Deliveries March 1998 March 1999 March 2000 March 2001 L M H L M H L M H L M H Jet North 72 35 17 59 23 11 65 47 24 58 28 26 America
WILLIAM FORCE joined Heliflite Shares as vice president of operations. Force has more than 24 years of aviation experience, most recently as director of operations for American Eurocopter. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps and was designated a Naval aviator. He also has supervised pilot training and maintenance for the Maryland State Police.
LANCAIR unveiled a series of new optional packages for its Columbia single-engine piston aircraft, including installation of a UPS-Aviation Technologies dual MX-20 moving map display, the Sadin Miniflo-L digital fuel management system and the J.P. Instruments EDM 700 multi-function engine monitor.
Faced with sharply rising construction cost estimates, a gap in voluntary contributions and a determination to have at least part of the new Air and Space annex at Dulles International Airport open by December 2003, officials said last week they will build the new complex in two phases.
GALAXY AEROSPACE is offering free maintenance to new purchasers of Galaxy business jets for five years or 2,500 flight hours, whichever comes first. The Galaxy No Charge Maintenance Program will apply to new aircraft orders received for a limited time. The program covers "all maintenance, as well as the cost of parts, including typical high-wear items such as tires and brakes," which "could easily save the owner of a typical midsize jet as much as $750,000 on maintenance versus their current aircraft," according to President Brian Barents.
TAG AVIATION USA won FAA approval to operate a Bombardier Global Express aircraft under Part 135 of the FARs, which TAG said is the first such approval for the new long-range business jet. The approval followed a series of proving flights led by Capts. Karl Larson and Mark devanderSchuren and Flight Attendant Darcey Pearson and observed by Chad Gilbert, an FAA aviation safety inspector. TAG said the new Global Express will be based in Seattle.
A Piper Meridian turboprop that had been flown to Vero Beach, Fla. for maintenance crashed last week shortly after the pilot took off to return to his home in Daytona Beach, Fla. Leonard Korman, 43, identified as the pilot and owner of the aircraft, and a passenger, Richard Chiavola, 44, were killed in the April 9 crash and ensuing fire.
Model 172R and 172S airplanes (Docket No. 2001-CE-14-AD; Amendment 39-12164; AD 2001-06-17) - requires a one-time inspection for proper engine idle speed and fuel control mixture setting and adjustment, as necessary. This AD also requires incorporating engine operating procedures into the Pilots Operating Handbook and FAA-approved Airplane Flight Manual. This AD is the result of reports of rough engine operation because of an over-rich fuel mixture (improper fuel flow settings).
Model 412 helicopters (Docket No. 2000-SW-60-AD) - withdraws a proposal that would have required for the high landing gear aft crosstube assembly, determining the number of landings, inspecting for damage, vibro-etching a part number (P/N) and a serial number (S/N), creating a component history card or equivalent record, establishing a retirement life, and replacing each unairworthy crosstube assembly. FAA has determined that the proposal contained incorrect part numbers.
STEPHEN VAN BEEK was appointed senior vice president, policy and strategic development for ACI-NA, the airport trade association. Van Beek formerly was associate deputy secretary at the Department of Transportation, where he coordinated national intermodal transportation policies. He also has chaired a federal task force on airline service problems and worked with Transport Canada and U.S. agencies to expedite clearances between U.S. and Canada.
Bombardier Aerospace opened a new simulator training facility at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport last week, an operation that is co-located with SimuFlite Training International's headquarters and which SimuFlite officials will help manage. The new 81,800-square-foot training center will provide training for pilots of Model 31A, 45 and 60 Learjets initially, and Bombardier plans to add Challenger 604 and Continental business training next year.
TRANSCONTINENTAL AVIONICS CORP. received a contract from Diversified Communications Group of Cincinnati to provide installation and field support of aeronautical AM and FM equipment for DCG customers. TCA-affiliated dealers will install and maintain DCG systems at airports through the U.S. TCA is a new umbrella organization for a chain of independently owned and operated avionics shops that operate under a common service mark.
