Key federal legislators, concerned about the growing congestion and capacity restraint problems in the national aviation system, are drafting proposals that would expedite the process to expand existing facilities or build new airport capacity. Their plans follow the strong belief within the aviation community that construction of new airports and runways is the only way to achieve substantial reductions in airport and airspace congestion (BA, Jan. 22/37).
President Clinton on January 19, his last complete day in office, designated Carol Carmody as vice chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board for a two-year term. She will serve as acting chairman of the agency until a Bush Administration nominee is confirmed as chairman by the Senate. Carmody, who joined NTSB in June (BA, June 5/265), has less safety investigation experience than any of the other three members of NTSB. The former U.S. representative to ICAO spent most of her career in congressional or FAA staff jobs.
GALAXY AEROSPACE renewed its contract with Duncan Aviation as an authorized service center for the range of Galaxy Aerospace-supported models. The contract, which includes Duncan's facilities in Lincoln, Neb., and Battle Creek, Mich., extends the service agreement through 2003 and adds the Galaxy business jet to the authorization.
INFUSION DESIGN, the Kansas City-based industrial design firm, named Dana Richardson vice president of interior design. Richardson was a senior designer with Cessna Aircraft in Wichita from 1992 through 1998. She then spent two years with Bombardier Aerospace in Wichita and most recently has been operating her own firm, D.R. Designs, LLC in Wichita. Richardson will operate from new offices at 300 North Main St. in Wichita.
Models PC-12 and PC-12/45 airplanes with a certain windshield configuration (Docket No. 2000-CE-55-AD; Amendment 39-12067; AD 2000-26-17) - requires incorporation of Pilot's Operating Handbook information that prohibits the operation of the windshield heating system in the "LIGHT" mode, and requires modification of the windshield deicing system wiring and circuit breakers. The POH information may be removed after the modification is accomplished. This AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for Switzerland.
Models 172N, 172P, R172K, 172RG, F172N, F172P, FR172J, and FR172K airplanes (Docket No. 2000-CE-26-AD) - proposes to supersede AD 80-04-08, which currently requires inspecting the fuel line and map light switch in the left hand forward door post for chafing or arcing and repairing any damage found on certain Cessna Model 172N, R172K, F172N, and FR172K airplanes. AD 80-04-08 also required providing at least a 0.50-inch clearance between the map light switch and the fuel line; and installing a switch cover (insulator) over the map light switch.
Signature Flight Support, which launched an expensive effort three years ago to develop a nationwide network of regional maintenance centers (RMCs) catering to business and corporate operators, is turning over the last four of those regional bases to Gulfstream Aerospace.
An International Civil Aviation Organization committee last week recommended adoption of a new aircraft noise standard that is 10 decibels below the current standard - called both Stage 3 and Chapter 3 - by 2006. The Committee on Environmental Protection (CAEP), meeting in Montreal Wednesday, issued a series of recommendations aimed at reducing aircraft noise. The group also established a framework to address lowering aircraft emissions in the future.
STEPHEN WALTER SCHIEWE was named vice president of manufacturing for Flight Visions, Inc. Schiewe has more than 17 years of management experience, serving with companies including Motorola and Siemens. He will oversee electrical and mechanical assembly, test, purchasing, planning and scheduling, and inventory control at Flight Visions.
Both pilots were critically injured and N1DC, a Model 60 Learjet owned by Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, was destroyed Jan. 14 when the aircraft struck two deer while landing at the Troy, Ala., Airport (TOI) and crashed off the end of the runway.
ADAM AIRCRAFT, the start-up company based in Englewood, Colo., plans to price its new twin-engine M-309 aircraft at $695,000 for the first 20 production models. The company is taking $25,000 deposits for the composite, pressurized six-passenger aircraft. "This is a major milestone for us," said Adam Aircraft President John Knudsen.
ROCKWELL COLLINS named Kent Statler vice president, lean electronics. Statler is succeeding Dan Chadwick, who is retiring after 38 years of service with the company. Statler, who joined Rockwell Collins more than 13 years ago, most recently was vice president, maintenance operations for Collins Aviation Services. He also has served as director, Coralville manufacturing operations.
Kaman Corp. of Bloomfield, Conn. signed a contract with the U.S. State Department for delivery of five K-MAX external lift helicopters. The deal is valued at $21 million. The helicopters will be used in Peru in support of counter-drug efforts. Deliveries are scheduled for March and April. "This is a very significant contract for the K-MAX program," said Walter R. Kozlow, president of Kaman Aerospace Corp. "It marks the first sale to the U.S. government and the first application of the aircraft in a law enforcement role."
Jet Aviation teamed with five other established aviation services companies to form a multi-national ground-handling alliance, the company announced this month. The Swiss-based company signed contracts with Alyzia Airport Services in France, Celebi Ground Handling Inc. in Turkey, Euro Handling in Spain, GHI in the United Kingdom and Laufer Aviation Ltd. in Israel, which together combine for more than 200 years of experience, Jet Aviation said.
SkyWest Airlines, the St. George, Utah-based carrier, placed orders and options for 128 CRJ200 aircraft from Bombardier, a transaction valued at more than $2.8 billion if all options are exercised.
JAMES STELTER was appointed chief financial officer for Flight Visions, Inc. Stelter formerly served as chief financial officer for Williams PLC/Folger Adam Security, Inc. and as general manager for the Sports Graphics business unit at Nike, Inc. He will manage all financial analysis, strategic planning and human resources for Flight Visions.
Duncan Aviation received FAA clearance to install the Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 Continuum avionics suite on Gulfstream II and IIB aircraft. The installation will be the first for the Continuum program that Collins announced during the National Business Aviation Association annual meeting and convention in the fall (BA, Oct. 16/181). Collins, eyeing the 19,000-plus aircraft retrofit market, designed the Continuum line with flexibility to upgrade older business jets to operator specification.
ELECTRICAL POWER DISRUPTIONS were beginning to cause short supplies of jet fuel at some California airports late last week. One problem area was San Francisco International, where fuel on hand reportedly had dropped to a two-day supply because the company that pumps fuel to the airport for airline customers had been affected by the power cutbacks. A Signature spokesman told BA late Friday, however, that its base at SFO had adequate supplies of fuel and was operating on a "business as usual" basis.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION named Bill Peacock, a 27-year agency veteran, to direct the Air Traffic Service. Peacock succeeds Ronald Morgan, who is retiring after a 32-year career with the agency. Peacock joined FAA in 1973 as an air traffic controller in Lubbock, Texas and has since held positions of increasing responsibility. Most recently he was director of air traffic tactical operations, where he oversaw daily flight operations in the national airspace system.
GARMIN AVIONICS said its avionics suite is now standard equipment on all new Mooney Eagles, Ovations and Bravos. The equipment includes Garmin's GMA 340 audio panel, GTX 327 digital transponder, GI 106A course deviation indicator and GNS 430/GNS 530 integrated avionics system. The 430/530 systems include IFR GPS/Nav/Comm/ILS with a color moving map on four- and five-inch diagonal displays. The units provide display capabilities including traffic, lightning detection and weather and interface with Ryan TCAD, BFGoodrich Skywatch and the WX 500 Stormscope.
Mark J. Coleman, president of Mercury Air Group's RPA Airline Automation Services, Inc., was named to the additional post of chief operating officer of Mercury Air Cargo. In his new post, Coleman will be responsible for overseeing Mercury Air Cargo's policies, operations and sales, which include cargo handling, space logistics and - through its Hermes Aviation Division - representation of carriers around the world as their general cargo sales agent.
Model TBM 700 airplanes equipped with Option No. OPT 70-35-001 (gaseous oxygen system)(Docket No. 2000-CE-70-AD) - proposes to require incorporation of a modification that relocates the oil breather vent location. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent oil from entering the gaseous oxygen system service compartment. Such oil contamination could result in a fire or explosion. The proposed AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for France.
Model DHC-8-100, -200, and -300 series airplanes (Docket No. 99-NM-371-AD) - revises an earlier proposed AD that continues to require a one-time detailed visual inspection to detect damage of the ladder plates and access cover areas of the upper surface of the wings, repair, if necessary, and installation of new O-ring seals. That proposal was prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
JOHN LAWSON, a veteran Bombardier Aerospace executive who served as president of Business Aircraft Sales before his retirement, was named to the board of directors of Avcorp Industries, Inc., a Canadian aerospace manufacturer. The company designs, machines, fabricates and assembles metal, composite and plastic components. Avcorp's Aerostructures Division is located in British Columbia and the Integrated Products Division is in Quebec.
Model TBM 700 airplanes (Docket No. 2000-CE-69-AD) - proposes to require installation of a thermal protection sleeve on the propeller governor flexible cable. The proposed AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for France. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent loss of propeller control because of hardening or blocking of the control cable, which could result in the inability to control propeller pitch and inability to feather the propeller.
