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Aviation History
1995
1995 - 0425.PDF
HEADLINES FAA restricts R22/44 but resists grounding THE US FEDERAL Aviation Administration is placing highly restrictive airworthiness directives (AD) on Robinson Helicopter R22 and R44 light helicopters in an effort to prevent mast-bumping and rotor/fuselage strikes. Its actions stop well short, how ever, of the grounding recom mended by the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) pending investigation of the type's accident record (Flight International, 18-24 January). The FAA says: "If there were a design flaw, we would have grounded them before now. But that is not the case, since the majority of the helicopters are fly ing safely." The new AD requires R22 and R44 operators to: • limit forward airspeed to the minimum possible, with 80kt (150km/h) the maximum allow able in turbulence; • restrict flight operations to the lowest safe density altitude; • avoid turbulence; • maintain balanced flight; • face into wind when hovering out-of-ground effect; • stay grounded where surface winds exceed 25kt, gusts exceed 15kt, or windshear or turbulence is forecast. Robinson-developed aircraft- component modifications will undergo FAA tests starting in April, says the FAA. Meanwhile, its Flight Standards Branch is developing new requirements for R22 and R44 pilot training. • Boeing signs space- station contract N ASA AND BOEING have signed a $5.63 billion con tract for the design and develop ment of the 380t Alpha international space-station. The deal marks a major mile stone in the programme, which will cost NASA an estimated $18 billion by the year 2003, excluding launch costs. Canada, Europe, Japan and Russia are also partici pating in the project. • NeUets programme buys 22 Gutfstream GIV/GVs GRAHAM WARWICK/ATLANTA EXECUTIVE JET Aviation (EJA) has ordered seven Gulfstream IV-SP business-jets, and taken options on 13 more GIV-SPs and two long-range Gulfstream Vs, for its Netjets fractional-ownership programme. The deal, worth more than $500 million, including interior com pletion and maintenance of the aircraft, represents Gulfstream's largest-ever order. The seven GIV-SPs on firm order will be delivered this year and next. EJA plans to sell eighth and quarter shares in the aircraft at prices yet to be established. The Montvale, New Jersey-based company operates 25 Cessna Citation S/IIs and 13 Raytheon Hawker 1000s under the Netjets programme, and has 25 Citation Ultras on order for delivery beginning in June. EJA says that it has placed orders and options worth more than $900 million over the past 18 months. "We did not step into this invest ment without doing our home work," the company says, noting that actual and potential customers have expressed interest in part- ownership of a Gulfstream. The FJA has reserved Gulfstream V delivery positions Citation S/II, Ultra, Hawker 1000 and GIV represent "a nice family of alternatives" for fractional owners, EJA says. The company expects Gulfstream shareholders to'include existing Netjets members, opera tors of smaller business jets with an occasional need for a larger aircraft, operators of large business-jets wanting a back-up aircraft, and cus tomers not presendy operating a business aircraft. Under the Netjets programme, EJA sells shareholdings in aircraft which it then operates on behalf of the owners. Shareholding prices range from $330,000 for an eighth share of an S/II, to $3 mil lion for a quarter share of a Hawker. Owners pay a monthly management fee and an occupied- hour fee and each quarter share guarantees 1,000 flight hours over five years. EJA undertakes to have a Citation available within 4h of an owner's request, and a Hawker within 6h. Availability of the GIV has yet to be determined. The GIV options can be exer cised for deliveries in 1997 and 1998, while the GV options are for deliveries in 1998-9, Gulfstream says. EJA says that it placed the GV options to reserve delivery posi tions, but could convert them to additional GIVs. • APIC becomes latest Awards sponsor AUXILIARY POWER International (APIC) has become the latest sponsor to lend its backing to the Flight International Aerospace Industry Awards '95. APIC, which is jointly owned by Labinal and Sundstrand, joins eight other leading aerospace and airline companies in backing the Awards (see Flight International, 18-24 January). The Awards provide important "...recognition to those who have made significant contributions to the aviation industry and APIC is pleased to be associated with the programme for 1995", says chief executive Horst Kreiner. He adds that the Awards fit neatly with APIC's own record of engineering innovation and recognition of employee achievement in the tur bine-engine market. The Awards, which will be presented at a gala banquet to be held during the Paris air show, aim to recognise achievement from across the aerospace and airline industry. Anyone wishing to obtain an entry form or receive details on how to book a table at the gala banquet can do so by contacting "Flight International Awards" on fax:+44 (0)81 652 3840. • Kreiner: recognising achievement FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 25 - 31 January 1995
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