Edited by Paul RichfieldBy Paul Richfield Falcons Hit With Pitch Trim Directive
Severe pitch oscillations by Dassault Falcon 900 aircraft have led the FAA to adopt a French directive restricting the speed of most Falcon business jets in the event of a certain type of control system failure indication. The action stems from the Direction Generale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC) investigation into September 1999's highly publicized Falcon 900 loss of control incident over Romania, in which six people affiliated with the Greek government were killed.
Executive Jet, Inc. has inaugurated its new operational headquarters complex at Port Columbus International Airport in Columbus, Ohio. The new complex includes an 80,000-square-foot hangar with an additional 45,000-square-foot support area. Executive Jet said it manages more than 286 aircraft, with more than 428 aircraft on order. In the last four years, Executive Jet has order 716 new aircraft for its NetJets program.
With the ink still wet on the Bombardier-Skyjet deal, eJets.com has launched an online booking service. Offering real-time availability and pricing, eJets says it has agreements with more than 160 operators representing over 1,000 charter aircraft. Customers can book and pay for charters on-line, or via telephone with eJets' concierge service. Company founder and President Rick Robinson says charters booked through eJets will initially cost the same as booking direct, with eJets' profit coming from the spread between the wholesale and retail cost of the aircraft.
Continental Express dispatchers have ratified a new, four-year labor contract after seven months of negotiations between the Houston-based airline and the Transport Workers Union. John Weaver, ConEx's director of system control, said the pact provides the dispatchers with improved pay and benefits.
Earl Robinson, chief of new entrant manufacturer Alliance Aircraft, says his company is exploring production of a 35- to 50-seat regional jet. The aircraft will be of low wing configuration with two wing-mounted engines, he says, and a ``double-bubble'' fuselage allowing a below-floor baggage compartment. ``We're finding a second leg of that smaller RJ market beginning in 2004,'' he said.
Lufthansa Technik (LHT) is currently expanding its VIP center in Hamburg, requiring 120 new employees by the end of 2001. A total of five XXL class jets are scheduled for delivery this year, with six to eight more in 2001. LHT estimates sales for this year will approach 150 million-DM. The new employees needed are mechanics, avionics technicians and engineers.
China's Civil Aviation Authority (CAAC) has banned all Yunshu and Tupolev aircraft from scheduled passenger service, effective June 1, 2001. The action follows the fatal June 22 crash of a Wuhan Airlines Xian Yunshu Y-7-100C, a Chinese-built variant of the Antonov An-24 turboprop. According to Aviation Week&Space Technology, the ban includes the Harbin Y-11/12 series of 17/19-seat turboprops, and Russian-built Antonov and Ilyushin aircraft.
Business aviation is only as effective as its access to structured airspace, and for that reason, the ongoing (and Byzantine) process of aviation rulemaking and harmonization among the 27-member European Joint Airworthiness Authorities (JAA) bears close watching, business aviation advocates argue.
The European Aeronautic Defense and Space Co. (EADS) has raised approximately $2.7 billion in an early July IPO. EADS resulted from the 1999 merger of Germany's DaimlerChrysler Aerospace, France's Aerospatiale Matra and Construcciones Aeronauticas (CASA) of Spain. EADS, which is the world's third-largest aerospace manufacturer, also owns 80 percent of Airbus Industrie. Boeing and Lockheed Martin are the world's first- and second-largest aerospace companies, respectively.
Swearingen Aircraft rolled out the first conforming SJ30-2 light jet prototype in mid-July. Speakers at the San Antonio ceremony included Ed Swearingen, representatives of the aircraft's Taiwanese investors and Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.). The SJ30-2 is expected to begin flight testing in late September and will be followed in the test program by static test aircraft and two additional conforming prototypes by early 2001. Swearingen says it has 164 orders for the $4.8 million aircraft, which is designed for single-pilot operation and a range of 2,500 nm.
Aviation Week&Space Technology (AW&ST) has named Bombardier the ``Best-Managed Large Aerospace Company.'' The award, which was based on criteria created by the magazine and Standard&Poors Compustat, follows recent increases in the manufacturer's revenues and shareholder return. AW&ST said it named Bombardier because of its technology, plant and equipment resources, research and development investments, and strong record of financial operating performance.
In 1986, the NTSB offered funding to the Department of Labor for a new study to evaluate the aviation maintenance technician as a skilled professional. The Department of Labor turned down the offer, claiming the funding would be better suited elsewhere. Today, maintenance managers say the shortage of technicians is due to low pay, image and a lack of professional standards.
Since their inception, maintenance cost control programs have grown from basic engine parts insurance to full-blown maintenance department protection programs. Originally, coverage was limited to ``off the rack'' plans with few options. Today's operators can choose customized programs with cross protection between providers. If you want to protect it, someone probably will cover it for a price.
The Clinton administration's goal of reducing the commercial aviation accident rate 80 percent by 2007 remains the FAA's top priority, though the new administration that takes power in January 2001 could send the agency in new directions. The cornerstone of the current initiative is the Safer Skies agenda, an effort to address the root causes of the majority of fatal aircraft accidents. At the top of the list are Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT), approach and landing accidents, uncontained engine failures and runway incursions.
BAE Systems North America is planning to acquire Lockheed Martin's Aerospace Electronics Systems (AES) for $1.67 billion. AES, which manufactures space and defense electronics systems, comprises three units: New Hampshire-based Sanders, New York-based Fairchild, and Space Electronics and Communication of Virginia. BAE's bid reportedly bested Northrop Grumman's by $100 million. The deal is expected to face some opposition on Capitol Hill, since BAE North America's parent company is foreign-owned and AES's primary customers include the three branches of the U.S.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) selected Sandel's SN3308 electronic horizontal situation indicators (EHSI) as the primary navigation instrument for two of its new Eurocopter AS350-B2s. The Vista, Calif.-based avionics company has firm orders to equip six additional Eurocopters with the SN-3308. Using a three-inch display, the EHSI is designed to combine the functions of an HSI, remote magnetic indicator (RMI), moving map, marker beacon, and GPS.
BBA Aviation promoted Bruce S. Van Allen to president and CEO of BBA Aviation North America, Elizabeth Haskins as president and CEO of Signature Flight Support and T. Peter Whitehead as chief executive of BBA Aviation Europe. BBA Aviation serves business aviation, regional airline, helicopter and commercial aviation markets through its primary operating companies, Dallas Airmotive, Signature Flight Services, International Turbine services and the APPH Group.
Edited By Paul RichfieldBy Mike Vines, in Birmingham, England
Bell Helicopter Textron has approved Alan Mann Helicopters Ltd. of Fairoaks Airport, Surrey, England, as a Customer Training Facility to conduct helicopter factory ground and flight training. This is the third such Bell center worldwide (the others are National Airways Corp. Pty. Ltd., in Johannesburg, South Africa, and Helitech Pty. Ltd. in Brisbane, Australia).
Stripping aircraft paint can be a tough, hazardous job. Peabody, Mass.-based Solvent Clean is trying to change that with D-Zolve GL 15-33, a non-acidic, non-flammable water-borne paint stripper. Formulated with no carcinogens or chlorinated components, D-Zolve dissolves the bond between the substrate and primer, causing the paint to lift off the surface in a single film that then can be removed with high-pressure water or a rubber squeegee.
The FAA has proposed $60,000 in fines against Royal Air Freight of Waterford, Mich., for allegedly failing to investigate the backgrounds of 13 new-hire pilots. The Pilot Records Improvement Act (PRIA) requires that an air carrier conduct a background investigation, no later than 90 days after allowing an individual to begin service.
Honeywell plans to develop PC-based training software for FlightSafety International students receiving initial type ratings in Honeywell FMZ-2000-equipped business and regional aircraft. The new software will enable flight crews to develop FMS proficiency on ordinary laptop or desktop computers. Honeywell says the software, known as PC-FMS, will utilize authentic FMS aircraft code, resulting in a realistic training experience. Rockwell Collins has a similar system already in use at FSI.
Cessna and Honeywell plan to launch on-line services -- Cessna's CPDXpress and Honeywell's Maintenance Programs and E-Engines -- late this summer and in early 2001, respectively. The programs were announced at the NBAA Maintenance Managers Conference in New Orleans. CPDXpress is an online spares management and warrantee system that provides automatic e-mail re-sponse and real-time tracking on parts, orders and claims. System access is available to retail customers and authorized service stations with a login account and password.
