ACJet, the new Atlantic Coast Airlines subsidiary that soon will begin operations as a Delta Connection carrier, has appointed Mike Davis as chief operating officer. For the past five years, Davis has been ACA's vice president of customer service, and he previously worked for Business Express and US Airways. ACJet's initial flights will serve New York's La Guardia Airport, but the venture is still awaiting its FAA operating certificate. Separately, Hawker Pacific has agreed to provide ACA/ACJet with 328JET brake maintenance in an $8.5 million deal.
Women in Aviation, International (WAI) is seeking nominees for the Pioneer Hall of Fame, honoring women who have made significant contributions to aviation. Current members include Olive Ann Beech, Moya Lear, Audrey Poberezny, Amelia Earhart and Patty Wagstaff. The deadline for submitting nominations is September 30. For further information, contact WAI at (973) 839-4647 or visit its Web site at www.wiai.org.
As a result of a reorganization of its aerospace business, the company has named Jack Carmola president of the new engine and safety systems group and Michael Piscatella president of the electronic systems group. The company also appointed John Grisik president of the landing systems group and Bud Wetzler is now president of the aerostructures and aviation services group.
Free Flight Phase 1 -- New information exchange systems and automated controller tools, budgeted at $722 million for fiscal 1998 to 2004 for deployment at selected locations. The RTCA recommended the deployment sites, specific brand names of controller tools and a general project timeframe.
Safire Aircraft is claiming 611 orders for its proposed S-26 personal jet. At current prices, the orders are valued at nearly $500 million dollars. The Florida-based manufacturer also says that retired Volkswagen executive Dr. Carl Hahn has joined its board of directors. Hahn served as Volkswagen of America's CEO from 1959 to 1964 and chairman of the board of Volkswagen AG from 1982 to 1992. The 74-year-old Hahn is an advisor to several companies, and serves on the board of directors of Ross Perot's Perot Systems and MainControl, a computer software company.
Canada's private sector provider of air navigation services says a proposal to extend its most-recent user fee reduction will save operators around C$15 million over the next fiscal year. Lower operating costs and higher than expected traffic prompted the move, Nav Canada says, and the company expects its revenues to exceed expenses for the third consecutive year.
The business aviation community appears to be confident that SSBJ operations will become a reality soon. The notion of a supersonic business jet able to make intercontinental leaps in just a couple of hours is a captivating one. This month's issue features three stories that attempt to set out some of the boundaries for contemplating an SSBJ -- from operator expectations to technical challenges to operational realities of supersonic operations.
Ogee.'' ``Ogival.'' These are not exactly common words, and no matter how you pronounce them (hard or soft ``g''), they just do not roll off the tongue. But it is night and I am crossing the Atlantic to do a flight test on an airplane that has an ``ogival wing.'' During the trip, I review literature about the Concorde, and thumb some pictures of the aircraft -- so advanced, and yet aging now. It is not until after the flight when I check my triple volume dictionary that I learn what ``ogee'' and ``ogival'' mean. Ogee: a molding in the form of a letter
Three senior personnel changes have been announced: Kirk Rowe has been named vice president and general manager of the company's Montreal facility, Chris Heredia is now vice president and general manager in Vancouver and Ric Simpson is the newly named general manager of the Pacific Avionics and Instruments division.
Atlantic Coast Airlines is ``exploring alternatives'' to accelerate the retirement of its fleet of 28 leased British Aerospace Jetstream aircraft. The Dulles, Va.-based airline plans to retire at least six of the 19-seat turboprops this year, and the remainder in 2001. As of March 31, ACA's J-32 lease commitments ranged from less than one year to six years, with minimum lease payments of around $41 million. ACA has placed firm orders for 39 Bombardier CRJs and 23 Fairchild 328JETs.
Atlantic Southeast Airlines has named Dan Waters as its new vice president -- flight operations. In this position, Waters will direct the daily operations of more than 1,000 ASA pilots and head the company's growing flight training program.
European regional carrier Tyrolean Airways will install Rockwell Collins Flight Dynamics' Head-up Guidance System (HGS) in its fleet of 12 Bombardier Dash 8-300 aircraft. The airline already operates eight HGS-equipped CRJs.
NASA Administrator Dan Goldin sees a future where small aircraft equipped with the latest technology cross the skies effortlessly, breaking the current ``hub-and-spoke mold'' while alleviating traffic on the nation's highways. Speaking before the House Subcommittee on Aviation in May, Goldin touted NASA's Small Aircraft Transportation System (SATS) as part of a comprehensive travel network that will one day stretch from the intercity to the interplanetary level.
CHC Helicopters is planning to sell its Canadian Helicopters Eastern and Western divisions to a management-led group for approximately $130 million (CDN). The deal includes three heavy, 24 medium and 130 light helicopters -- nearly half of CHC's current fleet. Although CHC will retain a $25.5 million investment and a 45-percent ownership interest in the new company, it says the deal will help reduce debt, while allowing it to concentrate on offshore oil and gas operations.
Cessna has officially opened its new Citation Service Center in Sacramento, Calif. The 40,000-square-foot facility replaces a 12,000-square-foot service center that opened in 1973.
Is there any doubt? After four years of comparing the financial performance of the world's top companies, it is obvious that organizations which operate their own business aircraft -- be they turbofans, turboprops or helicopters -- do significantly better financially than those that don't.
Sporty's is now selling a line of fire protection ideal for aviation. The Halon extinguishers meet FAR Part 135 and 155 requirements and are effective on gasoline, wood/paper and electrical fires. Halon leaves no residue, won't damage avionics or electrical equipment, and is colorless and odorless. The extinguishers are compact, too, allowing for very efficient use of the limited space aboard aircraft. Price: $51.95 to $150.95 Sporty's Pilot Shop Clermont County Airport Batavia, Ohio 45103-9747
Bombardier says it has upgraded the Challenger 604 flight simulator at its Montreal Training Center with Rockwell Collins' Head-Up Guidance System (HGS) -- certified for Category II approaches -- and Safe Flight autothrottles. The manufacturer plans to open an additional training facility in Dallas this fall, which will feature Learjet 31A, 45 and 60 simulators.
The U.S. Senate has confirmed Carol J. Carmody for the NTSB for a five-year term while current member John Goglia was approved for a second term. Carmody has extensive experience in aviation regulation and legislation, including service with the Air Transport Association, ICAO, the Senate Commerce Committee and the FAA, where three of her 11 years were spent as deputy director for congressional services. Goglia, the first mechanic to serve on the NTSB, remained with the agency since the expiration of his first term. His new term expires on December 31, 2003.
