Raytheon Aircraft is so pleased with the results of its first attempt at automatically laying up a composite fuselage of the new Premier I business jet that the first airframe--originally slated to be a non-flying prototype--will continue through production and join the flight-test program. The company is in the midst of producing a second fuselage, but has met with some delays as it works to qualify a second composite material vendor. The first wingset also is in production, and first flight of the Premier I is on schedule for this fall.
Austin, Texas--The former Awesome Aviation at Executive Airpark has been purchased by Cutter Aviation. The operation is an AvFuel dealer and provides hangar storage, tie down, rental cars, computerized flight planning, dawn-to-dusk operation and guest showering facilities. The addition of Austin brings the Cutter FBO chain to four locations. (512) 251-2433.
Jet Aviation can now provide maintenance on Citation Xs, Hawker 1000s and similar-size business aircraft at Zurich International Airport. The increased capability results from the firm acquiring a hangar formerly belonging to REGA, an air ambulance operation. The company's total hangar space at Zurich is now 13,779 square feet.
Professional Aircraft Accessories (Titusville, Fla.)--Terry Jones was appointed president of this newly formed, FAA-approved repair station that specializes in the support of Beech turboprops and Boeing, Gulfstream and McDonnell Douglas aircraft.
The fuselage of the first Dash 8-400Q (for quiet) is being prepared for mating with its wing. First flight of the newest member of the Dash-8 family of twin-turboprop regional aircraft is scheduled for November. De Havilland says the Q interior will have an active noise-canceling system that will make the cabin ``almost as quiet as that of a jet'' (May, page 126).
BFGoodrich Aircraft Evacuation Systems division has chosen Bangalore, India as its first service center in southern Asia. The company will maintain life rafts, life vests, escape slides, slide rafts, survival kits, helicopter floats, seat belts and oxygen equipment. Work will not be limited to BFG products.
Montreal--A new FBO building and crew/passenger lounge are slated to be part of a major facility expansion at Innotech's maintenance and refurbishing complex at Dorval International Airport. The 70,000-square-foot operation, scheduled to open in November, will stand adjacent to the existing Execaire hangar. The existing crew lounge and passenger terminal will be converted into a customer service center for visiting maintenance and refurb clients. (514) 636-7070.
Uncommanded shutdowns of a CFE738 on two Falcon 2000s--in November 1996 and in May 1997--are unrelated, said CFE officials. The first event involved a synchronous blade-tip rub in the axial compressor stages during cruise. The FADEC shut down the engine as a precautionary measure. The second incident occurred during takeoff when two adjacent second-stage, HP turbine blades separated from the turbine wheel.
Beginning this year, B/CA is offering a new perspective on business aircraft utilization by the most successful companies in the United States. In the past, we have reported the business aviation activities of companies listed in the Fortune 500 and the Fortune 1,000. However, these rankings were based on sheer size-for example, assets and sales volume.
Paul Garrison, a former B/CA managing editor, died at age 79 on April 12 in Tucson due to complications related to cancer. Garrison worked for B/CA from July 1972 through September 1973, then moved to Santa Fe, N.M. to pursue a freelance writing career. Garrison wrote feature articles and news for other aviation magazines, and authored several books.
FAA's recent approval of extended maintenance intervals for the S-76 trims the ratio of maintenance hours per flight hour from 2:1 to 1.6:1, according to Sikorsky. Main inspection intervals have increased to 100, 300 and 1,000 hours, compared to 50, 150 and 750 hours previously. Many special inspections also are now phased with normally scheduled inspections, and the formerly required annual inspection has been dropped.
This fall, the FAA is scheduled to approve or disapprove proposed FAR Part 150 noise compatibility programs for Naples Municipal Airport and Sarasota's Bradenton International Airport. For more information, contact Tommy Pickering at the FAA in Orlando. Phone: (407) 812-6331.
Dassault Falcon Jet (Teterboro)--The company's flight operations department promoted the following six employees: Jerry Tritt to chief pilot-technical; J. David DeAngelis, chief pilot-operations; Tom Major to the newly created position of manager of flight operations and maintenance; Richard Iudice to assistant chief pilot; Tricia Rogers to flight operations administrator; and Dan Petramale to chief of maintenance.
Omaha, Neb.--The Nebraska Airport Authority is evaluating proposals it is receiving for its recent solicitation for an FBO at Millard Airport. The current operator is Hangar One. (402) 895-4974.
Operation of the first Falcon 2000 in the Commonwealth of Independent States was imminent at press time. Earlier, the aircraft received Russian certification. No modifications or special equipment are required for certification in Russia, said Dassault Falcon Jet officials. To date, 12 Falcon business jets are operated in the C.I.S.
Aviation Supplies&Academics is offering Dale Crane's new Inspection Authorization Test Prep to brief candidates for the FAA's IA Knowledge Test. The softcover book includes 200 study questions that could be asked on the exam. Other reference materials provided in the volume are relevant ACs, ADs, regulations, FAA orders and type certificate data sheets. Price: $24.95. ASA, 7005 132nd Pl. SE, Newcastle, Wash. 98059. (206) 235-1500; fax: (206) 235-0128.
National Park Overflights Working Group will hold a final meeting on August 4 and 5 in Denver to discuss management of sightseeing aircraft. The nine-member NPOWG, appointed in May by the DOT and the Department of the Interior, includes officials from the AOPA, the Helicopter Association International and the National Air Transportation Association, as well as environmental interests.
National Aircraft Resale Association (www.nara.dealers.com)--This site contains information on the services provided by NARA's aircraft dealer/broker members and associate members-service and support companies. Linda Martin
The FAA, which has been known to fudge the facts to make them conform to the conclusion the agency wants to reach, has now wandered deeper into the philosophical swamp. It's claiming that it shouldn't have to do cost-benefit analyses on the airworthiness directives it issues-an idea that could cost the business aviation lots of money in pursuit of questionable safety gains.
Picture the scene: An early Boeing 727 simulator at United Airlines' Flight Training Center in Denver sometime in the mid 1960s. The trainee is a grizzled combat veteran of WWII with enough airline seniority to fly one of the early jets, a man with 20,000 hours in reciprocating engine airplanes flying basic instruments to marginal airfields in all weather. This is a man of experience and conviction; a somewhat cynical man who had learned by ordeal that machinery lies, cheats and kills; a man who has survived 35 years in airplanes by his wits.
In reference to our article ``Is Background Check Rule a Stranglehold'' (June, page 28), we make these corrections: First, the requirement for sharing pilot records is not an FAA rule, but a congressional mandate. Second, the law states that an employer must obtain--from the FAA, the National Drivers Registry and previous employers--specific information on a prospective candidate who will be employed as an air carrier pilot (FAR Part 135 or 121). These three entities have 30 days to submit the required information to the requesting employer.
Dover, N.H.-based Business Express Airlines emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on May 22, following final DOT approval of the company's reorganization plan. The company is now wholly owned by the Philadelphia investment banking firm of Dimeling, Schreiber&Park.
Certification of the Citation Excel has slipped from September to early 1998, while certification of the Learjet 45 is further delayed to August. Learjet 45 certification was postponed several times after missing its original summer 1996 target (November 1992, page 26). Both aircraft have been ordered for fractional-ownership programs. EJA is buying 50 Excels for its NetJets program (see above), and JetSolutions, the Bombardier and AMR Combs joint venture, is purchasing 24 Learjet 45s for its FlexJet program.
Uvair (Houston)--This contract fuel division of Universal Weather and Aviation has promoted Jerry Scott to senior manager and Sherrie Cowart to manager of Uvair Administration.
