International Communications Group (ICG), Newport News, Va., named Jo Kremsreiter to serve as Western Region sales director for the company’s line of general aviation aeronautical communication systems and solutions. He will represent ICG in the Midwest and Western states and be based in St. Louis.
The war against FOD is never-ending, and even the toughest veteran can benefit from advice and resources to develop a winning strategy. The following organizations and resources can provide guidance and programs to help you: National Center for Aerospace and Transportation Technologies www.ncatt.org National Aerospace FOD Prevention, Inc. Guidelines www.nafpi.com National Aerospace Standards 412, Aerospace Industries Association www.aia-aerospace.org
CAE Flightscape will provide a flight recorder laboratory for the Saudi Arabia General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) to enable investigators to read out and analyze information from aircraft flight data and cockpit voice recorders. The laboratory will employ CAE Flightscape’s Insight software, which is used by most air safety investigators at aircraft manufacturers and investigation authorities and is based on technology and processes originally developed at the Transportation Safety Board of Canada.
Lance R. Fera (Herndon, VA ), (former TAG executive) (Herndon, VA )
“Seeking the Sensible” (Viewpoint, December 2009, page 7) was a nice job. Thanks. It’s nice to read and get support from all our friends that know we (at TAG U.S.) were bamboozled. By the way, I can really relate to the story about your son missing the housing deadline.
Brussels-based Avitrade has selected Canada’s Field Aviation to design and install custom VIP interiors for two Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 aircraft for an unidentified customer. According to Field, which announced the contract at the Singapore Air Show, these will be the first Q400s outfitted with executive interiors. The first aircraft began modifications in February at Field’s completion center at Toronto’s Lester B. Pearson International Airport. The second aircraft will begin interior modification in April.
AMSTAT reports that slowly increasing sales and shrinking inventories may signal a modest turnaround in the market for used business aircraft. Tom Benson, executive vice president of the Tinton Falls, N.J., provider of business aviation fleet information, said although market conditions still are not great, “it would seem that for the pre-owned business aircraft market, the worst is probably behind us.”
Gulfstream Aerospace, Savannah, Ga., named Florian “Flo” Thiele senior regional sales manager, Product Support Sales, for parts of Europe, the Middle East and Asia. He is based in Zurich and reports to Jeff Hill, director, International Product Support Sales. Jenson Saw has joined Gulfstream’s field service organization assisting customers in Beijing and surrounding areas. Dan Nale was named vice president of Advanced Aircraft Programs, a newly created department.
Cessna, Wichita, announced that Mike Shonka, executive vice president and chief financial officer is retiring. Eric Salader, who is joining Cessna from Textron, will assume his duties. Ron Alberti, senior vice president of Integrated Supply Chain, will assume a new role responsible for the transition of work from Columbus, Ga., and Wichita to Cessna’s facility in Mexico. He will also oversee Skycatcher production in Shenyang, China.
Bombardier Aerospace cites the ongoing global economic crisis as a factor in the net negative orders in its business aircraft deliveries during FY2009/10 ended Jan. 31 and announced Feb. 5. On the business aviation side, the Canadian manufacturer delivered 176 aircraft and posted 85 net negative orders. The commercial side saw 121 deliveries with 88 net orders, while its amphibious unit delivered five aircraft with eight net orders.
Now the FAA wants to extend mandatory Wildlife Hazard Assessments to all FAR Part 139 airline-served airports, even though they have not experienced a “triggering event” as described above. In its Jan. 14 Fact Sheet, the agency said it believed all airports should know the level of local wildlife activity. The agency wants to publish this year an NPRM requiring assessments.
A heavy snow apparently caused a hangar roof collapse at Dulles Jet Center, Feb. 6, inflicting heavy damage on several business jets inside, including a pair of Global Expresses and a G550, say people familiar with the facility. The owner of an aircraft servicing firm at Dulles, who requested that his name be withheld, told BCA that the collapsed facility included four bays, A through D, with apparently only D bay, which housed three Gulfstreams operated by General Dynamics, surviving.
Normal, utility, acrobatic and commuter aircraft certified under FAR Part 23 will be included in a comprehensive review of the regulations launched in February by the FAA. The agency said it would hold three two-day meetings to explore potential future policy rulemaking for small aircraft, covering certification standards and other regulations pertaining to them, their maintenance and operations. The FAA wants comment from manufacturers, pilots, owners, mechanics, instructors and other interested parties.
Eurocopter reported at February’s Singapore Air Show that its Asia business in 2009 recorded a turnover growth of 58 percent reaching €896 million and €4.6 billion globally. The helicopter manufacturer said by the close of 2009 its Asia backlog was €504 million.
StandardAero, Tempe, Ariz., announced that Chris Bodine was named vice president and general manager of its Augusta, Ga. (AGS) facility. Michael Kaplan has joined the company as general counsel and will assume the responsibilities of chief security office upon confirmation from the Department of Homeland Security.
Hawker Beechcraft — which is responsible for supporting 38,000 airplanes, some of which were produced more than 40 years ago — has started a fee-based support program for some of its older aircraft. The company’s Technical Support department, which receives an average of more than 12,000 inquiries per month and heretofore provided assistance free of charge — regardless of the age or model of the airplane — will now charge for certain services under the new Classic Legacy Aircraft Service & Support (CLASS) program.
Bombardier’s Global 5000, the truncated version of the Global Express fitted with smaller fuel tanks, has the best cabin of any business aircraft in this range class, along with the fastest cruise speeds and best runway performance, according to operators. They like its cockpit room, soft ride in turbulence, automated systems and three seating zones in the main cabin. Compared to the Global Express, the Global 5000 has a 5.9-foot overall shorter cabin and 5,800 to 7,000 pounds less weight at takeoff, depending upon Service Bulletins.
Kaman Aerospace Corp., Bloomfield, Conn., has reorganized around product group and named Tim Bates general manager of the Blade Center of Excellence and Subcontract Product Group; Terry Fogarty has been appointed general manager for the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Group; Bob Manaskie has been appointed general manager of the Helicopter Aftermarket Group and John Shelanskas has been named acting director of the Operations support organization.
Pratt & Whitney Canada held a special ceremony at its engine manufacturing facility in Longueuil, Quebec, Jan. 21 to mark delivery of its 500th PT6A turboprop engine to Blackhawk Modifications Inc. of Waco, Texas Founded in 1999, Blackhawk specializes in replacing engines on five aircraft models, including Raytheon King Air 90, Cessna 425 Conquest and Cheyenne turboprop aircraft with factory-new PT6As. The ceremony included Dan Rogers, owner of DuoTech Services of Franklin, N.C., whose Cheyenne II was the 250th aircraft to receive a Blackhawk upgrade.
Wavepilot, LLC, has launched an online markektplace in which aircraft operators and FBOs buy and sell fuel. According to the company, the service operates similar to eBay except it is a reverse auction where sellers compete for the buyer’s business. It works like this: An aircraft operator posts a request for quote (RFQ) that invites FBOs to submit their best prices for fuel and services. FBOs post their quotes online and update them to remain competitive. The aircraft operator then reviews the quotes, awards the RFQ to an FBO and schedules the trip online.
Universal Avionics Systems Corp., Tucson, announced that Donald D. Berlin, senior vice president and board of directors member, is retiring. Berlin has been in senior management positions since the introduction of the company’s first product in 1982 and has been instrumental in guiding the company’s evolution from a small company to the large multinational corporation it is today. He will continue to advise Universal Avionics in business development on a consulting basis.
Second-story jetways let passengers get quickly and comfortably aboard United DC-8s at San Francisco International Airport. Self-powered, telescopic loading corridors are by PI Iron and Steel, Los Angeles. President Lopez Mateos of Mexico is shown a Beech Twin Bonanza and an Aero Design Alti-Cruiser at the 50th Anniversary of Flight in Mexico City, elevation 9,000 feet.
NBAA President Ed Bolen said the threat of aviation user fees seems to be dead “at least for this term of Congress,” and that the FAA’s reauthorization bill could advance within the next “four to eight weeks.” The fact that the Obama administration’s 2011 budget proposal, issued Feb. 1, contained no mention of user fees to help fund the FAA was a “milestone” event, Bolen told BCA.
