Cessna has chalked up more than 900 orders for its Citation 560XL-series midsize jets in the last 14 years, making it the all-time best-seller in this class. That’s an impressive benchmark considering that the XL’s airframe started life as a quick-to-market hybrid of the Citation III fuselage barrel and a modified, scaled-up Citation V wing. Clean-sheet purists scoffed at its humble origins, but they shuddered when it became a runaway best-seller 24 hours after it was announced at the 1994 NBAA Convention.
Embraer , Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil, announced the following changes in the company’s organizational structure effective Jan. 1, 2009: Retiring Antonio Luiz Pizarro Manso, executive vice president, Finance and CFO, and Satoshi Yokota, executive vice president, Strategic Planning and Technology Development, will be succeeded, respectively, by Luiz Carlos Siqueira Aguiar and Emilio Kazunoli Matsuo, members of Embraer’s senior management team.
International Communications Group (ICG) has begun production of its new NxtLink 120A and 220A Iridium communications systems. Both systems now support Future Air Navigation System (FANS) and Controller Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC) was well as Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) requirements. The NxtLink 120A is designed for use on the flight deck while the 220A serves both the flight deck and the crew.
Iridium Holdings, which operates the global satellite communication network that’s gobbling up market share, announced Sept. 23 that it planned to combine with GHL Acquisition Corp., a special purpose company sponsored by Greenhill & Co. The newly combined entity will be named Iridium Communications Inc. Iridium says the move will make it debt free and in a good position to fund development of NEXT, its next-generation satellites. Iridium currently lists more than 305,000 subscribers and regards business aviation as one of the keystones of its customer base.
First I would like to congratulate you on your 50 years of publishing excellence and I am looking forward to an additional 50! Reading the article titled “Help Wanted” (September, page 34) and after reading Gary Dugan’s (not his real name) statements I could not go without trying to get my frustration heard.
The turmoil gripping financial markets will have little long-term impact on demand for business jets, according to several forecasts, particularly those of Honeywell and Forecast International, which are widely viewed as barometers of the industry’s health. The general consistency of their positive growth numbers is notable. But the nagging question remains whether a market driven by corporate profits can really fly around the economic storm that rages even as we go to press.
Legendary Jets , Tempe, Ariz., announced the hiring of Shad English as vice president of Sales with responsibility for the development and advancement of the firm’s GO JET card program as well as sales of full and fractional jet ownership programs.
DB Aviation, Inc. , Waukegan, Ill., announced Jason Shook and Jeff Konz have been promoted to managing directors; Granville Horton and Michael Aiken have been promoted to assistant managers, FBO; Michelle Gold was promoted to senior customer service representative; and Tehmina Jauhar has joined the DB Aviation Client Enrollment team as managing director.
AWAS , Dublin, Ireland, announced that Hamish Murchison and Mariyan Adanov have joined the company as vice presidents. Frederic Mireur has been appointed head of Corporate Finance.
WAEA , McLean, Va., announced that Christine Ringer, inflight entertainment system engineer and project manager for Swiss International Air Lines, was elected president of the World Airline Entertainment Association for the 2008-2009 term.
It had been an emotionally taxing day. When we left our daughter five weeks earlier, we departed worried. It was her first day at art school, her first time living outside the home, and she was clearly feeling intimidated and alone. She was tight lipped all day and her words at parting – “Well, I may crash and burn here” – did nothing to boost the spirits of her debt-laden parents. We fretted day after day.
Over 30 years ago, Boeing studied optical illusions that can create major problems during night and low visibility approaches — especially while pilots were attempting to transition from instruments to outside references. Researchers learned that a night VMC approach into up-sloping terrain could cause one to land short. They also discovered that flying an approach to a runway with an irregular street lighting matrix in the background was problematical.
TrueNorth , Ottawa, Canada, has hired Chris de Hoog as Avionics Product Program manager to assist with customer and product sales support for its Simphone airborne telecommunications systems.
3M Aerospace has introduced a new double-coated tape for use when replacing carpet. The flame-retardant 3M Tape 9377 offers users an efficient solution to bond carpet to aircraft floorboards. The tape’s advanced adhesive technology provides a strong bond but still allows clean removal. It also tears by hand, reducing the need to use a separate tool for cutting. The tape’s release liner allows it to be unwound and protects the adhesive from collecting debris. It’s also color-coded for easy application.
The 4,119-pound-thrust PW545C that powers the Citation XLS+ is a virtual clone of the 3,991-pound-thrust PW545B fitted to the Citation XLS. Both models have the same thermodynamic rating and 3.8:1 bypass ratio. Both feature the same fan powered by a three-stage low-pressure turbine, along with two-stage axial and single-stage centrifugal compressor powered by a single-stage high-pressure turbine, plus a reverse flow annular combustor. The difference in takeoff thrust rating results from a five-degree reduction in flat-rating from 82°F (28°C) to 77°F (25°C).
If you can afford to operate an airplane, you should be able to afford to get good, high-quality training,” Richard Shine told Business & Commercial Aviation. “We have never skimped on training or maintenance. It’s very important to budget for it.”
Noting that Russia is experiencing strong growth in its demand for general aviation, ExecuJet Aviation Group has opened a new eight-person office in downtown Moscow. A board of directors — consisting of Peter Hartmann, managing director of ExecuJet Europe; Marcel Wepfer, Execujet’s director of aircraft management in Europe; and Fabio Hausammann, the company’s finance director in Europe — are overseeing the company’s Russian operation.
FirstFlight , Elmira/Corning, N.Y., has named Gary Hart to the newly created position of chief operating officer. Terry Moser has been named vice president of the company’s West Coast division based in Van Nuys, Calif.
The Okanogan Helicopter Group of Vancouver, B.C., has placed the first order for the 48-passenger Fairey Rotodyne heliliner. Under terms of a recent agreement between Fairey and Kaman Aircraft, the unique machine may be built in the United States. The U.S. Air Force has designated North American’s UCT entry the T-39 and ordered it into production. The manufacturer has not disclosed the number of twinjets ordered by the service.
FlightSafety International , La Guardia Airport, N.Y., announced that Scott Galdi has joined the company as regional marketing manager. He will serve and support customers who operate aircraft under FAR Part 135. Diana Clasen has been promoted to manager, Corporate Communications.
