Raytheon Aircraft Co. has appointed Canada's Skyservice as an authorized service center (ASC) for Bonanzas, Barons and King Airs. Skyservice -- with bases in Montreal, Toronto and Calgary -- is an FBO with business aircraft, air ambulance and commercial airline operations. The facilities in Montreal and Toronto will receive ASC status. Skyservice's maintenance organization is approved by Transport Canada and has experience on most King Air and Beechcraft models.
Waypoint Partners, LLC, a new Atlanta-based firm that specializes in monitoring and overseeing completions and major modifications of high-end corporate jets, has finished its first project, the refurbishment of a Global Express. The aircraft, which was updated by Savannah Air Center, featured a major change in the floor plan and installation of new soft goods, cabinetry and a state-of-the-art communications and high-speed data system.
The advertisement in Trade-A-Plane said the Mallard had crashed in the Fijian jungle, but they were asking almost as much as the going price in the United States. The "crashed in the jungle" part didn't sound good to me, either.
Brian Foley Associates, Sparta, N.J. Industry veteran Brian Foley, a director at Dassault Falcon Jet for the past 21 years, has formed a new consultancy to assist clients by providing management and marketing guidance to companies engaged in the aviation industry.
Jeppesen has completed a two-year project to bring Required Navigation Performance (RNP) technology to the Gary/Chicago International Airport (KGYY) in Gary, Ind. Jeppesen worked closely with airport staff as well as local FAA officials to create two public RNP procedures to Runway 12 and Runway 30. The Runway 30 procedure was published June 8. The Runway 12 procedure will be available this fall. When available, the RNP Runway 12 approach will be the first time this runway has ever been served with an IFR approach.
SON MATTHEW, A NEWLY minted environmental major graduate of the University of North Carolina - Wilmington and biodiesel advocate, can rattle off all sorts of intriguing information about the world around us these days.
Marion Blakey, former NTSB chair and current FAA administrator, had been frequently mentioned as a possible successor if Mineta were to step down at the DOT, but that would leave a big void at the FAA -- particularly since a contentious battle over FAA reauthorization and possible user fees is almost certain to occur next year. Other names mentioned include Michael Jackson, Mineta's former deputy, who is now the deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, and Labor Secretary Elaine Chao.
FBO FAL Aviation wants you to know that ILS was installed at London Ashford Airport (LYDD), with excellent access to London and the home counties. FAL boasts of its lounge and pilot facilities and a highly trained handling staff. Its Web site is at www.falaviation.com.
Stevens Aviation, the South Carolina-based aircraft sales and support company, is developing an avionics retrofit for Learjet 25s being upgraded by Best Jets of Denison, Texas, as part of that company's Learjet 25 Platinum program.
- Despite several serious accidents at the end of June, the number of mishaps involving turbine-powered business aircraft was down during the first half of this year compared with the same period in 2005. The U.S. business jet and turboprop fleet experienced 25 accidents in the first six months of 2006, down eight from 2005, according to Robert E. Breiling Associates, of Boca Raton, Fla. There were nine fatal accidents involving 21 deaths in the first half this year, compared with eight fatal accidents and 34 fatalities a year ago.
A Gates Learjet 35A operated by International Jet Charter was destroyed when it impacted water and light stanchions while making an instrument approach through afternoon fog for landing at Groton-New London Airport (GON), in Connecticut. Both pilots were killed, but the three passengers survived with minor injuries. One of the passengers said he felt the aircraft "thrust up" just before it crashed, at which point "the jet tumbled across the water" before coming to rest upside down.
Regional Airports Ltd. (RAL), which owns London Biggin Hill and London Southend Airports, is to build a 160,000-square-foot hangar, capable of holding up to four BBJ-size aircraft, at Biggin. At Southend Airport, there is planning consent for 220,000 square feet of additional hangarage for corporate as well commercial airline use. The Biggin Hill Executive Handling ramp is also to be increased by around 30 percent with work completed by year-end.
Dassault elected to fit the Falcon 7X with one of the most redundant fly-by-wire (FBW) systems ever installed in a civil jet. It's highly fault-tolerant so its master minimum equipment list will be long and complete. Dispatch will be permitted with multiple single components faults, including failure of one channel of each side-stick controller, one SmartProbe inoperative and loss of a single flight data concentrator, one channel in a main flight control computer (MFCC) or in an actuator control monitoring unit.
National Air Transportation Association, Alexandria, Va., announced that Russ Lawton has joined the organization as director of safety and security of the Safety 1st Program.
Raisbeck Engineering, Inc., Seattle. Sam L. Jantzen Jr. was promoted to vice president and general manager; Bobby Patton was promoted to marketing manager of King Air Performance Systems; Edwin Black was named marketing manager of Learjet Performance Systems; Leslie Dycus was named advertising and public relations manager.
Diamond's D-JET resumed flight testing after installation of a real-time data acquisition system and minor planned modifications to the engine inlet fairings. In a series of flight tests the speed and altitude envelope was progressively expanded from the previously flown 170 knots and 12,000 feet to a cruise speed of 280-plus KTAS and 25,000 feet, the aircraft's altitude certification limit. The latest flights were performed by pilots Christian Dries, CEO of Diamond Aircraft Industries, and test pilot Anthony Brown.
Intelligence | 13 * Nav Canada Charging for Small Aircraft * Business Aviation Accidents Down for First Half of 2006 * Raytheon Requests Certification Standards Exemption for Hawker 4000 * Secretary Mineta Steps Down * US Helicopter Launches New Service Edited by James E. Swickard Commentary 7 | Viewpoint By William Garvey A Friend in Need 60 | Cause & Circumstance By William Garvey Too Late for a Go-Around
Kansas City Aviation Center (KCAC) and Universal Avionics have launched a program to install three EFI-890R EFIS displays into the Pilatus PC-12. KCAC will hold the STC for the retrofit of the single-engine turboprop.
Bombardier has relocated two of its strategic business jet units to London Farnborough Airport. Bombardier's business aircraft sales headquarters for Europe, as well as the headquarters of its charter arm, Skyjet International, are now located within TAG Aviation's new Farnborough facilities.
London City Airport Jet Centre extended its corporate aviation business on July 1, when it took over the corporate jet handling contract at RAF Northolt from Regional Airports Ltd. The initiation of the new service, called Northolt Jet Centre Premier Passenger Service (PPS), marks the first time the LCY Jet Center has offered handling services at another airport.
Klein Tools recently expanded its Tool Tote line with two new multi-pocket tote bags -- a 17-pocket Tool Tote with a shoulder strap (Cat. No. 58890) and a seven-pocket Tool Tote (Cat. No. 58886).
