FAA Air Traffic Operations head Russell Chew said ATO cut its labor cost per controlled flight by 1.5 percent in FY 2005. Speaking at the Jane's Maastricht Air Traffic Control conference, Chew said ATO absorbed a five-percent wage increase, although productivity for controllers and first-line supervisors rose three percent. Productivity was up four percent in terminal facilities and two percent in en route centers.
FirstFlight Management, Horseheads, N.J., has appointed Dennis De Sousa director of sales for the West Coast. He is responsible for sales of charter, management and executive aircraft.
Sloane Helicopters Ltd. has agreed to market and sell the entire AgustaWestland civil product line in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The agreement with the manufacturer covers the acquisition of a minimum of 44 helicopters in the four-year contract period. Sloane has already signed a contract to acquire 10 helicopters in 2006. The overall market value of the agreement is approximately 200 million. This agreement is expected to strengthen AgustaWestland's share of the U.K.
Two engine makers are bullish in their predictions for the civil helicopter market over the next decade, forecasting deliveries of up to 6,000 helicopters through 2016. Honeywell, which primarily focused on the next five years, predicted civil helicopter sales to be at least 15 percent greater between 2006 and 2010 than they were between 2001 and 2005. Nearly 6,000 new civil helicopters will be sold in the 11 years between 2006 and 2016, Honeywell predicted.
An Army brat, Tilton graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1962, but took a commission in the U.S. Air Force because he wanted to fly. After piloting six-engine B-47s, C-141s and B-57 Canberras for seven years, he entered the University of New Mexico as an officer-student, earning a master's degree in biology and then an M.D. Completing his residency, he flew King Airs, T-38s and, finally, F-15s as a physician/pilot. Retiring as a colonel in 1988, he joined Boeing's medical department, ultimately becoming director.
Italian financial reports suggest that Mubadala Developments, a wholly owned entity of the Abu Dhabi government, is trying to increase its stake in Piaggio Aero Industries. Headed up by the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Mubadala bought 5 percent of Ferrari in 2005 and according to the reports the Ferrari family (headed by Piero Ferrari) and an Italian government agency own around 30 percent of Piaggio Aero. It is believed that the UAE company wishes to gain a share holding of around 30 percent in the company.
A Challenger 600, N900LG, was substantially damaged in February while landing at Aspen-Pitkin County Airport (ASE) in Aspen, Colo. The aircraft, owned by Branblubush LLC, was landing on Runway 15 when it encountered wake vortices from a BAe 146, which had just departed Runway 33. At 50 feet agl, the Challenger rolled hard to the left and the stall warning horn sounded. The pilot added power and the airplane rolled hard to the right.
It starts with a premise: If we have the kind of technology that can allow: -UPS or FedEx to automatically track "smart" packages in real time anywhere in the world . . . -A CIA agent on horseback in Afghanistan to call Foggy Bottom on his pocket satphone and order (a) feed for his horse, (b) a Western saddle (because the wooden Afghan one was killing him) and (c) a precision bombing raid by a B2 based in Missouri . . .
The European Aviation Safety Agency plans to step up cooperation with the Commonwealth of Independent States to focus on airworthiness of airplanes built in the region before the CIS was established. The two entities also agreed on a plan that covers airworthiness of three specific airplanes -- the Il-76 transport and the Kamaov 26 and Mi-8 helicopters -- that fly in new European Union member states.
True to its word, Dubai Aerospace Enterprises is teaming with Cranfield University, the preeminent aerospace university in the United Kingdom, to lay the groundwork for a Dubai Aerospace Enterprise University. DAE University will provide a wide range of academic degrees and apprenticeship programs, and is targeted to be fully developed by 2015, when 8,000 students a year will pass through its doors. It will be located within the DAE site at Dubai's Jebel Ali Airport City.
-Epps Aviation (Atlanta) -- Hal S. Spragins, III, who most recently was associated with Pilatus Center South/Epps Aviation, died in Sarasota, Fla. on Jan. 16 after a brief illness. Spragins began his general aviation sales career with Southern Airways (later Hangar One), an independent Beech Aircraft dealer in Atlanta. During his nearly 20 years with that company, Spragins was a leading King Air salesman and helped open a number of Hangar One FBOs in Florida.
Heico Parts Group signed a joint cooperation agreement with China Aviation Import and Export Group Corp. (CASGC) for the promotion of the former's FAA-approved aircraft and engine replacement products in China. Heico described the agreement as "the first of its kind in the aviation industry." A state-owned company, CASGC is primarily engaged in the import and export of aviation-related products in China including aircraft engines, spares, ground support and safety equipment.
Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame will induct four new members who have made significant contributions to Canadian aviation, at a ceremony on May 27. Dr. A. Ross Tilley (1904-1988) developed revolutionary medical techniques as a result of recognizing the unique nature of the burns that World War II aircrews suffered in aerial combat.
The Department of Homeland Security has ordered 10 EC120 helicopters for its Customs and Border Protection Service from American Eurocopter. The acquisition could involve a total of 55 EC120s with a potential total contract value of $75 million. The Customs and Border Protection EC120s will be produced at the new Columbus, Miss., facility of American Eurocopter, an EADS North America business unit. Columbus already supports U.S. government helicopter programs -- including upgrading of HH-65 Dolphins for the U.S.
WAAS use is being extended down to 200 agl from the current 250 feet to provide vertical guidance capability equivalent to ILS, where suitable airport conditions exist. WAAS-equipped operators will gain access to Category I equivalent approach services at qualifying airports where there are no instrument landing systems. WAAS will be available to all users equipped with the appropriate avionics. "This is a significant milestone, moving us closer to our ultimate goal of a satellite-based airspace system," said FAA Administrator Marion C. Blakey.
Gulfstream announced a $300 million, seven-year expansion of its manufacturing and service facilities in Savannah, Ga. The expansion is expected to grow employment by some 1,100 jobs, up from the current level of 4,300 employees. First opened in 1967 under the Grumman flag, Gulfstream's Savannah headquarters site includes initial phase manufacturing for the Gulfstream G550, G500, G450 and G350. The complex also includes one of the company's five final phase manufacturing facilities and the largest of Gulfstream's 10 service centers.
Prices for certain previously owned aircraft may be stabilizing or at least not rising as fast as in recent months, but the overall market for used turbine-powered business aircraft remains strong, according to the latest edition of Marketline, the quarterly newsletter of the Aircraft Bluebook Price Digest.
Already much in the news with its Dubai Ports World, the Dubai government is a major investor in a new venture to grow the aerospace industry and infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates. The venture, Dubai Aerospace Enterprises, has lined up $15 billion in financing to become a major player in everything from aircraft leasing and airport development to component manufacturing and perhaps even space services and aircraft final assembly in the long term.
On Feb. 1, Boutsen Aviation, the aircraft sales firm based in Monaco, sold its 100th aircraft, an Embraer Phenom 100 that is to be delivered to a new French aircraft operator. The company, which was started as a one-man, part-time operation at the end of 1996 by Formula One Grand Prix race car driver Thierry Boutsen, now employs six aviation professionals and is an authorized aircraft sales representative for Embraer and Piaggio in Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Monaco and the Netherlands.
FAA, Washington, D.C., announced that Frederick E. Tilton., M.D., M.P.H. has been selected to be the new federal air surgeon. Tilton replaces Jon L. Jordan, M.D., J.D., who retired in January.
