Brendon Docherty, who perhaps is best known for his involvement in the AlliedSignal TCAS development program, has established Docherty Aviation LLC to assist corporations and individuals with their business aircraft transactions and strategic planning. Docherty, who most recently worked for Flight Options, can provide air transportation needs analyses, turnkey transaction assistance, aircraft brokerage services and fractional share assistance from his Chicago area office.
ON A SUNNY SATURDAY afternoon in August 2001, I walked down the aisle in a church in Fredericksburg, Va., arm in arm with a beaming, beautiful Mary Frances Lewis. Muffy, as she is called, had asked me to come down from my perch in Ontario and give her away at her wedding. Why me?
Plantronics, Inc., of Santa Cruz, Calif., has introduced a portfolio of headsets for the commercial aviation industry. The Plantronics family of aviation headsets incorporates advanced sound technology, design and ergonomics to meet the unique needs of commercial pilots. Certified by the FAA to comply with TSO C57a and C58a specifications, the new headsets incorporate a lightweight cable that is flexible and durable. The new headset line includes Plantronics MS200, MS250 and MS260.
Embraer's 100-seat E-190 airliner has completed 5,000 flight cycles in its fatigue test program, an important step to the aircraft's certification as it is the minimum required to support the beginning of commercial aircraft operations. Structural certification campaign targets, including fatigue and static test goals, were achieved on schedule and guarantee full compliance with all applicable type certification requirements, says Embraer. The Brazilian airplane maker will ultimately provide simulation of 160,000 flight cycles, or double the E-190's economical lifetime.
Cerretani Aviation (Broomfield, Colo.) -- Rolf Smith has been named the Los Angeles-based regional director of aircraft sales and acquisitions for this jet and helicopter sales, brokerage and acquisitions company. Smith, who has been involved in business aviation for nearly 15 years, has extensive experience with large-cabin aircraft and international transactions. Previously, he worked for PrivatAir and Private Jet Services.
An outgrowth of one of one of the original Web-based charter reservation services, Sentient Jet Membership was formed in 2001 to offer charter card memberships in various denominations with a guaranteed reservation response time, a la, fractional ownership. One of the original ``super-brokerages,'' Sentient tends to dominate the charter-arranging business along with competitor Blue Star Jets, the company that booked the chartered Challenger 600 that overran a runway at Teterboro last February and crashed.
Strong customer demand and growth in regional charter service have prompted Columbia Air, of Groton, Conn., to add a second TBM 700 to its charter certificate and a second base in the Northeast this fall at the Beverly Airport (BVY) on Boston's north shore. Columbia is also expanding its avionics facilities at its Groton-New London Airport (GON) main base, including a dedicated 12,000-square-foot hangar and 3,000-square-foot office, shop and avionics demo center. The avionics demo center allows pilots to operate selected systems before purchase.
The HAI is seeking a chief staff executive ``with a documented track record as a skilled manager and team leader'' who is an ``articulate, organized self-starter, with excellent writing skills and considerable understanding of the political nature of association work.'' Experience as a civilian pilot, with helicopter time, is listed as ``desirable'' for potential candidates. Applicants should send a cover letter with resume and salary requirements to: Elizabeth Meade, Executive Vice President, HAI, 1635 Prince St., Alexandria, Va. 22314.
The spaciousness of the Hawker cabin, which has always been a key attribute of the medium jet, continues to draw buyers to the airplane, especially the newer models -- the 800 and 800XP -- according to brokers and dealers who have bought or sold Hawkers recently.
Honda was to stage the ``world debut'' of its twin-engine HondaJet at the Experimental Aircraft Association convention in Oshkosh in July. The Japanese manufacturer spent nearly two decades developing the aircraft, which began flying in late 2003. It is powered by two Honda HF-118 engines. ``Aviation has long been a dream for Honda, and the HondaJet is the embodiment of that dream,'' said Michimasa Fujino, HondaJet project leader and vice president of Honda R&D Americas.
ExecuJet, part of ExecuJet Aviation Group, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, appointed Rainer Wenz to the position of sales and marketing director (Europe). He is founder and former CEO of Frankfurt-based Jet Connection, which ExecuJet acquired in August 2004. Additionally, Patrick Kleu was named managing director -- ExecuJet Europe, and Peter Smales was appointed as a group director for international projects.
The second Dassault Falcon 7X (s.n. 02) made its maiden flight on July 6 from the company facility at Bordeaux-Merignac. During the two hour, 15 minute flight, test pilots Philippe Deleume and Jean-Louis Dumas cycled the landing gear and performed acceleration/ deceleration tests. They also tested the fly-by-wire system in normal, alternate and direct modes.
I am a business consultant in Palm Beach. I have been with Flexjet (Learjet 60) for six years and have recently renewed with a Challenger 300. I am writing to let you know that of all the business periodicals I read daily, weekly and monthly, I find yours to be the most consistent with timely features. You never miss, especially when addressing the topic of fractional ownership. The July feature, ``The Details of Fractional Ownership'' (page hit it out of the park.
Royal Jet, the UAE-based aircraft charter company, won ETOPS-120 certification of its fleet of Boeing Business Jets by the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) effective June 17. ``With the ETOPS-120 certificate, Royal Jet can offer a more direct and unique service to our clients who will be using the BBJ for isolated and cross-Atlantic destinations'' said Ammar Balkar, Royal Jet's vice president of sales and marketing.
The FAA decommissioned 216 obsolete NDB approaches July 7 and expects to decommission more in September. ``That's a good thing,'' said Randy Kenagy, director of advanced technology at the AOPA, ``because it means the FAA can stop spending money on something few use and will have more funds available for GPS-WAAS approaches to GA airports.'' Shutting down the remaining obsolete NDB procedures (up to a total of more than 400) in September, frees some $8 million a year that the FAA can use on more modern technology.
Hawker 700A, 800, 800A and 800XP -- Determine the current rating of the circuit breakers of cockpit ventilation and avionics cooling system blowers, replace the circuit breakers and modify the blower wiring, as applicable. Hawker 800XP -- Inspect the wiring in the power distribution system to detect damage and, if necessary, take corrective actions, including modification of certain wiring connections and revision of the airplane flight manual.
Bombardier Flexjet announced two program enhancements that reduce the cost of travel from the contiguous United States to Europe and Hawaii on Challenger aircraft and provide all Flexjet owners with additional choices when traveling internationally. First, Flexjet is offering ferry fee waivers to and from Europe and Hawaii for owners of Challenger 300 and 604 aircraft. This fee waiver follows the success of a Flexjet initiative launched in February when it began waiving ferry fees to and from the Caribbean.
Air Carrier Certificate holders operating under FAR Part 135 have four primary responsibilities, Denis Keith, of Jet Solutions in Dallas, says. ``First, before they can release a flight, they have to know they have a legal airplane, i.e., it's airworthy, properly equipped, meets all the maintenance requirements, and so forth. ``Then they have to have a legal crew, properly trained, certificated and rested. ``Next, they must have a legal flight, which means the trip can be flown within the regulatory structure.
The NBAA's Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (ABACE), scheduled for Aug. 9-11 in Shanghai, China, will host a number of informational sessions for the Asian business aviation community. Topics will include navigation and airport infrastructure, airport handling and support, and airspace and air traffic. Don Spruston, director general of the International Business Aviation Council, will moderate a session on the safety culture of business aviation.
New from Aviation Supplies & Academics (ASA), Inc., the black, molded plastic wheelstops are connected with 22-inch bright yellow- and black-braided nylon rope that resists rot and does not retain water. The stops are equipped with a cleated bottom to help keep aircraft secured. Measuring 7.75 x 2.5 x 4.5 inches, the concave design fits any aircraft tire. Price: $19.995 Aviation Supplies & Academics, Inc. (ASA); www.asa2fly.com
As part of its avionics upgrade ``Glass Box Project,'' Duncan Aviation recently certificated the Universal EFI-890R in a King Air 300. The STC covers both the two-display and three-display systems. The displays deliver primary flight information and additional features not available in older EFIS and electromechanical instruments and can integrate TAWS, TCAS, lightning strike, weather and navigational information in addition to the technology required for CNS/ATM.
June 6 -- While the crew of an Embraer EMB-170 were preparing for departure from Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA), Washington, D.C. the driver of a mobile belt baggage loader was attempting to drive under the aircraft, when the loader struck the aircraft, killing the driver. There were no other injuries reported. The aircraft and belt loader received minor damage. The ramp surface was dry at the time of the accident.
The FAA has laid the groundwork to delay publishing new air tour safety standards. In November 2003, the agency issued a highly controversial NPRM on safety rules that many groups and individuals said was so flawed that the government should dump the proposal and go back to the drawing board. An FAA official told National Air Transportation Association members a few months ago that the agency has not made any decision, but had planned to ship the final rule to the DOT for review in May and then publish it in the Federal Register this October.
Ocean Air Aviation opened a new 4,000-square-foot executive terminal in North Bend, Ore. The company was founded in 2004 by aviation veteran Edward Langerveld as a charter operation. The full-service FBO will be an Avfuel-branded facility and offer charter, ground transportation, catering, flight training, aircraft maintenance, aircraft sales and management.
On July 14, Chertoff went to Capitol Hill to answer questions about changes with his department. He testified first before the House Homeland Security Committee, where he told members that they'll see increased focus by the TSA on security for all modes of transportation. The incoming TSA chief, Edmund ``Kip'' Hawley, ``I know is interested in land and rail [security] as well as aviation security,'' Chertoff said.
