Beginning in 2006 the biennial Farnborough air and trade show will be run by Farnborough International Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Society of British Aerospace Companies (SBAC). As part of the reorganization, the three-day Business Aviation Park will probably be moved closer to the main static aircraft park despite the organizers' original plan to keep this ``show within a show'' separate.
Aerospace companies added 7,500 new jobs between June and November, bringing employment in the industry to 587,600 nationwide, the Aerospace Industries Association said on Nov. 9. The industry hit a 50-year low in employment in February, according to the AIA.
How's your drinking water? The EPA reports that tests showed galley and tank water on some domestic and international airliners didn't meet the agency's standards. Random tests of 158 water tanks on airplanes at four U.S. airports from Aug. 3 to Sept. 9 by the EPA ``revealed 20 aircraft -- 12.6 percent -- with positive results for total coliform bacteria,'' the agency said. Two also tested positive for E. coli. Meanwhile, the Air Transport Association (ATA) noted that Centers for Disease Control data show no reported cases of illness linked to aircraft drinking water.
AgustaWestland recently opened its new 40,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Philadelphia, where its U.S. subsidiary, Agusta Aerospace, will assemble and service the A119 Koala helicopter for all commercial operators worldwide. The $6.8 million facility includes avionics assembly, manufacturing, final assembly and completion areas, plus hangar space. The company plans to increase its Philadelphia workforce 50 percent when the new facility is fully operational.
Tronair, Inc.'s new lightweight locking- wheel chock fits all business aircraft and regional airliners. It can be disassembled and packed flat in its own storage bag. The unit weighs 12 pounds. Price: $449.00 -- Model 99-9042-9000 Tronair, Inc. 1740 Eber Rd. Holland, OH 43528 (419) 866-6301 www.tronair.com
Executive Jet Management added three new aircraft to its charter fleet. A Gulfstream 200 will be based at Palwaukee Airport (PWK) in Chicago; a Learjet 45XR at Bowling Green-Warren Airport (BWG) in Bowling Green, Ky.; and a Challenger 601 at Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN) in New Haven, Conn. EJM says it now manages over 100 aircraft in more than 60 U.S. locations to meet the demand for retail charter and to support the NetJets Fractional program.
Gulfstream Aerospace has received FAA certification for the G350, the newest model in its expanded line of business jets; the aircraft is expected to enter service during third quarter 2005. The G350 replaces the G300/GIV-SP in the company's product lineup. The G350 has a range of more than 3,800 nm with four passengers and available fuel and can fly those distances at cruise speeds of up to 0.80 Mach. It features the same basic fuselage and cabin dimensions as its predecessor, and is powered by twin Rolls-Royce Tay 611-8C engines.
The AOPA assessed the results of the recent congressional election to be a slight net gain for general aviation in the Senate with industry support in the House ``essentially unchanged.'' In the Senate, Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), who was not up for reelection, will become chairman of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, a post being vacated by John McCain (R-Ariz.).
What follows is B/CA's first annual Business Aviation Services Guide. We hope you find it useful, but just as importantly, we hope it helps to trigger within you ideas for other data you'd like us to provide so you can put it to use in your operation. We admit that this guide is incomplete, and always will be. The breadth and depth of services available to business aviation operators and personnel is almost limitless, so enumerating them all would be impossible.
True professionalism assumes the practitioner will always be in a process of review and expansion, the former to hone skills and knowledge already obtained, and the latter to adapt to new circumstances -- life's only constant. Both processes are available through training and education.
Premier Air Center of East Alton, Ill., has a new program to update the primary flight displays of Falcon 20s and 200s using Universal Avionics EFI-890R high-definition, active-matrix LCDs. Premier claims that operators can retrofit the Universal displays at between one-quarter and one-half the cost of other Falcon 20/200 avionics packages. Much of the savings comes as a result of the EFI-890R being able to interface with legacy avionics such as autopilots and radar systems.
The Antonov Design Bureau has rolled out its prototype AN-148-100. The 68- to 80-seat regional jet resembles a twin-engine BAe 146 or an enlarged 328Jet. The first aircraft will be joined by a second this month. The aim of the Ukrainian company is to gain Russian AP-25 certification after completing a 600-hour flight-test program by mid-2006. The aircraft is designed to meet FAR Part 25 and EASA Part 25 certification. Although the AN-148 has no official launch customer, the company claims that it holds letters of intent from several airlines for around 100 aircraft.
The National Aircraft Resale Association (NARA) has elected James E. Markel, the CEO of Apex Aviation Corp., as chairman for 2005. The vote was taken during NARA's annual meeting, which was held in conjunction with the recent NBAA Convention in Las Vegas.
WE WERE GATHERED in the family room, watching the blank white states turn red, mostly, in what NBC's exiting Tom Brokaw rightly described as the best reality TV program ever. After Alabama, Georgia and Kentucky declared for President Bush and Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont proclaimed John Kerry their man, some telepundit mentioned the Washington, D.C., vote in a kind of verbal footnote.
Proposed Rules -- Dassault Falcon 10 airplanes -- Temporarily amend the airplane flight manual to provide flight crew procedures on how to use the main landing gear during touchdown to avoid a three-point landing. Also, perform repetitive inspections of the piston rod of the drag strut actuator of the nose landing gear for cracks and take corrective actions, if necessary. -- Garmin GTX 33 and 330 Mode S transponders -- Install software upgrade Version 3.03 or 3.06.
An old line guaranteed to elicit groans and hoots at any assembly of aviation people. As with many federal agencies, the FAA has been likened to a kind of regimented oaf, a dolt on steroids with an insatiable appetite for government forms, and money. But in it also rests the power to deny aviation people and companies that which they most desire: access to the airways. And thus it poses a terrible, constant threat as well. Here to help? Ha! Please just go back to Washington or wherever, and leave me alone.
When tower controllers receive runway braking action reports that include the terms ``poor'' or ``nil,'' or whenever weather conditions are conducive to deteriorating or rapidly changing runway braking conditions, the tower will include on the ATIS broadcast the statement, ``Braking Action Advisories are in effect.''
The NBAA has hired Lisa Piccione as its new senior vice president, government affairs, to replace Pete West, who recently resigned (Intelligence, October, page 18). West had joined the association from Delta Air Lines in 1987 and was named senior vice president, government affairs, in 1998. Piccione's background complements the lobbying skills and background of new NBAA President Ed Bolen. Piccione held senior lobbyist positions at Delta and at the Airports Council International-North America. She also served as a top aide to several members of Congress, including Rep.
NetJets Services has selected Rockwell Collins to provide avionics maintenance repair and technical support on its fleet of Gulfstream G200 and Raytheon Hawker 400XP aircraft. Under two separate 10-year agreements, Collins Aviation Services will provide NetJets with forward exchange avionics support on the fractional operator's aircraft, including maintenance, component repairs, reliability upgrades, equipment removal and refit coverage. Collins Aviation Services provides repair and overhaul services for avionics equipment at 80 facilities around the globe.
A retired U.S. Coast Guard captain and search and rescue expert, NTSB Board Member Richard Healing knows a thing or two about the risks involved in lifesaving helicopter operations. Concerned about the helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) safety record, he is following a study of recent accidents to identify trends and, possibly, issue recommendations. He spoke with B/CA about that project and its genesis.
McGregor, Texas-based Blackhawk Modifications, which offers engine upgrades for the Beech King Air and Cessna Conquest, signed an agreement with ARC Corp. to be the exclusive marketing and distribution agent for ARC's Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-135 engine modification for the Piper Cheyenne I and II. The reengined Cheyennes will be marketed as the Blackhawk Cheyenne IXP and IIXP, respectively.
FAA Administrator Marion Blakey is likely to continue to serve during the Bush administration. The question is where. She seems enthusiastic about continuing to head the FAA, saying that running the agency ``is a terrific job'' and that she would be ``delighted'' to continue in that post during President Bush's second term. Blakey is two years into her five-year term as head of the FAA.
Enhanced Flight Group (EFG) of Lexington, Ken., has a new type of ground power unit (GPU) for piston and light turbine aircraft. The 978 Series GPUs, weighing about 22 pounds, are designed as alternatives to large, expensive start carts, battery chargers and other transformer/rectifier-based power systems for engine/battery power.
It is conservatively estimated that the business aircraft industry incurs $1 billion in aircraft damage per year as a result of ground accidents. Yes, that was ``billion,'' with a ``b.'' That figure is inexact because it includes both direct costs and indirect costs, the hard-to-determine latter being three to four times greater than direct losses.
