Midcoast Aviation Vice Chairman Gary Driggers has been elected chairman of the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) board of directors. A 14-year Midcoast Aviation executive, Driggers is an ATP-rated pilot with more than 10,000 hours flight time, including two tours of duty flying helicopter gunships in Vietnam. Joining the NATA board are three new members: Abilene Aero President Joe Crawford, Elliott Aviation President Wynn Elliott and Elizabeth Haskins, president and CEO of Signature Flight Support.
Flightcom Corp. has announced a new version of its Denali Active Noise Reduction (ANR) headset that uses aircraft power, eliminating the need for a battery box. With the ``Panel Power'' option, a single, five-key quick-disconnect plug replaces the mic and headphone plugs. The custom jack can be wired in parallel with existing headset jacks. The headset comes complete with an installation kit, including a wiring harness, that is compatible with 12- or 24-volt DC aircraft systems. An in-line ANR on/off switch provides ``fail-operative'' capability.
The Corporate Angel Network (CAN) benefited from two separate volunteer efforts -- one of them involving B/CA -- that generated $130,000 for the aviation charity. On May 6, the annual Greater Washington Aviation Open golf and tennis tournament was held at the Indian Spring Country Club in Silver Spring, Md. Donations from tourney participants plus an auction of gift airline tickets and other items generated $101,000 for CAN. (See Intelligence, page 25.)
The University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill will be closing Horace Williams Airport (IGX) as ``quickly as possible.'' ``Ultimately, we had to weigh all of the financial commitments involved in operating the airport,'' said UNC Chancellor James Moeser. ``Shutting down clearly emerged as the most responsible action.''
The Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) attempt at regulating charter industry security is a vague, unsubstantiated rule that is full of pitfalls, industry officials told the newly formed agency last week. The measure calls for security programs for charter air carriers that operate aircraft weighing 12,500 pounds or more. A chief concern of Jeb Burnside, vice president for government and industry affairs for the National Air Transportation Association (NATA), is the application of what NATA calls ``airline-style'' security to all charter operators.
The 131st British Open golf championship will see David Duval defending his title against Tiger Woods and Greg Norman, who has won the British Open twice. Both Woods and Duval will be making their first competitive appearance at Muirfield. The East Lothian links are where Jack Nicklaus won his first Open Championship in 1966.
TAG Aviation, San Francisco, has named Ann Holmes as the company's director of cabin safety and service. In this newly created position, Holmes will be responsible for developing training programs, procedures and service standards. Holmes, who began her career as a flight attendant and later founded a quarterly publication for flight attendants, most recently held a similar cabin management service position at Gulfstream Aerospace.
Atlantic Southeast Airlines will increase its presence at Middle Georgia Regional Airport in Macon with the planned construction of a 7,500-square-foot technical training center. The training facility will house classrooms and office space, as well as additional room for equipment and parts storage. Macon is also home to ASA's 60,000-square-foot maintenance headquarters.
Nordam Group President Robin Siegfried and Chief Operating Officer Ken Lackey have been named co-CEOs of the Tulsa-based company, replacing Ray H. Siegfried, who will remain as chairman. Ray Siegfried announced the changes soon after being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In announcing the changes, the chairman also declared that ``we have no plans nor intent to sell or partner with any other company,'' adding that the company will remain under the control of the Siegfried family.
Brazil -- As of April 2, there have been 104,469 cases of dengue fever, resulting in 40 deaths in the state of Rio de Janeiro. In addition, there have been 460 cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever, and 29 deaths in the city, as reported by Brazil's municipal health authority. Dengue fever is commonly seen in Brazil, but these figures represent a significant increase in cases for Rio de Janeiro when compared to recent years. Many other countries in South and Central America and other tropical and subtropical regions of the world are also reporting increased dengue activity.
The FAA has issued a report analyzing the issues behind the failure of NPRM 65/66, which focused on revising certification standards for aviation technicians. The evaluation was conducted by the agency's Human Factors in Aviation Safety group in conjunction with Galaxy Scientific, a contractor specializing in human factors.
Edited by David RimmerMike Vines, at ILA, Berlin, Germany
Eurocopter President and CEO Jean-Francois Bigay hosted his company's 10th anniversary celebration by cutting a huge birthday cake at the recent ILA show in Berlin, Germany.
Gulfstream Aerospace is going to make a minor wing modification to the first 16 GVs to remedy a certification compliance issue stemming from FAA and JAR certification methodologies for determining ultimate wing loading. Gulfstream President Bill Boisture told The Weekly of Business Aviation that the first 16 aircraft wing sets received formed sheet-metal stiffeners as a post-production modification to meet compliance requirements.
DOT's exploration of ``market-based'' solutions to airport congestion has been revived with the establishment of a new, July 22, 2002, closing date for public comments. The DOT concept includes the imposition of airport fees specifically designed to encourage air carriers to use limited airport capacity ``in a more efficient manner.'' Fee structures could include auctions, peak-period fees or flat fees. The GA industry has expressed strong concerns in the past -- before the DOT extended the comment period indefinitely on Nov.
Biggin Hill Airport-based Air Touring, Ltd. has been named authorized sales and service representative for the Sino Swearingen SJ30-2 entry-level business jet for the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. The company has committed to acquiring six of the seven-place aircraft from 2004 to 2006. Sino Swearingen expects first deliveries of the long-awaited aircraft in 2003.
Executive Aircraft Corp., Wichita, has recruited two aviation industry veterans for newly created positions. Wayne Burk is now vice president of completions and maintenance sales, and Kirk Kinkead is director of avionics. EAC anticipates the appointments will help the company become a total-coverage completions, service and modification center.
Bombardier Business Aviation Services (BBAS) finally got serious about product support in March when the firm appointed Jim Ziegler as its vice president and general manager. The 21-year Learjet veteran is well known for his organizational and people skills, plus straight talk and depth of experience. Folks at Learjet say Ziegler rolls up his sleeves and dives into tough tasks right alongside the troops on the shop floor. Power ties aren't part of his wardrobe and power trips aren't part of his agenda.
Saying he hoped to end confusion about the company's identity with ``the press, prospects and . . . even some NetJets owners,'' Executive Jet Chairman and CEO Richard Santulli recently announced the renaming of the company to NetJets, Inc. Admitting a sentimental attachment to the Executive Jet Aviation name since acquiring the charter company in the 1984, Santulli said he finally agreed to the name change many of his colleagues had been asking for since NetJets and the fractional ownership concept became so widely known.
Aetna has decided to shutter its flight department in favor of fractional ownership. According to Fred Laberge, assistant vice president of public relations for the insurance/health care firm, ``It was an economic decision to go with the fractional ownership.'' Based at Bradley International Airport (BDL) at Windsor Locks, Conn., the flight department operated a Dassault 2000, Cessna Citation II, and three Sikorsky S-76Cs.
The Russians have developed a prototype spacecraft specifically designed for the tourist trade. Called the Cosmopolis 21, or simply C-21, the craft could conceivably be ready for operation as early as 2004. The Russian designers say the vehicle will carry one pilot and two passengers to an altitude of 328,084 feet, and remain there for at least three minutes before flying back to Earth. The spacecraft is to be carried to an altitude of 88,000 feet on the back of a Russian M55-X aircraft, at which point it will detach, ignite its rockets and climb into space.
Garrett Aviation's electrically driven auxiliary hydraulic pump for Hawkers has STC approval. The new system can be installed on all Hawkers from the 1A through the 800 series. The electric auxiliary pump offers benefits to both pilots and mechanics said Ray Hartley, quality manager for Garrett's Los Angeles facility. He stated that pilots no longer have to use the hydraulic hand pump to close the gear doors or retract the flaps when the engines aren't running.
The company planning the mammoth airship CargoLifter could get further funding from the German state of Brandenburg, according to the state's economics minister, Wolfgang Furniss. The Berlin-based company is already getting support from the regional government, but speaking at the recent ILA show, Furniss confirmed that CargoLifter has asked for more money to fund it in the medium term. CargoLifter's recent deal with Boeing to study future lighter-than-air projects, though, might just be the light at the end of their financially troubled tunnel.
Skyjet, Bombardier's online charter booking service, has introduced a new block charter program with service guarantees similar to those available through fractional ownership. Participants in the Skyjet Premier Fleet can pre-purchase air charter in 25-, 50- and 100-hour blocks in their choice of small, midsize or large jets. There are no deadhead fees and aircraft availability is guaranteed with 12 hours notice. The program covers the continental United States and international points within 200 miles of the United States.
Spirent Systems is offering its AvVisor cabin display system as optional equipment on Cessna Citation business jets. First installation of the system is on a Cessna Model 550 Citation Bravo destined for an international customer. Cessna is certifying the system on the aircraft type certificate, and Spirent already has STC approval on the Model 525 Citation. AvVisor displays a range of real-time flight information including altitude, ground speed, estimated time of arrival and distance traveled.
Really Quiet LLC has hired FedEx Express to help it establish and support a national network of independent service centers that can install their Stage 3 hush kits for GIIs, GIIBs and GIII aircraft, all powered with Rolls-Royce Spey engines. FedEx Express will provide services to Really Quiet in the areas of supply chain management, vendor management, production management, warehouse inventory management and customer service.
