Photograph: James Schuster Raytheon Aircraft Chairman James Schuster has reorganized the company's senior management ranks for the second time in four months. Schuster, who took the top slot at the Wichita aircraft manufacturer in June, announced a major reorganization less than six weeks later. At that time he promoted Richard Dan-forth from vice president of operations to senior vice president, aircraft business, and named him to a senior leadership team within the company. Recently, however, RAC said Danforth has left the company.
Sean O'Keefe was nominated as NASA administrator by President Bush. O'Keefe is the deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget and is known for his efforts to control spending on the International Space Station. If confirmed by the Senate, he would replace outgoing NASA Administrator Dan Goldin, who stepped down in November after a 10-year term. O'Keefe is a former secretary of the Navy and chief financial officer of the Department of Defense.
FlightSafety's Embraer ERJ-145/135 flight simulator at its Paris Le Bourget learning center has received FAA Level D certification. It had previously been certified to equivalent French standards by the DGAC. FSI operates a total of 13 simulators in the United States and Europe for Embraer's 50-seat airliner.
``If you fly now, you must be prepared to wait and wait, flee, duck, intervene or die. Not a pleasant way to spend your miles.'' Real estate executive Norm Quinn speaking about the lessening appeal of frequent flier miles, in The Wall Street Journal ``I came up here in a Global Express, and I've got to say you've got something going for you.'' Former President George H. Bush at Bombardier dinner in Montreal ``My sense is that it's not the Number 1, 2, 3 or 4 priority.''
The New York Aviation Management Association is conducting a survey of all FBOs and GA airports in the state to define and quantify the economic impact of September 11 and subsequent events on such things as tiedown fees, fuel sales, flight instruction and maintenance. The NYAMA, primarily an airport management association, is also conducting a parallel survey of New York air carrier airports and their tenant businesses under the assumption that the impact profile will be substantially different, requiring different metrics to yield valid results.
Columbia Air Services has opened an aircraft sales office at New York's Westchester County Airport (HPN). Located at the Westair General Aviation Complex at Hangar M, the office, managed by Eric Winston, will also function as a field office for Columbia's avionics shop to service smaller aircraft. Columbia can ferry owners or their aircraft to and from Columbia's main facility in Groton, Conn.
Dassault Falcon Jet, Teterboro, N.J., has promoted Rich Iudice to director of flight operations. Iudice currently flies the Falcon 900, 2000 and 50 and is type rated in the Falcon 10.
Bell Helicopter and Agusta have selected Smiths Aerospace to supply electronic components for several new helicopter models. Smiths will provide Cockpit Voice Recorders (CVR) and Integrated Data Acquisition and Recorder System (IDARS) for installation on current and future Bell 412s. The CVR also will be installed on Bell 430 helicopters. Agusta will equip Agusta Bell AB139s with Smiths' Health and Usage Monitoring System (HUMS).
Some good news from the European Stage 3 front. The advocate general of the European Court of Justice has invalidated the European Commission's restriction on the operation of older aircraft refitted with new engines that have a bypass ratio less than 3:1, but meet Stage 3 noise requirements. Omega Air, which retrofits new Stage 3 engines on older B707s, challenged the restriction. The European Court typically would be expected to follow the ruling of its advocate general.
Saying it was responding to crew and passenger safety concerns, online booking service Skyjet implemented increased security measures within 24 hours of the terror attacks for all charters it books. Clients must now provide Skyjet with a passenger manifest upon confirmation of their charter, which will be sent to the operator conducting the flight. Upon arrival at the departure point, all manifested passengers must produce positive identification for the flight crew, similar to airline ID requirements.
Avolar, United Airlines' business aircraft program, received approval for charter/air taxi operations in late October from the FAA. The company, which has ambitious plans to offer a whole range of business aviation services from fractional business aircraft operations to interlining operations with United's airline operation, is also continuing to pursue commercial air carrier certification under FAR Part 121, using an Embraer RJ 135, Avolar said.
RTS Services Inc. has earned ISO 9001 certification for its Fort Worth engine repair facility and parts supply operation located near DFW. RTS Services purchases and supplies turbine parts and components for several models of Pratt&Whitney Canada, Rolls-Royce and Honeywell engines. Its RTS Rework affiliate restores and repairs turbine engine and transmission parts and components.
Corporate aircraft flights between the Untied States and Canada are facing greater surveillance and inconvenience as both countries struggle to get their aviation systems back to some sense of normalcy following September 11. Both the Canadian CANPASS and U.S. GATE Customs pre-clearance systems for corporate aircraft and their passengers were suspended, at least temporarily, after the attack, so flights had to land at designated ports of entry for clearance before continuing on to their final destinations.
A preliminary count of new fixed-wing turbine business aircraft retail sales shows 461 jets and 161 turboprops -- a total of 622 units -- were delivered through most of September 2001 to the world market.
Learjet 45 was originally delivered with -20R engines flat-rated at 3,500 lbf for takeoff up ISA+16C, with 3,650 lbf thrust available for APR. After approximately 100 engines were delivered, Bombardier and Honeywell introduced the -20AR, an upgraded version with more-robust hot-section parts that improve durability.
The deadline for applying for Women in Aviation International scholarships is December 17. Scholarships range from primary flight training through business jet and airliner type ratings, flight attendant and dispatcher training, maintenance training and engineering studies. Scholarships are open to any active WIAI member, male or female. Detailed program and application information is available from WIAI at (386) 226-7996 or at www.wiai.org.
Princeton Airport has opened the first new runway in New Jersey in 30 years. The 3,500-by-75-foot runway project began eight years ago. It is equipped with REIL, PAPI and variable intensity runway lights. It replaces an older runway that will be converted to a full-length parallel taxiway.
Honeywell has developed OmniView Plus, a 14.1-inch active matrix LCD with a 160-degree-wide viewing angle and 1,400-by-1,050-pixel resolution. The new flat-panel display will be used in Honeywell's Primus Epic integrated avionics systems, on board the Dassault Falcon 900EX and Gulfstream VSP business jets. Developed in a partnership with Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corp., the display uses Honeywell's OmniView Plus technology and Chi Mei's version of multi-domain vertically aligned active matrix LCD (AMLCD) technology. Price: Call manufacturer
REGA, a swiss air ambulance operator, has ordered three Bombardier Challenger 604s with aeromedical interiors. All of the aircraft will be equipped with two intensive care stations and life support equipment. Two of the completed aircraft are due for delivery in June 2002, while the third is expected next November. The aircraft will also include two galleys and a crew rest area that can be converted into additional seating, if necessary. REGA previously owned a Challenger 601-3A configured for similar work.
Just seven months after becoming president of Bombardier's Business Aircraft division, Pierre Beaudoin has been named president and chief operating officer of Bombardier Aerospace. The son of Bombardier Board Chairman Laurent Beaudoin, the younger Beaudoin was for five years president and COO of the Canadian's manufacturing giant's Recreational Products division.
Edited by David RimmerBy David Rimmer Fractional `Leases' Offered
Providing what it calls ``a quality alternative to the aging fleets and service and security compromises of charter and block charter card schemes,'' a New York investment group has created its own approach to fractional aircraft ownership.
