Bombardier's Global Express won reduced vertical separation minimum (RVSM) approval from the FAA, European Joint Aviation Authorities and Transport Canada. The approval permits the Global Express to operate in RVSM airspace, which currently is limited to certain tracks over the North Atlantic and Pacific but will eventually extend above the United States. Aircraft can maintain as little as 1,000-foot vertical separations in RVSM airspace, but must demonstrate that they meet stringent equipment and certification standards.
Continental Express and Kent State University have teamed up to create an ab initio pay-for-training program. Beginning in July, Kent State sophomores meeting certain academic and flight qualifications will be accepted into the program, which will prepare them for employment with Continental Express. The training includes a summer internship at the Houston-based carrier's training facility, and graduates are guaranteed an interview with Continental Express for available pilot positions.
The contract to run the United Kingdom's National Air Traffic Services (NATS) part privatization has been won by a consortium called ``The Airline Group,'' and the U.K. government is expected to benefit by about $1.2 billion from the sale. Contracts were signed with the U.K. government in early April and the deal is due to be closed on June 1, subject to European Union merger clearance, which is expected to be unopposed. An accelerated investment program of $1.45 billion is planned by the Group through 2007-2008.
Flight Options has contracted with Fleet Capital Leasing to provide financing for its fractional ownership program. Calling the deal ``an additional benefit for our clients,'' Flight Options' Vice President of Sales and Marketing Rich Heckman branded Fleet an ``innovator in the aircraft financing industry.'' Flight Options now claims more than 600 owners of shares in 85 used aircraft including Cessna Citation IIs, IIIs and Vs, Beechjet 400As, Hawker 800s, Falcon 50s, Challenger 601s and Gulfstream IVs, with Fairchild Dornier Envoy 7s on order.
NTSB investigators are continuing to examine the events that led to the fatal crash of a Gulfstream III one mile from Aspen, Colo., Airport (ASE) on March 29. The accident, which killed all 18 crewmembers and passengers aboard, is generating discussion of several issues, including the difficulty of flying into the popular ski resort in deteriorating weather conditions, and night curfew restrictions.
Rifton Aviation has taken delivery of a Citation X and a second Citation Excel to support its growing charter fleet. Based at Stewart International Airport (SWF) near Newburgh, N.Y., Rifton also operates a Gulfstream IV and expects to take delivery of a Dassault Falcon 2000 in June. Company spokesman Johann Huleatt said last year's plan to create a ``transatlantic shuttle'' with Boeing Business Jets is on hold for now, though the company expects to launch a new shared ownership program in the coming months.
Competitive pressures have led Eastern Caribbean Express (EC Xpress) to suspend operations after just 11 months of service. Launched and backed by Air Jamaica, the St. Lucia-based carrier flew three leased Bombardier de Havilland Dash 8-100s; these aircraft will now join Air Jamaica Express. EC Xpress officials say aggressive fare-cutting by BWIA subsidiary Bwee Express and LIAT led to the carrier's demise. In December 2000, Air Caribbean of Trinidad and Tobago filed for bankruptcy protection.
The FAA is considering a local request to ban older jets incapable of meeting the current Stage III noise standards at Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) in Wyoming. According to Airport Manager George Larson, the airport board and U.S. Sen. Craig Thomas (R-Wyo.) are pushing to ban Stage II aircraft in a bid to make the airport -- a popular charter destination -- ``a quieter place.''
Air Wisconsin has placed orders for up to 150 new Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft, valued at $1.68 billion. The new aircraft will operate United Express service from Air Wisconsin's Chicago and Denver bases and supplement the carrier's existing fleet of CRJ200s, BAe 146s and Fairchild Dornier 328 turboprops. Deliveries of the new aircraft are slated to begin in September and will be configured in 40-, 44- and 50-seat variants. The contract includes 75 firm orders and options for 75 additional aircraft.
Midwest Express Airlines has ordered 20 new ERJ-140 regional jets for its Skyway Airlines subsidiary. Skyway currently operates a mixed fleet of 15 Raytheon Beech 1900D aircraft and seven Fairchild Dornier 328JETs. According to the airline, the new 40-seat jets will replace some of the 19-seat turboprops as well as open new routes. Midwest Express has options for 20 additional ERJs.
This directory is a selective listing of specialized products and services not included elsewhere in the 2001 Purchase Planning Handbook. In many cases, the products or services are not available directly from the manufacturer, but from authorized distributors. Operators should contact the manufacturers shown in the address listing to obtain purchasing information. The listing of a product or service in this directory is not an endorsement or recommendation by B/CA. CATEGORY INDEX
The FAA, Washington, D.C., has named Dan Kasowski, director of maintenance at the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, N.D., an airworthiness aviation safety counselor (ASC). As an ASC, Kasowski voluntarily serves for one year as an assistant to the FAA safety program manager in performing accident prevention functions in their community.
The FAA's Aircraft and Airmen Registry in Oklahoma City, Okla., is now making data available on its Web site, www.registry.faa.gov. The site has been operating for about a year, but officials keep making more information accessible, recently adding the full airmen and aircraft databases. As of April 4, users could send an interactive query to the aircraft database to locate aircraft by type, serial number or N number.
Boeing Business Jets has designated the DeCrane Aircraft Systems Integration Group (PATS) in Georgetown, Del., as an authorized warranty repair facility and factory authorized service center. The service center also will provide other maintenance, repair and overhaul services as required. The facility had already been supplying green BBJs with auxiliary fuel tanks necessary for the BBJ to fly missions in excess of 6,000 nm and also installs winglets on the BBJ to further increase the range of the aircraft.
The Bush Administration will ask Congress for $15 million to fund the next stage of NASA's Small Aircraft Trans- portation System (SATS), an effort to develop the next generation of light civil aircraft. In NASA's fiscal 2001 budget, Congress awarded the space agency $9 million in ``seed money'' for the program, and directed it to seek more funding in the coming years. NASA expects SATS to cost around $69 million over the next five years.
The Boeing Co. plans to relocate its corporate headquarters to the Chicago, Dallas or Denver area later this year as part of a strategic plan to spur growth in the company's non-core businesses and more centrally locate the company's top executives. Boeing Chairman and CEO Phil Condit told reporters he had been thinking about the move for about a year and gained board of directors approval to proceed early this year. The move will affect about one-half of the roughly 1,000 people who now constitute Boeing's corporate headquarters staff in Seattle.
Pentar Avionics, Bothell, Wash., is expanding its test equipment business with the opening of its Shawnee, Kan., office. The office will provide customer support for Pentar's test system business, formerly known as Pentar Avionics Systems Group, and will feature program management, systems and software engineering, production, sales and repair. Mike Reed, vice president and general manager, will head the new Shawnee facility, and John Fortino, director of engineering, will assist Reed.
Gulfstream sold two G-VSP aircraft to Gulfstream GATX Leasing (GGLC), a joint venture between the manufacturer and GATX Capital. GGLC now has firm orders for 10 Gulfstreams of various types; three have been delivered.
