Mercury Air Group has completed its acquisition of Raytheon Aircraft Services' FBO in Birmingham (BHM), Ala. The facility will remain a Raytheon authorized service center for Beech Barons through King Airs. Raytheon said it wants to concentrate on the expansion of its jet service centers in Atlanta and Tampa. Both facilities are undergoing expansions that are expected to be completed this fall. No changes in staff or management in Birmingham are planned. GE Support Services has launched a new Web site for ``one-stop shopping''
Aviation Partners Boeing has won STC approval for the ``blended winglets'' earmarked for the Boeing Business Jet (BBJ). The approval is the culmination of a two-year flight test program, which Boeing says validated the performance gains expected with the modification. Built by Aviation Partners, the winglets are said to give the BBJ a 300-nm range increase, while allowing for an additional 4,000 pounds of payload to be carried.
CommutAir -- a turboprop regional airline in the Northeast United States -- has dissolved its 11-year code-sharing arrangement with US Airways, and will become a Continental Alliance carrier on December 2. Around half of the Plattsburgh, N.Y.-based regional's route structure will be re-aligned with the change, and US Airways plans to divide the vacated routes between its remaining US Airways Express carriers.
Russian FBO operator Rus Aero and Shannon Air have agreed to provide ground handling for corporate jets and other non-scheduled aircraft throughout Russia and the CIS. Shannon Air is an Irish company that arranges aircraft refueling and ground handling in Russia. The companies say they plan to offer standardized pricing at all facilities and hope to capture a 70-percent market share with the new venture.
ARINC has opened a newly expanded office near London's Gatwick Airport to help service its growing network of European clients. The communications system and technology developer is under contract to support Eurocontrol's RVSM program, provide data-link services to SAS and other European carriers, and support airport check-in and other ground-handling systems.
GE Capital Aviation Training (GECAT) will manage Britannia Airways' simulator training in London. Britannia's Luton-based Boeing 757/767 simulator will be moved to GECAT's London-Heathrow training center as part of the deal.
London, England-based Aviation Leasing Group has ordered two Raytheon Premier I's and a Beechjet 400A. The aircraft are destined for the Civil Aviation Training Centre in Thailand, which will use them to train student pilots for Thai International Airways and other Pacific Rim air carriers.
Trade groups are pushing the FAA to reverse its final ruling regarding certification procedures for changed products. Under the new regulation, existing products that are changed must be re-certified to current airworthiness requirements, a process the AOPA claims could ``add up to $15,000 to the cost of something as simple as installing a new GPS receiver.'' Dennis Roberts, the AOPA's vice president and executive director of government and technical affairs, says the rule also will ``hamper safety improvements . . .
Sabreliner has introduced a new composite interior for Model 80 aircraft. The interior weighs about 100 pounds less and offers easier maintenance and inspection access than original interior components, says the company.
Jet Aviation has recognized Pratt&Whitney Engine Services as its preferred engine repair and overhaul vendor for Pratt&Whitney PT-6A and JT-15D series engines. The agreement covers Jet Aviation's service facilities in Bedford, Mass.; Dallas; and Teterboro; as well as its recently renovated facility in West Palm Beach Florida.
British International, a U.K.-based helicopter operator, has selected Russell Adams to supply computer maintenance software. The Russell Adams systems will provide inventory management, record-keeping, task-card generation and other functions at British International's five locations.
AOPA President Phil Boyer presented the group's Award of Excellence to Christopher Andrews for volunteer efforts promoting the interests of general aviation at Des Moines International Airport (DSM).
Safeair has agreed to license its safety cards to Airshow, allowing the inflight entertainment provider to produce digital safety briefings for Airshow 400 and Airshow network users. Dennis Ferguson, Airshow president, says the safety briefings ``add valuable content to Airshow's menu of services.'' The two companies plan to produce and market VHS safety information tapes. Airshow also has unveiled plans for iSYS -- a centralized system for managing cabin amenities including environmental controls, inflight entertainment and inflight e-mail.
AOPA Senior Vice President of Communications Drew Steketee is leaving the organization this month to become president and CEO of Be A Pilot. The AOPA, aircraft manufacturers and other industry groups helped form Be A Pilot -- originally known as GA Team 2000 -- in 1996 to encourage new pilot starts. Steketee, a nine-year AOPA veteran and 2,600-hour commercial pilot, also served in communication posts at Beech and GAMA.
Mercury Air Group was awarded a $5 million contract to provide refueling services at NAS Meridian. Commencing on February 1, 2001, Mercury will maintain and operate the government-owned fuel and cryogenic facilities.
Brookdale International Systems is now offering the EVAC-U8 Emergency Escape Smoke Hood. The device is designed to provide up to 20 minutes of breathable air in the event of smoke in the cabin. The EVAC-U8 uses a multi-stage, air purifying, chemical catalytic filter to remove carbon monoxide, and a protective hood made from Dupont's Kapton, an 800F heat-resistant material. Brookdale said the product protects the lungs, eyes and the entire head from the heat and toxic smoke that a fire can produce.
The Air Group has added three new aircraft to its charter fleet. The Van Nuys, Calif.-based aircraft include a Gulfstream III, Gulfstream IV and a Challenger 601.
The Irish Coast Guard has renewed its contract with CHC Helicopter division Scotia Helicopter Services to provide search and rescue-equipped helicopters based in Shannon and Dublin. Under the terms of the agreements, Scotia will provide four specially equipped Sikorsky S-61N helicopters through January 1, 2007.
