NORDAM Group (Tulsa) --promoted Ronald C. Richman to vice president for the manufacturing divisions. Donald R. Clark was named vice president of the repair division, Meredith Siegfried was promoted to manager of international operations and Andrew Altendorf was appointed to the position of vice president of world aviation associates.
Should you leave the cockpit to deal with a passenger medical emergency? Corporate and air carrier passengers are becoming increasingly interested in the availability of defibrillation units and other medical aids on board aircraft. For the larger air carriers and corporate operators, flight attendants are available to deal with inflight medical emergencies involving passengers. But what about a corporate operation with two pilots and no flight attendant? Can one of the pilots aid a passenger having a medical emergency?
Jet Aviation is adding two Cessna Citation Bravos to its Europe-based Private Fleet. The first aircraft is scheduled to enter service in October, with the second going online in early 2001. Jet also is adding a Sikorsky S-76B to its U.S. Private Fleet program. The helicopter will be based in the Northeastern United States for use in the Washington to Boston corridor.
Bombardier Aerospace says it plans to build a new final assembly facility for the CRJ900 in Montreal. Citing the ``high degree of commonality,'' Bombardier said the $170 million plant also may be used to support CRJ700 production. Construction is slated to begin this month and should be completed by spring 2000. The manufacturer formally launched the CRJ900 at the Farnborough Air Show this summer, claiming 34 firm orders and 28 options.
B/CA has teamed with the Aviation Research Group/US (ARG/US) to produce CompAir, a computer program to help aircraft dealers, owners and prospective buyers compare turbine aircraft costs and performance. The CD-ROM also contains an archive of more than 200 B/CA articles focusing on more than 90 popular turbine aircraft. CompAir users can use the software and database to prepare professional presentations complete with photos, charts and text to help decision-makers evaluate and compare aircraft options.
Embraer has launched the Legacy -- a business jet variant of its 37-seat ERJ-135 regional jet -- with cabin volume as its major selling point. To obtain 3,200-nm range with eight passengers, the Brazilian manufacturer plans to use winglets, extend the ERJ-135's cargo hold to accommodate a 7,000-pound capacity fuel tank and upgrade to the ERJ-145's Rolls-Royce AE3007A1P engines.
Promising to make the arcane act of booking a business aircraft charter as simple as purchasing an article of clothing online -- and, in the process, open the hitherto upscale air charter market to a wider group of consumers -- a growing number of Web sites are springing into cyber-existence to service the burgeoning air charter industry. Retail Web sites open to the computer-savvy traveling public, as well as operator/broker support sites limited to the trade, currently abound online.
Sabreliner is now manufacturing primary structural components such as frames, ribs and longerons at its own manufacturing facility in St. Mary, Mo. Delivery time on parts will be reduced by as much as 75 percent over ordering from outside vendors, according to Sabreliner executive Ron Herman, who says the move also ensures ``an OEM fit'' for Sabreliner airframe structural components. Herman added that the new facility also can custom-manufacture airframe components for other business aircraft.
Galaxy Aerospace has told prospective owners it will ``guarantee'' a direct operating cost of $850 per hour or less for the first five years or 2,000 hours of operation. The manufacturer also is assuring owners of the Galaxy's reliability -- promising to pay for a backup aircraft if an AOG situation cannot be resolved within 72 hours by Galaxy's rapid response team. The backup guarantee applies to the first two years of Galaxy ownership.
Allen E. Paulson, a man who rose from humble beginnings to bring Gulfstream to the forefront of business jet manufacturing, has died in California at age 78 after a long battle with cancer. Paulson created the modern Gulf-stream Aerospace in 1978, by com- bining Rockwell's Oklahoma City-based general aviation division with Grumman Aerospace's corporate jet division in a $52 million deal.
Photograph: EAA members get acquainted under the Wisconsin sun. Clear prop! EAA Masses of faithful flying enthusiasts made their annual pilgrimage to Oshkosh, Wis., from July 26 to August 1, renewing old friendships, spending time with their families and also exploring what's newest and oldest in aircraft technology. The Experimental Aircraft Association's AirVenture has become an 1,800-acre aviation expo with a much broader based constituency than in its early years.
BFGoodrich Aerospace has launched a prototype avionics suite for general aviation aircraft, and expects FAA certification in 2002. Called SmartDeck, the suite is a self-contained primary instrument system, which fully integrates an aircraft's primary flight avionics and display equipment. SmartDeck was developed through a joint effort between BFGoodrich and recently acquired, Advanced Creations, Inc, (ACi) of Dayton, Ohio.
Raytheon Aircraft Co. President and CEO Hansel E. Tookes is now also chairman of the manufacturer. The appointment completed the transition of power from Art Wegner, who retired. Tookes, a former United Technologies executive and United Airlines pilot, joined Raytheon in September 1999.
The Houston Police Department has ordered two Schweizer Model 333 turbine helicopters. Now operating one of the United States' largest aerial law enforcement divisions, the department inaugurated helicopter patrols 30 years ago using Model 300Cs.
American Eagle has converted options for six more Embraer regional jets to be delivered in 2002. The arrangement allows the Dallas-based carrier to take delivery of RJs with 37 seats, 50 seats or possibly a 44-seat ERJ variant that Embraer has in the works. Eagle President Peter Bowler said he would prefer 50 seaters, but can do so only if American Airlines' pilots ratify a tentative contract agreement that expands the number of 50-seat RJs Eagle may operate.
Era Aviation (Anchorage) Kip Knudsen to general manager of FBO and facilities, Steve Hill to station manager for the airline division, Mike Le Norman to director of sales and marketing and Lillian Bunch to manager of reservations.
Forbes magazine has recognized WeatherTAP.com as ``Best of the Web'' in its summer Internet issue. WeatherTAP.com is a service of TAP Publishing, publisher of Trade-A-Plane.
Cessna is offering an Instrument Computer Based Instruction program (I-CBI) through the Cessna Pilot Center flight-training network. The new instrument-pilot multimedia training system is the next step for pilots after completing the private pilot CBI program. The I-CBI student kit consists of 28 fully interactive CD-ROMs, a textbook, Skyhawk pilot information manual, course syllabus, the FAR/AIM on CD, the course management module and an IFR flight organizer.
