Statistics provided by AMSTAT, the Tinton Falls, N.J. provider of business aviation fleet information, indicate that a slow but steady increase in transactions, along with stabilizing inventories may signal the beginning of a turnaround in the used business aircraft market. Tom Benson, executive vice president, said although market conditions still are not great, “it would seem that for the pre-owned business aircraft market, the worst is probably behind us.”
NATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION credited its new partnership with the National Business Aviation Association for the strong attendance at last week’s FBO Leadership Conference in San Antonio, Texas. For the first time, NATA and NBAA scheduled the FBO Leadership Conference and Schedulers and Dispatchers (S&D) Conference to run concurrently at the same location. NATA’s conference drew more than 100 participants, double the attendance of the 2009 event. Attendance also was up at NBAA’s S&D, breaking the top three for all-time attendance.
Signature Flight Support is working with the United Kingdom Border Agency on an international passenger entry system trial at London Luton Airport. Signature, the Border Agency and Technology Store are developing a “VIP Cyper-Port” system to enable international passengers at London Luton to be processed 24 hours a day at Signature’s business aviation terminal. The technology, Signature said, “could influence the way in which the U.K. Border Agency works with business and general aviation operations.”
GAL BARAK was appointed chief executive officer of Elbit Vision Systems, effective Feb. 15. Barak spent nine years with Scitex Corporation, and later, following its acquisition, at Hewlett Packard (HP). He established the Latin American operations for Scitex in 2001 and in 2005 was appointed general manager of HP-Scitex North and Latin American operations. Since 2008, he has been the general manager of HP-Asia-Pacific.
MIKE GARDINER was named president of Goodrich Corporation’s Actuation systems business unit. Gardiner, who has 25 years of aerospace experience, formerly was chief executive of the Goodrich/Rolls-Royce joint venture Aero Engine Controls. He also served with Lucas, which was later acquired by TRW.
WENDY BURTON joined Wayfarer Aviation as director of industry charter. Burton will directly manage relationships with aircraft operators, brokers and vendors. She has held senior level positions at a number of charter operators and brokerage organizations.
BRITISH AEROSPACE HP.137 Jetstream Mk.1 and Model 200, 3101 and 3201 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0056; Directorate Identifier 2009-CE-051-AD] – Inspect the nose landing gear’s steering jack piston rod, check the torque of the end fitting, and determine the safe life of the rod, per the instructions of British Aerospace Jetstream Service Bulletin No. 32-JA030644, Rev. 1 (dated Aug. 19, 2008). If the rod is found cracked or unserviceable, replace it with a serviceable unit before further flight.
Earl Weener, a fellow at the Flight Safety Foundation who has a strong record in aviation safety initiatives, is the White House’s selection to fill the remaining term of Mark Rosenker on the National Transportation Safety Board. The White House formally nominated Weener Jan. 20 for a term that would run through the end of 2010. Rosenker, the former chairman of the NTSB, resigned from the safety board last summer after the Senate failed to act on his renomination to a second term as chairman (BA, July 27/39).
THE HOUSE General Aviation Caucus has passed the 100-member mark. Formed in April 2009, the caucus is chaired by Reps. Vernon Ehlers (R-Mich.) and Allen Boyd (D-Fla.) Also last week, the Senate GA Caucus, which has 23 members, held its first meeting. “The continued growth of these caucuses underscores the recognition by Congress that general aviation creates jobs, provides a transportation lifeline to communities across the country, helps businesses succeed and supports people and communities in times of crisis,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen.
Just days before the National Transportation Safety Board’s Feb. 2 final hearing on the Colgan Air Flight 3407 accident, FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt on Jan. 27 detailed the status of FAA’s far-reaching safety initiative that aims to overhaul airline pilot training and hiring requirements and set one level of safety for regionals and majors.
CIRRUS AIRCRAFT has sold 16 SR20 aircraft to Purdue University’s Department of Aviation Technology. The aircraft will replace the university’s current fleet of Piper Warriors. Deliveries begin in March and run through July.
TRAVIS VALLIN joined Jviation, a Denver-based planning, engineering and construction administration firm focused on aviation-related projects. Vallin has 18 years of experience managing complex aviation programs and previously was director of the Colorado Department of Transportation Aeronautics Division.
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KEVIN BROWN was promoted to president and chief executive officer of M7 Aerospace. Brown, who most recently was president and chief operating officer, joined M7 in 2004 and has held positions in finance, business development, and mergers and acquisitions. Before joining M7, he held several positions with Crown Castle International.
PATRICK CHAMPAGNE was appointed vice president, cockpits and systems integration for Esterline CMC Electronics. Champagne is leading a new business focused on the company’s cockpit systems and the next generation of cockpit systems requirements for both the military and commercial markets. He previously was vice president, engineering for the company.
Piper Aircraft has become the second major general aviation manufacturer to enter the light-sport aircraft (LSA) market. Under a licensing agreement, Piper will upgrade and sell the Czech Sport Aircraft (CSA)-built LSA as the PiperSport. Piper established a new company, PiperSport Distribution, to sell the PiperSport and anticipates deliveries will begin in April, the company announced last week. The announcement comes just a month after Cessna Aircraft formally delivered its first LSA, the Cessna 162 SkyCatcher.
GREG FELDMAN was appointed vice president of systems engineering for Metron Aviation, an air traffic management specialist that helped develop the Collaborative Decision Making platform. Feldman previously was vice president of engineering for Flatirons Solutions.
Delta’s private jet service subsidiary, Delta AirElite, has acquired Kinston, N.C.-based Segrave Aviation in an all-cash transaction that will double the size of the AirElite fleet. Delta said the acquisition also will improve the travel experience and Web-based booking for fleet membership card and charter customers. It did not disclose the dollar amount of the deal.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association restructured its Government Affairs Division under Melissa Rudinger, senior vice president of government affairs. The association created a new Operational and International Affairs Department and reorganized the Regulatory Affairs Department.
EMS TECHNOLOGIES formed a new business unit, EMS Aviation, which will encompass the company’s EMS SATCOM, EMS Formation and EMS Sky Connect units. EMS SATCOM provides Inmarsat SwiftBroadband systems, while EMS Formation and EMS Sky Connect provide air-to-ground connectivity and Iridium-based tracking and messaging, respectively. “[The] drive for greater connectivity presents a prime opportunity to leverage the combined strengths of our aviation businesses and offer a full spectrum of connectivity solutions for cockpit and cabin,” EMS President and CEO Neil Mackay said.
CHRIS BODINE was appointed vice president and general manager of StandardAero’s facility in Augusta, Ga. Bodine has served as the acting vice president and general manager since April 2009. Before that he was crew chief and A&P mechanic for StandardAero.
CREDIT SUISSE, meanwhile, notes that business jet cycles were up 7.2 percent in December, compared with December 2008. This marked the first positive growth trend in two years. The numbers were still 17 percent below the December 2007 level. Aircraft operations involving Cessna aircraft improved the most, up 5.9 percent. Gulfstream aircraft movements increased 5.1 percent, Credit Suisse said.
JAMES PALMER was named vice president, aviation products, for Esterline CMC Electronics. Palmer heads a new business unit that will focus on new and next-generation aviation products for both commercial and military applications. He also will remain responsible for commercial services and customer support.
NIGHT FLIGHT CONCEPTS was named the exclusive North American distributor for Nivisys Industries’ NVAG night-vision aviator goggle. Nivisys obtained technical standard order authorization for the NVAG in 2008. Night Flight Concepts will offer night-vision goggle training, installation and maintenance along with the NVAG for the civil aviation industry.
DASSAULT FALCON will continue in 2010 its practice of positioning technical support personnel and spare parts in strategic locations to assist operators who will be traveling to major events. These events include the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland; the Singapore Airshow; Super Bowl XLIV in Miami; the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada; and the World Cup in South Africa.
