SYNERGY AEROSPACE CORP. has become the first Latin American company to enroll in Bombardier’s carbon offset program. Synergy, based in São Paulo, Brazil, enrolled its Learjet 45 XR, which is used by OceanAir Táxi Aéreo to fly charter missions.
AMB PROPERTY CORP., based in San Francisco, has signed two lease agreements for more than 102,000 square feet in a development next to Madrid’s Barajas International Airport. The first agreement is with freight forwarder Panalpina for about 59,000 square feet. The second deal is with catering company Newrest, which has leased more than 43,000 square feet for its Spain and Portugal operations headquarters, flagship warehouse and food preparation facility.
HONEYWELL TPE331-10 and -11 engines [Docket No. FAA-2009-0555; Directorate Identifier 2009-NE-18-AD; Amendment 39-15996; AD 2009-17-05] – Remove certain first-stage turbine disks from service. This AD, which was prompted by a report of an uncontained failure of a first-stage turbine disk that had a metallurgical defect, is intended to prevent an uncontained failure of the first-stage turbine disk and damage to the airplane. This AD becomes effective Sept. 1.
The recently established New York Airspace Working Group this week is expected to present a series of recommendations to FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt that will detail potential improvements in communications and procedures for operating in the Hudson River Class B Exclusion Zone.
BETH THOMAS has rejoined Sabreliner Corp. in the newly created position of director, corporate aviation support. Thomas initially joined Sabreliner in 1987 and served in customer support positions. She left the company last year for a marketing management position with FlightSafety International.
Aviation veterans Wayne Grossardt and Jerry Brezenski have left Matrix Aviation to create Format Aerospace, a supplier of avionics, instrumentation and rotable components for older aircraft. “I was president of Matrix and was there for 25 years, while Jerry was vice president and had been there for 21 years,” Grossardt said. “We had been wanting to start our own business for awhile and saw an opportunity.”
Morgan Stanley analyst Heidi Wood increased estimates for Rockwell Collins’s stock prices from $40 to $44 because of some expansion in the aerospace industry since March. But Woods also cited the continued hazy outlook for the business jet sector in her report.
Eclipse Aerospace founders Mason Holland and Mike Press are hoping to close on their acquisition of the assets of Eclipse Aviation Corp. (EAC) by the end of the month and “open for business” Sept. 1, Press told BA Friday. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court approved Eclipse Aerospace’s $40 million “stalking horse bid” for the Eclipse assets on Thursday.
FAA HAS SAVED up to $200 million by developing an in-house replacement for a data-sharing system, rather than contracting the work out. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood praised the team from FAA’s Technical Center in Atlantic City that developed the replacement for the national airspace data interchange network (NADIN). Estimates from outside contractors ranged from $90 million to $240 million over a 10-year service life. Based on cost and risk assessments, FAA decided to build the NADIN message switch network rehost (NMR) itself.
TAC Air has signed a definitive agreement to purchase the assets of Air 51 as part of the company’s plans to expand its fixed-base operation services at Blue Grass Airport (LEX) in Lexington, Ky. The Air 51 fixed-base operation opened at LEX in early 2008. As part of the agreement, TAC Air will assume Air 51’s sponsorship of the World Equestrian Games.
COMTRAN INTERNATIONAL has won European Aviation Safety Agency certification for a Dornier 328-300, JET conversion. The approval enables the Texas-based aviation company, known best for its MD-80 hush kits and head-of-state aircraft completions, to sell the 12-passenger executive twinjet to European customers. Comtran, which earlier received FAA certification of the retrofit, calls the Revolution Series 328 VIP aircraft a low-cost alternative to expensive, large-cabin business aircraft.
DASSAULT FALCON secured FAA approval for the Falcon 7X to perform steep approaches with slopes up to six degrees. The approval permits U.S.-registered Falcon 7X aircraft to fly into London City Airport, Lugano, Switzerland, and other airports with steep-approaches. Aircraft operating into London City Airport must demonstrate they can meet performance standards for approach, landing and takeoff from the airport’s 4,327-foot runway. The aircraft also must meet certain aircraft noise standards.
EMBRAER EMB 170 and EMB 190 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0687; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-033-AD] – This proposal, which would supersede AD 2007-06-53, Amendment 39-15035, would require operators to verify before each flight that the forward and aft cargo doors are closed flush with the fuselage skin and that all four latched-and-locked indicators at the bottom of each door display a green (locked) indication.
AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT CORP. Model 7ECA, 7GCAA, 7GCBC, 7KCAB, 8KCAB and 8GCBC airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0745; Directorate Identifier 2009-CE-036-AD] – This proposed AD, which would apply to airplanes manufactured prior to 1989 and equipped with folding rear seat backs, would require inspection of the rear seat back hinge areas for cracking and excessive elongation of the rear seat hinge bolt hole. If cracking or excessive elongation were found, the rear seat frame would need to be replaced.
The suspension of employees’ 401(k) company match, a hike in heath care premiums, and the specter of more layoffs were among the measures outlined in a letter from Rich Jiwanlal, vice president of human resources for Hawker Beechcraft. The letter follows one sent last week by CEO Bill Boisture preparing employees for more cuts (BA Aug. 17/71).
GARY GILBERTS , a longtime Sabreliner 65 pilot and maintenance director, joined the corporate aviation support team for Sabreliner Corp. Gilberts will provide technical and field support for Sabreliner’s corporate aviation customers.
BELITE AIRCRAFT completed a series of stress tests on the carbon fiber wing of the Belite 254 aircraft. Conducted at Belite’s facilities in Wichita, Kan., the static tests were designed to demonstrate the structural integrity of the wing. The wing, which weighs less than 14 pounds, remained intact under a 4G load of 1,134 pounds. Belite is offering the 254 carbon fiber aircraft in kit or assembled form, along with the Belite 254 Classic aircraft.
Cessna Aircraft has announced plans for another round of production cuts at its Independence, Kan., and Columbus, Ga., plants, which focus on single-engine piston production. A letter from Jim Walters, Cessna’s senior vice president for human resources, says that the market remains soft. “While we continue to see signs of stabilization in the overall economy, we are not ready yet to say we’ve hit the bottom of this downturn,” he wrote.
AIRCRAFT OWNERS AND PILOTS ASSOCIATION is pleased that federal agencies are allowing at least some access to Martha’s Vineyard Airport this week while President Obama vacations in the area, but the group still believes flight limitations are “overly restrictive.” There will be a 10-nautical-mile no-fly zone around the airport from Aug. 23-30, and a 30-nm temporary flight restriction (TFR) zone. Pilots can still use the airport, but only if they request a waiver at least 72 hours prior to their flight, and they must conduct screening at one of three gateway airports.
A former ExecuJet executive has opened U.K.-based Indigo Lyon, an aviation sales and service company. The company’s services include spare parts brokerage, consulting and project and program planning.
AS TIME runs short for Congress to complete work on a comprehensive FAA reauthorization bill, lawmakers have begun discussing the possibility of another one-year extension, Washington insiders say. The current authorization is slated to expire Sept. 30. Another extension would provide the Obama Administration time to fully develop its user fee proposal, which calls for the phase-in of billions of dollars in fees beginning in fiscal 2011.
Expressing concern that the Aug. 8 midair collision between an air tour helicopter and a private aircraft over the Hudson River places a spotlight on “overdue safety improvements” for air charter aircraft, Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) has formally requested that the Senate aviation subcommittee hold a hearing on the safety of on-demand aircraft. “This deadly crash highlights concerns not only with the specific airspace above the Hudson River ... but also with on-demand air safety more generally,” he told aviation subcommittee Chairman Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.).
D.J. (JIM) MEIER was appointed senior vice president, government and corporate aviation services for Sabreliner Corp. Meier previously directed Sabreliner’s government and subcontracting services before expanding his responsibilities to add corporate aviation.
