Van Nuys Airport operator Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) is mulling higher landing fees and a debt recovery fee as it looks for ways to close an $8.1 million deficit in its current $21.7 million budget.
Embraer formally handed over the first Lineage 1000 executive jet to a customer during a ceremony Thursday at the Brazilian plane-maker’s facilities in Sao Jose dos Campos. The aircraft was delivered to HE Aamer Abdul Jalil Al Fahim of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (BA, May 4/214). Prestige Jet, also in Abu Dhabi, will manage the aircraft. Delivery of the aircraft, which is based on the Embraer 190 platform, comes three years after launch.
DESPITE THE sagging economy, business aviation companies are still coming out in force to show their wares during this week’s European Business Aviation Convention and Exposition (EBACE) in Geneva. Some 411 exhibitors have bought 1,900 booth spaces for the event, down only slightly from the 430 exhibitors that bought 1,954 booth spaces in 2008. The numbers may have tracked even closer, but EBACE organizers closed one of the exhibit halls “to be more efficient with the layout,” a spokesman said. This has led to an exhibitor waitlist this year.
TSA last week held a second meeting with industry leaders to further discuss their concerns with the controversial Large Aircraft Security Program (LASP) proposal, which would expand security regulations to Part 91 operators of large aircraft. One participant was encouraged that TSA may be considering an alternate proposal that would incorporate some of the feedback from the meetings.
BOMBARDIER CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701 and 702), CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705) and CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0399; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-226-AD] – This proposal would require operators to replace the fuse blocks for certain auxiliary power unit start contactor assembly boxes with new hardware, if necessary, per the instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 670BA-49-012, Rev. A (dated Aug. 28, 2008).
AVFUEL added Fargo Jet Center in Fargo, N.D. to its network of branded fixed-base operation dealers. Based at Hector International Airport, Fargo Jet Center provides line services, maintenance and avionics repair, charter and management, aircraft sales and rental and flight training. The FBO also is a U.S. Port of Entry with U.S. Customs available. Fargo Jet Center last year completed renovations of the FBO.
EMBRAER ERJ 170 and 190 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0412; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-022-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to determine if any aluminum fasteners are installed in Bulkhead 1 of the left- and right-hand pylons. If any aluminum fasteners were found, operators would need to replace them with titanium fasteners before further flight, per the instructions of Embraer Service Bulletins 170-54-0007 and 190-54-0008 (both dated Dec. 21, 2007).
ICELAND CHARTER OPERATOR ICEJET will begin basing four of its five Dornier 328JETs in European bases. One aircraft is now based at Le Bourget in Paris; a second is in Riga, Latvia; and two aircraft are at Oxford Airport in the United Kingdom.
BAE SYSTEMS Model 4101 Jetstream airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-1214; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-259-AD; Amendment 39-15897; AD 2009-10-02] – This AD, which supersedes an existing directive (AD 2005-19-15), requires operators to revise the “Airworthiness Limitations” section of the “Instructions for Continued Airworthiness” to incorporate revised life limits for structurally significant items, operational and functional tests of certain systems, and instructions to retain critical ignition source prevention features during configuration changes.
EMBRAER 190 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0418; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-020-AD] – Perform a detailed inspection of the flanges of left and right wing rib and spars I, II, and III in accordance with the instructions of Embraer Service Bulletin 190-57-0023 (dated June 9, 2008). If any cracking or deformation is detected, repair the damaged areas before further flight.
BAE SYSTEMS BAE 146-100A and 146-200A airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0432; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-168-AD] – Conduct repetitive inspections of the horizontal stabilizer lower skin and joint plates for damage, per the instructions of BAE Systems Inspection Service Bulletin ISB.55-020 (dated Dec.11, 2007). Repair any damage found. This proposed AD, which resulted from an MCAI originated by the European Aviation Safety Agency, was issued to ensure the continued structural integrity of the horizontal stabilizer lower skin and joint plates in the Rib 1 area.
NATIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION reminded members that beginning May 18, general aviation pilots departing from or arriving in the U.S. will be required to provide passenger manifest and aircraft owner and operator information to U.S. Customs and Border Protection 60 minutes prior to the flight. The information must be submitted through the Electronic Advance Passenger Information System in most cases, except where Internet access is unavailable.
MARK DENNEN was named senior vice president and chief financial officer for ACM Aviation. Dennen also formerly was with JetDirect Aviation and its predecessor companies. In his new role, he will oversee ACM’s financial report, accounting, taxation, banking and contract negotiations.
THRUSH AIRCRAFT Model 600 S2D and S2R airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-27862; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-036-AD] – This proposal, which would supersede an existing directive (AD 2006-07-15), would retain the requirement for operators to conduct repetitive inspections for fatigue cracking of the 1/4-inch and 5/16-inch bolt holes on the wing front lower spar caps and repair or replace any spar cap where cracks are found.
CASA CN-235, CN-235-100, CN-235-200 and CN-235-300 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0386; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-184-AD] – This proposal would require operators to modify the aircraft deicing boots control system in accordance with the instructions of CN-235 Service Bulletin 235-30-16 (dated Jan. 21, 2005).
WICHITA MAYOR CARL BREWER (D) has reissued his invitation to President Barack Obama to visit the city for a firsthand look at its aviation industry. “You can’t imagine how much aviation we have here and how it impacts the world. Once you see it, you will clearly understand,” he stated. The letter was presented to the president, said Brewer, but there has not been a response. “But I continue to wait for him to respond or communicate back that he wants to come to Wichita,” he said. “I will continue to make my request to the president any time I can.
AMETEK AEROSPACE & DEFENSE won contracts from Gulfstream Aerospace to supply components for the G650 and from Honda Aircraft Company to provide the fuel gauging system for the HondaJet. The Gulfstream G650 contract calls for hydraulic pressure transducers, hydraulic temperature sensors, flight data system accelerometers and cooling fans. Ametek has previously provided accelerometers and cooling fans for a range of Gulfstream models.
THE 21ST ANNUAL GREATER WASHINGTON AVIATION OPEN to benefit the Corporate Angel Network has been rescheduled for Monday, June 8 at Lansdowne Resort in Lansdowne, Va. Inclement weather compelled the GWAO Committee to make the decision to postpone last week.
REVOLUTION AIR, the New York-based charter broker, has added inflight online shopping as an option for customers. The company is using the SkyBuyHigh catalog and ordering system to allow flyers to order premium goods from 14 companies. Many customers travel frequently and have busy schedules that do not allow them time to shop, Revolution Air President Ronald Goldstein said. “Flights are the only time they have the peace of mind and the time to kill in order to shop,” he observed.
The Obama administration’s fiscal 2010 FAA budget proposal released last week provided few clues a bout long-range plans to replace aviation excise taxes with user fees, but administration officials last week maintained that user fees remain on the table beginning in fiscal 2011 (BA, March 2/91). The proposal recommends a $16 billion budget for FAA, but does not seek any new user charges in 2010.
May 12-14 – European Business Aviation Association Convention and Exposition, Geneva, Switzerland, (202) 783-9000 May 18-21 – Regional Airline Association Annual Convention, Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, (202) 367-2323, www.raa.org/convention May 27-29 – CBAA 2009 – 48th Annual Convention, Trade Show and Static Display, Montreal, www.cbaa.ca May 29 – National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Taxes Seminar, Los Angeles, Calif. For more information, call (202) 783-9000 or visit www.nbaa.org
House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman James Oberstar (D-Minn.) and aviation subcommittee Chairman Jerry Costello (D-Ill.) last week encouraged their counterparts on the Ways and Means Committee to resurrect a proposal that would keep the current system of aviation excise taxes intact, but increase the tax rates on jet fuel and aviation gasoline. The T&I leaders also urged the Ways and Means Committee to move forward expeditiously on the taxes portion of FAA reauthorization.
Dassault Falcon Jet has unveiled its “Common Sense” ad campaign as its own OEM-based effort to boost business aviation. The campaign’s centerpiece is a 40-page portable brochure that outlines 14 reasons why companies agree that business jets give them a competitive advantage. It also includes a print ad titled, “What Can Lift The Economy,” along with another ad touting the efficiency of the Falcon 2000LX.
