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CAE was selected by XOJET to provide initial training for the operator’s Challenger 300 pilots. CAE will provide the training at its facility in Morristown, N.J. XOJET, which offers a range of business aviation services, last year placed orders and options for up to 80 Challenger 300s. An authorized Bombardier training center, CAE plans to begin training with a new Challenger 300 full-flight simulator later this year. CAE also provides recurrent training for XOJET Citation X pilots at its SimuFlite facility in Dallas.
KELLY SIMMONS was named chief operating officer/chief financial officer for Jet Support Services Inc. Simmons formerly was president and chief financial officer of GlobalSCAPE, a software company specializing in Internet file transfers. He has a 30-year background in finance and securities, including accounting, mergers and acquisitions, Securities and Exchange Commission reporting, information systems and investor relations. He previously was chief financial officer of Sino Swearingen Aircraft Corp.
(38: Italian plane-maker Piaggio continues to ramp up production and plans to deliver 38 of the Avanti II high-speed pusher-props next year. That would be double the number of aircraft the company delivered in 2006. Piaggio recently obtained local clearances to begin construction of a new plant in Villanova D’Albenga that company executives believe will allow them to increase production to between 45 and 50 aircraft a year, a number Piaggio believes will be necessary to keep up with demand. The factory is slated for completion in 2010.
General aviation groups last week began scouring the Transportation Security Administration’s 260-page notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to extend security requirements to non-airline operators of aircraft that weigh more than 12,500 pounds. The long-awaited NPRM received Office of Management and Budget clearance earlier this month, about 11 months after Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff had announced the proposal (BA, Nov. 12/218).
HAWKER BEECHCRAFT BAe 125 series 800A and 800XP airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0976; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-145-AD; Amendment 39-15685; AD 2008-21-01] – Requires determining the serial number and part number on the main landing gear upper casing, and replacing the MLG assembly with a serviceable MLG assembly, if necessary, in accordance with the instructions of Hawker Beechcraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 32-3920 (dated Aug. 2008).
ROCKWELL COLLINS received Federal Communications Commission approval and INMARSAT Services limited type approval for its SAT-6100B satellite communications system (SATCOM). The system will be available later this year. The SAT-6100B SATCOM provides SwiftBroadband services, but automatically moves to Swift 64 when out of SwiftBroadband range. The system also has three classic aeronautical channels (two Aero H/H+ voice channels and a low-speed data channel).
CLIFFORD DEVELOPMENT completed FAA testing to install Williams International FJ44-3A engines on the Citation II (C550) business jet. Clifford is offering the upgrade at three Clifford-authorized service centers. The upgrade covers 35 improvements including an Ametek digital engine display, heavy duty BFG brakes, a new LED annunciator panel and a dual FADEC system. The new engines reduce average fuel consumption by 35 percent and bring the aircraft into compliance with Stage 4 noise standards.
EMBRAER EMB-120, -120ER, -120FC, -120QC and -120RT airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-1005; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-119-AD] – This proposal would require operators to revise the “Limitations” section of the Airplane Flight Manual to include a minimum fuel quantity, and add a minimum fuel quantity limitation for operation of the fuel booster pump.
– FAA is preparing to select companies to provide low-cost runway surveillance systems for an extensive test program that could lead to a nationwide deployment. The agency will soon select one or more systems to evaluate at six airport for a trial that will last anywhere from “several months to a year,” an FAA spokesman said. The agency wants to determine which system will satisfy minimum operational and safety requirements, and whether it will be feasible to continue with a procurement.
($6 Billion: Embraer’s backlog for its executive jet line tops $6 billion and now encompasses about one-third of the total company backlog. The backlog includes orders for 800 Phenoms. Embraer executives said the company is investing $100 million to increase its customer support network in preparation for Phenom deliveries, which are slated to begin later this year.
The City of San Diego is soliciting responses to a Request for Proposals (“RFP”) which describes an outstanding aviation development opportunity at Brown Field Airport in the Otay Mesa area of the City of San Diego. The site is approximately 10.7 acres at the west end of the exisiting ramp area. Development proposals may consist of any compatible, aeronautical real estate project on all or a portion of the site. Smaller proposals are welcome.
INTERNATIONAL AVIATION regulators have heard the concerns of business aviation operators regarding their dislike of airspace charges, a top official of the International Civil Aviation Organization told NBAA members last week. Roberto Kobeh Gonzalez, president of the ICAO Council, addressed attendees at the opening general session of NBAA’s convention and outlined the importance of a seamless global air traffic management system that applies to all users. He also noted the challenges, including the economics for airports and air navigation systems.
The new owners of the Sino Swearingen Aircraft Corporation last week promised they are “trying to infuse a new energy” into the long-suffering SJ30 aircraft program, rolling out a new company name but few details about their future plans. Emirates Investment & Development Company acquired an 80 percent share of Sino Swearingen in June, becoming the latest in a string of owners over the past two decades.
STANDARDAERO partnered with Wipaire Inc. and Silverhawk Conversions to collaborate on separate PT-6A upgrade programs. Standard Aero will serve as an approved installation facility for Wipaire’s Cessna Caravan 208-series engine upgrade program. The upgrade replaces 600-shaft horsepower PT6A-114 and 675-shp PT6A-114/A powerplants installed on in-service Caravans with 750-shp PT6A-135A engines. The -135A engine increases power at altitude and improves rate-of-climb performance. The engines will be available for installation early next year.
JIM DEMPSEY was appointed to the newly created position of vice president of sustaining and government programs for Gulfstream Aerospace. Dempsey, who reports to Pres Henne, senior vice president, programs, engineering and test, manages entry-into-service programs, the Reliability Quality and Availability Action Team, Production Change Management Team and all government programs, from bid to post-delivery activities.
DORNIER Model 328-100 Airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-1043; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-036-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to modify the main landing gear main body and trailing arm bushings in accordance with the instructions of Dornier Service Bulletin SB-328-32-245, Rev. 2 (dated Nov. 21, 2007) and Messier-Dowty Service Bulletin 800-32-014, Rev. 1 (dated July 19, 1999).
– Chicago Mayor Richard Daley got one step closer to leasing out Midway Airport last week when the City Council unanimously endorsed the proposed agreement. The council vote came a week after Daley announced a $2.5 billion deal to lease Midway for 99 years to the Midway Investment and Development Company (MIDCo) consortium. MIDCo includes New York’s Citi Infrastructure Investors, Vancouver-based YVR Airport Services Ltd. and Boston-based John Hancock Life Insurance Co.
AVIONS DE TRANSPORT REGIONAL ATR72 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-1081; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-143-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to verify installation of the four cotter pins securing the nuts of the fastener assemblies connecting the elevator control rods to the elevator bellcranks, as described in ATR Service Bulletin ATR72-27-1059, Rev. 2 (dated May 19, 2008). If any cotter pin is found missing, before further flight, a new one would have to be installed.
DOUG DONAHUE was named Embraer aircraft service sales representative for Duncan Aviation. Donahue joined Duncan in 2000 as a service sales representative. He has 15 years of experience. Duncan Aviation is an Embraer authorized service center for Legacy and Phenom aircraft. Duncan performs scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, AOG support, troubleshooting, engine maintenance, warranty work, modification, and component repair and replacement for the Embraer executive fleet.
BURKHART GROB LUFT UND RAUMFAHRT KG G103 series gliders [Docket No. FAA-2008-1078; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-051-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to remove a bolt from the airbrake bell crank and install a new bolt and new locking nut. Also, operators would need to inspect all parts of the airbrake bell crank for damage and, before further flight, replace any damaged parts, per the instructions of Grob Aerospace Service Bulletin No. MSB 315-76/1 and 869-27/1 (both dated June 23, 2008).
David Siegel has left Gate Gourmet to become president and CEO of XOJET, a two-year-old on-demand charter and aircraft ownership operation that appointed Siegel to its board a little over one year ago. The current holder of these positions, XOJET founder Paul Touw, will now assume the chairman’s role.
PASSUR AEROSPACE, INC., Greenwich, Conn., received a contract to provide its PASSUR FBO software for the Ross Aviation network of fixed-base operations. The software provides real-time flight, customer and airspace status through visual flight tracking and Web dashboards. The program also includes detailed marketing reports and analytics. Ross Aviation operates 13 FBOs throughout the U.S., including five locations in Hawaii (Bradley Pacific Aviation) as well as Arizona, New Mexico, California, Colorado, Alaska, Texas and Florida.
Hangar space for lease at the Van Nuys Airport. Maguire Aviation is in the process of developing 460,000 sq. ft. of hangar and offices for single and multiple tenant occupancy. Please contact Mike McDaniel or Tim Wray for more information at 800-451-7270. Click here to view the pdf
SAFE FLIGHT INSTRUMENT CORPORATION was selected to supply its automatic throttle system, AutoPower, as an option on the Gulfstream G150 business jet. The AutoPower system initially will be available for new production aircraft, and later for retrofit on in-service G150s. AutoPower is designed to reduce crew workload, improve situational awareness and passenger comfort by providing smooth and precise engine target settings for airspeed control.
