CASTLE & COOKE AVIATION commenced negotiations with Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) to lease the former Jet Center property on Daily Drive at the Van Nuys, Calif. Airport (VNY) and redevelop the site into a new fixed-base operation. The company plans to demolish existing buildings on the site and construct all new aviation facilities that will include more than 100,000 square feet of hangar space and more than 50,000 square feet of FBO, office and shop space.
EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND GMBH MBB-BK 117C-2 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2008-0042; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-26-AD; Amendment 39-15614; AD 2008-15-02] – Requires replacing the current injection-tube clamps in the fire extinguishing system with GBS clamps, per the instructions of Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin MBB BK117 C-2-26A-001 (dated Jan. 22, 2007).
THE JULY 31 crash of a Hawker 800 in Minnesota was a statistical rarity, according to data compiled by Robert E. Breiling Associates of Boca Raton, Fla. The Hawker series of business jets has an accident rate of just 0.12 accidents per 100,000 flight hours. That compares with a rate of 0.95 accidents per 100,000 flight hours for all business jets.
Jet Aviation opened its new fixed-base operation at Beijing’s Capital International Airport Aug. 5, just in time to handle the first private aircraft arriving for the Olympics Games, being held in China for the first time. Opening ceremonies were scheduled for Friday evening and the Games will run through Aug. 24. Construction of the FBO, a joint venture with Beijing-based Deer Air and Reach Investment, began less than six months ago, necessitating a mad dash by workers to complete the facility in time for use by private jet travelers attending the Games.
The Federal Aviation Administration last week issued a revised Flight Advisory that would permit holders of DCA Access Standard Security Program (DASSP) authorizations to access Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) airspace during the Republican National Convention Sept. 1-4 in the Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn. area (MSP). The Transportation Security Administration worked with FAA and other “security partners” to expand the program to allow DASSP-authorized flight operations through the MSP TFR.
Despite a U.S. economic downturn that has slowed piston-aircraft deliveries, general aviation billings continued to soar during the first half of the year to a record $12.1 billion, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association reported last week. Industry billings were up 24.1 percent from the first half of 2007 and eclipsed the $10 billion in billings that the industry reported for all of 2003.
A MACHINISTS STRIKE against Hawker Beechcraft Corp. moved into its second week as the company reported a big turnaround in its second-quarter financial report, and strong demand for the company’s business jets has pushed order backlogs to record levels. That has left union members saying it is time for workers to share in the company’s good fortune. See articles on following pages.
FAA continues to work on a controversial rulemaking to make permanent airspace restrictions that have been in effect for several years in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. FAA released a proposal in August 2005 to establish a National Defense Airspace Region that would codify the restrictions contained in the Air Defense Identification Zone and inner Flight Restricted Zone over Washington, D.C. That proposal drew some 20,000 comments – mostly in opposition – and big turnouts during a series of public hearings.
ATLANTIC AVIATION completed renovations of its executive terminals at Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) and at the Nashville, Tenn. International Airport (BNA). The new Midway terminal includes passenger waiting areas that were designed to improve passenger comfort, updated pilot lounges and an expanded cafe/vending area. The Nashville project includes an updated lobby, conference room, pilots lounge and restrooms. Atlantic Aviation also is building a new 32,000-square-foot hangar complex at Nashville. That project is slated for completion in February.
SCOTT FOWLER was named chief marketing officer for Air Routing International. Fowler will support both sales and marketing efforts for the company. He joins Air Routing from Air BP, where he was marketing manager. During his career Fowler also has developed advertising campaigns, audio productions, broadcast media and Web initiatives for both domestic and international companies.
ROLLS-ROYCE signed a memorandum of understanding with Mooney Airplane Company to discuss future applications of the engine maker’s RR500 turboprop engine in Mooney products. The new RR500 features multifuel capability, an electronic engine monitoring system and extended time between overhauls.
HAWKER BEECHCRAFT SERVICES is offering inflatable restraints as aftermarket safety options for all pilot and co-pilot seats in Barons and Bonanzas built since 1983. The AmSafe Aviation Inflatable Restraint is an aviation airbag system designed to protect pilots’ head, neck and torso during survivable aircraft accidents. In the event of severe aircraft deceleration, sensors recognize crash forces and activate airbags that are stored in a lap belt and deploy up and away from the occupant’s seat.
CPI AEROSTRUCTURES, INC. of Edgewood, N.Y. received a contract from Sikorsky Aircraft to provide the trailing edge of the S-92’s sponson. Deliveries are to begin in December 2008. The award is valued at $2 million by CPI Aero, which also produces structural parts for the Boeing E-3, Fairchild-Republic A-10, Gulfstream G650, Lockheed Martin C-5A, Northrop Grumman T-38, and Sikorsky UH-60 and MH-60S.
Roel Pieper, the chairman of Eclipse Aviation and its new CEO, plans to focus on solving vendor problems and achieving the manufacturing efficiencies to nearly double production rates of the Eclipse 500 Very Light Jet, a level that he said will make the company cash flow positive. Pieper, a significant investor in Eclipse, officially took over as CEO last week after company founder Vern Raburn was unable to solve the manufacturing problems that have plagued Eclipse for years. Raburn no longer has a formal role with the company he founded a decade ago.
JOHN HOLDING was named special advisor for Aerion Corp. Holding will direct the next stage of development for the Aerion supersonic jet, working with Aerion Chief Operating Officer Mike Henderson and Chief Technology Officer Richard Tracy. Holding formerly was executive vice president, integrated product definition and planning engineering, for Bombardier Aerospace. While at Bombardier he led the introduction of at least one new aircraft product every year over a 16-year period.
Piper Aircraft took a key step on the road to FAA certification of the company’s first business jet with a successful one-hour first flight Wednesday from Piper headquarters in Vero Beach, Fla. “With this major milestone in the PiperJet’s development, we are witnessing our future,” said Piper President and CEO James Bass, adding that the flight “marks the beginning of a new era for Piper Aircraft.”
BILL COLLIER was promoted to vice president, Citation parts distribution for Cessna Aircraft Company. Collier will steer global spare parts support and distribution, Citation aircraft warranty administration, and direct operating cost programs such as Citation ProAdvantage. He also will manage negotiations of product support agreements with supply partners. Collier joined Cessna in 2005 as director of sales and marketing for Citation Parts Distribution. He also has held management posts with Air Services International and Rolls-Royce Corporation in Indiana.
THE CIVIL AIR PATROL (CAP), which published its final numbers on the futile search for Steve Fossett, said more than 60 CAP Nevada Wing members and six aircraft were initially involved in the hunt. Eventually, members of CAP’s Nevada, California, Utah, Idaho, Oregon, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas wings devoted more than 17,000 man-hours combing 20,000 square miles in search of the downed aviator. In total, the CAP flew 629 flights and 1,774 hours, primarily from Nevada’s Minden-Tahoe Airport. The search ended Oct. 3, 2007.
TODD STRONG was promoted to director, engineering and quality, for Gulfstream Aerospace’s facility in Long Beach, Calif. He will manage final phase engineering, service center engineering, Designated Alteration Station, quality control and quality assurance at the Long Beach facility. Strong joined Gulfstream in 1999, and most recently was engineering manager for the facility. He has 23 years of aviation experience, formerly serving as senior manager for mechanical systems engineering for Boeing Aircraft, Long Beach.
BOMBARDIER received an order from London Air Services (LAS) for five Learjet 85 aircraft. Bombardier said the order is valued at about $86 million, based on the list price of a typically equipped aircraft. LAS, the first Canadian operator to order the Learjet 85, also was the first Canadian operator to take delivery of a Challenger 605 and Learjet 45 XR as well as the launch customer for Bombardier’s Global Vision Deck. The Learjet 85 will be the first all-composite Learjet.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air/Marine (CBP) plans to significantly expand its fleet of AS350 helicopters, providing American Eurocopter its second major contract award from the U.S. government in the past couple of years. The Department of Homeland Security agency signed a contract valued at more than $50 million for up to 50 AS350B3s.
September 10 – National Business Aviation Association, Regional Forum, Hanscom Field (BED), Bedford, Mass. For more information, contact NBAA at (202) 783-9000 September 10-11 – Technology Training Corporation’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Conference, Holiday Inn, Arlington, Va., (310) 563-1223 September 15-18 – Arinc’s Flight Simulator Engineering and Maintenance Conference, Hilton Salt Lake (Utah) Center. For more information call (410) 266-2008 or see www.arinc.com
