ATR delivered the first of seven ATR aircraft on order with Precision Air Services of Tanzania. Precision Air Services placed an order in 2006 for five ATR 72-500s and one ATR 42-500, and subsequently ordered another ATR 42-500. ATR, which handed over the first ATR 72-500, will deliver the remaining aircraft on order through 2010. The orders will double Precision Air's ATR fleet, which also includes four ATR 42-320s and three ATR 72-210s.
PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA won a fleet management contract to support ERA Helicopters' fleet of Agusta 119 Koala helicopters. The agreement includes ERA's 26 installed and three spare PT6B-37A engines over an 11-year period. Pratt & Whitney's fleet management programs include a range of plans to guarantee operating costs over the life of the aircraft. Maintenance is performed at P&WC-owned or designated maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities.
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE awarded a contract valued at $1.4 million to Accelerated Building Concepts Corporation for the building and leasing of modular buildings to house an engineering department. Gulfstream plans to use the facilities to develop flight test equipment and instruments. The two facilities are scheduled for delivery in May.
Rockwell Collins announced last week its intent to acquire Athena Technologies, Inc., a privately held Virginia company that provides flight control and navigation technologies mainly for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but the transaction is to be completed in about 30 days, subject to regulatory approvals. The acquisition is expected to be neutral to Rockwell Collins' fiscal 2008 earnings.
The Federal Aviation Administration's proposals to require operators to install Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B)-capable equipment received mixed reviews from the aviation industry, with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association saying the proposal is not acceptable in its current form and other aviation groups saying FAA needs to provide financial incentives and expedite the benefits of ADS-B.
Model CF34-8C1, -8C5, -8C5B1, -8E5, -8E5A1 and -10E engines [Docket No. FAA-2007-29001; Directorate Identifier 2007-NE-36-AD; Amendment 39-15395; AD 2008-05-01] - Requires a one-time test of the fuel metering unit (FMU) for miswiring (reversed polarity) of the input wires to the overspeed solenoid. This AD, which resulted from the discovery of miswired FMU overspeed solenoids in the field, was issued to prevent engines from failing to shut down during an overspeed, which could lead to an uncontained engine failure.
FIRSTFLIGHT strengthened its sales staff with the appointment of Stephen Meyer as senior vice president of sales and the addition of three executives to the charter sales department. Meyer, a pilot who has owned several aircraft, formerly was executive vice president and a major shareholder of Central Sprinkler Corporation. FirstFlight also appointed Seth Rothman, Anthony Johns, and David Logalbo to the charter sales department. Rothman will be based in Miami, Fla., and be responsible for Florida and the Southeast U.S.
Model SF340A and 340B airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-0333; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-236-AD; Amendment 39-15379; AD 2008-04-07] - Requires incorporating Modification 3162, which includes stowing the existing wiring to the Fuel Quantity Indication System (FQIS), installing new wires with shields to the FQIS, and conducting operational and functional tests of the modified system.
Model DHC-8-400 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-0183; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-146-AD; Amendment 39-15376; AD 2008-04-04] - Requires conducting a one-time inspection for damage of the spring support bracket and support beam of the forward baggage door, aft service door and aft passenger door, according to Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-52-51 Revision A (dated Sept. 8, 2006).
CESSNA AIRCRAFT implemented its Customer First initiative at all of its Citation Service Centers in North America. The Customer First initiative, which provides customers a single point of contact for all service issues, began as a Textron Six Sigma pilot program in 2004 at the company's service centers in San Antonio, Greensboro and Orlando. Each center dedicates a Customer Service Representative (CSR) to every owner and operator.
Appointed regional sales manager, West for JetCorp Technical Services. Mansolino, who will be based in Van Nuys, Calif., formerly was vice president for AIG. A commercial and air transport-rated pilot, he has flown for both commercial airlines and corporate flight departments and has served as an instructor for FlightSafety International.
As a result of two Bombardier CRJ200 RJ engine failures that were traced to fan blade flaws introduced during the manufacturing process, the National Transportation Safety Board has asked the Federal Aviation Administration to require the removal of the blades from service before another incident occurs.
CMC ELECTRONICS was selected to supply its CMA-9000 flight management system for Pilatus Aircraft's PC-21 turboprop trainer that was selected by the Republic of Singapore Air Force. CMC Electronics also is providing the SparrowHawk Head Up Display and a Video Display Unit for the rear cockpit of the PC-21. The CMA-9000 has multisensor GPS, Datalink communications and INS and DME navigation capabilities.
Donald S. Lopez, 84, the deputy director of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum (NASM), died of a heart attack on March 3. Lopez - a World War II fighter ace, U.S. Air Force test pilot, aeronautical engineer, author and educator - had been with the Smithsonian since 1972, when he started his NASM career as assistant director for aeronautics. Lopez served as the museum's deputy director from 1983 until 1990, eventually retiring in 1993, but rejoined NASM as deputy director in 1996.
POGO JET added Carol Hallett and Theodore Weise to its board of directors. Hallett, currently a counselor to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, formerly served as president and CEO of the Air Transport Association. Hallett also serves on the boards of Atlas Air, Worldwide Holdings, Inc., Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company, Rolls Royce-North America and Wackenhut Services. Weise retired in 2002 as president and CEO of Federal Express following a 30-year career with the company.
WHILE MOST OF the Washington, D.C.-based aviation associations signed a letter urging the Senate to act on a long-term FAA reauthorization bill, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association decided against joining the coalition. AOPA said it wanted to "avoid any confusion" about its support for the House-passed bill, H.R.2881, for reauthorization. The House bill would keep the current aviation financing system intact, but the version passed by the Senate Commerce Committee, S.1300, would establish a $25 air traffic control user fee.
THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION today (March 10) will release its outlook for the years 2008-2025 during the 33rd Annual Federal Aviation Forecast Conference at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. The event will include remarks from Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, FAA acting Administrator Robert Sturgell and Delta Airlines CEO Richard Anderson, among others. The event also will include discussion panels on Congestion in the Present and Future Aviation System and Environmental Challenges for Aviation.
Cessna Aircraft awarded Parker Aerospace Control Systems Division a contract to supply a hybrid fly-by-wire flight control system for the new Model 850 Citation Columbus aircraft. The Columbus will be the first member of the Citation line to be equipped with a fly-by-wire flight control system. Parker Aerospace will supply the primary and secondary flight controls, including roll, pitch and yaw axes; high lift; stabilizer trim; and speed brake controls.
Joined JetCorp Technical Services as regional sales manager, East. Schriber will be based in the Boston area. Formerly regional sales manager for Jet Aviation, Schriber also has held positions with Senior Aerospace, Dassault Falcon and CAMP Systems.
AVIATION TECHNOLOGY GROUP (ATG) last week said it is continuing to pursue short-term and long-term options to renew development of the Javelin. ATG suspended development in December and laid off most of its employees (BA, Dec. 3/251). "The efforts of the [ATG] Board are now focused on negotiations with interested parties pursuing a possible sale or a majority buyout of ATG," the company said, adding, "The general plan in this regard is to ask for best and final offer bids from prospective buyers to reach ATG within the next few weeks.
GARMIN INTERNATIONAL was selected to provide standard avionics for MD Helicopters production aircraft, including the MD 600N, MD 520N, MD 530F and MD 500E. The avionics will include Garmin's GMA 347 audio panel, GNS 430W GPS/NAV/COM, SL 40 NAV/COM transceiver, and GTX 328 Mode S Transponder. The panel will also include Garmin's GI 106 course deviation indicator (CDI).
SUNCOR ENERGY INC., a North American developer of oil sands, placed the first Challenger 890 corporate shuttle into service. The company will use the aircraft to transport employees between its headquarters in Calgary and Fort McMurray, Alberta. Suncor also operates a Challenger 850 shuttle. The 890 can seat up to 90 passengers, fly at speeds up to Mach 0.82 and has a 2,038-nautical-mile range with 52 passengers.
