Promoted to operations manager for Executive Beechcraft's three Kansas City locations. Toth has been with Executive Beechcraft since 1996, most recently as customer relations manager. In his new role, he will manage line service, customer service and guest relations. He is a licensed A&P mechanic.
In the face of a softening economy, the turbine-powered civil helicopter market grew at least 25 percent in 2007 and is predicted to grow by up to 50 percent through 2012, according to the Honeywell 10th annual Turbine- Powered Civil Helicopter Purchase Outlook. Based on surveys of more than 1,000 flight departments worldwide, the outlook forecasts deliveries of 4,450 new civil helicopters from 2008 to 2012.
Model SF340A and 340B airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-0212; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-237-AD; Amendment 39-15368; AD 2008-03-17] - Requires operators to install Modification 3163, which involves re-routing existing wires to the Fuel Quantity Indication System (FQIS), installing new wires with shields to the FQIS, and conducting operational and functional tests of the system. This AD is designed to prevent fuel tank explosions. The FAA estimates that this AD will affect 218 aircraft on the U.S. Registry and cost U.S.
BBA Aviation, which already owns the world's largest network of fixed-base operations, will get a little bigger after officials agreed to buy fuel and line operations at seven U.S. airports from Hawker Beechcraft Corp. (HBC) for $128.5 million. The sale, subject to customary conditions, as well as regulatory and certain third-party approvals, is expected to close in May, HBC said. BBA owns Signature Flight Support, which currently operates 85 FBOs worldwide, including 49 in the U.S.
Model F.28 Mark 0070 and Mark 0100 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0117; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-273-AD] - This proposed AD would mandate inspection of the piccolo tubes and the wing leading edge for damage and replacement or repair of the Peri-seals, following the instructions of Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-30-028, Rev. 1 (dated Apr. 17, 2007).
RAYTHEON, SAIC WILL BID FOR FAA TRAINING SYSTEM CONTRACT - Raytheon announced it is pursuing an ATC training system contract with FAA valued at more than $100 million. Raytheon Technical Services will team with Science Applications International Corp. in a bid for FAA's ATC Optimum Training Solution (ATCOTS). The multi-year, performance-based contract is expected to be awarded in June. The final request for proposals will occur this month.
HAWKER BEECHCRAFT appointed Avion Logistics Limited in Hong Kong as an authorized parts distributor for the company's Rapid Aircraft Parts Inventory and Distribution (RAPID) business. Avion Logistics will distribute parts for the entire Hawker Beechcraft aircraft line throughout Asia. Avion Logistics recently formed as a joint venture between Avion Pacific Limited and SEACOR Holdings. Avion Pacific Limited also is an authorized sales representative for Hawker Beechcraft aircraft in China, Hong Kong and Macau.
Named general manager of Cessna Aircraft's Wichita Citation Service Center. Jurich previously was general manager of Cessna's Toledo Citation Service Center. He has 28 years of aviation experience, beginning as a Cessna maintenance technician in Wichita.
CHANGI AIRPORT INSTALLS RUNWAY FOREIGN OBJECT DISPLAY SYSTEM - The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) will spend US$8.4 million to install a new system to detect foreign objects on the two runways at Singapore Changi Airport.
Russ Meyer, III will have wide-ranging responsibilities in his new role as director of new product development for Hawker Beechcraft Corp., the company said last week in officially announcing his appointment (BA, Feb. 18/70).
NATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION scheduled its 2008 Air Charter Summit June 9 - 11 at the Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles conference center and hotel in Chantilly, Va. The 2008 event is expected to cover a range of regulatory, legislative and other issues facing the industry, including legal issues confronting charter operations, compliance with the most frequently violated regulations, Transportation Security Administration initiatives, and safety management systems. To register, visit the NATA Web site at www.nata.aero/events.
Model SF340A and 340B airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-0298; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-238-AD; Amendment 39-15369; AD 2008-03-18] - Requires operators to install Modification 2762 and conduct related investigative and corrective actions in accordance with Saab Service Bulletin 340-57-031, Rev. 02 (dated Sept. 28, 2005). This AD is designed to prevent fuel tank explosions. The FAA estimates that this AD will affect 168 airplanes on the U.S. Registry and cost U.S. operators a total of $338,856, or $2,017 per aircraft. This AD becomes effective March 17.
THE NATIONAL AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS ASSOCIATION, which has been issuing critical statements for months about FAA's failure to hire enough new controllers to replace those eligible for retirement, issued a statement Friday claiming that a supervisor in the Oakland, Calif. Air Route Traffic Control Center turned down the volume of a loudspeaker in the center while controllers were attempting to monitor a distress call from a small aircraft whose pilot had declared an emergency. The plane later crashed near Nevada City, Calif. northeast of Sacramento.
REED ELSEVIER GROUP said Thursday it plans to sell its Reed Business Information unit, which publishes scores of magazines including FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL. At the same time, Reed Elsevier said it is purchasing ChoicePoint, Inc., a major provider of personal data for the risk management market, for more than $4 billion.
CARMANAH TECHNOLOGIES won an order to supply solar-powered portable airfield lights for privately-owned airfields in the United Arab Emirates. The contract, from the UAE authorized aviation distributor GESOLAR, is valued at $600,000. The order will allow the UAE to enhance visibility at remote airfields with the solar-powered LED lights. The order includes Carmanah's A704-5 runway edge lights, approach lights and threshold lights, as well as A601 taxiway lights.
Joined Avidyne Corporation as inside sales representative. Ring will be responsible for aftermarket sales support in the Northeast and Southeast U.S. He previously served as a line service technician at Swissport Fueling in Worcester, Mass. and at Signature Flight Support and Executive Flyers Aviation in Bedford, Mass. Most recently, he was an Acura automobile sales and leasing specialist.
Joined Airports Council International-North America as general counsel. Previously associate general counsel of US Airways, Kemp will serve as ACI-NA's senior in-house counsel and oversee the association's airport-related litigation and legal policy. While with US Airways, she was involved with a number of aviation issues, including capacity constraints at slot controlled airports, the US Airways/British Airways Alliance, the United/US Airways joint marketing relationship and the regulation of computer reservation systems.
Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0167; Directorate Identifier 2008-NM-029-AD; Amendment 39-15374; AD 2008-04-02] - Requires operators to inspect all barrel nuts to determine if they have a certain marking and inspection of the affected bolts to determine if the bolts are pre-loaded correctly. Replace all hardware if the pre-load is incorrect. For airplanes on which the pre-load is correct, conduct repetitive visual inspections for cracking of the barrel nuts and cradles and replace all hardware on all cracked barrel nuts.
The U.S. Transportation Department's congestion pricing is taking aim at small communities and regional airlines, said the Regional Airline Association (RAA), whose member airlines would be most affected by the proposal. "When it comes to demand management or congestion pricing, we get it...We're the target," RAA President Roger Cohen told the audience at this month's Aviation Week ATC Demand Management Forum. "The goal, the way we feel, is to squeeze us out of busy hub airports, make it so expensive as to reduce the number of flights."
ADAM AIRCRAFT filed for Chapter 7 liquidation Feb. 15 with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court representing the District of Colorado. The filing came just days after the Denver-area aircraft manufacturer shut its doors and laid off the last of its 800 employees (BA, Feb. 18/71). The court scheduled an initial meeting with creditors for March 12. Jeffrey Weinman is serving as trustee.
The pilot of a Cessna CitationJet that crashed shortly after takeoff from the Augusta, Me. State Airport (AUG) on Feb. 1 took off into weather conditions so bad that she was initially unable to locate the unplowed runway (BA, Feb. 11/59).
ROCKWELL COLLINS appointed Walter (Woody) Hogle senior vice president, international business and Washington operations. Hogle, who reports to Rockwell Collins Chairman, President and CEO Clay Jones, will be responsible for leading the international team as well as steering governmental, regulatory, legislative and industrial affairs strategies.
WHILE VERY LIGHT JET makers have begun spooling up aircraft production, the Federal Aviation Administration is still months away from releasing a proposal covering the use of VLJs in air taxi operations. FAA originally hoped to publish a notice of proposed rulemaking in March 2007 that would change operational regulations to accommodate entry of VLJs into the National Airspace System. The proposal was to be based in part on recommendations from the Part 135/125 Aviation Rulemaking Committee and cover crew, equipment, training and dispatch requirements.
Jacqueline Rosser, who has steered Part 135 and other regulatory issues for the National Air Transportation Association for more than a decade, was tapped to serve as executive director of the new Air Charter Safety Foundation. Rosser replaces Lindsey McFarren, who took a post with the Transportation Security Administration's general aviation branch this month (BA, Feb. 4/51). Rosser, a graduate of Southern Illinois University who joined NATA in 1997, will continue as the NATA director of regulatory affairs.
