Clifford Development, the Kalamazoo, Mich., company that is retrofitting Citation II and S/II business jets with Williams International FJ44-3 engines, conducted the first flight of a re-engined Citation II on Sept. 9. During a 20-minute flight from Michigan's Three Rivers Airport, the aircraft reached a maximum airspeed of 170 knots. The initial mission - which was flown by Bill Bartell of Uvalde, Texas and Bob Jackson of Key West, Fla. - was designed to evaluate the operability of all aircraft systems interfaced with the new engines.
Joined the engineering department of Shadin Avionics as a mechanical design engineer. Leung previously was a mechanical engineer with General Dynamics. In his new role with Shadin, Leung will be responsible for designing new products, making improvements to existing products and evaluating products, parts and processes for cost efficiency and reliability.
Named marketing director for Aon Corp., where he is responsible for large aviation accounts placed in the worldwide insurance market, providing placement strategy, retention analysis and marketing support as well as new business production programs. Byers formerly spent nine years with Marsh's Aviation Practice, where he served as managing director.
THE U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION proposal to increase the passenger manifest requirements for private aircraft entering the U.S., and add similar requirements for departing aircraft, is the first of two proposals that the Department of Homeland Security has been working on involving general aviation. Work has been ongoing on a second proposal that is expected to cover aircraft weighing more than 12,500 pounds.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association says that the U.S. Coast Guard needs to deal with several technical and policy issues before deciding whether or not to decommission or modernize the service's Long Range Aids to Navigation (LORAN) system, a network of low-frequency navaids that has been operated by the service since World War II.
Hawker Beechcraft Corp. (HBC) recently received orders for 16 new Hawker business jets from operators in the Asia Pacific market. The orders came as the company is increasing its presence in Asia with new sales offices and representatives.
ATR received an order from Indonesian low-cost carrier Batavia Air for 10 new ATR 72-500s and options for up to 10 more. The 74-seat aircraft will be equipped with ATR's "Elegance" cabin, LED lighting, Electronic Flight Bag and other new passenger comfort, communications and navigation equipment. One of the aircraft will be equipped with a Quick Change VIP kit. Deliveries will continue through 2010. ATR has secured orders for 77 new aircraft since the beginning of the year, boosting total sales for ATR aircraft to 914.
DayJet secured Federal Aviation Administration approval to add the Eclipse 500 to its Part 135 certificate, clearing the final regulatory hurdle for the air taxi start-up to begin operations with its growing fleet of Very Light Jets (BA, Aug. 20/71). "This milestone is the culmination of more than five years of dedicated work to develop the world's first fully automated fleet operations system," said Ed Iacobucci, DayJet president and CEO.
A MEMBER of the GEICO Skytypers precision flying unit was killed when his aircraft crashed Friday afternoon near Virginia Beach, Va. while the team was conducting a final rehearsal for an air show at the Oceana Naval Air Station that was set to begin Friday evening. The aircraft burst into flames and it took firefighters about 30 minutes to extinguish the blaze. Officials did not immediately release the identity of the pilot who died. The GEICO Skytypers team performs its routines with six vintage World War SNJ-2 trainers that fly in formation.
There has never been a better chance than now to reform the U.S. export regime, U.S. and foreign officials and experts said Sept. 5. But any change is racing the 2008 elections clock and already faces European and industrial fatigue.
The National Transportation Safety Board last week urged the Federal Aviation Administration to mandate the installation of upgraded emergency locator transmitters as soon as possible. The recommendation stems from the concern that some 180,000 general aviation aircraft use ELTs designed to transmit the analog 121.5 MHz signal to the COSPAS-SARSAT satellite system network. COSPAS-SARSAT, however, will stop processing the 121.5 MHz signals beginning Feb. 1, 2009.
OPPONENTS OF NEW USER FEES are upset that senior FAA officials, including at least some of the agency's regional administrators, have been contacting Members of Congress (MoC) and various airport constituencies warning that failure to enact new FAA reauthorization legislation by the end of the month will result in a rapid shutdown in the flow of grant money for Airport Improvement Program (AIP) projects. Those warnings are being tailored to emphasize the potentially adverse effects on particular projects planned or under way in an MoC's district.
Models 17-30, 17-31, 17-30A, 17-31A and 17-31ATC airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-28431; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-050-AD] - This proposal, which would supersede AD 76-23-03-R1, would reduce the exhaust system inspection interval; require a more detailed inspection of the muffler; and require replacement, reconditioning or repair of the exhaust system if cracks or defects are found. This proposed AD also would require rerouting of the magneto "P" leads.
OCEAN AIRE, based at R.J. Miller Airpark near the New Jersey Coast, completed a new 20,000-square-foot hangar and is offering space for tenants. An Avfuel-branded dealer, Ocean Aire is located between New York City and Philadelphia in Tom's River, N.J. The fixed-base operation provides maintenance, repair and modification and avionics services and operates a flight school. The airport, which has a 6,000-foot runway and full ILS, is planning to complete a new terminal in 2008.
Model DHC-8-102, -103, -106, -201, -202, -301, -311 and -315 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-29066; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-147-AD] - This proposal would require a one-time inspection of the left- and right-hand elevator spring tab mechanism hardware for correct installation, as detailed in Bombardier Service Bulletin 8-27-106 (dated February 7, 2006). If any hardware is incorrectly installed, install new hardware properly prior to further flight.
AVJET CORP. centralized its East Coast operations in the Washington, D.C. area and named Andrew C. Bradley senior vice president. Bradley, a 14-year veteran of the aircraft sales and acquisitions business, will be based in Chestertown, Md. "By bringing aircraft sales, acquisitions, charter and management into one East Coast office, we are better positioned to integrate the wide range of private aviation solutions our clients require," said Marc J. Foulkrod, chairman and CEO.
Chinese aircraft makers are planning a range of new civil models, even before their current big project, the ARJ21 large regional jet, rolls out at the end of this year.
JAPANESE ENGINEERS conducted the first run Friday of the General Electric Honda HF120 turbofan engine, which is being developed to power Honda's HondaJet and Spectrum Aeronautical's Freedom business aircraft. Honda developed the HF118 engine a number of years ago to power the HondaJet prototype, but a significant number of changes were incorporated during 2006 to achieve the HF120 configuration. Two series of engine core tests were conducted earlier this year before last week's run of a complete test engine.
KATHERINE PERFETTI has joined the International Business Aviation Council as the standards manager for the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) and Bob Blouin has accepted a contact position as manager of safety awareness for IBAC. Perfetti retired at the end of 2006 as a senior manager in FAA's Flight Standards office where she specialized in Part 135 activities and rulemaking.
SEVEN AIRCRAFT ACCIDENTS over the three-day Labor Day weekend claimed 17 lives, according to preliminary FAA reports. The accidents included the crash of a Lancair LC41-550FG near Kernville, Calif. that claimed six lives, and one involving a B36 Bonanza that claimed all five aboard when it crashed in mountainous terrain, both of which occurred Sept. 1.
ERA CORPORATION won a contract to provide its MSS Multilateration and ADS-B Surveillance System for O.R. Tambo International Airport (formerly Johannesburg International Airport). The ERA systems will be integrated with Advanced-Surface Movement Guidance and Control Systems supplied by Siemens Limited, Industrial Solutions and Services and Park Air Systems. The new systems are part of a multifaceted renovation at Tambo in preparation for the expected increased operations for the 2010 World Cup in Johannesburg.
