Was named regional sales executive for aircraft charter services and management in the Asia-Pacific region for Jet Aviation. Kwok, a 20-year veteran of the aviation industry who is based in Hong Kong, will be responsible for charter sales and aircraft management, as well as customer relations.
FAA is opting to bypass a comment period on new rule aimed at wiping out flap failures on Bombardier CRJs. The rulemaking follows Canada's safety agency telling the country's transport minister earlier this year that it was concerned about the growing number of flap failure instances and urged the government to take action. FAA's rule became effective Sept. 5, with the agency stating that "the risk to the flying public justifies waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule."
AERO PRECISION REPAIR AND OVERHAUL (A-PRO) has added Piaggio P180 Avanti landing gear and accessories overhaul and repair capabilities. The Deerfield Beach, Fla. company is approved to provide the services by both Piaggio and Messier Dowty, the manufacturer of the landing gear. Established in 1989 as a joint venture between Dassault Falcon Jet and Messier, A-PRO has overhauled more than 2,200 landing gears and processed more than 40,000 components.
Arrius 2F turboshaft engines [Docket No. FAA-2007-28053; Directorate Identifier 2007-NE-18-AD] - This proposal would require replacement of engine module 02 with a module that incorporates Turbomeca Modification Tf 12A, in accordance with Turbomeca Mandatory Service Bulletin No. 319 72 4012, Update No. 1 (dated Sept. 19, 2006). This proposed AD, which results from an MCAI provided by the aviation authority of France, is intended to prevent an uncommanded in-flight engine shutdown.
Honeywell Aerospace has partnered with Sensis Corp. to demonstrate technology that would warn pilots and controllers simultaneously of a potential runway incursion. The partners equipped two Honeywell test aircraft to show how warnings can be data-linked to the cockpit when the Sensis ground-based Airport Surface Detection Equipment Model X (ASDE-X) system detects a runway incursion incident developing, BA affiliate Aviation Week & Space Technology reported in the Sept. 3 edition. ASDE-X is designed to warn controllers of such a conflict.
Northrop Grumman wrapped up final details and completed its acquisition of Burt Rutan's Scaled Composites, LLC last week, increasing its share of the Mojave, Calif. company from approximately 40 percent to 100 percent. The financial terms have not been disclosed. Officials said the acquisition by Northrop Grumman is not expected to affect the Mojave firm's joint venture with Virgin Group President Richard Branson to offer space tourism rides on derivatives of the company's SpaceShipOne commercial spacecraft.
NORTHWEST AIRCRAFT, the EADS Socata distributor and service center for the states of Washington, Oregon, Montana, Wyoming and Idaho, moved into new facilities at the Aurora State Airport (UAO) in Aurora, Ore. The new building includes 18,000 square feet of maintenance space and 1,000 square feet of office space. Northwest Aircraft also is a Piper Aircraft distributor and service center for the states of Oregon, Washington and Alaska.
Textron has hired a Lockheed Martin veteran with strong ties to China's aviation regulators and the business community, a move designed to help boost the company's prospects in one of the world's fastest growing economies.
Appointed director of new product development and manufacturing operations for Gulfstream Aerospace. In his new position, Collett will direct all activities for the company's new manufacturing facility, which is currently under construction at Gulfstream headquarters in Savannah, Ga. Most recently, Collett had been director of final phase manufacturing in Savannah, overseeing the completion of Gulfstream's family of large business jets, the G350, G450, G500 and G550.
Model EMB-135BJ airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-28158; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-018-AD; Amendment 39-15168; AD 2007-17-10] - Replace the water and waste system drain masts with newly designed ones. This AD, which resulted from an MCAI originated by the Brazilian aviation authority, is designed to prevent a possible fuel tank explosion, which could occur if fuel leaks or fuel vapors that are released near the masts ignite. The FAA estimates that this AD will affect 41 aircraft on the U.S. Registry and cost U.S. operators a total of $460,553, or $11,233 per airplane.
The Federal Aviation Administration awarded a contact valued at more than $1.8 billion Thursday to a team headed by ITT Corp. to develop a nationwide Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system, the first major step in transitioning the country to a Next Generation (NextGen) air traffic control system.
CF34-1A, -3A, -3A1, -3A2, -3B and -3B1 turbofan engines [Docket No. FAA-2007-27687; Directorate Identifier 2000-NE-42-AD; Amendment 39-15179; AD 2007-07-07R1] - This revision of AD 2007-07-07 requires, within 500 hours, on-wing inspections of fan disks installed on regional jets in order to detect possible electrical arc-out defects. The new directive also mandates additional inspections of all affected fan disks for cracks and electrical arc-out defects. The new AD also includes reduced life limits for certain fan disks.
ST. LUCIE COUNTY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT in Fort Pierce, Fla. said flight training operations will be restricted to prescribed hours under voluntary noise abatement procedures recently modified by the St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners. The changes follow a series of workshops involving county staff, residents who live near the airport and representatives of three local flight schools. The flight schools will now limit landings of training flights to the hours of 0800-2200 Monday through Friday and 0900-2200 on Saturday.
CORRECTION: Jens Hennig was promoted to vice president, operations for the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. In his new role, Hennig will be responsible for flight operations, safety and training issues, including GAMA policy related to the modernization of the nation's air traffic control system. Hennig joined GAMA in 2003 as manager of operations and is a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where he received bachelor's and master's degrees. Hennig's name was spelled incorrectly in an earlier article about his promotion (BA, Aug. 27/89).
Named vice president of repair station operations for Yingling Aviation. Formerly director of avionics for Yingling, Gallop will oversee avionics, maintenance, interior/completions, quality assurance and other Yingling operations. Before joining Yingling in 2003, he served with Cheyenne Airmotive.
WILLIAM T. PIPER, JR., 95, who ran Piper Aircraft as president and then chairman from 1968 to 1973, died Aug. 24 at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pa. The son of Piper Aircraft founder William T. Piper Sr., William Piper, Jr. graduated Harvard University and joined Piper in 1934. He became president of Piper in 1968, when company sales topped $96 million annually and then chairman in 1970. Piper remained chairman until the company was sold and moved to Vero Beach, Fla.
Appointed chief financial officer of Carmanah Technologies Corporation. Sartorius will be responsible for all aspects of Carmanah's financial activities, including accounting and reporting, strategic planning and analysis, treasury, tax, audit, and investor relations. He has more than 20 years of financial experience with private and public international corporations.
The strong market worldwide for Falcon business jets is primarily responsible for the strong financial performance that Dassault Aviation achieved in the first half of 2007. Net sales rose by 381 million euros from the first half of 2006 to 1.79 billion euros in the most recent period. Net operating income rose to 231 million euros from 156 million a year ago. Net income jumped 46 percent, from 126 million euros in the first half of 2006 to 184 million euros so far this year.
The Federal Aviation Administration has taken measured steps to prepare for the new generation of Very Light Jets, and a leading government watchdog agency is satisfied that VLJs can be smoothly and safely incorporated into the National Airspace System. But the Government Accountability Office is less clear on what the future holds for VLJs in terms of market and their overall impact on traffic. The GAO late last month delivered that report to House aviation subcommittee Chairman Jerry Costello (D-Ill.), Rep. Thomas Petri (R-Wis.), and Rep.
AVANTAIR, INC., the fractional aircraft operator, retained The Piacente Group of New York, an investor relations consulting firm. Avantair, headquartered in Clearwater, Fla., said the consulting firm will assist it "in implementing investor communications and Wall Street outreach programs aimed at introducing the financial community to the company." Avantair currently manages a fleet of 37 Piaggio Avanti P-180 turboprop aircraft, and has 52 Avanti IIs on order from Piaggio, and 20 Phenom 100s on order from Embraer.
JP MORGAN analyst Joseph Nadol said Brazilian manufacturer Embraer is addressing four primary manufacturing issues: composites, wire harnesses, the 190 wing and fabrication outsourcing. Nadol, who visited the manufacturer's facilities in Brazil, said that while "final assembly lines are fine, Embraer has had severe bottlenecks in its supply chain, largely internally." Nadol said each of those problem areas is scheduled to be resolved by November, adding, "We believe that management is taking the right steps to address the problems."
Promoted to senior vice president and chief financial officer for Yingling Aviation. Vaughan, who has served with Yingling for seven years, is on the board of directors and also is the company's treasurer. Before joining Yingling, he was with IKON Office Solutions and managed the Cessna Employees Flying Club.
OFFICIALS of TAG Holdings are considering a number of options for their interests in the U.S., including the possible sale of TAG Aviation USA and a minority stake in AMI Jet Charter (AMIJC), both headquartered in San Francisco, Calif., according to reports circulating in the industry. AMIJC was the subject of an intense inspection by a team of FAA officials earlier this year to assess compliance with the provisions of OpSpec A008 (BA, March 19/129). FAA has taken no enforcement action, and company officials said FAA inspectors did not raise any safety-related issues.
