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.
Joined Midcoast Aviation as senior vice president, operations. Madsen will manage maintenance, completions/ refurbishment, project planning and other Midcoast operations. He formerly was vice president/general manager for Hawker Beechcraft Services and spent more than 20 years with Duncan Aviation.
A PRESS RELEASE from the National Transportation Safety Board last week about a speech by Chairman Mark Rosenker was followed several hours later by a correction.
CAPITAL CITY JET CENTER, based at Bolton Field (TZR) in Columbus, Ohio was named a premier Avfuel-branded dealer, a move that the fixed-base operation's management hopes will help attract business to the airport. "Bolton Field has been a surprisingly underutilized airport. With major highways very nearby and easy access to downtown Columbus, this airport offers an ideal alternative to the more congested Port Columbus International Airport," said Capital City Jet Center General Manager Ken Riggs.
Promoted to chief operating officer of Downing Aviation Associates. Manni joined Downing in August 2006 as a senior associate after serving as vice president and general manager of the Defense division of AmSafe, Inc. He also has held engineering, marketing, sales, business development and product line management posts for aerospace companies including Pratt & Whitney of Canada, Honeywell, and EaglePicher Technologies.
COLUMBIA AIRCRAFT rolled out its 100th aircraft built in 2007, a milestone reached as the company continued to recall furloughed employees. "Certifying number 100 for the year is a gratifying moment," said Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing CEO Wan Majid. "Despite the turmoil of certification delays, acts of nature and supply chain disruption, Columbia continues to achieve significant milestones. Granted we'd like to be doing so without as many external challenges, but our team continues to rise to the occasion time and again." The Bend, Ore.
CARMANAH TECHNOLOGIES CORP., Victoria, British Columbia, received a follow-on order from the U.S. Department of Defense for solar-powered LED airfield lighting. The $600,000 order consists of taxiway, runway, approach, apron edge and obstruction lights that will be deployed at forward operating bases at undisclosed locations.
Galaxy and Gulfstream 200 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-28353; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-065-AD; Amendment 39-15174; AD 2007-17-16] - Replace the pressurization safety valve in accordance with Gulfstream Service Bulletin 200-21-308 (dated Feb. 23, 2007). This AD, which resulted from an MCAI originated by an aviation authority of another country, is designed to prevent faulty operation of and damage to the pressurization system's relief valves. If the valves are damaged, a rapid decompression of the airplane could occur.
Model 750XL airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-28436 Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-055-AD; Amendment 39-15178; AD 2007-17-20] - To prevent cracks from developing in the aileron spar adjacent to the inboard hinge attachment, remove both ailerons and inspect and modify the aileron spar at the inboard hinge-attachment point in accordance with Pacific Aerospace Service Bulletin PACSB/XL/027. The FAA estimates that this AD, which resulted from an MCAI issued by an aviation authority of another country, will affect seven aircraft on the U.S. Registry and will cost U.S.
Model DA 42 Airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-28955; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-067-AD] - This proposal would require modification of the engine electrical system by installing additional engine control unit (ECU) backup batteries in accordance with Diamond Aircraft's Work Instruction WI-OSB-42-050, Revision 1 (dated Aug. 20, 2007) and revision of the Airplane Flight Manual and FAA-approved Maintenance Manual.
Hawker Beechcraft Corp. (HBC) continued the expansion of its venerable Hawker family by winning FAA certification of the Hawker 900XP business jet. Certification came as the newest member of the family, the Hawker 750, took to the skies for the first time.
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE last week held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the first of two phases of its new Savannah Service Center. The center is part of a seven-year, $400 million long-range expansion plan for Gulfstream's headquarters in Savannah, Ga. The first phase of the service center includes a 136,200-square-foot hangar that will accommodate up to 18 large-cabin aircraft, repair shops, a fuel farm, an engine run-up area, parking and a new cafeteria. Phase II, slated to be completed in 2009, will more than double hangar space to 282,300 square feet.
Model F-28A, F-28C, F-28F, TH-28, 280, 280C, 280F, 280FX, 480 and 480B helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2006-26771; Directorate Identifier 2005-SW-07-AD; Amendment 39-15059; AD 2007-11-02] - Determine the installation dates for each main-rotor push-pull control rod, inspect those rods for corrosion, replace any rod that is pitted or has visible moisture inside the rod, and repair each rod that has corrosion but no pitting.
GULSTREAM AEROSPACE recently won 180-minute ETOPS approval for all four of its large-cabin business jets from the European Aviation Safety Agency. The approval, which covers the Gulfstream G550, G500, G450 and G350, attests to the capability of those models to fly routes that are up to 180 minutes from an emergency or diversion airport.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION last week withdrew a proposal that would have required Part 121 aircraft to have a transponder that could be activated to continuously transmit an emergency code in case of a hijacking situation. Released in 2003, the proposal stemmed from the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. "The intent was to provide the flight crew of commercial airplanes with the ability to initiate an immediate national security response in the event of a hijacking," FAA said.
Promoted from director to vice president of sales and marketing for Yingling Aviation. Pickett will manage aircraft sales, marketing and new business development initiatives. He joined Yingling in 2002.
