Flightline Group, Inc. began work on a new 26,000-square-foot regional service facility that is part of a four-year, $20 million expansion plan at the Tallahassee, Fla. Regional Airport (TLH). The facility, which Flightline said would be the largest general aviation construction project to be undertaken at the airport, will be used for servicing general aviation aircraft and the emerging new generation of light jets. The new center will be equipped with the latest-technology communication and management tools and include a technical library and parts sales.
Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer signed a contract Tuesday with Brazilian carrier BRA Transportes Aereos that could result in the sale of up to 75 aircraft.
Was named managing director, mergers and acquisitions advisory for CIT Group's Aerospace and Defense Finance unit. Phillips has 25 years of experience in the banking, aerospace and defense industries. He previously held positions with Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin, Hughes Electronics and TRW Space and Technology.
FAA has completed work on the first of its Beech 300 flight inspection aircraft to receive an avionics upgrade, with 17 others to follow. The aircraft - which are used to test navigation signals - will receive a new Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics package. The remainder of the fleet will be upgraded over the next three years. As well as the improved avionics, the aircraft's lifespan will be extended.
Air taxi startup DayJet late last week was in the final stages of proving runs with its small fleet of Eclipse 500 Very Light Jets in preparation for the launch of commercial operations by the end of the month, founder, President and CEO Ed Iacobucci said last week. Completing the proving runs and adding the Eclipse aircraft to DayJet's Part 135 certificate are the final steps remaining for DayJet to begin its "per-seat" air taxi service, Iacobucci told BA in a telephone interview Thursday.
Model ERJ 170 airplanes and Model ERJ 190 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-28094; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-258-AD; Amendment 39-15148; AD 2007-16-09] - Supersedes an existing AD that applies to all Embraer Model ERJ 170-100 LR, -100 STD, -100 SE, and -100 SU airplanes. The AD currently requires repetitively replacing the low-stage check valve and associated seals of the right-hand engine bleed system. This new AD adds airplanes to that existing requirement.
NORTH AMERICAN JET CHARTER GROUP, LLC, based at Chicago Executive Airport, Wheeling, Ill., received FAA clearance to launch Part 135 operations using the Eclipse 500. The company is marketing its "Q" (Quintessential Traveler) service, which officials claim is priced at half the traditional charter rate. North American expects to have a fleet of more than six Eclipse 500 Very Light Jets by the end of the year, expanding to more than 20 of the VLJs by the end of 2008.
CAE said it signed an agreement to buy Flightscape, a company that analyzes aircraft flight data seeking safety improvements. CAE will pay $18 million (C) for Flightscape, whose "core product and product service offerings are based on the gathering and analysis of aircraft flight data to deliver improved flight safety," CAE said. Flightscape offers a range of products and services related to flight operations quality assurance, flight data management, incident investigation and accident prevention.
A MODEL 35A LEARJET was substantially damaged when it ran off a runway after landing Aug. 11 on the island of Dominica in the southern Leeward Islands. The 1980 model aircraft, N500ND, was registered to World Jet of Delaware, Inc. and operated by World Jet II as a Part 135 charter flight. The aircraft had departed Saint John's Antigua Island for the 35-minute flight. The preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board said the co-pilot was making the landing. On touchdown, he requested spoilers and noticed poor braking.
THE SALINA, KAN. AIRPORT AUTHORITY received an Aa3 rating from Moody's Investor Service, clearing the way for financing of a new hangar complex at the airport (SLN). The airport authority said it will use a portion of taxable general obligation notes to build the 69,000-square-foot hangar and office complex, part of the continuing expansion of facilities at SLN (BA, June 25/283). The new hangar will be able to accommodate aircraft with a wingspan of up to 100 feet and a tail height of up to 28 feet.
Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer reported sharply reduced net income for the second quarter, even though revenues were up over the same period a year ago. Embraer said net income was $67.3 million, compared with $139.1 million during the same period a year ago. Revenues rose from just under $1 billion in the second quarter of 2006 to $1.11 billion in the three months ended June 30. Monetary figures are expressed in U.S. dollars.
Named vice president, FBO operations, for Landmark Aviation. A 21-year business aviation veteran, Hopkins will be responsible for Landmark's network of 33 FBOs. He previously managed the FBO division's sales and marketing, fractional and airline relationships. He also managed five FBOs in the mid-Atlantic region. Hopkins is a commercial pilot with more than 3,500 hours. Hopkins is one of three senior level managers named to new posts with Landmark's network of FBOs, which were recently acquired by Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE). See below.
ELLIOTT AVIATION is reaching outside the Elliot family for a new president for the first time in the company's 71-year history. Mick Harrison, who had a 27-year career with Bombardier, is assuming the roles of president and chief operating officer of Elliott, which operates FBOs and service centers in Moline, Ill., Des Moines, Iowa, Minneapolis, Minn. and Omaha, Neb. Wynn Elliott, son of company founders Herb and Arlene Elliott, remains chairman and chief executive. Harrison, a U.S.
THE LONG RUMORED pilot shortage has arrived, at least according to some Part 135 scheduled package carriers, who say they are seeing high rates of attrition in their pilot ranks and finding it difficult to hire replacements. Reports of senior company officials leaving their desks to fly the line are becoming more common as companies struggle to find ways to meet their schedule commitments.
COLUMBIA AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURING CORP. cut back aircraft production and furloughed hundreds of its workers last week, citing "an inherent problem" in the AHRS (Attitude, Heading & Reference System) of the Garmin G1000 integrated avionics system used on Columbia 350 and 400 models. The problem with the AHRS also is disrupting deliveries by other manufacturers whose aircraft use the G1000 system. See article below.
Model 400A series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-28883; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-106-AD] - Proposes to require inspecting the galley cabinets to determine if a certain part number is installed or if a certain size of wire already exists, and doing related investigative/corrective actions, if necessary. This proposed AD results from reports of undersized, and consequently unprotected, wire in the galley cabinets. FAA is proposing this AD to prevent overheating of wire insulation and consequent fire or smoke in the airplane cabin.
AC-U-KWIK released its 2007-2008 Managers' World Edition. The AC-U-KWIK managers' edition provides fixed-base operation, airport and aviation services information. The directory is designed for corporate and charter schedulers and dispatchers with updated airport information, hotel phone and fax numbers, FBO addresses on-airport diagrams, charter information and service provider details. The new edition, which includes a CD-ROM, is priced at $99.95 and can be ordered by calling (800) 400-5945 or visiting the Web site www.acukwik.com.
(Type Certificate No. 1A16 formerly held by Schweizer Aircraft Corp.) G-164 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-27860; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-034-AD; Amendment 39-15160; AD 2007-17-02] - Supersedes AD 82-07-04, which requires modification of the fuel shut-off valve control by installing a new stop-plate on certain airplanes. Since issuing AD 82-07-04, FAA has determined the need to add airplane models and serial numbers that were not previously included in the Applicability Section.
JET AVIATION BASEL signed a letter of intent with an unidentified Middle East customer for the VIP completion of a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The green aircraft is scheduled for delivery to the Basel facility in 2011 and will then spend 15 to 18 months in the completion process. Jet Aviation said it has been working on an interior package for the Boeing 787 for the past two and a half years, partnering with yacht and corporate aircraft designer Peder Eidsgaard.
(Type Certificate No. A48EU previously held by APEX Aircraft and AVIONS PIERRE ROBIN) Model R2160 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-26491; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-76-AD] - Revises an earlier proposed AD that required replacing leaking Type 1 fuel fittings. This action would require replacing any Type 1 fuel fittings with Type 2 fuel fittings. This proposed AD results from MCAI from the aviation authority of New Zealand.
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based SheltAir Aviation Services is adding a fifth location in New York, signing an agreement with Clinton County, N.Y. to operate the sole fixed-base operation at Plattsburgh International Airport (PBG).
Linden Blue's Spectrum Aeronautical, LLC said it plans to accelerate the development program for the larger of two new business jets the startup manufacturer is designing.
Ray White has been named deputy assistant administrator for security operations at the Transportation Security Administration. White, who has been with TSA since 2002, was most recently the acting federal security director at Dallas Love Field, along with serving as assistant FSD and interim federal security representative. He was also in charge of federalizing security operations in Arkansas, Oklahoma and most of Texas during TSA's rollout.
