PIAGGIO AERO INDUSTRIES S.p.A signed an agreement with Saraya Private Aviation to deliver six P.180 Avanti II aircraft for delivery in 2008-2009. Saraya Private Aviation plans to commence private jet charter flights across the Middle East and Northern Africa next year.
Business aviation advocates were pleased last week that a new Internal Revenue Service proposal would clarify the process for deducting expenses related to senior-level executive travel for entertainment on company aircraft. But industry officials still plan to appeal to IRS for further relief from business aircraft deduction limitations.
The National Aeronautic Association has concluded its search for a new leader, naming aviation veteran and Washington area resident Jonathan Gaffney president, effective July 9. For the past 12 years, Gaffney was vice president for communications for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), which operates Dulles International (IAD) and Reagan National (DCA) airports.
Was named president of Geneva Aviation. Joseph has more than 30 years of aviation experience, including more than 15 years in engineering management and engineering flight test. He also has a background in product design and FAA certification activities.
Model AS350B, BA, B1, B2, B3, D and AS355E helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2005-20863; Directorate Identifier 2004-SW-36-AD; Amendment 39-15100; AD 2007-12-22] - This new AD requires replacing the hydraulic fluid at a specified interval when operating in cold weather. The rule is prompted by reports of ice forming due to condensation in some parts of the hydraulic system during cold weather operation.
The Salina, Kan. Airport (SLN) and its adjacent industrial park, already home to scores of businesses with thousands of employees, plans to seek bids on a new hangar/office complex next month as part of a long-term plan to keep economic activity flourishing at the middle-of-the-country airport.
Adam Aircraft secured $105 million in additional financing that the company will use to accelerate the production rate of the A500 twin-piston aircraft and complete certification of and ramp up production for the A700 Very Light Jet. The financing included a senior secured credit facility. Morgan Stanley Senior Funding was the lead arranger on the credit facility.
HOUSE T&I leaders are still striving for an agreement on labor measures before they introduce their FAA reauthorization package. The leaders had hoped to introduce the legislation two weeks ago, but have been waiting while the FAA and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association hash out differences over provisions in the existing controller contract as well as discuss procedures for negotiating future contracts. The committee still hopes to introduce and consider the bill this week, but action may continue to slide.
Was elected to the NORDAM Group's board of directors. Schofield has nearly 40 years of aviation industry experience, having held senior executive posts with Pratt & Whitney and United Technologies. In 2001 he retired as chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Airbus North America Holdings.
Ron Swanda, who has played a number of key roles for the General Aviation Manufacturers Association over the past quarter century, plans to leave the organization at the end of the month. Swanda told BA last week that it has been "an honor and a pleasure to serve general aviation for 25 years."
THE NORDAM GROUP delivered the first mockup set of CJ4 executive cabinetry to Cessna Aircraft Company. The mockup units, which include the refreshment center, laboratory, closets, aft dividers and bulkheads, armrests, side ledges and tables, will be used to conduct the initial aircraft fit-check at Cessna. When that process is completed, the mockup set will undergo final finishing at Nordam's new 120,000-square-foot facility in Wichita, Kan. The preliminary set was completed in the two months following Nordam's announcement of winning the $100 million program in April.
MILLION AIR expanded to Paris through a partnership with European business jet operator FLYINGGROUP. The companies opened a new terminal at Paris Le Bourget airport. FLYINGGROUP was founded in 1991 as a fractional ownership business and charter service in Belgium. The company operates a fleet of 14 owned and managed business jets and plans to add five more jets this year.
The crew of a departing Avantair Piaggio P180 twin turboprop averted a potential collision at the Teterboro, N.J. Airport (TEB) last week when the pilots managed to stop the aircraft to avoid another airplane taking off on an intersecting runway.
Model Falcon 50 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-27806; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-287-AD; Amendment 39-15090; AD 2007-12-12] - This AD calls for disabling the galley's coffeemaker by pulling and locking out circuit breaker 710HG, as instructed in Dassault Service Bulletin F50-471 (dated Oct. 25, 2006). Then inspect for damaged wire sleeves, check their proper clearance, and if a discrepancy is found, perform all corrective actions contained in Dassault Service Bulletin F50-456 (dated Oct. 25, 2006) prior to the next flight.
Was named chief technology officer for Geneva Aviation, which produces aviation audio and video technologies for law enforcement and other markets. Cudnofskey, who joined Geneva in 1997, has a background as a system designer, quality assurance manager and technician. He has more than 25 years of industry experience.
Model ATR42 and ATR72 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-27358; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-270-AD; Amendment 39-15098; AD 2007-12-20] - This AD requires inspection of the harness installation in the 120 VU electrical harness and, if necessary, reinstallation of the bonding cable in accordance with the instructions given by ATR Service Bulletins ATR42-92-0012 and ATR72-92-1013 (both dated Dec. 7, 2006).
Was named provost and senior vice president at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Fla., where he also will be a professor of engineering. Heist spent 26 years at the University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y. before moving in 2000 to Manhattan College in Riverdale, N.Y. where he was dean of the school of engineering.
Eight fleet operators that plan to operate Very Light Jets or other small business aircraft have banded together to form the Air Taxi Association (ATXA), an Atlanta-based organization that promises to "unite the air taxi industry and provide services to increase demand for personal air travel at business airline prices."
Was named regional sales manager for Execaire's aircraft sales division. He will be based in Montreal, responsible for marketing and sales of Cessna's line of business jets in Eastern Canada. Caruso has spent 20 years in marketing and sales posts with aviation firms, most recently as an account manager for EMS SATCOM. Caruso will report to Ray Kuliavas, vice president of aircraft sales. Execaire is part of I.M.P.'s Innotech-Execaire Aviation Group, which bills itself as "Canada's largest general aviation service provider."
DASSAULT AVIATION'S newest Falcon 2000 - the 2000DX - completed its first flight last week. The aircraft took off from Dassault's facility in Bordeaux, Merignac France June 19 and flew for two hours and 15 minutes. The aircraft reached an altitude of 41,000 feet and a top speed of Mach .89. The 200DX is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW308C engines rated at 7,000 pounds thrust and will be able to climb directly to 41,000 feet in 17 minutes.
Was appointed vice president of special operations for Silver State Helicopters. Oglesbee will be responsible for expanding the company's commercial business in the search and rescue, law enforcement and emergency medical services markets. Before joining Silver State, Oglesbee was vice president of sales and marketing for MD Helicopters. He also was responsible for law enforcement sales and activities for Bell Helicopter and served as chief pilot for both the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and the Marion County Sheriff's Office in Florida.
JET AVIATION added 19 new aircraft to its global management fleet in recent months, including 10 whose owners are making their aircraft available for charter, the company said. Jet Aviation, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, says it now manages more than 200 aircraft in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America and claims it generated more than $20 million in charter revenue last year for 12 clients in its aircraft management program in the U.S. and Europe.
AIR INDEPENDENCE, a European charter operator, placed a firm order for three Challenger 605 business jets valued at $82 million based on the list price for typically equipped aircraft. The new aircraft, which will be based in Munich, Germany, are scheduled for delivery between October 2009 and the end of February 2010. Air Independence currently operates two Challenger 604s and one Challenger 800.
