Ametek Inc. increased its reach in the business and regional aircraft systems and maintenance market with the acquisition of two privately held businesses based in Wichita. Ametek acquired Advanced Industries, which produces starter-generators, brush and brushless motors, vane-axial and centrifugal blowers for cabin ventilation and linear actuators for business jets, light jets and helicopters. Ametek said the products will complement its own AMPHION product line of power management products.
Model EC130 B4 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2007-28229; Directorate Identifier 2006-SW-23-AD] - Proposes to require inspecting the pilot and co-pilot collective levers for proper bonding between the twist grip drive tubes and the control pinions and if debonding is present, replacing the collective levers before further flight. This proposal is prompted by one incident in which the engine remained at idle speed although the twist grip had been turned to the flight position.
Model EC130 B4 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2007-28228; Directorate Identifier 2006-SW-08-AD] - Proposes to require, within 100 hours time-in-service (TIS), modifying and testing the wiring of the battery overheat sensing circuit. This proposal is prompted by a malfunction in the battery overheat sensing circuit found during a scheduled inspection.
HAWKER BEECHCRAFT named TAG Farnborough an authorized service facility for the Hawker 800 series aircraft. TAG Farnborough, a subsidiary of TAG Aviation Holding, is the second authorized facility for the Hawker in the United Kingdom and joins a worldwide network of more than 100 authorized facilities.
Canadian manufacturer Bombardier reported a strong surge in orders for new aircraft in the quarter ended April 30, although profits and operating margins continued to lag behind those of other aerospace original equipment manufacturers.
EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY last month launched a new interactive, collaborative virtual classroom and Web center, EagleVision, under an agreement with Saba Software. EagleVision incorporates Saba's Centra technology, which combines voice, video, data and graphics in an online tool that is tailored to Embry-Riddle. The university began its first classes with EagleVision with six instructors at 18 locations. Plans call for a wider deployment across the university this summer.
EADS SOCATA received an order from European fractional aircraft ownership provider JETFLY for four TBM 850 single-turboprop aircraft. The aircraft will supplement JETFLY's existing fleet of three TBM 700s. EADS Socata valued the contract at $11.4 million (U.S.).
Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-27016; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-176-AD; Amendment 39-15066; AD 2007-11-09] - Supersedes an existing AD that currently requires inspecting the electrical connectors of the fire bottles for the forward and aft baggage compartments and for the auxiliary power unit (APU) and engine nacelles to determine if they are connected correctly, and performing related investigative and corrective actions if necessary.
The so-called "radar crisis" in Argentina is escalating, with new warnings and charges from international aviation bodies as well as local pilots, airspace controllers and media. All parties claim safety in the air has "deteriorated" in many high-traffic areas, such as over metropolitan Buenos Aires. Most recently, the government was sharply criticized for "hiding the problem" and "stonewalling" while it completes the thorny and lengthy transfer of airspace control from military to civilian authorities.
JET AVIATION'S charter partnership program in Europe, Skylliance, added German operator Homac Aviation and Athens, Greece-based GainJet to the program. With Homac and GainJet the Skylliance program has increased to six operators and more than 20 aircraft. Homac, headquartered in Friedrichshafen, Germany, was founded in 1995 and operates a Cessna Citation Bravo. GainJet flies two Gulfstream G200 aircraft. Other members of the program include Executive Airlines in Spain, Silver Cloud Air in Germany, VIP Avia in Latvia and Jet Aviation.
NATIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION alerted pilots Friday to a potentially dangerous situation at Dulles International Airport (IAD). The association said the Dulles control tower has reported at least two incidents in the past week involving general aviation aircraft where the pilots have "lined up for what will be the new Runway 1R after being cleared for the visual approach to the existing Runway 1R." A substance used to seal the surface soil under the new runway has been applied and from the air "this substance highly resembles poured concrete," NBAA said.
Noise restriction measures that have been voluntary at Westchester County Airport (HPN) in White Plains, N.Y. since 1983 would become mandatory under a bill that four U.S. congressmen introduced last month. Reps. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.), Christopher Shays (R-Conn.), Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) and John Hall (D-N.Y.) introduced the bill, H.R.2328, which would allow Westchester County to require compliance with various voluntary programs, including a nighttime flight restriction. The airport currently has a Voluntary Restraint From Flying period from midnight to 6:30 a.m.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation (H.R.1615) in May that would make it illegal to aim a laser pointer at the cockpit of an airplane. The bill recommends five years in prison for persons convicted of such an offense. Rep. Ric Keller (R-Fla.), who sponsored the bill, said FAA has reported more than 500 incidents of pilots being blinded or somehow disoriented by a laser beam. Currently, there is no federal law that prohibits shining a laser beam into a cockpit.
Cost estimates for the initial phase of the VH-71 presidential helicopter program have increased by $700 million, more than 40 percent, since the program began two and one-half years ago, officials told BA affiliate Aerospace Daily and Defense Report.
Encore FBO LLC, which was formed a year ago to "build an integrated, worldwide FBO network," has added the former Frederick Aviation facility at the Frederick, Md. Airport (FDK) to its holdings.
Confirmed by the Los Angeles City Council as executive director of Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), which owns and operates four airports in Southern California - Los Angeles International (LAX); Ontario International (ONT); Palmdale Regional (PMD) and Van Nuys (VNY). Before joining LAWA, Lindsey was executive vice president of McBee Strategic Consulting LLC, an aviation lobbying and consulting practice in Washington, D.C. Before that, she was aviation director for the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
CESSNA CHAIRMAN Jack Pelton expressed concern last week about the long-term costs associated with increased aircraft certification fees in Europe. Pelton told BA that the fees - which went into effect Friday (BA, May 21/229) - are a "classic example of what we don't want to happen in the U.S." Noting FAA's push to impose fees to cover its costs for certification activities, the Cessna CEO said the new fee rule in Europe validates the arguments against such fees in this country. See article below.
Appointed director of government relations and legislative counsel for the Aeronautical Repair Station Association. Scattergood most recently served as associate counsel for the association. She will manage the association's legislative activities and serve as its point person on FAA reauthorization.
Promoted to general manager of operations for ExecuJet Europe at the company's Scandinavian regional headquarters in Copenhagen. He will oversee the 11 business jets in the company's Scandinavian fleet and will also be responsible for the company's Danish Air Operators Certificate, working closely with officials of the Danish Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA). Jorgensen was director of flight operations for DCAA for the past three years. He is a former Danish military pilot and also flew a variety of transport aircraft as a pilot for Scandinavian carrier SAS.
Named vice president of sales and marketing for Signature Flight Support, where he will oversee the company's fuel pricing programs and be responsible for promotions, branding, marketing and advertising. A nine-year veteran of the FBO chain, Gibney most recently was senior director of marketing. He previously served as general manager of Signature's bases at Lambert St. Louis International Airport (STL) and the Jacksonville, Fla. International Airport (JAX).
K&F INDUSTRIES HOLDINGS, INC. said the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) had concluded its review under provisions of the Exon-Florio amendment relating to the previously announced acquisition of K&F by Meggitt-USA, Inc., the wholly owned U.S. subsidiary of Meggitt PLC. The firms entered into a definitive agreement in March under which Meggitt will buy K&F for $27 share in cash, or approximately $1.8 billion.
Promoted to senior vice president and chief operating officer of AirNet Systems Inc., the Columbus, Ohio company that provides time-critical aviation services to banks and other shippers. Since joining AirNet in June 1996, Harris has held a number of management posts with increasing responsibilities.
BOMBARDIER expanded its service network for Bombardier-built business jets in Europe, appointing Jet Aviation in Basel as an authorized service center for all Bombardier business aircraft and Aero-Dienst in Nuremberg, Germany as an authorized center for Bombardier Challenger and Learjet aircraft. Jet Aviation formerly was authorized to work on Learjet and Challenger aircraft, but the newest designation adds the Global business jet family. More than 330 Bombardier aircraft currently operate in Europe.
AVIATION PIONEER Paul "Ed" Yost, the inventor of the modern hot-air balloon and a long-time proponent of manned balloon flights, died May 25 at his home in Taos, N.M. of natural causes. He was 87. Yost developed the onboard propane-fueled burner system that made longer balloon flights possible. He also pioneered the use of new balloon fabrics and patented other features such as deflation systems and maneuvering vents. He set 13 world records in 1976 for distance traveled and time aloft in crossing the Atlantic Ocean solo.
Top executives in the air charter community and the aviation safety field are working with the National Air Transportation Association to develop a new, independent foundation focused solely on improving air charter safety. NATA President James Coyne announced the initiative at a briefing last week that also included Flight Safety Foundation President Bill Voss and Priester Aviation Chairman Charlie Priester, who will be the first chairman of the Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF).
