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).
SIGNATURE FLIGHT SUPPORT signed a multiyear contract to serve as the preferred handler for NetJets Europe at fixed-base operation locations throughout Belgium, France, Greece, Ireland and the United Kingdom. The contract, which takes effect immediately, also includes Signature's base in Cape Town, South Africa.
A FEDERAL JUDGE in Brazil Friday indicted two U.S. pilots and four Brazilian air traffic controllers in connection with the September midair collision of a Gol Airlines 737 and an ExcelAire Legacy. The indictment came just one week after a Brazilian prosecutor said he planned to seek such action (BA, May 28/245). The indictment accuses the ExcelAire pilots and the controllers of exposing an aircraft to danger resulting in death, which officials said was similar to involuntary manslaughter.
Three people were killed and three aircraft were destroyed last week in North Carolina when a nearly new Columbia 400 was involved in a spectacular crash during a botched landing attempt.
Michel Wachenheim, the director general of France's civil aviation authority, has been tapped by the new government led by President Nicolas Sarkozy to be chief of staff to the secretary of state for transportation. As a result, Wachenheim has taken himself out of the running to replace Victor Aguado as the next director general of Eurocontrol when Aguado steps down by year's end, according to air traffic control industry executives.
The European Aviation Safety Agency Friday implemented a new fees and charges schedule that could exponentially increase costs for certification and other activities in Europe (BA, May 21/229). The European Commission late last month approved the proposed new fees, and EASA on Friday publicly posted the regulation detailing the changes. The regulation adopted a new schedule of flat fees based on aircraft weight or size and cost of products. The schedule replaced the previous approach of assessing a combination of fixed and variable fees.
Model EMB-135BJ airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-28256; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-041-AD] - Proposes to require replacement of the valance panel lighting system wiring. This proposed AD results from MCAI from the aviation authority of Brazil. The MCAI cites a report of an occurrence of smoke in the passenger cabin that stemmed from the valance panel lighting system wiring. FAA estimates the AD would cover 15 aircraft on the U.S. Registry at a cost of between $161,700 and $172,350 for the fleet, or between $10,780 and $11,490 per aircraft.
AVIATION GROUPS are appealing to their members in the Leesburg, Va. area for a last-minute lobbying effort to help block a rezoning request for a new housing development adjacent to the Leesburg Executive Airport (JYO). The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote June 5 on a rezoning proposal that would clear the way for a large residential development directly under one instrument departure route.
PENTASTAR AVIATION, based in Waterford, Mich., signed a contract to install the SKYLink broadband communications system on a Dassault Falcon 2000 business aircraft. The contract is the first application for SKYLink outside of Gulfstream aircraft. Gulfstream was the launch partner for the system, which is designed to fit a range of mid-size and larger business jets. ARINC is seeking DO-160E approval for new SKYLink antenna hardware that will fit Falcon and Bombardier models. Approval is expected in June.
An Appeals Court decision Friday upheld the Environmental Protection Agency's emission standards for oxides of nitrogen (NOx) applicable to certified commercial aircraft gas turbine engines, rejecting a request by a coalition of state and local government agencies which advocated stricter emission standards than those adopted by EPA.
CMC received FAA clearance to install the SureSight M-Series Enhanced Vision System (EVS) sensor on the Pilatus PC-12. Pilatus selected the sensor and the PilotView Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) as factory options on the PC-12. The EFB operates as a stand-alone system and as a display for the EVS sensor. The supplemental type certificate is expected shortly for the EFB.
Model R44 and R44 II helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2006-26696; Directorate Identifier 2006-SW-19-AD; Amendment 39-15058; AD 2007-11-01] - Requires, for Model R44 and R44 II helicopters that have a certain seat belt buckle assembly installed, removing the buckle assembly and the buckle assembly spacer, and replacing them with airworthy parts. This amendment is prompted by an accident in which a seat belt failed, and also by reports of cracking in the buckle assembly stainless support strap.
JET-CARE is working with Honeywell to offer a Fault Code Reporting Service for TFE731 Digital Electronic Engine Control (DEEC) engine operators. The service is offered as an option to Jet-Care's existing engine performance trend monitoring program. Honeywell has provided the engine-trend monitoring program for its MSP customers since 1993. The Jet-Care service reads the DEEC download and identifies any fault codes.
Promoted to executive vice president of the Aeronautical Repair Station Association, which is headquartered in Alexandria, Va. Klein formerly was ARSA's legislative counsel. In his new role, he will manage several ARSA programs, including public relations, preferred provider and industry analysis.
