LAWMAKERS have started to put together bills to reauthorize Federal Aviation Administration programs, and the Senate Commerce Committee could begin consideration of its version within the next couple of weeks. Both Senate Commerce and Finance are looking at aviation taxes, and a fuel tax increase is on the table, with Finance Committee members again raising concerns about fuel tax fraud - a non-issue according to the aviation community, but one that led to changes nearly two years ago in how jet fuel is taxed (BA, Aug. 1, 2005/44).
Aviall, Inc. reached agreement this month to acquire certain assets of Sisu Services, Inc., a supplier of brake and wheel services, parts and technical information. Based in Crown Point, Ind., Sisu began operating as an independent business unit of Aviation Product Repairs Services, effective April 16.
THE OFFICIAL WORD from GD is that Gulfstream will produce 82 of its large-cabin models this year and 83 next year. But Chabraja told financial analysts last week that company executives are looking at ways to possibly boost 2008 output to 88 large-cabin aircraft. See article on Page 196.
STG AEROSPACE won a contract from regional carrier SkyWest Airlines to supply its SafTGlo floorpath marking system on 200 Bombardier CRJs. The order was one of the largest that STG has received. The SafTGlo system, which will replace the existing electrical floorpath lighting, uses a photoluminescent (glow-in-the-dark) marking system that absorbs and stores light from normal cabin lighting and then emits the light for emergency exit guidance for up to 16 hours in darkness. STG said the system is a low-cost alternative to electrical systems.
ERA CORPORATION was selected to provide wide area multilateration and ADS-B surveillance in Latvia. The contract, from Latvijas Gaisa Satiksme (LGS), includes wide area multilateration for Riga International Airport. Era was previously selected to provide ground surveillance and vehicle tracking at Riga International, which is the largest airport in the Baltic states. The Era equipment will provide surveillance of at least 80 nautical miles from the airport.
JET SOURCE, a Carlsbad, Calif.-based aviation services, charter and management company, will host a celebration for its 10-year anniversary May 15 at its headquarters at McClellan-Palomar Airport. The firm was founded in April 1997 with two Learjet 35 aircraft and an air carrier certificate. Since then the company has expanded its fleet to 12 aircraft and its services to include charter, management, maintenance, avionics service, fuel sales, and special mission aircraft completions.
Dassault's Falcon 7X business jet Friday was awarded type certification from both the European Aviation Safety Agency and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, clearing the way for the business jet to enter service by the end of June. The certification comes not quite six years after Dassault first announced plans to build a long-range business jet - initially dubbed the FNX - that rounds out the top of Dassault's line of high-end business jets (BA, June 25, 2001/293).
Was appointed FBO manager for BizJet International. Worden has eight years of aviation industry experience and previously was director of business development for Jetsource Charter Inc.
THOSE PLANNING TO ATTEND the Dave Ewald Memorial Gathering this Friday at the Westchester County Airport (HPN) in White Plains, N.Y. are being asked to RSVP to Char Roush at Specialized Publications in Kansas City so the Ewald family can plan accordingly. Roush can be reached at (800) 444-9932 or via e-mail at [email protected]. The memorial gathering is scheduled for 5 p.m. May 4 at the Avitat-Westchester FBO.
Model Falcon 2000EX and 900EX airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-27849; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-249-AD] - Proposes to require inspection of certain fuselage skin panels for missing rivets, holes and cracks and contacting the manufacturer if the holes are out-of-round beyond tolerance, or if cracks are found. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency.
ABC TAXI AEREO, an EADS Socata service center in Brazil, signed a contract to serve as a distributor for the TBM 850 turboprop manufactured by Socata. Based in Uberlandia and Belo Horizonte, ABC Taxi has been providing air taxi service, aircraft sales and maintenance on turbine-powered aircraft for 30 years. The company, which has 119 employees, is a subsidiary of Grupo Algar, a holding company with annual revenues of more than $750 million.
LOBBYING over the reauthorization package continues at a hectic pace. The National Business Aviation Association established an online advocacy center designed to encourage members to contact their congressmen on the issue. The recently formed Alliance for Aviation Across America, which now tops 2,800 member organizations and individuals, said its lobbying efforts are increasing. The National Farmers Union, an Alliance member, wrote to leaders of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee last week, urging them to oppose user fees.
ECLIPSE AVIATION finally received its long-awaited Production Certificate from FAA last week, opening the door for the Albuquerque, N.M. company to increase shipments of its Very Light Jet. The company also signed up two firms to help train Eclipse pilots.
Has taken on new duties with The NORDAM Group as vice president, global aftermarket sales and marketing. She will add military sales to her domestic and international commercial aftermarket responsibilities and continue to lead NORDAM's corporate marketing group.
Gulfstream Aerospace continued to post strong numbers during the first quarter, achieving new highs in revenues, earnings and margins for its parent, General Dynamics.
MILLENNIUM CONCEPTS, based in Wichita, Kan., received an order from Quest Aircraft for 10 shipsets of production seats for its new Kodiak single-engine turboprop utility aircraft. The first fully conforming aircraft flew March 16. Millennium, which designed the interior for the Kodiak, will produce an initial run of 20 crew seats and 80 passenger seats.
PILOTS attempting to use the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport this coming weekend should be aware of some planned runway closures...but they might also get an opportunity to see the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds perform. The airport said its main Runway 9L-27R will be closed for departures for one or two hours on May 4, 5 and 6 to permit the precision flight team "to practice and perform offshore, east of the airport."
TIMCO, a major provider of maintenance, repair and overhaul services for airlines, leasing companies and other users of large airline aircraft, said the former TIMCO Engineering Group is now a new subsidiary called TIMCO Aerosystems. The renamed unit is "the only independent Designated Alteration Station (DAS) integrator with both extensive OEM and integration capabilities dedicated to the retrofit commercial aircraft market," TIMCO said. Rick Salanitri, a TIMCO veteran since 1994, was named president of the Aerosystems unit.
ALLEGRO AIR CHARTERS expanded its reach in the charter and management business with the acquisition of Nevada-based operator New Vectors Aviation. In addition, Allegro, which is headquartered at Santa Ana, Calif., operates two Cessna Citation II jets.
Joined Executive Jet Management (EJM) as charter service manager. Tamkus will be based in EJM's Chicago Midway Airport office. He has more than 12 years of business aviation experience, and previously served as director of sales for an aviation support services company and division manager for an aviation cargo charter operator.
An RTCA special committee in the U.S. has delivered its first report to FAA outlining how unmanned aerial vehicles might be allowed to fly more freely in civil airspace, and a similar European committee expects to finish its working plan next month. FAA's Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) office in turn expects to issue its Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) roadmap next month.
OPERATORS of certain Bell and Agusta helicopters are being cautioned by FAA about possible problems with Aeronautical Accessories, Inc. high skid gear crosstubes. The agency said the crosstubes may develop cracks and fail prior to reaching their approved life limit. The notice, contained in Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin SW-07-29, applies to Bell Model 412, 412EP and 412CF and Agusta AB412 and AB412EP helicopters equipped with AAI Part No. 412-321 crosstubes installed in accordance with AAI's Supplemental Type Certificate No. SR01052AT.
Model HC-E4A-3( )/ E10950( ) propellers [Docket No. FAA-2007-27552; Directorate Identifier 2007-NE-11-AD; Amendment 39-15019; AD 2007-08-02] - Requires initial and repetitive inspections and rework of the propeller blade retention radius, and replacement of the propeller blade thrust bearing, for each blade. This AD results from reports of excessive propeller vibration and of damaged or broken propeller blade thrust bearings found during routine and investigative propeller disassembly.
