National Business Aviation Association last week recognized 18 people who completed a core curriculum in the NBAA Schedulers Professional Development Program (SPDP). The individuals completed six or more SPDP courses, which are tailored for business aviation schedulers and dispatchers.
Gulfstream Aerospace acquired WECO Aerospace Systems, Inc., a privately held aviation component overhaul company that specializes in providing electrical, electronic accessory and flight instrument repairs. The business will retain the WECO name and be operated as part of Gulfstream's Product Support business unit. Financial details of the purchase, which is expected to close by the end of the first quarter, were not disclosed.
Model F2000EX airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-26855; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-264-AD; Amendment 39-14888; AD 2007-02-01] - Requires, within 35 days after the effective date of this AD, performing an engine fire detection integrity check in accordance with Dassault Service Bulletin F2000EX-137, Revision 1, dated Dec. 7, 2006. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The effective date is Feb.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's board of commissioners authorized the purchase of the remaining 93-year lease on Newburgh, N.Y.'s Stewart Airport for $78.5 million. The U.K.'s National Express Corp. ran Stewart under a 99-year lease but sold its stake, saying it wanted to exit the airport business.
Yingling Aviation in Wichita, Kan. began a new on-line service, CessnaDirect.com, which enables customers to order parts on-line. The site can be accessed directly or through Yingling's Web site. The service will let customers check availability and order parts 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Yingling, a full-service fixed-base operation at Mid-Continent Airport, has been a Cessna Authorized Service Center for nearly 60 years.
FirstFlight added three Hawker 1000s to its charter fleet. The aircraft will be based in the New York City metropolitan area and available for charter beginning in February. In the next few months the Hawkers will be repainted and get upgraded entertainment and communication systems.
ARRIUS 2 F turboshaft engines [Docket No. FAA-2005-22430; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-34-AD] - Proposes to supersede an existing AD that currently requires removing from service certain serial number (S/N) fuel control units (FCUs) or replacing the constant delta pressure diaphragm in those FCUs. This proposed AD would require replacing all FCUs not incorporating modification Tf 55 with FCUs that incorporate modification Tf 55.
The National Transportation Safety Board appears to be making headway on recommendations calling for more transparency in the aircraft charter and charter-broker business. The Department of Transportation Friday solicited comments on NTSB recommendations to require advising aircraft charter customers of the name of the company with operational control of the aircraft, any "doing business as" names in the operations specifications and the names of the aircraft owner and any broker involved. See article below.
Garmin hopes to raise its visibility nationally with the company's first Super Bowl commercial. Garmin bought a 30-second spot to promote its GPS products during Super Bowl XLI on the evening of Feb. 4. The commercial is expected to air midway through the second quarter of the football game. "The Super Bowl showcases some of the world's most recognizable brands, and our participation demonstrates Garmin's desire to be counted among them," said Jon Cassat, Garmin's director of marketing communications.
Named chief financial officer for First Aviation Services, Inc., and its wholly owned subsidiary, Aerospace Products International, Inc. He will report to Aaron Hollander, chairman and CEO. Reznicek most recently was vice president of finance and information technology for the Lancaster Colony Automotive Products Division of the Rubber Queen Corp., which manufactures and distributes automotive products.
Promoted to vice president of aircraft service at Duncan Aviation's Battle Creek, Mich. service facility. In the newly created position designed to strengthen the facility's leadership team, Biever will oversee operations involving airframe, engine, accessory and paint production work. Biever joined Duncan in 1985 as an airframe team leader in Lincoln, Neb. He has spent the past 10 years as manager of airframe services in Lincoln.
CF34-10E series turbofan engines [Docket No. FAA-2006-25896; Directorate Identifier 2006-NE-33-AD] - Proposes to supersede an existing AD that currently requires removing the fuel inlet strainer from main fuel pump (MFP) part number (P/N) 2043M12P03, installing a certain replacement flange as an interim repair, re-marking the MFP to P/N 2043M12P04, and performing initial and repetitive visual inspections of the main fuel filter. This proposed AD would require removing MFPs, P/N 2043M12P03 and 2043M12P04 from service and installing an improved MFP with a different P/N.
A preliminary report by German accident investigators confirmed last week that the tail of a Grob Aerospace G180 SPn separated before the No. 2 prototype crashed Nov. 29 during a demonstration flight from the factory.
TB 20 and TB 21 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-26236 Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-66-AD; Amendment 39-14891; AD 2007-02-04] - Requires an inspection of the wing spar lower boom and repair as necessary. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency. The AD will affect an estimated 270 aircraft on the U.S. Registry. The estimated cost of the AD to U.S. is $4.37 million, or $16,200 per aircraft. Effective date is Feb. 26.
Eric Hinson, a 25-year veteran of the U.S. Navy and aerospace industry, was named last week to succeed Tom Appleton as president of Piaggio America, of West Palm Beach, Fla., the U.S. sales and service arm for the P.180 Avanti pusher prop aircraft. The Italian parent company, Piaggio Aero Industries, also announced a change at the top of its management structure, naming Ugo Anatra as general manager. Anatra has spent five years as the company's chief financial officer and director of information systems. Anatra holds an engineering degree.
Mike Redenbaugh, who spent 21 years at Honeywell Aerospace before leaving three and one-half years ago to become president and CEO of Textron's Bell Helicopter unit, resigned this month and was replaced by Richard J. Millman. On the same day it announced Redenbaugh's replacement, Textron issued another statement noting that it had "incurred additional costs" related to its H-1 helicopter program during the fourth quarter of 2006.
Sterling Aviation, based at Milwaukee's Mitchell International Airport, added three jets and one turboprop to its Part 135 charter certificate - a Hawker 800XP, Citation Excel, Beechjet 400A and Pilatus PC-12 turboprop. The latest additions boost the total number of Sterling's fleet to 13 aircraft.
Transportation Secretary Mary Peters last week called for an overhaul of the aviation funding system, saying that the upcoming FAA reauthorization bill in Congress "is our chance to get it right." Speaking to the Aero Club of Washington Tuesday, Peters said DOT hopes to release its FAA funding proposal shortly after the Administration releases its fiscal 2008 budget, scheduled Feb. 5. FAA Administrator Marion Blakey offered a similar time frame earlier this month (BA, Jan. 15/23).
CAE opened its new six-bay North East Training Center near Morristown, N.J. The center will provide training for the new Dassault Falcon 7X aircraft along with the Falcon 900EX EASy, Falcon 2000EX EASy, Gulfsteam IV and Sikorsky S-76. Dassault selected CAE in mid-2004 to provide entitlement training for pilots, maintenance personnel and crew of the 7X. CAE has installed a Falcon 7X full flight simulator in the center and is awaiting final certification. Training is scheduled to begin in April.
Jet Aviation Basel delivered a "VVIP" Airbus 320-200 it completed for Saad Group in Saudi Arabia. Saad Group also awarded a contract to Jet Aviation Basel to complete a 340-600. The second aircraft is scheduled to arrive at the Basel completions center in April 2008 and be delivered in mid-2009. Francis Munch of Studio E/Motion designed the A320-200's interior, which took 10 months to complete. The interior includes an executive seating area, two bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, a combined conference/dining area and first-class seating in the rear of the aircraft.
The National Transportation Safety Board faulted the crew's failure to monitor airspeed and activate deicing boots in the Feb. 16, 2005 crash of a Cessna Citation 560 owned by Circuit City near Pueblo Memorial Airport in Colorado. The safety board also cited inadequate certification standards for flight into icing conditions, which the board said led to too wide a margin for the stall warning system.
PHI, Inc. reached an agreement with the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) for the return to work of 60 pilots still out on strike. The agreement was reached at the request of a federal judge. The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana earlier this month held a hearing on a request by OPEIU for injunctive relief from a PHI return-to-work plan. The new agreement calls for a phased-in process by groups, aircraft type and seniority. Strikers will be phased back to work beginning Jan.
TBM 700 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-26232 Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-62-AD; Amendment 39-14895; AD 2007-02-08] - Requires, for TBM 700s with Serial Numbers 269 and 3390 and up, a records check to determine whether the original cylinder yokes or yokes in the master cylinder assembly are installed. If not, then the AD requires inspection for misalignment from the threaded pin and reinstallation or replacement, if necessary.
Jim Schuster, the chairman and CEO of Raytheon Aircraft Company (RAC), who has helped turn around the Wichita aircraft manufacturer's fortunes over the past five years, believes the company is poised for even greater fiscal success under new ownership beginning later this year.
