Appointed vice president of sales at Piper Aircraft. Kromer, who has 30 years of engineering and sales experience, will be responsible for the sales effort for the company's new PiperJet. Kromer joined Piper from Sino Swearingen, where he was vice president of sales and marketing. He also has served as executive vice president and general manager of Mooney Aircraft, executive director of the Mooney Aircraft Pilots Association, executive vice president of the Aviation Division of Boyd/Kleypas and Associates Advertising Agency and president of Aero Designs.
New World Jet Corp. (NWJC) this month unveiled its 91Plus program, an effort to help individuals and corporations cope with the often confusing and costly issues dealing with personal use/entertainment flights on corporate aircraft.
Models AT-502, AT-502A, AT-502B, AT-602, AT-802, and AT-802A Airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-25260; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-37-AD; Amendment 39-14826; AD 2006-23-14] - Requires repetitive visual inspections of the rudder and vertical fin hinge attaching structure (vertical fin skins, spars, hinges, and brackets) for loose fasteners, cracks, and/or corrosion. This AD also requires replacing any damaged parts found as a result of the inspection and installing an external doubler at the upper rudder hinge.
Model EMB-135 Airplanes and Model EMB-145, -145ER, -145MR, -145LR, -145XR, -145MP, and -145EP airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-26354; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-196-AD] - Proposes to require replacing the metallic tubes enclosing the vent and pilot valve wires in the left- and right-hand wing fuel tanks with non-conductive hoses. This proposed AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. FAA is proposing this AD to prevent an ignition source inside the fuel tank that could ignite fuel vapor and cause a fuel tank explosion and loss of the airplane.
Flight Display Systems of Alpharetta, Ga. named Ron Hainsworth to open a Wichita, Kan. office for the company. Hainsworth, a 25-year aviation industry veteran, was formerly avionics sales manager at Bizjet International. Before Bizjet, he was a product specialist for Universal Avionics. As regional sales manager for Flight Display Systems, Hainsworth will sell the company's line of cabin entertainment products to avionics shops for retrofit into customer airplanes.
An update by the National Transportation Safety Board Wednesday suggests that the inability of pilots and air traffic controllers to maintain radio contact and possible lack of radar coverage were key elements in the chain of events leading to the Sept. 29 midair collision between a GOL Airlines Boeing 737 and an Embraer Legacy operated by ExcelAire. See articles below.
Model CL-600-1A11 (CL-600), CL-600-2A12 (CL-601), CL-600-2B16 (CL-601-3A, CL-601-3R, and CL-604) Airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-26353; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-189-AD] - Proposes to require inspecting to identify the part number and serial number of the selector valves of the nose landing gear (NLG) and the nose gear door; and performing related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD results from reports of uncommanded partial retractions of the NLG.
Model TBM 700 Airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-26166; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-58-AD] - Proposes to require 1) Within the next 600 hours time-in-service (TIS) or at the next annual inspection, whichever occurs first after the effective date of this AD, inspecting vertical stabilizer attachment fittings and bolts for cracks or corrosion and if necessary repairing or replacing the damaged part and then applying a corrosion protection reinforcement, following EADS SOCATA TBM Aircraft Mandatory Service Bulletin SB 70-104, Amendment 1, ATA No.
The Legacy 600 business jet that collided with a GOL Airlines 737 on Sept. 29 over the Brazilian jungle had been flying straight and level at 37,000 feet on a published airway for more than an hour before the crash occurred, the National Transportation Safety Board said Wednesday in an update on the accident.
Ioimage, an Israeli firm that specializes in intelligent video appliances, was added to the team that is developing improved perimeter security systems for the airports operated by The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The PANYNJ previously selected Raytheon as the prime contractor for the Perimeter Intrusion Detection System (PIDS) project. Another firm, 4D Security Solutions, Inc., was selected to design, integrate, test and install the technology required to implement PIDS at the four airports.
Appointed senior vice president of airline solutions for AirCell. Phillips will be responsible for airline sales and program management for AirCell's new broadband service. She will be based at AirCell's new Chicago facility. She formerly held positions in sales programs, revenue management and in-flight products and entertainment for American Airlines and also developed a new business unit for Sony. Phillips also has served as an independent consultant, advising clients that included in-flight entertainment providers Rockwell Collins, Sony and Thales.
Thermal Systems Division of Kelly Aerospace reached an agreement with RDD Enterprises of Redmond, Ore. to help expand the use of the Kelly unit's de-icing system on experimental aircraft. RDD will develop, distribute and support Kelly's experimental aircraft program, which is centered around the "Thermawing" de-icing system. Kelly said Thermawing, which was cited among "The Top Technologies Influencing Aviation Today" in an article in AOPA Pilot magazine, uses electrically generated wing and tail heating elements for de-icing.
Landmark Aviation earned FAA approval to increase rudder control authority for Dassault Falcon 50 aircraft. The upgrade, available for Falcon 50s with Collins APS-85 autopilot or Pro Line 21 avionics, will enhance lateral maneuverability to provide greater control in crosswinds. The modification will provide the aircraft with the same rudder control as the Falcon 50EX. Landmark's facility in Springfield, Ill., will perform the work.
Merrill Lynch analysts revised an earlier forecast on aircraft deliveries by Gulfstream Aerospace. A report by the financial firm said the revision is "consistent with our thesis on the business jet cycle and the delivery peak likely occurring in the 2009/2010 time frame versus our prior forecast calling for the peak in 2008/2009." Merrill Lynch maintained its prediction that Gulfstream will deliver 127 business jets in 2007 and 130 in 2008. But the projection for 2009 jumped from 111 to 135 and from 104 to 120 in 2010.
Embraer is forecasting a market for 11,115 business jets and 3,050 30- to 120-seat commercial aircraft over the next 10 years. The Brazilian manufacturer, releasing its long-term market outlook during a two-day "Embraer Day" event Nov. 16-17, predicted business jets sales could reach $169 billion in the next 10 years. Embraer also forecast that the air taxi market could add demand for 2,500 to 3,000 more Very Light Jets.
Promoted to vice president of congressional affairs for the Air Transport Association. Gonzales joined ATA in January 2004 as a director of government affairs. Before that, he spent 10 years on Capitol Hill, most recently as chief of staff to Rep. Gene Green (D-Texas). He also served with the Texas Office of State-Federal Relations under then-Gov. Ann Richards and a number of Texas state representatives. He will continue to report to Sharon Pinkerton, vice president of government affairs.
December 4-6 - National Agricultural Aviation Association Convention, Orlando, Fla. Contact: Peggy Knizer (202) 546-5726. December 15 - Aero Club of Washington, 2006 Wright Memorial Dinner, honoring Norman Mineta, former Member of Congress and Transportation Secretary. Contact: Nancy Hackett, Executive Director, Aero Club of Washington, (703) 327-7082 January 7-11, 2007 - American Association of Airport Executives, 21st Annual Aviation Issues Conference, Kauai, Hawaii. Contact AAAE at (703) 824-0500.
Flight Explorer released the latest iteration of its Flight Explorer Professional Edition 7.0, which adds a spherical view that allows users to track an aircraft or a fleet around the globe using the company's new rotatable three-dimensional display. In addition, the system now has the ability to ingest global Aircraft Communication Address and Reporting System (ACARS) position reports to display aircraft positions anywhere in the world from the ARINC, SITA, Iridium and Inmarsat communications networks.
Cessna Aircraft Wednesday delivered the first Citation Mustang to Mustang Management Group (MMG) in Fresno, Calif. MMG will lease the aircraft back to Cessna for 10 months for demonstration purposes. The aircraft ultimately will be part of the flight training fleet of MMG's Scott Aviation subsidiary. First delivery followed full certification in September (BA, Sept. 18/125) and icing certification earlier this month (BA, Nov. 13/223). In addition, Cessna last week received FAA production certificate approval for the Mustang assembly line in Independence, Kan.
Precision Flight Controls rolled out a new M.F.D.-G series of modular flight deck advanced aviation training devices. The M.F.D.-G uses the G1000 system and can be configured for Beechcraft, Cessna and other aircraft with dual or single controls. The system includes a 10-inch primary flight display and 10-inch multi-function display. Precision Flight Controls has priced the series beginning at $65,000.
A veteran aviation sales professional, joined TAG Aviation USA as regional vice president of aircraft acquisition and sales. Docherty, who will be based in Chicago, will serve the aircraft acquisition needs of TAG clients throughout the country. Docherty has more than 20 years of corporate aviation experience. He was a regional sales director for fractional aircraft provider Flight Options and also worked for AlliedSignal Aerospace earlier in his career. Most recently, Docherty had been operating his own aircraft brokerage firm in Chicago.
Aircraft Owners And Pilots Association's Expo convention drew a record 13,000 attendees and 2,550 aircraft earlier this month in Palm Springs, Calif. The previous attendance record also was set in Palm Springs, in 2002. Palm Springs is the only Expo site that can host a parade of planes through the city streets. More than 100 piston-engine singles, jets and turboprops participated as they taxied from the airport to the convention center. The show also included more than 500 exhibits and more than 60 hours of seminars. AOPA will hold its 2007 Expo Oct.
3M has developed a new material that the company says will reduce weight in aircraft parts made from engineered thermoplastics. The 3M performance additive iM30K can be used as an alternative to conventional additives/fillers used in interior parts, including passenger service units, tray tables, arm rests, air vents, toilet seats, galley surfaces, containers and electrical connectors, reducing weight and improving stability.
Priester Aviation is planning to boost its charter and management business with the acquisition of Nixa, Mo.-based aviation marketing specialist Lion Heart Aviation Group. Priester said the purchase will strengthen its relationships with wholesale brokers as well as help attract new management customers.
Duncan Aviation recently installed and updated the certification for Honeywell's Primus Epic Control Display System/Retrofit (CDS/R) for a Gulfstream III business jet. The three-display installation updated the Supplemental Type Certificate to include the latest EPIC version and software. Duncan, headquartered in Lincoln, Neb., also offers the EPIC CDS/R update on the Falcon 900, Hawker 800/800XP/1000 and Challenger 601-3A/R.
