LANDMARK AVIATION implemented a Total Logistics Control software system for its charter sales and aircraft management customers. The program will provide charter and management customers with information on charter flights, flight tracking, catering and ground transportation. The system also provides flight and aircraft recording. Produced by IPC Logistics, Total Logistics Control uses a proprietary database that is built into Landmark's existing scheduling software.
Worried that the Federal Aviation Administration will forge ahead with a proposal that is tailored to scheduled commercial operations and pays scant attention to other aviation enterprises, the National Air Transportation Association last week urged FAA to establish an industry-based Aviation Rulemaking Committee to tackle the issue of runway landing distance assessments.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association is urging FAA to keep weather specialists at all of its en route ATC centers nationwide. According to NATCA, FAA is considering eliminating on-site meteorologist positions from the 21 centers, and instead contracting with a commercial weather company to provide meteorological service from one remote location.
Models N22B, N22S, and N24A airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-25928; Directorate Identifier 2006-CE-53-AD; Amendment 39-14797; AD 2006-21-12] - Supersedes AD 2003-22-13, which applies to Models N22B and N24A airplanes. AD 2003-22-13 currently requires visually inspecting the ailerons for damage and replacing them if necessary; adjusting the engine power levers aural warning microswitches; setting flap extension and flap down operation limitations; and fabricating and installing cockpit flap extension and flap down operation restriction placards.
Was appointed president of Intercontinental Jet Services Corporation, a Tulsa, Okla. aircraft maintenance facility that is an MU-2 service center and provides work on the TPE-331. Braner has 35 years of experience with both MU-2s and Honeywell engines.
Was appointed Twin Commander insurance specialist for NationAir Insurance Agencies. Reba will serve as the point of contact for Twin Commander owners and service centers through the U.S. He is a pilot with 20 years of aviation insurance experience.
Was named senior vice president and general manager of Jet Aviation's Zurich maintenance operation, effective Jan. 1. Rimmi, who has been general manager of the company's FBO and maintenance operation in Dallas, Texas, will succeed Werner Aerne, who has been general manager of the Zurich operation since 1995. Aerne, who joined the company in 1978, plans to retire but will continue to serve Jet Aviation in various functions. Rimmi began his career at the Zurich facility in 1993 when he was hired as a maintenance coordinator.
FOURTEEN HOUSE MEMBERS asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate security vulnerabilities of foreign repair stations that perform work on U.S.-registered aircraft. The Transportation Department Inspector General's Office has indicated there are about 650 foreign aircraft repair stations working on U.S. commercial planes, compared with only about 200 such entities in 1988.
Piper Aircraft officials say they did their homework before announcing a single-engine business jet program and point to initial customer reaction as evidence their new airplane will find a niche in the increasingly crowded market for small jet airplanes. James Bass, who took over as president and CEO at Piper about a year ago (BA, Sept. 19, 2005/123), characterizes the $2.199 million PiperJet as a "sport utility jet for the active lifestyle."
CESSNA enrolled its 1,000 customer in the CESSNAV flight planning program that was rolled out at the beginning of the year. The program, available for most Citation business jets, will be offered for the Citation Mustang in early 2007.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION has slipped the expected release date of a new Operations Specification addressing operational control issues until the end of November, but the agency last week gave industry leaders a preview of the final document and received high marks for its efforts (BA, April 3/151). One National Business Aviation Association official called the specification a "very well thought out product" that reflected substantial cooperation between FAA and industry.
THE GD CHAIRMAN would not get into specifics about the characteristics of the new airplane, but he said later that Gulfstream will continue to build "the very best airplanes that fly, the most reliable airplanes that fly, airplanes that fly further, faster and higher" than those produced by the company's competitors. It is believed that one area where Gulfstream officials are focusing new product development is on boosting aircraft cruise speeds.
CMC ELECTRONICS' PilotView Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) was selected as a standard option on the Sino Swearingen SJ-30 business jet. The EFB also is now a standard option on all new Dassault Falcon 2000DX, 2000EX, 900DX and 900EX aircraft. The Class 2 EFB can be mounted on either the pilot's or co-pilot's side of the cockpit. The EFB provides en route, approach charts, moving map display and graphical real-time weather displayed on an 8.4-inch screen that has "film-on-glass" touch sensitivity.
WILLIAM J. ALLARD, a former chairman and CEO of Marquis Jet Partners, has joined Polaris Venture Partners, a $3 billion equity firm based in Waltham, Mass., Polaris said last week.
SKY CONNECT LLC was awarded two supplemental type certificates for the installation of its satellite-based tracking and telephone systems on Bell 206B, L-1, L-3 and L-4 and Sikorsky S-76 (Models A through C) helicopters. The Sky Connect TRACKER provides global flight tracking via the Iridium satellite network. The phone systems vary from cordless cabin-class handsets to integrated sat-phone systems. Sky Connect has authorized more than 150 facilities worldwide to install the equipment.
THE SCHEDULED AIRLINES could be facing more labor battles following the election this month of a new head of the Air Line Pilots Association. John Prater, a Continental Boeing 767 captain based at Newark, narrowly defeated incumbent Duane Woerth. "The airline pilots of the U.S. and Canada today sent a clear message that their union desires to return to its roots of aggressive bargaining, strict contract enforcement, tenacious organizing and pilot action to restore our contracts and our profession," Prater said in a statement.
GTSIO-520 Series Reciprocating Engines [Docket No. FAA-2005-20850; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-05-AD] - Proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for Teledyne Continental Motors (TCM) GTSIO-520 series reciprocating engines. That AD currently requires initial and repetitive visual inspections of the starter adapter assembly and crankshaft gear and unscheduled visual inspections of the starter adapter assembly and crankshaft gear due to a rough-running engine.
Was named general manager of Dallas Airmotive's component repair facility in Lafayette, La. Hussey was formerly director of repair engineering and product development for the company. He will be responsible for day-to-day operations of the facility. Hussey joined the company in 2002 as director of engineering and was promoted to director of repair engineering and product development in June.
November 9-11 - Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Expo 2006, Palm Springs Convention Center, Palm Springs, Calif., (301) 695-2000, www.aopa.org/expo November 15-16 - Regional Airline Association Fall Membership Meeting, Washington, D.C. Contact: Scott Gordon at (202) 367-1170. December 4-6 - National Agricultural Aviation Association Convention, Orlando, Fla. Contact: Peggy Knizer (202) 546-5726.
BOMBARDIER AEROSPACE delivered the 100th Challenger 300 business jet Friday to Gutmen Investment Corp. The first Challenger 300 entered service in January 2004.
Arriel 2B Series turboshaft engines [Docket No. FAA-2005-23809; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-52-AD; Amendment 39-14795; AD 2006-21-10] -- Requires, for Turbomeca Arriel 2B, 2B1, and 2B1A turboshaft engines, visually inspecting the splines of the high-pressure (HP) pump drive gear shaft and coupling shaft assembly for wear. This AD results from reports of uncommanded in-flight shutdowns of engines.
