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.
Was named vice president of operations for Innotech Aviation's interior completions center in Montreal. St. Germain will be responsible for the company's completions, maintenance and contracts business and oversee a staff of more than 150. He has more than 25 years of custom completions experience, including assisting in the delivery of the first Canadair Challenger interior completion in 1981.
General aviation plane-makers are on pace for another record year in billings, bringing in $13.2 billion through the first nine months, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association reported Friday. The billings are up 28.6 percent from the $10.3 billion reported in the first three quarters of 2005, and are $1.9 billion shy of billings for all of 2005.
THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD will hold a hearing tomorrow (Oct. 31) to discuss its findings in the Challenger CL-600 overrun accident at the Teterboro, N.J. Airport (TEB) in February 2005 (BA, Feb. 7, 2005/61). The accident touched off a storm of complaints from politicians and nearby residents about the high traffic levels at the airport and led airport users to agree to a voluntary ban on Stage 2 aircraft and a nighttime curfew (BA, Oct. 9/162).
Was named chief financial officer for Ship it AOG, the Addison, Texas firm that distributes aircraft parts for the business aviation sector. Winterrowd has been with the company since its inception in 2000. She spent the first 20 years of her career in the banking industry, before moving to aviation in 1996, working for Arnoni Aviation in Houston, Texas and Garrett Aviation in Phoenix, Ariz. "Karen has been instrumental in the growth of our company," said George Miller, president of Ship it AOG. Winterrowd holds a bachelor's degree in business administration.
HONEYWELL said its Primus Epic Control Display System/Retrofit (CDS/R) has won FAA certification for installation on Dassault Falcon 50, Falcon 900B and Raytheon Hawker 800A business jets.
JET AVIATION signed a number of agreements in the past few months that will add 22 aircraft to its charter and management fleet, including two Boeing Business Jets. One of the BBJs is the first Jet Aviation will manage in North America. Other recent additions to Jet Aviation's fleet include Falcons, Citations, Gulfstreams, Challengers, Hawkers, a Global Express and a Boeing 727-100. The increase in aircraft comes as Jet Aviation's charter business remains strong.
KENNETH E. GAZZOLA, former executive vice president and publisher of Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine, joined simulator training provider FlightSafety International. The company said Gazzola will be based in Washington, D.C. where he will support marketing efforts and will "work closely with FlightSafety's senior management to identify and explore business opportunities and to serve the company's customers worldwide."
ANDRE WALL was appointed chief operating officer for Jet Aviation for EMEA, Asia and South America. Wall succeeds Heinz Kohli, who is focusing on his role as chief executive for the Jet Aviation Group. Wall is joining Jet Aviation from MTU Maintenance in Berlin, Germany, where he was president and chief executive. He also spent eight years with Rolls-Royce AeroEngines in Germany and the United Kingdom.
DALLAS AIRMOTIVE signed an agreement with Rolls-Royce to provide repair and overhaul services for operators of Tay-powered aircraft enrolled in the CorporateCare program. Roll-Royce offers the CorporateCare engine management program for the AE 3007, Tay and BR710 engines. Dallas Airmotive said the agreement "maximizes operator coverage and global support spanning both on-wing servicing and complete engine MRO." Dallas Airmotive has supported Rolls-Royce engines since 1959, beginning with the Dart and then the Spey. The company began servicing Tay engines in 1986.
DESPITE A BACKLOG of orders for some 2,500 Eclipse 500 Very Light Jets, Eclipse President Vern Raburn said the aircraft continues to draw new customers and orders. Raburn said Eclipse has logged new orders for nearly 100 aircraft just since the Experimental Aircraft Association convention in Oshkosh, Wis. at the end of July.
Model DHC-8-400 Series Airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-26050; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-078-AD] - Proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Bombardier Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires revising the airplane flight manual (AFM) to advise the flight crew of appropriate procedures to follow in the event that a main landing gear (MLG) fails to extend following a gear-down selection.
