ACASS Canada selected KuBase Aviation Pvt. Ltd. as its sales representative in India for all corporate, private and commercial crew support services. The agreement is part of ACASS' strategy to expand its services globally through key local partners. "The Indian subcontinent is an emerging market with incredible potential," said David Dorrance, vice president of crew support and pilot placement at ACASS.
Joined Landmark Aviation as regional sales manager for Nevada, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Alaska and British Columbia. Thibault previously served as business director, maintenance operations, for The Air Group in Van Nuys, Calif. He also was director of quality control for both the Ameriflight and Saudi ARAMCO fleet of aircraft and has held technical operations positions with Gulfstream Aerospace and Raytheon.
Senate appropriators are holding the line on FAA funding next year, recommending a $14.257 billion budget in fiscal 2007. That is down slightly from the fiscal 2006 appropriation of $14.31 billion and almost $1 billion short of the House-passed figure. The Senate number is still higher than the $13.75 billion FAA requested. Under the Senate bill, FAA operations would get a slight increase, while airports and equipment funding would remain close to current levels. Sen.
The Senate Commerce Committee last week approved a bill that would authorize a $164 million budget for the National Transportation Safety Board over the next two years, about $15 million shy of the agency's original request. The NTSB Reauthorization Act calls for a $79.6 million budget in fiscal 2007, which would keep staffing nearly level at 399 full-time employees. The act also would authorize $84.4 million in fiscal 2008, below the safety board's request of $99.974 million.
Bombardier Aerospace has seen sales for its business jet product line pick up in Europe with orders from VistaJet for three Bombardier Challenger 605 business jets and from two operators for its new Learjet 60 XR midsize jet.
FAA Administrator Marion Blakey and European Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot agreed to coordinate their respective programs for the modernization of navigation - the U.S.'s Next Generation Air Transport System (NGATS) and Europe's Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR).
Named modifications sales manager for Landmark Aviation. Zegarski will oversee sales for Landmark in the western U.S. He has more than 30 years of aviation experience, including 11 years in the modifications business as a regional sales manager, and as completions sales and customer account manager at Bombardier Aerospace in Tucson. He oversaw Global Express and Challenger completions and refurbishments and also had widebody MRO sales responsibility for 105 Bombardier aircraft based in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Southern California and Hawaii.
Aerion, the Reno, Nev.-based start-up company concentrating on development of a supersonic business jet, is expecting to conduct high-speed testing on its supersonic laminar flow wing next month, using a rocket sled to reach the Mach 1.5 test speed (BA, June 12/261). The company also continues to refine its business case and recently hired a new chief financial officer, James Stewart, to present that case to potential partners.
Airbus sold 13 corporate versions of its airliner family to customers in the first half, the company said last week. The sales comprised eight ACJs (A319s), four A318 Elites and an A330-200 Prestige. The manufacturer said buyers included the government of the Czech Republic, two ACJs; JETALLIANCE of Austria, one A318 and one A319; the Stumpf Group of Austria, one A319; and two A318s for National Aviation Services of Saudi Arabia. The customers for the other six airplanes sold in the first six months were not disclosed.
AOPA ESTIMATES nearly 6 million Americans saw a TV segment on learning to fly last Thursday morning when NBC's popular "Today Show" aired a feature on the association's Project Pilot.
Model EMB-145, -145ER, -145MR, -145LR, -145XR, -145MP, and -145EP airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-23739; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-240-AD] - Withdraws an NPRM that would have required modifying the routing of wire harness W407 near the fire extinguishing tube in the area of each engine, and installing new supports for related wiring. Since the proposed AD was issued, FAA has received new data indicating that the identified unsafe condition does not exist. Accordingly, the proposed AD is withdrawn.
TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION officials got an earful Wednesday at a "listening session" with industry representatives in Los Angeles to discuss the agency's proposed revisions to its Twelve-Five Standard Security Program (TFSSP) and associated screening procedures for passenger and cargo aircraft with maximum takeoff weights of more than 12,500 pounds up to slightly more than 100,000 pounds.
THE NUMBER of high-yield passengers using the scheduled airlines is decreasing, with significant levels of customers migrating to business aviation, according to an aviation consulting group. See article on Page 23.
Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701, and 702) Airplanes, Model CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705) Airplanes, and Model CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) Airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-24074; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-213-AD; Amendment 39-14676; AD 2006-14-05] - Supersedes an existing AD, which applies to certain Bombardier Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700 and 701) and CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) series airplanes.
Model BAe 146 and Avro 146-RJ airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2006-25232; Directorate Identifier 2006-NM-106-AD] - Proposes to require repetitive inspections of the wing top skin under the Rib 0 joint strap, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD results from a report of a significant crack in the wing top skin under the Rib 0 joint strap. FAA is proposing this AD to detect and correct corrosion and cracking in that area, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the wing.
TPE331 series turboprop, and TSE331-3U model turboshaft engines [Docket No. FAA-2006-23704; Directorate Identifier 2006-NE-02-AD; Amendment 39-14674; AD 2006-14-03] - Requires implementing a new flight cycle counting method for first, second, and third-stage turbine rotors used in aircraft that make multiple takeoffs and landings without an engine shutdown, and removing turbine rotors from service that have reached or exceeded their cycle life limits. This new flight cycle counting method requires determining total equivalent cycles accrued.
FIXED-BASE OPERATOR Tampa International Jet Center has entered a "long-term strategic relationship" with ExecuJet Charter Services, which was formerly located in Clearwater, Fla. ExecuJet now bases six turbine-powered aircraft at TIJC. The two companies say they plan to "develop and grow the aircraft charter/management market in the Tampa/St. Pete area in order to expand their respective levels of traffic." Phil Botana is general manager of TIJC and Peter Cunzolo is president and owner of ExecuJet.
FORMER KANSAS GOV. Bill Graves was one of those talked about for the top DOT job, but he said Wednesday he is happy being a trade association executive. Graves, the tax-cutting, two-term governor, has been president and CEO of the American Trucking Associations since 2003. While saying he was "flattered to be included in any list the White House may be considering for this important position, I want to assure you that I am very pleased and happy serving as your president and CEO," Graves said in a message to ATA's board of directors.
Model AS350B, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350BA, AS350C, AS350D, AS350D1, and AS355E helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2006-25085; Directorate Identifier 2006-SW-02-AD] - Proposes to require replacing a certain hydraulic drive belt. Also proposed is reducing the lubrication time interval for a certain hydraulic pump drive shaft. This proposal is prompted by in-flight failures of the drive belt and the drive shaft.
An analysis of air travel by a Washington, D.C. consulting group says the number of best-paying passengers on U.S. airlines "has dropped by almost half during the past five years, often to the benefit of business aviation."
MANDARIN AIRLINES selected the Embraer E-190 and E-195 as core aircraft for its fleet expansion. Mandarin is leasing three 190s and five 195s from GE Commercial Aviation Services. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2007. The Embraer aircraft will replace Mandarin's Fokker 50s and 100s.
