Delta Airelite added a Bombardier Challenger 300 and a Learjet 45XR to its charter fleet, both of which are 2005 models. The Challenger will be based in Stockton, Calif., while the Learjet will be operating from its base in College Station, Texas.
Hundreds of U.S. runways are susceptible to deadly aircraft overruns, such as the Dec. 8 accident in Chicago in which a Southwest Airlines 737 slid off a runway at Midway Airport and slammed into an automobile on an adjacent road, killing a six-year-old boy, according to an industry analyst. "We know that there are about 600 runway ends in the U.S. today that don't meet FAA standards," according to Joe Del Balzo, president of Washington, D.C.-based JDA Aviation Technology Solutions consultancy and a former FAA acting administrator.
GULFSTREAM Model GV-SP series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-23249; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-219-AD] - proposes to require an inspection to determine the serial number of the anti-skid control unit (ACU) in the right electronics equipment rack, and replacement of the ACU with a new or serviceable ACU if necessary. This proposed AD results from a report that an airplane temporarily lost normal braking function during landing rollout on a pre-delivery flight.
BILL WILLIAMS joined Gulfstream Aerospace as director of initial phase procurement, materials. Williams will be responsible for procurement of materials used in the initial phase of manufacturing large-cabin business-jet aircraft. He formerly was vice president of supply chain at GKN Aerostructures Group in St. Louis. He previously worked for Alladin Industries, TRW Aeronautical Systems, Saturn Manufacturing Corp., Nissan Motoring Manufacturing Corp. and Ingersoll Rand.
Rifle Air, LLC, d/b/a The Rifle Jet Center, recently acquired two existing fixed-base operations, Corporate Aircraft Services and The Rifle Jet Center at the Garfield County Airport (RIL) in Rifle, Colo. The combined operation includes more than 80,000 square feet of heated hangar space. Plans call for remodeling the pilot/passenger terminal in the former Corporate Aircraft Services facility. The airport is within an hour ground travel of the Aspen/Snowmass and Vail/Eagle ski areas.
Airlines are misguided in thinking they would benefit from the introduction of user fees to pay for the U.S. air traffic control system, a new study commissioned by the National Air Traffic Controllers union finds.
ATR received a 10-year global maintenance agreement from Corsican carrier CCM Airlines under a contract valued at $24 million. ATR will prove a range of maintenance and support for CCM's fleet, including spares, a pool service for parts exchange and repair of line replaceable units. ATR also will repair and overhaul engines and propellers. CCM was the launch customer of the ATR 72-200 15 years ago and recently took delivery of its first ATR 72-500.
RAYTHEON Model 390 Premier 1 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-20712; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-15-AD; Amendment 39-14400; AD 2005-25-07] - requires replacement of the plastic cover over the air conditioning motor module with a metallic cover and modification of the air conditioning compressor motor module electromagnetic interference-radio frequency interference (EMI-RFI) filter located under the cover and reidentify the module part number.
Herb Elliott, 90, who with his wife, Arlene, ran the Elliott Aviation network of fixed-base operations for decades, died Dec. 10 at North Collier Hospital in Naples, Fla.
Robinson Helicopter Company continues to dominate the U.S. helicopter market in terms of number of aircraft produced. Robinson delivered 224 units in the third quarter, bringing its total for the year to 609, or 87 percent of the 704 civil helicopters delivered by six manufacturers in the first nine months.
CIRRUS Model SR20 and SR22 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-23023; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-49-AD] - proposes to require inspecting the fuel line and wire bundles for any chafing damage; if any chafing damage is found, replace any damaged fuel line and repair any damaged wires or sheathing of the wire harness; and install the forward loop clamp, fuel line shield, aft loop clamp, and anti-chafe tubing. This proposed AD results from reports of fuel line leaks resulting from wire chafing on the fuel lines.
Rolls-Royce Corp. and the Timken Company announced an alliance last week designed to increase Timken's technology and service capabilities for Allison Model 250 helicopter turboshaft engine parts and component repair. Timken's aerospace business will provide an expanded variety of parts and services under license from Rolls-Royce Corp. for both new engine production and aftermarket use. Timken has provided bearings to Rolls-Royce for more than 30 years, but under the new agreement it also will supply other engine parts.
Jetalliance is claiming a speed record for a Gulfstream G550 flight from Toluca, Mexico to London's Luton Airport that was completed in eight hours, 24 minutes on Dec. 4. The aircraft was carrying two pilots and a flight attendant.
Sterling Aviation added a Challenger 601-3A and a Beechjet 400A to its fleet. Sterling, a business aircraft management and charter company, is headquartered at Milwaukee's Mitchell International Airport.
Japan's Coast Guard awarded a contract to Saab AB for two modified 340Bplus search and rescue aircraft that will be delivered at the end of 2006. Saab also will furnish training, spare parts and logistics support. The used aircraft will be extensively modified to meet JCG specifications.
Ameriflight, the Burbank, California-based cargo carrier, named a USAirways pilot to head the company's flight department. Eddie D. Mayenschein was named vice president-flight. He spent nearly 20 years with USAirways, where he served as a line captain and in various pilot training, management and administrative duties. Mayenschein succeeds John Hazlet, a veteran Ameriflight executive, who was promoted to vice president - safety and standards. Hazlet also will continue as Ameriflight's director of operations.
Aerospace industry profits continue to improve, according to John Douglass, president and CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association. As a percentage of sales, aerospace industry profits had been hovering in the four percent range for several years through 2003. However, profit margins rose a full percent to 5.2 percent in 2004 and will be up another percent to 6.2 percent when the books are closed for 2005, Douglass announced at AIA's 41st annual Year-End Review & Forecast Luncheon Wednesday.
Bombardier Aerospace inaugurated its 50,000-square-foot aircraft parts distribution facility this month in Frankfurt, Germany, which will support operators of Bombardier business jets and regional airliners. The new facility, located near Frankfurt International Airport, will stock more than 40,000 unique parts.
Sharp Details, the corporate aircraft cleaning and services company, opened an office near Waterbury Oxford Airport in Oxford, Conn., and will offer aircraft washing, brightwork, waxing and interior cleaning at the new location. The Fairfax, Va.-based company has been expanding in the Northeast and offers cleaning services at Washington Dulles, Ronald Reagan Washington National, Manassas and Leesburg airports in Virginia; Martin State and Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland; Wilmington and Dover Air Force Base in Delaware; Atlantic City, N.J. and White Plains, N.Y.
EMBRAER Model EMB-135BJ, -135ER, -135KE, -135KL, -135LR, -145, -145ER, -145MR, -145LR, -145XR, -145MP, and -145EP airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-23187; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-203-AD; Amendment 39-14397; AD 2005-25-04] - requires reviewing the airplane maintenance records for recent reports of vibration from the tail section or rudder pedals. This AD also requires repetitively inspecting the skin, attachment fittings, and control rods of rudder II to detect cracking, loose parts, wear, or damage; and related investigative/corrective actions if necessary.
BAE 146 airplanes and Model Avro 146-RJ airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-23215; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-212-AD] - proposes to require repetitive replacement of the elevator servo tab hinge bearings, elevator servo tab mechanism bearings, elevator trim tab hinge bearings, and elevator trim tab drive rod bearings with new bearings. This proposed AD results from reported incidents of flight control surface restrictions due to the deterioration of flight control surface bearings.
Eurocontrol says at least 20 countries have published new radio frequency rules that increase the number of channels available for controller-pilot communication, which means a successful transition to the new standards is likely, the agency says. The frequency rules, published by European states as Aeronautical Information Circulars, will require the spacing between channels to be reduced to 8.33kHz above flight level 195. The change will occur March 15, 2007, and will require some airlines to retrofit new radio equipment on aircraft.
Precision Castparts Corp. (PCP) received a request from the Federal Trade Commission for additional information concerning the company's proposed acquisition of Special Metals Corp. (SMC). PCP said the request is focused on SMC's powered nickel superalloy business, which represented less than three percent of SMC's sales in its last fiscal year. PCP in late August entered into a definitive agreement to acquire SMC.
FAA ROLLS OUT NEW EN-ROUTE ATC COMMUNICATIONS GATEWAY FAA and manufacturer Lockheed Martin completed the installation this month of an air traffic control communications system at all 20 of the agency's en-route centers. The last of the centers to receive the en-route communications gateway (ECG) systems was Miami. The ECG rollout began in 2003 in Seattle and was completed on schedule. ECG provides a single gateway for processing surveillance and flight data for the centers.
Embraer delivered the first of 45 Embraer 190 airliners on order from Air Canada. The Canadian carrier, which also operates a fleet of 13 EMBRAER 175s, ordered the 190s in December 2003. That contract also included the sale of 15 175s. Delivery of the 190s will continue through fourth quarter of 2007. The aircraft are configured with nine executive class and 84 coach class seats.
