GULFSTREAM WINS FAA/ISRAELI APPROVAL FOR G150 - Gulfstream Aerospace last week received certification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and the Civil Aviation Administration of Israel for its G150 midsize business jet. Certification came 10 weeks sooner than Gulfstream anticipated when the company rolled out the first aircraft earlier this year (BA, Jan. 24/36).
JOE THURMAN was named director of the Global 5000/XRS program for Midcoast Aviation. Thurman will lead a cross-functional team overseeing the Global completion program. Thurman reports to John Kim, vice president of program office and engineering.
KELLY SEPE was promoted to manager of structural engineering for Midcoast Aviation. Sepe will be responsible for enhancing design/engineering efforts on green completion programs and working with engineering and production to streamline the process.
AIRBUS EYES 'AFFORDABLE' MEMBER OF CORPORATE JET FAMILY - Airbus last week unveiled its newest corporate jet, the A318 Elite, which the European consortium said is designed to provide the same cabin width as the Airbus A320 but at a price "even more affordable." Company executives, however, last week were not ready to discuss pricing details on the jet, which they called the "entry-level airliner" to the Airbus Corporate Jet family.
Associated Air Center completed and delivered an Airbus Corporate Jetliner Prestige aircraft. The aircraft is the fourth ACJ that Associated has completed but the first in the Airbus Prestige program. The Prestige interior includes 16 VIP seats, divans for 16 passengers, an aft cabin master bedroom, galley and crew rest area.
Dassault Falcon Jet officials expect to log orders for 100 new aircraft by the end of December, the first time in company history the French firm will have hit the three-digit mark in new orders in a single year.
Evergreen Helicopters acquired two new aircraft, an Agusta/Bell AB139 and a Bell B412. The helicopters, EHI's second AB139 and third B412, increase Evergreen's total fleet of aircraft to more than 75. The aircraft are used for offshore, emergency medical service, search and rescue and VIP operations.
GIPPSLAND Model GA8 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-22639; Directorate Identifier 2005-CE-48-AD; Amendment 39-14346; AD 2005-22-02] - requires repetitive inspection of the upper and lower grooves of the forward cargo door slide for cracks, excessive wear, and excessive width. This AD also requires replacement of the forward cargo door slide if any of the above conditions are found during any inspection. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for Australia.
Rockwell Collins received a letter of intent from NetJets for eFlight information products on NetJets aircraft over a 10-year period. A final agreement is expected by the end of the year. Under the agreement, Rockwell Collins will provide dual Class 2 Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) systems for a number of NetJets aircraft. The EFB will be integrated with the Rockwell Collins eFlight ground and onboard software for database distribution and loading as well as document management.
Gulfstream Aerospace hopes new quiet technologies will help persuade regulators to change a rule that bans supersonic flight over land. The company has been using its Supersonic Acoustic Signature Simulator II to demonstrate research that has quieted the sonic boom to a "sonic whisper," according to Gulfstream executives.
Signature Flight Support reached an agreement to purchase the assets of Million Air La Quinta at Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport (TRM) in Riverside County, Calif.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-22793; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-161-AD] - proposes to require replacing the Gask-O-Seal in the coupling of the refuel/defuel shut-off valves. This proposed AD results from a report that Gask-O-Seals that did not incorporate an integral restrictor to limit fuel flow rate and fuel pressure during refueling were installed on certain airplanes. FAA is proposing this AD to prevent a buildup of excessive static charge, which could create an ignition source inside the fuel tank.
Bombardier Aerospace signed an agreement with Lufthansa Technik for the German firm to complete up to 17 Challenger 850 business jets over the next three years. The agreement builds upon the alliance Bombardier and Lufthansa Technik announced during the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE) in May, when Bombardier named Lufthansa a preferred completion center for the 850. Lufthansa Technik will complete the aircraft at its facility in Hamburg, Germany and will work with Bombardier to develop executive interiors for the Challenger 850.
Federal Aviation Administration last week formally extended the comment period until Feb. 6 on its controversial proposal to make permanent the airspace restrictions over Washington, D.C. FAA also said it would hold a public meeting on the proposal to establish a National Defense Airspace Region encompassing the inner Flight Restricted Zone and the more sweeping Air Defense identification Zone.
Airbus and Boeing, competing head-to-head in the large business jet segment, are taking different approaches to capturing more customers. Airbus, looking smaller, unveiled an "Elite" business jet variant of the A318. Boeing also looked smaller - at a variant of the 737-600 - but Steven Hill, president of Boeing Business Jets, said potential customers say they want the airframer to build a bigger jet. The company is "very, very close" to making a decision on launching a 737-900ER BBJ, which would be nine feet longer than the BBJ 2.
Engenuity Technologies released the next generation of its VAPS software, the VAPS XT, which enables development of visualization and simulation products, including avionics displays. Engenuity developed VAPS XT in concert with Rockwell Collins, DaimlerChrysler and automotive electronics supplier Valeo. VAPS XT simplifies flight display development.
Million Air Interlink added Pentastar Aviation in Pontiac, Mich., to its chain of fixed-base operations, increasing its network to 33 members. Pentastar will retain its corporate identity in all its business units, but the FBO will be branded as Million Air. Pentastar provides aircraft management, aircraft charter, maintenance, avionics design/installation/repair and brokerage. The FBO is an ExxonMobil Avitat dealer.
Gulfstream President Bryan Moss has been meeting with FAA Administrator Marion Blakey and legislators on Capitol Hill to stress the importance of maintaining FAA's aircraft certification services. FAA earlier this year began to set priorities among its services, saying budget constraints were forcing the agency to slow certification activities. FAA is now looking at assessing fees for its certification services, a move that the General Aviation Manufacturers Association adamantly opposes (BA, Nov. 7/207).
SHORT BROTHERS Model SD3 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-21344; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-190-AD; Amendment 39-14283; AD 2005-19-18] - supersedes an existing AD, which applies to all Short Brothers Model SD3-30 and SD3-60 airplanes equipped with certain fire extinguishers.
DASSAULT PREPARES FOR FIRST 900DX DELIVERY - Dassault expects to begin delivery of its first Falcon 900DX with recent certifications from both the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and the European Aviation Safety Agency. Introduced in May 2004 during the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition, the Falcon 900DX incorporates the same Honeywell TFE731-60 engines, cockpit and cabin equipment as the Falcon 900EX EASy but with a redesigned fuel system and the front fuselage of the Falcon 2000EX.
Air Routing Group renamed its AirFuel International unit Air Routing Fuel. Richard Wilkens, president of the fuel unit, said the move is designed to more closely link the company with Air Routing International and reduce name confusion. Air Routing Fuel manages jet fuel procurement for 2,500 corporate aircraft worldwide as well as for a number of commercial aircraft. "Air Routing Fuel continues to grow both in association with Air Routing International and independently, both domestically and internationally," Wilkens said.
Boeing Business Jets named Jet Aviation Singapore an authorized service center. Jet Aviation is the first authorized center for BBJs in the Asia-Pacific region. The authorization covers warranty work, maintenance, repair and overhaul services. Boeing Business Jets has seven authorized centers in all, including three in Europe, two in the U.S. and one in the Middle East. The latest designation comes as Boeing recently received its first order from a customer in Hong Kong.
Duncan Aviation named Tom Burt chief operating officer of the company's Battle Creek, Mich. facility. A 26-year industry veteran who joined Duncan in 1979, Burt has been based at Battle Creek for the past 18 months as executive vice president of customer services and sales. "Our strategic plans for Duncan Aviation include significant growth over the next five years," said Aaron Hilkemann, president of Duncan.
