Bombardier Aerospace plans to suspend production of its CRJ200 regional jet aircraft in mid-January, reflecting decreased demand for 50-seat jets among airline operators. The end of CRJ200 production "will result in the implementation of the remaining 660 of the 1,135 layoffs announced last August," the company said.
SENATE OKs FAA FUNDING, BUSH CLEARS SECURITY BUDGET - The Senate this month approved a $14.257 billion fiscal 2006 budget for the Federal Aviation Administration, a sharp jump from the $13.83 billion budgeted for the agency in fiscal 2005, even as agency leaders are voicing worries about a cash crunch. The amount includes $3.5 billion for the Airport Improvement Program, $500 million more than the administration requested. The House passed its version of the bill in June.
The Federal Aviation Administration needs to scrap the current aviation taxes in favor of a more equitable, fee-based system for all but small, recreational operators who buy aviation gasoline, the Air Transport Association told the agency. ATA further believes that existing aviation taxes put a disproportionate burden on the airlines and provide "perverse incentives for non-commercial users to crowd the system, with more flights than they would if paying proportionately."
GA SHIPMENTS JUMP 25 PERCENT IN FIRST THREE QUARTERS - Strong performance by most of the major manufacturers helped propel the general aviation industry to a 25.7 percent increase in unit shipments and a nearly 28.9 percent leap in billings for the first three quarters of 2005, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association reported Friday. GA manufacturers shipped 2,423 aircraft through September, compared with 1,927 in the first nine months of 2004. Billings jumped from $8 billion in the first three quarters of 2004 to $10.4 billion through September of this year.
KEITH MARKLEY joined Liberty Aerospace as director of sales and marketing. Markley, a pilot who holds commercial, multi, CFI and glider ratings, has a background in startup and high-technology firms. He formerly served as president of DSL.net and as Eastern region president for Covad Communications. He also filled executive roles with Brooks Fiber, ART and Air Transport, Inc.
Messier Services America, which overhauls landing gear and hydraulic components for a number of manufacturers, including Bombardier, announced the same day that it plans to move that work out of its Sterling, Va. shops to a Greenfield site in Queretaro. Messier expects its new facility to be completed by the third quarter of 2006, and open for business in January 2007. About 160 employees work in Sterling, and Messier expects to keep just 20 of them for sales and customer support.
Experimental Aircraft Association is concerned that proposed FAA restrictions will dramatically decrease the appeal of large air shows without significantly improving safety. See article below.
Air Security International acquired a Houston, Texas-based professional investigation firm, Paladin International, to expand its portfolio of security services. Paladin relocated to ASI headquarters in Houston and was folded into ASI's Investigations Division. The company provides pre-employment and background services and consults on investigative and security matters.
MD HELICOPTERS Model 369D, 369E, 369F, 369FF, 500N, and 600N helicopters [Docket No. 2004-SW-13-AD; Amendment 39-14340; AD 2005-21-02] - supersedes an existing AD that currently requires recording on the component history card or equivalent record each torque event (TE) on each blade, inspecting both surfaces of the blade, and replacing any cracked blade with an airworthy blade. Also, that AD establishes life limits for certain part-numbered blades.
FAA Administrator Marion Blakey surprised business aviation advocates when she announced Thursday an agreement between FAA, TSA and the European Civil Aviation Conference on security standards for fractional operators. ECAC had been skeptical about voluntary standards and had been pushing for government-set requirements. U.S. officials responded earlier that they would consider various options, but were not expected to have concrete recommendations for at least another month.
Bombardier Aerospace this month firmed up a deal to sell 22 CRJ700 regional jets to St. George, Utah-based SkyWest. The contract also reaffirms 80 options previously placed. Bombardier valued the contract at $798 million (U.S.) but said the value of the entire order could reach $3.7 billion if all options are exercised. The transaction converts 18 CRJ200 aircraft on backlog that SkyWest inherited through its acquisition of Atlantic Southeast Airlines. SkyWest added four more orders to bump up the total to 22.
DASSAULT Model Falcon 2000 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-22633; Directorate Identifier 2005-NM-155-AD] - proposes to require an inspection for the presence of fail-safe pins, nuts, and washers on each engine, and replacement of the fail-safe fastener assembly with a new assembly if necessary. This proposed AD results from a report of a missing pin of a fail-safe fastener. FAA is proposing this AD to prevent reduced structural integrity of an engine mount due to a missing pin of a fail-safe fastener, and possible separation of an engine from the airplane during flight.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model AS355E, F, F1, F2, and N helicopters [Docket No. 2003-SW-10-AD] - proposes to revise an existing AD that currently requires certain checks of the magnetic chip detector plug and the main gearbox (MGB) oil-sight glass, certain inspections of the lubrication pump and replacing the MGB and the pump with an airworthy MGB and pump, if necessary. Also, the AD requires that before an MGB or pump with any time-in-service (TIS) can be installed, it must meet the AD requirements.
Exeltech Aerospace signed a memorandum of understanding to provide ATR 72 heavy maintenance for a U.S. regional carrier. The MOU covers three years and has an estimated value of between $30 million and $35 million. The MOU is subject to a definitive agreement, which is expected within the next 60 days. Montreal-based ExelTech has provided ATR maintenance since 2000.
GARRETT/PIEDMONT FILLS CEO, PRESIDENT SLOTS INTERNALLY - Garrett/Piedmont Hawthorne/Associated (GPHA) promoted Roger Wolfe to chief executive and Shawn Vick to president as the company completes its transition with the retirement of former President and CEO Frank Klaus. Klaus retired at the end of September, and Brian Rowe, company chairman and long-time aviation veteran, temporarily took the reins of the company while it finalized plans for the new leadership (BA, Sept. 19/124).
Textron's Campbell cited cost as one of the primary reasons Cessna has not yet announced a large-fleet order from the emerging air taxi market for its Mustang very light jet. "Air taxi is going to be tough to make work financially unless the airplane is very inexpensive, much less expensive than the $2.4 million for the Mustang," he said.
NEW LAS VEGAS AIRPORT STARTS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY - A proposed new $4 billion airport outside Las Vegas took a step closer to construction when Clark County Department of Aviation hired Watertown, Mass.-based Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc. to prepare a $14.2 million environmental impact statement (EIS).
EMBRAER Model EMB-135 and -145 series airplanes [Docket No. 2002-NM-89-AD] - revises an earlier proposal that would have required performing repetitive inspections for cracks, ruptures, or bends in certain components of the elevator control system; replacing discrepant components; and, for certain airplanes, installing a new spring cartridge and implementing new logic for the electromechanical gust lock system.
October 30-November 2 - Air Traffic Control Association 50th Annual Conference and Exposition, Gaylord Texan Resort and Conference Center, Dallas/Ft. Worth, www.atca.org, e-mail [email protected] November 2-3 - Regional Airline Association Fall Meeting, Washington, D.C., (202) 367-1170 November 3-5 - Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, AOPA Expo 2005, Tampa Convention Center, Tampa, Fla., www.aopa.org/expo November 9-11 - National Business Aviation Association Annual Meeting and Convention, Orlando, Fla., (202) 783-9000
A New World Jet Hawker 1000 carrying four business aviation executives, two pilots and an aviation security officer landed shortly before 7 a.m. Oct. 18 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), signaling what many congressional representatives and industry officials hope is only a first step in the long-anticipated return of business aviation to the nation's capital.
JAMES PALMER was promoted to vice president of customer support and commercial services for CMC Electronics. Palmer has more than 30 years' aerospace industry experience, beginning with Rolls-Royce Canada. He joined CMC Electronics in 1983 and has held roles in pricing, subcontract management, supply chain management and commercial services. Most recently he was director of commercial services.
PATRICK DOWLING was appointed managing director and general manager of CIT Aerospace and Defense Finance. Dowling will be responsible for expanding CIT Aerospace and Defense Finance's international market. He joins CIT from GE Commercial and Industrial Finance, where he served as managing director and industry leader-Aerospace and Defense. He also has served with The Continental Group and Price Waterhouse.
