Embraer delivered three specially configured Legacy Executive aircraft to the government of India, which ordered five of the aircraft and took options on two more. Two of the Legacys will be flown by the Indian Air Force and the third will be operated by that nation's Border Security Force.
The Transportation Department Tuesday authorized Executive Jet Management to operate scheduled passenger service as a commuter air carrier. EJM filed for the approval in early March, outlining plans to operate business jets in scheduled passenger service on routes between Chicago, New York and Los Angeles (BA, March 7/107). EJM did not say which aircraft it intended to use, listing some 80 aircraft that it operates through dry lease agreements for DOT fitness application purposes.
Rockwell Collins received a contract to provide its Pro Line 21 integrated avionics system as part of an upgrade program for the U.S. Navy's fleet of UC-12 King Air aircraft. ARINC Engineering Services, which is responsible for purchasing and installing the equipment for the program, selected the Pro Line 21 suite. L3 Communications is the prime contractor for the program. The contract follows an earlier agreement that ARINC awarded to Rockwell Collins for Pro Line 21 avionics to upgrade the Navy's fleet of 55 T-44A training aircraft (BA, June 20/282).
Trevor Palmeri was appointed vice president of programs and customer support for Meggitt/S-TEC. Palmeri will manage all OEM programs, including customer support and technical publications. He joins S-TEC after a 24-year career with Bell Helicopter. Most recently he was program director for Bell's CV-22 program.
National Air Transportation Association and National Business Aviation Association are creating a joint task force to tackle issues associated with jet-fuel-tax changes that Congress adopted in the highway bill, H.R. 3. (BA, Aug. 1/44). The bill requires most business aircraft operators to pay the diesel fuel tax rate when they buy jet fuel and then seek a rebate for the roughly two-cents-per-gallon difference between the diesel fuel and jet fuel taxes. The associations are hoping the task force will help develop a rebate process that is as painless as possible.
Terry Doehling was named regional vice president, aircraft management sales, for Executive Jet Management. Doehling will be based in Lafayette, La., and is responsible for aircraft management sales in the Eastern U.S. He has 25 years of aviation experience, formerly as international marketing director for RTS Capital Services. He also was regional marketing manager for Bell Helicopter Textron.
Seven industry groups last week urged FAA Administrator Marion Blakey to delay implementation of a rule requiring new aircraft insulation, saying recently released guidance greatly expanded the scope of the rule and could increase costs or ground aircraft. In an Aug. 17 letter to Blakey, the groups noted that FAA's insulation rule, released July 31, 2003, was believed to apply to thermal and acoustical blankets installed in aircraft operating under Part 121.
Bombardier expanded its Skyjet International Jet Membership Card program to cover Moscow and St. Petersburg. The Skyjet program sells charter time in minimum blocks of 25 hours. The company also plans to boost its presence in Russia with a new line-maintenance facility for drop-in and aircraft-on-ground services. Bombardier will select a partner in the venture by the end of the year. The Canadian manufacturer also plans to station a field service representative in Moscow to help operators with technical and operational issues.
GULFSTREAM Model GV and GV-SP series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-22034; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-182-AD] -- proposes to require a one-time inspection of the left and right aileron and elevator actuators to determine the part and serial numbers of each actuator, repetitive inspections of suspect actuators to detect broken damper shafts, and replacement of any actuator having a broken damper shaft. This proposed AD also would require that operators report any broken damper shaft they find to the FAA.
EMBRAER Model EMB-135BJ, -135ER, -135KE, -135KL, -135LR, -145, -145ER, -145MR, -145LR, -145XR, -145MP, and -145EP airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-20223; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-193-AD] - revises an earlier proposal that would have required repetitive detailed inspections for surface bruising of the main landing gear (MLG) trailing arms and integrity of the MLG pivot axle sealant, and corrective actions if necessary; and also would have provided for optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections.
Safety advocates are grumbling about President Bush's announced intention to nominate Kathryn Higgins for a seat on the National Transportation Safety Board. Higgins, who has been active in Democratic Party politics, was selected for the seat formerly held by Carol Carmody, also a Democrat, apparently at the behest of Harry Reid (D-Nev.), the Senate minority leader. Higgins has no apparent professional experience in transportation or safety. She most recently was president and CEO of a Washington, D.C. consulting firm.
Hillsborough County Aviation Authority is building a new facility to house U.S. Customs between Tampa International Jet Center (TIJC) and Raytheon Aircraft Services (RAS). The facility formerly was housed within the RAS fixed-base operation. Customs last week moved into a temporary facility where it will operate until the new facility is completed in the next 18 to 24 months. The temporary facility is next to where the new facility is under construction. "Tampa International Airport is making a great effort to provide our GA customers with easy access to U.S.
ROSS AVIATION BUYS SCOTTSDALE FBO - Ross Aviation, LLC and Centre Partners acquired Scottsdale AirCenter, a fixed-base operation at the Scottsdale, Ariz. airport (SDL), its second acquisition since the partnership was formed last December.
ROLLS-ROYCE Models BR700-710A1-10 and BR700-710A2-20 turbofan engines [Docket No. 2000-NE-48-AD] - proposes to supersede an existing AD that currently requires initial and repetitive visual and ultrasonic inspections of fan discs, Part Numbers (P/Ns) BRR18803, BRR19248, and BRR20791 for cracks, and if necessary, replacement with serviceable parts. This proposed AD would require the same inspections of these fan discs, with certain old design P/N fan blades installed.
HAI URGES FAA TO STEP UP SAFETY INITIATIVES IN GULF OF MEXICO - The Helicopter Association International appealed to FAA Administrator Marion Blakey to further collaborate with industry to improve communications and weather information for flight operations in the Gulf of Mexico region. In a letter to Blakey this month, HAI President Roy Resavage noted that a fleet of 650 helicopters transports about 11,000 people daily to and from more than 4,000 oil and gas platforms in the Gulf.
National Air Transportation Association released its 2005 annual survey of general aviation service employee compensation, including salaries and benefits for pilots, line-service personnel, maintenance technicians, inspectors, dispatchers, and customer service representatives, among others. The survey breaks down employee compensation by geographic region, size of local town or city, and company gross sales. Association Research, an economic research firm in Rockville, Md., conducted the survey. NATA is offering the survey to members for $50 and non-members for $100.
RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT SALES UP SHARPLY - Raytheon Aircraft Company reported sharply higher sales for the second quarter, but new aircraft bookings were down from last year's peak.
HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND POWER SYSTEMS (formerly Sundstrand Power Systems) Auxiliary Power Units Models T-62T-46C2, T-62T-46C2A, T-62T-46C3, T-62T-46C7, and T-62T-46C7A [Docket No. FAA-2005-21719; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-19-AD] - proposes to require removal from service of those compressor impeller assemblies at reduced service life limits. This proposed AD results from two reports of uncontained failures of compressor impeller assemblies. FAA is proposing this AD to prevent an uncontained APU failure and damage to the airplane.
Pacific Avionics & Instruments was recognized with ISO 9001:2000 and AS9100 accreditation. Part of the Innotech Execaire Aviation Group, Pacific Avionics is a Vancouver, Canada-based avionics wiring and systems integration specialist.
Eclipse Aviation unveiled a comprehensive service program for its Eclipse 500 Very Light Jet, an effort to "change the ownership experience" and link the customer to the manufacturer, according to Vern Raburn, president and CEO. For $115 (airframe) and $94 (engines) per flight hour, Raburn said the JetComplete program will provide Eclipse buyers with a wide range of maintenance, support and training services and reduce their ownership costs by up to 30 percent, compared with buyers who don't participate in JetComplete.
National Business Aviation Association's newest international convention, the Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (ABACE), attracted more than 2,100 attendees last week. The three-day event, held Aug. 9-11 in Shanghai China, included more than 50 exhibiting companies at the Shanghai New International Exhibition Center and 12 aircraft on display at Hongqiao Airport. ABACE joins similar venues in Latin America and Europe that NBAA has co-sponsored with other international business aviation organizations.
FAA CALLS FOR TOWERS TO REVIEW RUNWAY HOLD PROCEDURE - FAA has required its air traffic control towers at all airports to review whether they need to use a procedure that allows aircraft to taxi onto a runway and hold while awaiting clearance from the tower, but the controllers' union has criticized the agency's move.
JAMES LORENTZEN joined Jet Aviation as regional director of sales-Western Region. He will be based in Orange County, Calif. Lorentzen has 20 years of aviation sales experience, most recently as Southwest U.S. sales director for Flight Options.
BBA GROUP BUYS U.S. MANUFACTURER OF ENGINE GOVERNORS - BBA Group acquired International Governor Services, of Broomfield, Colo., last month. Under terms of the acquisition, the British conglomerate made an initial payment of $18 million, with further payments of up to $10 million possible, subject to business performance over a three-year period. IGS specializes in overhaul and repair of small turbine engine controls including fuel controls and governors used on a wide range of popular business jet and turboprop engines.
