FAA ISSUES CEASE AND DESIST ORDER TO CHALLENGER OPERATOR - The Federal Aviation Administration Thursday issued an emergency cease and desist order to Platinum Jet Management, the company that was operating the Challenger 600 business jet that ran off a runway at the Teterboro, N.J. Airport (TEB) Feb. 2 and crashed into a brick warehouse.
Global Jet Shares added two Gulfstream aircraft to its fleet to support its jet membership program, My Jet. Global Jet Shares added a G II-SP to provide additional lift for the program and a G III that will be part of the fractional ownership aircraft inventory. Global Jet Shares, based in Van Nuys, Calif., offers both a jet membership card and factional ownership.
Conklin & De Decker released its 2005 State Tax Guide for General Aviation, detailing taxes and fees assessed in each of the 50 states. The guide is designed for operators, accountants, dealers, brokers, aviation law professionals and others, and explains sales and use taxes on aircraft sales, ownership, leases, parts and labor. The guide is available on CD Rom and can be updated throughout the year. Conklin and de Decker offers a one-year subscription for $250.
CANADA TURNS BLIND EYE ON AIRPORT RENTS - Canadian airports, hoping their government would use its annual budget to give them relief from soaring property rents, were disappointed last month when the budget failed to address the problem - and the airports face a rent bill in the coming year of more than $300 million, a cost they say will devastate their industry. In its budget, released Feb. 23, Finance Canada says it will charge its airports $304 million for 2005-2006. Rents will increase to $376.2 million in 2006-2007.
Pentastar Aviation, based at Oakland County International Airport in Waterford, Mich., was awarded a five-year ground-handling contract for DaimlerChrysler Aviation's Airbus A319 shuttle. The contract includes fueling, passenger processing, cleaning, security, maintenance, catering and other aviation services.
INSPECTIONS, MODS ORDERED ON PRIMUS EPIC SYSTEMS - The Federal Aviation Administration, acting on a warning by French aviation officials, told operators of Falcon 2000EX and 900EX business jets last week those aircraft cannot be dispatched with certain equipment inoperative and required inspections of the avionics standard communications bus to detect anomalies that could wipe out nearly all navigation data and communications capability.
AEROSPATIALE Model ATR 42-200, -300, and -320 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2004-19562; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-73-AD; Amendment 39-13992; AD 2005-05-04] - requires inspections to determine the part and serial number of the swinging lever of the main landing gears (MLG) and replacing the swinging lever if necessary. This AD is prompted by a report that, on an airplane lined up for takeoff, the swinging lever of the left MLG collapsed when engine power was applied.
Federal Aviation Administration went after the operator of the Challenger 600 involved in the Feb. 2 overrun accident at the Teterboro, N.J. Airport, charging that the company did not have an operating certificate to provide charter service. See article below. The case is expected to focus more attention on the issue of charter brokering. The Transportation Department last fall issued a notice providing guidance on the lawful role of air charter brokers.
Robyn Wilkerson was named human resources director for Pentastar Aviation. Wilkerson formerly was regional manager of human resources for North America for Johnson Electric, where she was responsible for developing the human resource infrastructure and budget, strategic planning, staffing, employee relations and training. She also has served with eePulse, Inc., Human Resource Management Solutions, Franks Nursery and Crafts, Pepsi Cola and AlliedSignal.
FLEXJET MARKETING VETERAN TO SUCCEED ROGER RITCHIE AT FSI - FlightSafety International named Stephen Phillips, a veteran of Bombardier and the Flexjet fractional aircraft program, to succeed Roger Ritchie as director of communications for the New York-based training provider and simulator manufacturer.
ROGERS ORDERS STONE TO REPORT ON DCA ACCESS BY APRIL 1 - Rep. Hal Rogers (R-Ky.), chairman of the homeland security appropriations subcommittee, last week directed Transportation Security Administration head David Stone to submit a report to Congress by April 1 on restoring access to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport for security-qualified charter and general aviation operations. Rogers reminded Stone that TSA has failed to meet its congressional mandate to report to Congress on the progress of DCA - TSA had until March 1 to supply such a report.
Congress continues to prod the Department of Homeland Security about its inaction on restoring service to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Rep. Hal Rogers (R-Ky.), chairman of the House homeland security appropriations subcommittee, last week took Transportation Security Administration chief David Stone to task for missing the deadline for providing a report to Congress on reopening DCA to general aviation.
BUSINESS AVIATION GROUPS PROTEST O'HARE SLOT SYSTEM - Business aviation groups protested the Federal Aviation Administration's decision to extend the term of the slot reservation system at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) until Oct. 31, saying FAA needs to continue to focus on expanding capacity and ensuring general aviation has adequate access. FAA last month issued an "Order to Show Cause" extending a system the agency established last summer to limit the number of flights into O'Hare.
Cessna Aircraft won type certification for its 172S Skyhawk equipped with Garmin G1000 avionics. FAA approval of the G1000 package on the 172R Skyhawk is anticipated this week. The Garmin G1000 "has become the most requested avionics package for the 172, 182 and 206," said Jack Pelton, Cessna's chairman, president and CEO.
HUTCHINSON TO HEAD HOMELAND SECURITY LEGAL PRACTICE - Homeland Security Under Secretary of Border and Transportation Security Asa Hutchinson will join Washington law firm Venable LLP as chair of its homeland security practice. Hutchinson, who left his DHS post earlier last week after two years, may still be considering a run for governor of Arkansas in 2006. Venable said Hutchinson would divide his time between the practice in Washington and Little Rock, "where he will pursue additional personal and business interests."
BAE Systems commercial aircraft electronics production and service facility in Irving, Texas won Parts Manufacturing Approval from FAA. The PMA designation authorizes the Irving plant to produce and sell more than 440 types of line-replaceable aftermarket products directly to customers and aircraft parts distributors. The Irving facility was operated by Boeing Commercial Airplanes from 1979 to 2004, and its products were developed and certified under a Boeing production certificate. BAE Systems acquired the Irving business in 2004.
CIVIL AIR PATROL SEES BOOST FROM NEW HYPERSPECTRAL IMAGER - The Civil Air Patrol unveiled a hyperspectral imaging system that it said will help aircraft identify objects as small as one meter in size from half a mile in the air. It said the system, called ARCHER - for Airborne Real-Time Cueing Hyperspectral Enhanced Reconnaissance - will increase CAP's effectiveness in search and rescue, disaster relief, and homeland security missions.
REP. PEARCE RENEWS EFFORTS TO PRESERVE HANGAR LEASES - Rep. Steven Pearce (R-N.M.) Thursday re-introduced a bill to protect individuals and businesses from short-term leases on hangars. The legislation, H.R.1117, calls for airports to grant a lease of at least 75 years to businesses and individuals seeking to build hangar facilities at an airport. The bill also would require compensation if airport development plans require the destruction or relocation of hangars. Pearce had introduced similar legislation in the previous Congress.
Sun Aviation was appointed a primary, worldwide distributor for L-3 Avionics Systems' AIM and J.E.T. product lines, including electronic standby instrument systems, gyros and electrically powered flight instruments. Under the agreement, dealers and repair stations can order directly from Sun Aviation, which will carry an inventory of L-3 products. Kansas City, Mo.-based Sun Aviation also will provide product support for L-3 customers.
Meggitt/S-Tech earned ISO 14001 certification from Perry Johnson Registrars for its environmental and recycling efforts. The avionics manufacturer, based in Mineral Wells, Texas, adopted 12 standard operating procedures for handling and disposing of waste.
Embraer last week handed over its 900th regional jet - an ERJ 135 - to European carrier Luxair. The aircraft was the second ERJ 135 delivered to Luxair, which plans to operate the aircraft on routes between London City Airport, Luxembourg and other cities. The ERJ 135 was certified to fly into London City in October. Luxair has been a long-time customer of Embraer, initially taking delivery of three EMB 120 Brasilia turboprops in 1991. The airline first ordered an ERJ six years later. The Luxair fleet currently includes two ERJ 135s and eight ERJ 145s.
Air Security International formed alliances with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and HTH Worldwide to provide a range of news and medical services to ASI World Watch online subscribers. Under the alliance with BBC, ASI will feed headlines from the BBC World News World Edition Web site into ASI's World Watch Online. The news will be updated every five minutes. The agreement will allow ASI to tap into up to 40 different news feeds covering the world or specific regions.
March 8-10 - National Air Transportation Association/Professional Aviation Maintenance Association GSE Aviation Services and Suppliers AS3 Supershow, Sands Expos & Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nev., (703) 845-9000 March 10-12 - 16th Annual International Women in Aviation Conference, Adam's Mark Hotel, Dallas, Texas, (386) 226-7996 March 14-16 - 17th Annual Flight Safety Foundation European Aviation Safety Seminar, Sheraton Warsaw Hotel and Towers, Warsaw, Poland, (703) 739-6700
Carmanah Technologies Corp., the Victoria, British Columbia-based company that makes solar-powered LED lighting for airports and other users, is expanding its London, England-area presence. The new office is in Hammersmith, a London suburb. The London team includes Mark Harold, who relocated from company headquarters in Canada, and two local hires with market expertise in related sectors: James Hoare, business development manager; and Michelle Walsh, marketing manager.
