NTSB SEEKS LIMIT ON NUMBER OF FLIGHT CHECK FAILURES - The Federal Aviation Administration should limit the number of times a pilot can fail a flight check and require Part 121 and 135 carriers to obtain flight check failure background data on new hire candidates, the National Transportation Safety Board recommended to FAA last week. The NTSB recommendations stem from its investigation of the July 13, 2003 crash of an Air Sunshine Cessna 402C, N314AB, which ditched into the Atlantic Ocean near the Bahamas after an in-flight failure of the right engine.
FLYBE BUYS 20 MORE BOMBARDIER Q400S - Bombardier Aerospace received a follow-on order from United Kingdom-based low-cost carrier FlyBE for 20 Q400 regional turboprops. The contract, valued at $485 million, converts 20 options FlyBE held for the Q400. The deal will increase the carrier's fleet of Q400s to 41 aircraft. "The versatility of the Bombardier Q400 makes it a great aircraft for FlyBE," said FlyBE Managing Director Jim French, who added that the aircraft's quiet, jet-like performance and economics makes it a "key strategic weapon" for the carrier.
GULFSTREAM REPORTS RECORD ORDERS FOR ITS BUSINESS JETS - Gulfstream Aerospace recorded orders for 95 new business jets last year, and has essentially sold out its production for nearly all of this year and a portion of 2006. "Gulfstream had tremendous order activity in the fourth quarter, resulting in a $586 million increase in its funded backlog," said Nicholas Chabraja, chairman of Gulfstream parent General Dynamics.
Eric Ramsdell, a member of the Operations staff at the National Business Aviation Association for the past three-plus years, is resigning because he and his wife have decided to relocate to the Charlottesville, Va. area. Ramsdell joined the association in October 2001, and he has served as manager of safety and operations and as liaison to the association's Safety and Part 135 Committees.
Cessna Aircraft signed a five-year agreement with the Experimental Aircraft Association launching EAA's "Partners In Flight," which provides financial support for the association's youth education and historical preservation missions. The agreement will help EAA "form a prestigious group of corporate and individual contributors who share EAA's vision of personal aviation - including its cherished past, its enormous value today and its promise for the future," said Tom Poberezny, EAA president.
The Bell-Boeing Joint Program Office was awarded an advanced acquisition contract valued at $850 million for long-lead work and materials for 11 V-22 aircraft, the Defense Department said. The aircraft are the fiscal 2006 low-rate initial production Lot 10. The work is scheduled to be completed by September 2008. The new contract was issued despite continuing questions about the military tiltrotor's durability (BA, Jan. 24/40).
LANCAIR RAMPING UP PRODUCTION, STAFF - Piston-aircraft maker Lancair is planning to boost employment by more than 25 percent by mid-summer by hiring 130 new workers at its facility in Bend, Ore. The increase in employment comes as Lancair ramps up production to build 190 aircraft this year - nearly matching the cumulative total of Columbia 300s, 350s and 400s that Lancair has delivered since 1998. Lancair said the company's board approved the expansion as its backlog continues to grow.
CESSNA: CITATIONS LARGELY SOLD OUT FOR 2005-06 - Cessna Aircraft, benefiting from strong demand for its business jet models, said it has logged orders for most of the Citations it plans to build this year and next.
COMMANDER AIRCRAFT TO BE LIQUIDATED - Commander Aircraft Co., the bankrupt Oklahoma-based manufacturer of the Commander 112/114 single-engine aircraft lines, will be liquidated, according to a filing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware. Aviation General, Inc., which had been seeking a buyer for the aircraft manufacturing unit while it was under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, said the filing was converted to a Chapter 7 proceeding Jan. 14 and the court appointed a trustee "to preside over the preservation, disposition and sale of the company's assets."
The 2005 Cleveland National Air Show is scheduled Sept. 3-5 at Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland. The three-day event will include demonstrations by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, Army Golden Knights and other military tactical demonstrations and fly-bys as well as a number of aerobatic and historic aircraft displays. Organizers expect the event to attract 50 static display aircraft, educational exhibits, tanks and simulators. For more information, call (216) 781-0747 or visit www.clevelandairshow.com.
BAE SYSTEMS Model Avro 146-RJ series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2005-20078; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-210-AD] - proposes to require an inspection of the Thales Avionics distance bearing indicator (DBI) to determine part number (P/N) and serial number (S/N), and replacement of the affected DBI with a new or modified DBI. This proposed AD is prompted by a report of defective electrical insulators in DBIs.
FAA Friday granted a request to extend the comment period for draft guidance on training repair station employees under the new Part 145 regulations. National Air Transportation Association and Aircraft Electronics Association requested the delay, citing several instances where the draft advisory circular did not match the requirements of Part 145 (BA, Jan. 10/17). FAA pushed back the comment deadline, originally set for Jan. 21, until March 22.
Dick Grant was promoted to assistant manager of FlightSafety International's learning center in Savannah, Ga. Grant, who joined FSI in 1996, most recently served as director of standards for the Savannah center. He also has served as G-IV program manager.
Kim Montgomery was promoted to regional vice president of charter sales for the Southeast for Executive Jet Management. Based in Columbus, Ohio, Montgomery will oversee sales in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Montgomery has been with EJM for eight years.
HONEYWELL Primus II RNZ-850/-851 integrated navigation units [Docket No. FAA-2005-20080; Directorate Identifier 2003-NM-193-AD] - proposes to supersede an existing AD that requires inspecting to determine whether Mod L has been done on the Honeywell Primus II NV850 Navigation Receiver Module (NRM), which is part of the INU. In lieu of this inspection, or for aircraft with an NRM having Mod L, the existing AD requires revising the Aircraft Flight Manual to include new limitations for instrument landing system approaches.
World Fuel Services Corp. announced approval by its board of directors of a two-for-one split of the company's common stock. Record date for the stock split is Feb. 1. Distribution of the new shares is scheduled to begin Feb. 15. "The stock split provides an opportunity to broaden our base of investors and improve the liquidity of our stock, both of which we believe to be in the best interests of our shareholders," said Paul H. Stebbins, chairman and chief executive officer.
TRAFFIC INCREASES, BUT RAMP SPACE OK AT DULLES - Expansive airspace restrictions during the inauguration funneled a significant number of aircraft into Washington Dulles International (IAD), but airport officials said that they were able to find ramp space to accommodate the spike in general aviation traffic. Some 325 general aviation aircraft were parked at IAD during the inauguration and more came and went on Jan. 20, a Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority spokeswoman said.
European Business Aviation Convention and Exposition (EBACE) organizers issued a call for nominations for the 2005 European Business Aviation Awards. The European Business Aviation Award will be presented to one or more individuals during EBACE 2005, scheduled May 18-20. Nominations should include a letter of introduction, a biography and any supporting documents. Nominations are due March 15. Send nominations to EBACE European Office, Attn.: Darcy Christiansen, 2 Brusselsesteenweg, 3080 Tervuren, Belgium; telephone: +322-766-0076; or e-mail: [email protected].
John W. (Jack) Olcott was accorded two honors recently. He received the William F. Shea Award for Distinguished Contributions to Aviation from the University of Nebraska at Omaha's Aviation Institute. He also was named president of the New Jersey Aviation Association's board of directors. At NJAA, Olcott replaces Tom Carver, who was named New Jersey Labor Commissioner by acting Gov. Richard Codey. Olcott is the former president of the National Business Aviation Association and previously served as editor and publisher of Business & Commercial Aviation magazine.
GULFSTREAM, IAI ROLL OUT FIRST G150 IN ISRAEL - Israel Aircraft Industries and Gulfstream Aerospace officials rolled out the first Gulfstream G150 business jet Tuesday in Israel, a larger-cabin version of the former Astra SPX/G100 aircraft. The rollout was staged at IAI's manufacturing facility in Tel Aviv. IAI has built the Westwind/1125/Astra line of business jets for decades. IAI also builds the G200 (the former Galaxy 200).
Muncie Aviation Company employees used an employee stock ownership plan to purchase the company. Based at Delaware County Airport in Muncie, Ind., Muncie Aviation provides a range of fixed-base operation services and is a Piper distributor. The company employs 60 workers. Muncie co-founder Frank Ball serves as director and chairman emeritus under the new ownership regime. Other top company executives include Otto Arrington, chairman, president and chief executive, and Martin Ingram, director, executive vice president and chief operating officer.
Cirrus Design Corp. opened a sales center in Russia. Cirrus Russia is located in Moscow and is intended to boost the Duluth, Minn. aircraft manufacturer's sales in Russia and Ukraine. Alexey Khimichev, who Cirrus said has an extensive background in general aviation, was named director of the new office. "We look forward to working with Alexey and his Cirrus-trained team as we expand Cirrus' presence in the region," said John M. Bingham, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Cirrus.
