HONEYWELL reached agreement with the board of directors of Novar plc to purchase all that company's common and preferred stock for about $2.4 billion, an acquisition Honeywell says will complement its automation and controls business. Novar, with $2.7 billion in revenues last year, is an international business whose core divisions are Intelligent Building Systems (IBS), Indalex Aluminum Solutions and Security Printing Services.
CESSNA AIRCRAFT released the final service bulletins for the installation of a Runway Awareness and Advisory System on Cessna Citations. Cessna Citation Service Centers will install the system on Model 550 Bravos, Model 560 Encores, Model 560XL Excels and Model 750 Xs. The system improves situational awareness and lowers runway incursion probability by providing aural advisories to the flight crew during taxi, takeoff, final approach, landing and rollout.
FAA and the Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) are instituting an emergency ban on cargo shipments of non-rechargeable lithium batteries on passenger flights because they pose a fire hazard. "Airline passengers still will be allowed to carry on board, and use, or pack in checked bags, personal computers and other consumer products that contain lithium batteries," the Department of Transportation said.
February 6-8, 2005 - Helicopter Association International Heli-Expo 2005, Anaheim, Calif., (703) 683-4646 February 12-16, 2005 - 16th Annual National Business Aviation Association Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference, Reno, Nev., (202) 783-9000 March 8-10, 2005 - 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
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association called Bernard Kerik's decision to decline a nomination to be Homeland Security secretary a "new opportunity to put the right person in the left seat." The announcement of President Bush's intent to nominate Kerik for the top DHS post received a lukewarm reception from the general aviation industry, which feared his background as a career police officer could undermine the collaborative environment that current Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge has fostered (BA, Dec. 6/251).
Eclipse Aviation rolled out its first certification flight test Eclipse 500 very light jet in preparation for a planned first flight by the end of the month. The aircraft, N503EA, will be one of five test aircraft involved in a certification program that also will include airframes used for static and fatigue testing. "Rollout of N503EA is an important symbol of the real progress made in the Eclipse 500 program," said Eclipse President and CEO Vern Raburn, adding that the company expects to win certification of the aircraft in the first quarter of 2006.
Rolls-Royce (formerly Allison Engine Company, Allison Gas Turbine Division, and Detroit Diesel Allison) Models 250-C30R/3, -C30R/3M, -C47B, and -C47M turboshaft engines [Docket No. 2003-NE-23-AD; Amendment 39-13880; AD 2004-24-04] - supersedes an existing AD that currently requires initial and repetitive electrical signal inspections of the hydromechanical unit (HMU) Power Lever Angle (PLA) potentiometer.
Rolls-Royce (formerly Allison Engine Company) 250-B17B, -B17C, -B17D, -B17E, -C20, -C20B, -C20F, -C20J, -C20S, and -C20W turboprop and turboshaft engines [Docket No. FAA-2004-19648; Directorate Identifier 2004-NE-31-AD] - proposes, for engines that do not have turbine-energy-absorbing ring, Part Number (P/N) 23035175, installed, to require installation of a turbine-energy-absorbing ring in the plane of the 1st stage turbine wheel.
Pacific Aerospace Model 750XL Airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2004-19444; Directorate Identifier 2004-CE-33-AD] - proposes to require replacing any type TLP-D or TLED rivets on the aileron pushrod ends and elevator control pushrod ends. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for New Zealand. FAA is issuing this proposed AD to replace the above identified rivets on the aileron pushrod ends and elevator control pushrod ends.
NATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION is pleased the Department of Homeland Security appears to be working toward addressing the association's concerns about delays foreign nationals have been experiencing in having their fingerprints processed at U.S. embassies worldwide as part of the background check for undergoing flight training at U.S. facilities. DHS has been considering a plan to allow NATA's Compliance Services program to help process the fingerprinting.
JET AVIATION'S FACILITIES IN Bedford, Mass., Teterboro, N.J. and Dallas were named authorized service centers for the Embraer Legacy aircraft. The three facilities join Jet Aviation centers in Palm Beach, Fla., Dusseldorf, Germany and London Biggin Hill, United Kingdom as Embraer Legacy centers. Line crews in Bedford, Dallas and Teterboro are training to perform line maintenance on the Executive and Shuttle versions of the Legacy as well as on the ERJ 135 and ERJ 145 regional aircraft.
Mooney Models M20B, M20C, M20D, M20E, M20F, M20G, and M20J airplanes [Docket No. 98-CE-64-AD; Amendment 39-13891; AD 2004-25-04] - requires, for airplanes equipped with an O&N bladder fuel cell installed per supplemental type certificate (STC) SA2277CE or STC SA2350CE, inspecting the drain valve to assure that it is inserted fully into the drain nipple and modifying any drain valve found not to be inserted fully into the drain nipple.
The Federal Aviation Administration last week proposed revoking the airman medical certification for pilots who are required but refuse to take a drug or alcohol test or who take the alcohol test and have a breath alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.04 or higher. The proposal, published in the Dec. 14 Federal Register, also would allow suspension or revocation of airman certificates for pre-employment and return-to-duty test refusals and would require employers to report such refusals.
NATIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION revised and expanded its Professional Development Program to bring it more closely into line with its Certified Aviation Manager Program, which is designed to recognize aviation managers who have met minimum qualifications that include experience, training and education. NBAA created the Professional Development Program in 1997 to prepare flight department personnel for management roles.
MONTREAL JET CENTER (MJET) named John Liotta regional sales manager, aircraft technical services. Based in Glendale, N.Y., Liotta will sell MJET services to customers in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland and Delaware. He joins MJET from Gulfstream Aerospace, where he was the Mid-Atlantic area regional sales manager. The MJET center covers 80,000 square feet of hangar, shop and office space.
Embraer Model EMB-135 and -145 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2004-19767; Directorate Identifier 2004-NM-139-AD; Amendment 39-13900; AD 2004-25-12] - requires a one-time inspection of each passenger service unit (PSU) to determine the serial number of the printed circuit board (PCB) installed in each PSU, replacement of the PCB if necessary, related investigative actions, and other specified actions. This AD is prompted by reports that PSUs on two airplanes emitted smoke.
Cirrus Design Corp. has issued a revised service bulletin to its aircraft owners that requires new seat belt installation in nearly 1,600 of the company's airplanes.
IRIDIUM SATELLITE will supply its global satellite network services to Canadian North Airlines. AeroMechanical Services Ltd. In Calgary will install Iridium-based AFIRS data collection and transmission systems aboard the carrier's cargo/passenger aircraft. The AFIRS systems use the Iridium low-earth-orbit communication satellite network for air-to-ground links, transmitting data from aircraft through the AeroMechanical Uptime services.
BAE Systems(Operations) Limited (Jetstream) Model 4101 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2004-19766; Directorate Identifier 2002-NM-161-AD] - requires replacing the aileron trim chain with a new, improved aileron trim chain, and modifying the installation of the aileron trim chain. This proposed AD is prompted by a report that the aileron trim cables were connected incorrectly on a correctly installed aileron trim chain.
DRS Technologies acquired Allentown, Pa.-based Night Vision Equipment Company (NVEC) for $42.5 million in cash, the company said. NVEC, founded in 1977, produces night vision products and combat identification systems. In addition to the Allentown headquarters, NVEC operates research, development and production facilities in Prescott Valley, Ariz.
JOHN SCICLUNA was named a sales representative for Northern Jet Management. Scicluna joins Northern Jet from Uniprop LLC, where he was vice president. He also has served as vice president of marketing and director of sales for Pentastar
A POSITIVE ARTICLE about general aviation in a national sports magazine?? You bet! The Dec. 20 Sports Illustrated features a multi-page spread -- "Ready for Takeoff" -- that spotlights Joey Graham and his twin brother Stephen. The Graham brothers are key members Oklahoma State's unbeaten basketball team and both love to fly a Cessna 172. The article goes into some detail about their training, including their being able to earn their private pilot licenses in two and one-half months this past summer.
Because of the holiday schedule, The Weekly of BUSINESS AVIATION will not publish a Dec. 27 issue. The next issue will be dated Jan. 3. The deadline for receipt of advertising materials for the Jan. 3 issue is noon, Dec. 29. Please accept our best wishes for a happy holiday season and a prosperous New Year.
FAA last week formally corrected the implementation deadline for fractional ownership aircraft providers to meet the standards of the Part 91 Subpart K regulations. The correction, published in the Federal Register Tuesday, clarifies that the implementation deadline is Feb. 17, 2005. As originally released, the Subpart K regulations called for compliance within 15 months of the Sept. 17, 2003 publication date of the rule. That would have required operators to meet Subpart K standards by last Friday (Dec. 17).
