SPIRIT WING DEVELOPS 'VIRTUALLY NEW' SPIRITLEAR - Edmond, Okla.-based Spirit Wing Aviation is hoping to carve a niche in the light jet market offering a "virtually new" $2.2 million SpirtLear, a re-engined, re-engineered Learjet 20 series jet. Spirit Wing, a division of the international conglomerate Dominion Group, has developed a major modification package it says will boost performance, enhance aerodynamics and meet current standards.
President Bush Friday signed into law the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, H.R. 4520, which extends 50 percent bonus depreciation benefits to qualified business aircraft ordered this year but placed in service by the end of 2005. The Jobs Act also includes a provision limiting expenses that can be deducted from taxes for use of business aircraft by senior executives for personal travel.
November 15-18 - Flight Safety Foundation/International Federation of Airworthiness/International Air Transport Association 57th Annual International Air Safety Seminar, Pudong Shangri-La Hotel, Shanghai, China, (703) 739-6700 November 18 - National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Regional Forum, Dallas, Texas, (202) 783-9000 February 6-8, 2005 - Helicopter Association International Heli-Expo 2005, Anaheim, Calif., (703) 683-4646
AirCell is scheduled to deliver its 2,500th airborne telecommunications system next month, two years after AirCell introduced its family of satellite-based products and services. AirCell was established in 1991 to develop and launch a proprietary cellular network and won approval to begin full commercial operation at the end of 1999. The company partnered with Iridium Satellite LLC in 2002, and brought to market its satellite-based product line.
Hawker Pacific Aerospace, which repairs and overhauls a range of aircraft, has added the Hawker 800 series to its service offerings. Hawker Pacific Aerospace procured parts to provide spares as an exchange or a loan to help meet the customer's scheduling needs. The Sun Valley, Calif., company also teamed with BizJet in Tulsa, Okla. to offer a coordinated package for removal and replacement of Hawker 800 landing gear during aircraft overhaul.
Ron Zilberbrand, who in 1989 co-founded Jet Support Service Inc. (JSSI), is forming a new company, The Zilberbrand Group, LLC, to specialize in turbine sales and acquisitions. Jason Zilberbrand, who spent the past decade at JSSI, is co-founding The Zilberbrand Group and will serve as vice president. "We feel the timing and market conditions are pivotal to assist our clients in making the best decisions possible," said Jason Zilberbrand. The new company will work with General Aviation Services on certain transactions.
Professional Aviation Maintenance Association (PAMA) teamed with aviation staffing specialist firm Jet Professionals to provide staffing services for PAMA corporate and individual members. The joint program will launch Jan. 1 through the Jet Professionals and PAMA Web sites. Job seekers can upload resumes and update their information, and PAMA member employers will be able to submit job postings.
Raytheon Airline Aviation Services delivered a Beechcraft 1900D to Jet Management Ltd., the designated representative of Sonair Servicio Aereo (SONAIR). The aircraft, the sixth delivered to SONAIR, will be ferried to SONAIR's headquarters in Luanda, Angola and will be operated to support regional oil exploration and development.
FORMER GAMA PRESIDENT GORMLEY DIES - James D. Gormley, a retired Air Force brigadier general who spent 11 years with the General Aviation Manufacturers Association as vice president and later as president, died Thursday after a battle with cancer. Born March 24, 1931 in Minneapolis, Gormley received a Bachelor of Arts degree in business in 1953 from the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn. and in 1971 earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Auburn University.
Hillwood is building a 30,000-square-foot expansion to the hangar at the Alliance fixed-base operation at Fort Worth Alliance Airport in Texas. The expansion, which will have space for up to eight more aircraft, is slated to be completed in February. The FBO opened in 1996 and currently comprises a 32,000-square-foot hanger and a 23,000-square-foot aviation/office center. In addition to expanding the FBO, the airport will extend the runway from 9,600 feet to 11,000 feet.
Cessna Chairman Russ Meyer is taking on another role in Washington, as member of the FAA Management Advisory Council (MAC). Meyer was one of three aerospace industry leaders named to the MAC Friday by Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta. Mineta also tapped Charles Bolden, senior vice president of Tech Trans International, and Philip Trenary, president and CEO of Pinnacle Airlines, to serve three-year terms. Congress created the MAC in FAA reauthorization legislation in 1996. The MAC meets quarterly to assess and provide advice on agency performance.
NO OBVIOUS ANSWER FOR CRJ ENGINE LOSS; CARRIER LIMITS ALTITUDES - National Transportation Safety Board investigators are hoping an engine teardown examination will shed light on why both General Electric CF34-3B1 turbofan engines flamed out on a Pinnacle Airlines CRJ-200 positioning flight, resulting in a crash that claimed both pilots (BA, Oct. 18/174).
Million Air Teterboro and Meridian Air Charter are building a new 33,000-square-foot fixed-base facility, including a three-story, 21,000 square-foot terminal/office complex and a two-story, 12,000-square-foot maintenance building. The new facilities will include an exercise room, sleep room, game room, private shower facilities, a quiet room, a conference room, business center and cafe. The improvements are part of a two-phase plan.
The Transportation Security Administration last week clarified and provided a limited 60-day extension of certain flight training background check requirements in a move that drew a mixed reaction from industry officials pushing for the changes. Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association called the notice TSA released Tuesday "a start, but just that and only that," while the National Air Transportation Association said it welcomed the guidance.
BELL Model 222, 222B, 222U, and 230 helicopters (Docket No. 2004-SW-04-AD; Amendment 39-13812; AD 2004-20-07) - requires certain inspections of the main rotor yoke for a crack, fretting, or buffer deterioration. If a crack is found, the AD requires replacing the yoke with an airworthy yoke before further flight. If fretting or buffer deterioration are found, the AD requires further inspecting the main rotor hub assembly and repairing or replacing any unairworthy parts. Also, the AD requires a torque inspection of the flapping bearing retaining nuts at specified intervals.
CESSNA WINS CJ3 CERTIFICATION, UPDATES CJ1, CJ2 - Cessna Aircraft received full FAA type certification for its newest CitationJet, the Model 525B CJ3. FAA awarded the TC to Cessna Oct. 15, just days after Cessna unveiled new, enhanced versions of the company's earlier CJs, the CJ1+ and CJ2+.
MOONEY TAPS SOFTWARE, MANUFACTURING EXECUTIVE AS CEO - Mooney Airplane Company named Gretchen Jahn, a founder and chief executive officer of two separate firms, to head the Kerrville, Texas manufacturer. Jahn will have day-to-day operational responsibility for Mooney and work with a management team that includes Tom Gray, the managing director of the company. Gray came on board after Allen Holding Finance, Ltd. bought the airplane manufacturer from Mooney Aerospace Group (MAG) in June (BA, June 7/260). J.
FAA OUTLINES RESERVATION SYSTEM FOR O'HARE ARRIVALS - The Federal Aviation Administration last week detailed a reservation system that restricts the number of aircraft that can arrive at Chicago O'Hare International Airport between Nov. 1 and April 30. The reservation system followed an announcement in August that FAA and scheduled carriers had reached an agreement to temporarily limit the number of scheduled arrivals at O'Hare.
NBAA also has been working with concerned companies about a recently published DOT notice providing guidance on treatment of charter brokers (BA, Oct. 18/175). DOT released the notice to ensure that charter brokers are acting as agents of the customer or carrier, or that they have economic authority to conduct business. DOT is particularly concerned about brokers who can sell charter but aren't accountable for its delivery. The agency also is concerned about brokers who advertise aircraft fleets as their own when they don't have operational control over the aircraft.
Sentient Jet formed a partnership with TWC Aviation to jointly market a Guaranteed Revenue Program for jet owners under which TWC will provide aircraft management and maintenance and Sentient will provide guaranteed charter hours. Sentient, the Norwell, Mass.-based company that offers customers a private jet membership program, will guarantee at least 600 hours of flight time for certain light and mid-size jets. Based in Burbank, Calif., TWC Aviation will manage participating aircraft.
ARINC'S Aircraft Services organization in Colorado Springs, Colo. earned Designated Alteration Station (DAS) authorization from FAA. The authorization will cut the time required to design, certify and implement aircraft modifications, ARINC said, adding that it will provide the facility a number of opportunities. "ARINC plans to develop and approve a range of new modification kits for purchase by authorized repair stations, which will benefit the industry as a whole," said John May, ARINC's DAS administrator.
