ExcelAire added a Gulfstream V to its charter fleet, giving the Ronkonkoma, N.Y.-based operator a total of seven Gulfstreams. In addition to the GV, ExcelAire has four GIIIs, one GIISP and a GII-TT. The GV is based at Republic Airport in Farmingdale, N.Y.
DYNCORP International, LLC, Fort Worth, Texas, won a $7.9 million modification to a firm-fixed-price contract to upgrade five C-12D2 aircraft to the C-12U configuration. The work will be done in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed by Feb. 17, 2006.
Hooters Air added a sixth aircraft, a Boeing 737-300, N390WL, to its fleet and will begin offering additional service between Atlanta, Ga. and Myrtle Beach, S.C. with fares beginning at $69 one-way.
Board of directors of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association does not appear in a rush to find a permanent replacement for Ed Bolen, who left GAMA to head the National Business Aviation Association (BA, Sept. 6/101). In fact, the board will probably wait until after the November election before spooling up a serious search for a successor. Ron Swanda, GAMA's senior vice president of operations and a 22-year veteran of the organization, continues to serve as interim president (BA, Aug. 9/59).
FAA REVISES PMA, TC PROCESSES - Federal Aviation Administration is requesting comments on proposed changes to the procedures to obtain parts manufacturer approval (PMA) and type certification (TC). In separate notices printed in the Aug. 25 Federal Register, FAA released proposed revisions to Order 8110.42, Parts Manufacturer Approval Procedures, and Order 8100.4, Type Certification.
Southwest Jet Aviation added a Westwind II to its charter fleet. The business jet will be based at Southwest Jet's headquarters in Scottsdale, Ariz. The mid-size aircraft has a range of more than 2,400 nautical miles and can seat seven passengers.
AVIATION GENERAL ENTERS AGREEMENT TO OBTAIN FINANCING - Aviation General, Inc. said it signed a stock purchase agreement with Pilot General Aviation LLC under which Pilot General will invest approximately $2.8 million in Aviation General in return for an 80 percent ownership interest in the company. The proceeds of the agreement will be used primarily to fund the court-confirmed Chapter 11 reorganization plan previously filed by Commander Aircraft Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Aviation General.
The National Aeronautic Association named seven individuals Elder Statesmen of Aviation, including four who were recognized for their work in general aviation. The Elder Statesman awards are given annually to U.S. citizens who are at least 60 years of age and who have made "contributions of significant value to aeronautics." This year's winners are:
JEFF EVANS was promoted to assistant manager for the National Business Aviation Association GA Desk based at the FAA Systems Command Center in Herndon, Va. Evans joined NBAA in April 2002 as GA desk specialist, helping develop new products that support NBAA member subscribers to the GA Desk. In his new role, he also will act as primary interface for security issues, manage the GA Desk staff work and training schedule, attract new subscribers and continue to develop special projects.
Million Air Salt Lake City secured an FAA Class Four rating for its aircraft repair station certificate. The rating clears the fixed-base operator to provide maintenance on nearly any kind of fixed-wing aircraft.
AVCARD named Jamie Barrett to the newly created position of vice president of fuel programs and flight operations. Barrett will oversee expansion of AVCARD's Contract Fuel program and develop new Flight Operations services and programs. AVCARD has been coordinating the services provided by its London office to select clientele and its Baltimore office, which caters to various military customers. The company also is developing new services that will first be offered through the London and Baltimore clients before expanding to AVCARD's full client base.
VETERAN AEROSPACE EXECUTIVE TO HEAD CMC ELECTRONICS - Jean-Pierre Mortreux joined CMC Electronics, Inc. as president and chief executive officer last week, the final step in establishing the company's new leadership and direction. Mortreux, who has more than 25 years of experience in the aerospace industry, joined CMC from Thales Avionics North America, based in Montreal, where he had been president and CEO since 2002.
EADS Socata announced delivery of a TMB 700 to its first customer in the Czech Republic. The single-engine aircraft was delivered to M. Jindrich Zivotsky, the CEO of OKAY s.r.o., based in Brno. OKAY is a consumer electronics specialty retailer with 47 shops in the Czech and Slovak Republics and has plans to develop its business in neighboring countries, including Poland. The new aircraft "will ease the frequent travels of our executives needed by our expansion in Europe," Zivotsky said.
Summary: This notice contains a summary of certain petitions seeking relief from specified requirements of 14 CFR, dispositions of certain petitions previously received, and corrections. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities.
National Air Transportation Association and the Aircraft Electronics Association have retained counsel to challenge a handbook bulletin that FAA released late last month requiring Part 135 operators to meet certain seat requirements. The bulletin requires operators with aircraft that have more than nine seats essentially to remove those seats within 30 days by a supplemental type certificate or to meet the more extensive maintenance and other operational requirements outlined for aircraft with more than nine seats.
While obstacles remain, backers of bonus depreciation legislation for aircraft buyers remain hopeful the legislation can win approval (BA, Sept. 6/101). Congress is scheduled to return to work this week and bonus depreciation could come up. If the measure is not approved before Nov. 2, most pundits now expect Congress will return for a lame-duck session after the election, where chances for success might be greater.
Rockwell Collins is predicting higher revenues and significantly higher profits in fiscal 2005, a forecast based at least in part on an anticipated rise in business jet production next year. See article below.
