Duncan Aviation said its facilities in Lincoln, Neb. and Battle Creek, Mich. were approved to provide service, sales and repairs for all KGS Electronics inverters and converters.
COLLINS PROVIDES UPBEAT FINANCIAL OUTLOOK - Avionics manufacturer Rockwell Collins reaffirmed its fiscal 2004 financial guidance and predicted that results next year will be even better. The company still expects to earn between $1.60 and $1.65 per share on revenues of about $2.9 billion this fiscal year. Cash provided from operating earnings for the fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30, is still projected to be in the range of $275 million to $325 million, after the company makes $125 million in voluntary contributions to its qualified pension plans.
TSA PROVIDES CARGO CARRIERS MORE ACCESS TO RESTRICTED AIRSPACE - The National Air Transportation Association was pleased that the Transportation Security Administration provided cargo carriers that have adopted the Twelve-Five Standard Security Program (TFSSP) access to certain restricted airspace, including over New York during the Republican National Convention, and is hoping that the agency will provide a policy statement to FAA that will ensure continued access in the future.
Stevens Aviation, Greenville, S.C., named a former Cessna Aircraft executive to head its marketing and sales. Randy Znamenak was named vice president of sales and marketing, with primary responsibility for supervising technical service sales, aircraft sales and marketing. At Cessna he had been sales and marketing manager for Cessna's Citation Service Center division, a network of 10 factory owned locations. Before joining Cessna, Znamenak spent eight years with Bombardier Aerospace in a variety of marketing, sales and product management positions.
The Experimental Aircraft Association is sounding the alarm about a bill introduced by a New York congressman that would require the Department of Homeland Security to dramatically increase restrictions on general aviation flights. See article below.
September 19-21 - National Association of State Aviation Officials, 73rd Annual Convention and Trade Show, Radisson Riverfront Hotel, St. Paul, Minn., (301) 588-0587 October 10-11 - National Business Aviation Association 13th Annual Tax Conference, Las Vegas, Nev., (202) 783-9000 October 12-14 - National Business Aviation Association 57th Annual Meeting and Convention, Las Vegas, Nev., (202) 783-9000 October 21-23 - Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Expo 2004, Long Beach, Calif., (301) 695-2000
NBAA FIGHTS TO ENSURE GA ACCESS INTO O'HARE - National Business Aviation Association is continuing its quest to ensure that a temporary arrangement limiting commercial flights at Chicago O'Hare does not become permanent and encourage government leaders instead to look at ways of increasing capacity. In concert with major airlines, FAA last month unveiled a temporary plan that limits the number of operations carriers can fly in and out of O'Hare in an attempt to grapple with the growing congestion problem there.
FAA SAYS NO TRUTH TO RUMOR THAT ATO CHIEF CHEW IS LEAVING - An internal newsletter distributed to FAA employees went to some pains last week to knock down a rumor that Russ Chew, who heads the agency's new Air Traffic Organization (ATO), is leaving the agency.
James R.O. (Jamie) McIntyre, the Montreal, Quebec-based communications executive, was named to the board of directors of Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame. McIntyre is president of Romeo Oscar, Inc., the aerospace marketing and advertising firm. McIntyre was introduced to the aviation industry as a child by his father, Robert, who spent more than 40 years as an engineer and marketing executive with de Havilland Aircraft of Canada, working on the Twin Otter, Dash 7 and Dash 8 programs, among others.
Rolls-Royce named Scott Crislip president of the company's Helicopter unit. Crislip, who began his career with General Electric Aircraft Engines, holds the rank of colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. As president of the Helicopters unit, he succeeds Stuart Mullan, who is leaving the engine manufacturer to pursue other professional interests. Crislip joined Rolls-Royce two and one-half years ago.
Bombardier Aerospace received Part 145 approval from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the U.S. FAA for Lufthansa Bombardier Aviation Services GmbH (LBAS), located at Berlin's Schonefeld Airport. LBAS also won Honeywell service center authorization to support the HTF7000 turbofan engines powering the Challenger 300 business jet. In addition, the Bombardier training center in Dallas/Fort Worth won EASA approval under the new Part 147 regulations, allowing Challenger 300 customers to receive maintenance training under the new European standard.
Omni Energy Services will begin transporting passengers to offshore locations in the Gulf of Mexico beginning in the fourth quarter with two Sikorsky S-76 helicopters the company is acquiring. The Carencro, La.-based helicopter services company recently won FAA approve to transport 10 or more passengers per helicopter. Omni will operate the S-76s from land bases in Texas and Louisiana. "The Sikorsky S-76s will substantially improve our ability to completely service our customers' needs while further improving our revenue base," said Omni CEO James Eckert.
PETE WEST STEPPING DOWN AS NBAA'S LEGISLATIVE LEADER - Pete West, the senior vice president of government and public affairs for the National Business Aviation Association, will leave the organization Nov. 1 following the organization's annual convention.
MIDCOAST WINS DAS AUTHORITY FROM FAA - Midcoast Aviation won approval from FAA to function as an FAA Designated Alteration Station (DAS). As a DAS, Midcoast is authorized to issue supplemental type certificates (STCs), issue special airworthiness certificates for aircraft that are altered under an STC and require flight tests, and amend standard airworthiness certificates for such aircraft.
Ed Bolen, who was wrapping up his tenure as president of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association last week, told BA there is still a chance for passage of bonus depreciation legislation this year, but warned that it faces significant obstacles (BA, July 19/25). Timing is critical, because Congress will be in session for only a limited number of days before the November election. Another complicating factor is a $10 billion tobacco buyout provision that has House and Senate conferees on opposite sides.
ECKHARD BREUER was named a sales director for Bombardier Aerospace's business aircraft sales organization in Europe. Breuer, based in Bonn, Germany, will be responsible for sales in Germany and Austria. Breuer has nine years of aerospace marketing experience, most recently as head of sales and marketing at CAE Elektronik GmbH. He succeeds Peter Otto, who is retiring after serving with Bombardier for 18 years.
Transportation Security Administration is teaming with L-3 Communications on a two-month operational test and evaluation of explosives detection systems for "break-bulk" air cargo, which TSA described as small parcels, individual packages and lightweight manufactured components that can be consolidated in a container or on a pallet. The tests will be conducted at airports in Atlanta, Dallas/Fort Worth and Miami, with L-3's eXaminer 6000 EDS machines, which also are used to check baggage.
Flightsafety International's learning center in Long Beach, Calif., won FAA approval for Head-Up Display and Enhanced Vision System training on the Gulfstream IV Level D simulator. The Long Beach center serves as the training facility for Gulfstream pilots and maintenance technicians on the West Coast. FSI plans to add a GV simulator in early 2006. The Long Beach center also houses G II, G III and G IV simulators.
SBA QUESTIONS FAA COST ESTIMATES FOR DRUG-TESTING PROPOSAL - The Federal Aviation Administration's cost estimates for the latest drug- and alcohol-testing proposal are incomplete, and the agency needs to consider the myriad industries that potentially could be drawn into the new requirements before releasing a final rule, the Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy told FAA.
