Avbase Flight Services added three jets to its charter fleet - a Citation III based in Cleveland, Ohio, a Citation III based at Addison Municipal Airport in Dallas, Texas and a Challenger 600 based in Scottsdale, Ariz. Avbase Flight Service, a Cleveland, Ohio-headquartered charter and aircraft management company, operates a network at 21 bases through an affiliation with Mercury Air Centers.
National Business Aviation Association will introduce Ed Bolen, the new president and chief executive officer, to members during an Operation REACHBAC lunch scheduled Sept. 17 at Westchester County Airport in White Plains, N.Y. Bolen will discuss his vision for NBAA as well as local issues during the lunch. The lunch also will feature former astronaut Jim Lovell, who was the commander of the Apollo 13 mission and who currently is president of Lovell Communications. The event, which begins at 11:30 a.m., will be held at General Electric's hangar at 85 Tower Road.
Raytheon Aircraft has teamed with D&D Aviation Services, ARINC and FlightSafety International to provide Beechcraft and Hawker operators a series of services to facilitate compliance with reduced vertical separation minimum requirements. Raytheon Aircraft and D&D will develop RVSM approval application data packages using D&D Aviation Services' Domestic RVSM Manual and International Operational Manual.
Cessna Aircraft hosted the U.S. Army Command and General Staff Officer Course (CGSOC) at the company's Mid-Continent Airport Aug. 11. Each year the CGSOC conducts courses for approximately 1,000 mid-level career U.S. and international military officers. The course is designed to prepare the officers for duty as commanders and principal staff officers in various military units. Cessna was scheduled to host 89 officers from 76 nations.
Raytheon Aircraft said its T-6A trainers would be part of the security network at the 2004 Olympic Games, which got under way in Greece this weekend. The Hellenic Air Force uses the T-6A for training pilots, but the aircraft "will be part of the protective air umbrella" at the Olympics, according to Raytheon, which said the Greek T-6As will be used for air patrol flights to guard against terrorist attacks or any other activities that could disrupt the games.
Team US101, the Lockheed Martin-led team competing to provide the next-generation helicopter fleet for the U.S. president, selected seven more Texas firms to provide components for the US101 medium-lift helicopter. The companies are Chelton Inc. of Lewisville, Garlock Metallic Gaskets of Houston, Honeywell International of Roanoke, Mark IV-Luminator Aerospace of Plano, Marathon Norco Aerospace of Waco, Parker Aerospace-Stratoflex of Fort Worth and Wilsonart International of Dallas. Team US101 comprises more than 200 suppliers in 41 states.
Used Jet and turboprop delivery data for the month of April supplied by AvData Inc. in Wichita, Kan. are printed below. Charts printed in the June 21 edition of BA provided incorrect delivery information for April.
Raytheon Airline Aviation Services delivered a 1900D regional turboprop to Pentastar Transportation based in Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada. Pentastar also has operated a Beechcraft King Air 200 and C90. The 1900D is configured for up to 18 passengers to provide transportation for Pentastar employees in western and northern Canada. Pentastar provides oilfield transportation and construction projects to support drilling contractors, oil service companies and exploration companies.
V-22 GETS HIGH MARKS FROM U.S. NAVY SECRETARY - A key Pentagon official gave the V-22 Osprey a strong vote of confidence Aug. 11, saying he believes the Bell-Boeing tiltrotor aircraft has overcome its design challenges and is unlikely to sustain major funding cuts in future budget deliberations.
National Transportation Safety Board Friday dispatched a "Go Team" to investigate the crash of a Convair 580 near Cincinnati, Ohio. The Convair, NV586, flying as Air Tahoma Flight 185, reported engine trouble at 12:50 a.m. Friday before crashing onto a golf course short of Runway 36R at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. The aircraft was on a cargo flight from Memphis, Tenn. One crewmember was killed in the crash and the other reportedly was in serious condition on Friday.
Jet Aviation, partnering with Kuwait-based United Projects Co., is planning to open a fixed-base operation at Kuwait International Airport next year. The new facility will provide aircraft handling services, line maintenance and hangar space for aircraft owners and operators. The facility will include a reception area, VIP customer lounge, conference rooms, prayer room, private offices and a restaurant. Jet Aviation also is planning for in-house immigration and customs clearance, security checks, baggage screening and metal detector capability.
NASA said the public-private partnership working to improve aviation and make air travel accessible to more people has scheduled a demonstration of new aviation capabilities and technologies June 5-7, 2005. NASA, FAA and the National Consortium for Aviation Mobility are planning a proof-of-concept demonstration at the Danville, Va. Regional Airport to display new technologies and procedures developed by the Small Aircraft Transportation System (SATS).
If you've ever logged time in a Beech 18, you might be interested in the latest literary offering from The Twin Beech Society, Beech 18: A Civil & Military History. The 567-page book, which includes 730 photos, offers an in-depth account of the 12 civil models and 50 military variants of the Beech 18, as well as the conversions completed by 70 modification companies. The book was written by Robert K. Parmerter, the historian of the Twin Beech Society, which is a special interest group of the Staggerwing Museum Foundation, Inc. of Tullahoma, Tenn.
JULIE GOODRIDGE was promoted to assistant manager at FlightSafety International's learning center in West Palm Beach, Fla. Goodridge fills a role temporarily vacated by Rick Bedard, who is on military duty overseas. Goodridge served as product marketing manager for FlightSafety's center in Wilmington, Del. for the past three years. She also has served as alumni director for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
GULFSTREAM RECEIVES FAA TYPE APPROVAL FOR G450 - Gulfstream Aerospace last week earned a type certificate for the G450, less than a year after the Savannah, Ga.-based manufacturer unveiled the large-cabin business jet. Announced during the 2003 National Business Aviation Association Annual Meeting and Convention in October (BA, Oct. 13/164), the G450 fills the niche between Gulfstream's "mid-range" G350 and very-long-range G500 and G550 aircraft.
August 24 - National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Regional Forum, Seattle, Wash., (202) 783-9000 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
SINO SWEARINGEN CONFIRMS SJ30-2 SPEED WITH HIGH-SPEED DIVE TESTS - Sino Swearingen Aircraft Corporation (SSAC) completed high-speed dive tests required to confirm a Mach .83 maximum operating speed for its SJ30-2 light business jet. The aircraft reached a required speed of Mach .90 to ensure aircraft handling qualities at higher speeds. The tests consumed more than 60 hours of flight time that involved testing at altitudes up to 45,000 feet and as low as 18,000 feet.
Cirrus Design Corp. President and co-founder Alan Klapmeier believes that the market for general aviation aircraft remains largely untapped and that it should return to the days when annual GA deliveries exceeded 10,000. "I don't see any reason why it couldn't be 12,000 right now," Klapmeier told BA, saying the industry needs to concentrate on attracting new people to GA rather than focusing on those already in the market. Klapmeier's optimism comes as the company prepares to boost production to 12 aircraft a week.
Business Jet Center completed a $5 million expansion of its facilities at Dallas Love Field, including a new hangar and adjoining office and ramp space. Business Jet Center increased its square footage by about 24 percent, from 178,000 square feet to 220,000 square feet. Ramp space has grown 65 percent, from 9.6 acres to 16 acres.
