BANK OF AMERICA FORMS CORPORATE AIRCRAFT FINANCING DIVISION - Bank of America last week formed a Corporate Aircraft Finance Division, a new group that aims to link the Private Bank's Aviation Finance Division with Banc of America's Leasing Corporate Aircraft Finance business unit.
Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer will benefit greatly from its win as part of the Lockheed Martin-led consortium that beat out a Northrop Grumman team Aug. 2 for the Aerial Common Sensor (ACS) program, according to industry analysts. "This is really a breakthrough for Embraer, that doesn't currently have any aircraft in the DOD inventory, in terms of the number of aircraft involved," Paul Nisbet, an aerospace and defense analyst with JSA Research, told BA affiliate Aerospace Daily & Defense Report.
Rolls-Royce signed its first TotalCare engine agreement with Jetsgo, a Montreal,-Quebec-based airline, to cover the Tay 650 engines that power Jetsgo's Fokker 100 aircraft. The deal is valued at $90 million over seven years.
Avion Private Jet Club is offering "members only" flights on aircraft operated by Private Jet Getaways, a Part 380 public charter operator, and Jet Solutions, the Bombardier affiliate. Avion said it plans to begin offering weekend flights Sept. 3 between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Flights between Los Angeles and New York are slated to begin in December, with service between Los Angeles and Cabo San Lucas also expected to begin late this year.
ALLISON Models 250-C28, -C28B, and -C28C turboshaft engines (Docket No. FAA-2004-18538; Directorate Identifier 2004-NE-29-AD; Amendment 39-13711; AD 2004-14-02) - requires, for engines with certain serial number (S/N) third-stage turbine wheels, part number (P/N) 6899383, replacing certain S/N third-stage turbine wheels, P/N 6899383, before reaching new reduced life limits. This AD results from three reports of third-stage turbine blade and shroud failures.
IAI SALES, PROFITS UP, OUTLOOK POSITIVE - Israel Aircraft Industries reported increased sales, profits and backlog at the end of the first half of 2004, and company officials said the outlook is positive. IAI had sales of $1.034 billion through June, up 14 percent from $904 million in the first half last year. Net profit totaled $19 million through June, an increase of 111 percent over the first six months of 2003. Backlog jumped to $5.5 billion at the end of June, a $1 billion increase from one year ago.
Skyway Communications Holding Corp. and its subsidiary, SkyWay Aircraft, Inc., said FAA approved their newly established Part 145 repair station adjacent to the DFW Airport in Grapevine, Texas. The certification will permit SkyWay to repair its previously acquired in-flight entertainment assets from Transdigital Communications Corp.
The Lufthansa Group signed an agreement to continue its partnership with Air China in Ameco Beijing (Aircraft Maintenance & Engineering Co.) for another 25 years. "With the continuation of the joint venture, Lubthansa is both strategically and operationally well positioned in the Chinese market for the long term," said Wolfgang Mayrhuber, executive board chairman of Lufthansa. The joint venture was started in 1989. The 25-year extension was approved by the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China.
Selection Ends Four-Month Search The National Business Aviation Association, moving to end a period of uncertainty about its direction and leadership, named Edward M. Bolen, the president of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, to become the new president and chief executive officer of NBAA, effective Sept. 7.
The Tuskegee Airmen selected David Roy, a young rocketeer from Los Angeles, Calif., to receive the first Golden Eagle Scholarship. Roy, who plans to attend Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Fla. will receive $5,000 each year for four years to help pay educational expenses. Roy, 18, was cited for a number of accomplishments, including a first-place finish in his high school's science fair for designing and building a high-performance rocket.
AVIALL BUYS DENVER-AREA HOSE SHOP - Aviall Services, Inc. purchased the hose assembly business of McAvian Aircraft Supply, which is based at the Jefferson County Airport in Broomfield, Colo. In an unusual arrangement, McAvian will retain the rest of its aircraft supply business, but McAvian President Cody McGallaugh will assume the additional responsibilities of Aviall Hose Shop manager. The staff is expected to remain intact. Aviall said the hose shop will serve Aviall customers in much of the Rocky Mountain and Central Plains regions.
WILLIAMS WINS CERTIFICATION FOR CJ3 ENGINES - Williams International won FAA type certification for its FJ44-3A turbofan engines, the powerplants that will be used on Cessna's new CitationJet 3.
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
AIRCRAFT, BOATS NOW ALLOWABLE UNDER ODP HOMELAND SECURITY GRANTS - State and local governments will be allowed to buy aircraft and boats with federal homeland security grants under an expanded equipment list issued by the Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP). Tracey Trautman, ODP central division director, said aircraft and watercraft are among 18 categories on an authorized equipment list for ODP grants in fiscal 2004.
The Salina, Kan. Municipal Airport (SLN) which had shut down Runway 17/35 May 3 for resurfacing, reopened the 12,300-foot runway July 31. The project, which included runway resurfacing, new high-intensity runway lights, resurfaced taxiways and a new backup power generator for airfield lighting, cost $2.7 million, of which $2.4 million came from FAA Airport Improvement Program funds.
Jacqueline (Jacque) Rosser, a seven-year veteran of the National Air Transportation Association, was promoted to senior manager-regulatory affairs for the Alexandria, Va.-based trade association. Rosser, a graduate of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, holds degrees in aviation management and aviation flight and is a commercial pilot and certified flight instructor. She previously was manager of flight operations for NATA.
Mercury Air Group, Inc. opened a $30 million working capital line of credit with Bank of America. The credit line is in the form of a revolving secure loan with a three-year term. "As fuel prices rise, this line of credit will provide Mercury with the financial flexibility necessary to meet the needs of our customers and suppliers," said Joseph A. Czyzyk, president and CEO of the company.
BOMBARDIER Model DHC-8-102, -103, -106, -201, -202, -301, -311, and -315 airplanes (Docket No. 2001-NM-331-AD; Amendment 39-13692; AD 2004-13-10) -- requires rework/retrofit of the wardrobe shelf assembly. This action is necessary to prevent the wardrobe shelf and attached equipment separating from the attachment in the event of a hard landing, which could impede the egress of passengers in an emergency evacuation. FAA estimates that 18 airplanes on the U.S. Registry will be affected by this AD at a cost of $48,366, or $2,687 per airplane. The AD is effective Aug. 3.
CESSNA AIRCRAFT picked last week's Experimental Aircraft Association AirVenture to announce delivery of the company's 150,000th single-engine, piston-powered airplane, a 172S Skyhawk. The cardinal number aircraft, which carries a "150,000th" emblem, was delivered to Sporty's Pilot Shop. Sporty's plans to offer the aircraft as its 2005 Super Sweepstakes Grand Prize. Cessna, which was founded by Clyde Cessna in 1927, has built more than 36,000 172s.
CESSNA AIRCRAFT recognized Pelican Aviation Corp., a Cessna service station based at Acadiana Regional Airport in Louisiana, for 50 years of service as a Cessna dealer. Pelican was founded as a seaplane base in New Iberia, La. and became an authorized Cessna dealer in 1954. In 1980, the company moved to its current location at Acadiana Regional. Pelican is an authorized Cessna single-engine service station and maintains all Cessna propeller models.
EMERICK, whose "day job" is heading General Motors Corporation's Worldwide Travel Services, acknowledged that the search has taken a little longer than planned. But he said the search committee has focused on finding the right individual for the job rather than on meeting a pre-ordained schedule.
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS continue to push federal security officials to reopen Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to general aviation. The latest effort was a letter to DHS Secretary Tom Ridge signed by more than a dozen House members. See article on Page 53.
Dassault Falcon Jet opened a new 40,000-square-foot aircraft paint hangar last week at its Wilmington, Del. maintenance facility, and officials said the new hangar can service some of the world's largest business jets.
