AgustaWestland's unveiling of a full-scale mock-up of its new A109S Grand development of the earlier A109 series helicopter is aimed at filling a niche by stretching the basic design into the intermediate segment.
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
BOMBARDIER AEROSPACE flew one of its new Global 5000 business jets nonstop from San Francisco, Calif. to the Farnborough Aerodrome outside London, England, a distance of 4,816 nautical miles, in 10 hours 29 minutes at speeds of up to Mach .85. The aircraft, S/N A11-002-9130, is a flight-test aircraft that had been recently equipped with a complete cabin interior. The manufacturer said the airplane carried a crew of three and "the equivalent of an eight-passenger, 1,600-pound payload," that resulted in a maximum takeoff weight of 87,700 pounds.
General aviation manufacturers delivered 19 fewer aircraft in the first half of 2004 than in the first half of 2003 despite posting nearly a 17 percent increase in billings, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association reported Thursday. GA plane-makers shipped 1,123 aircraft in the first half of the year, compared with 1,142 aircraft through the first six months of 2003. Billings, however, rose from $4.22 billion in the first half of 2003 to $4.92 billion in the first half of 2004.
Bombardier's regional aircraft order book continued to grow with a 20-aircraft deal valued at $512.6 million for the 50-seat CRJ200 from Spanish carrier Air Nostrum. Under the contract, Air Nostrum can convert the orders to other Bombardier aircraft, including the CRJ900 and CRJ700 regional jets or the Q400 turboprop. The contract is a follow-on to an earlier Air Nostrum order for 31 CRJ200s. Air Nostrum has taken delivery of the first 25 of that order. The latest order will boost the carrier's fleet of Bombardier aircraft to 70.
The crew of a Model 55 Learjet that overran the runway while landing at the Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Executive Airport was instructed to land on a different runway than the pilots had anticipated and then encountered heavy rain after the airplane touched down, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a preliminary report on the July 19 accident.
Safire Aircraft, the Opa Locka, Fla. firm that has been developing the entry-level Safire Jet, appeared last week to be close to seeking bankruptcy protection or liquidating.
ISRAEL AIRCRAFT INDUSTRIES Lahav Division developed a mid-air collision avoidance system for helicopters. The company said its Tactical Mid-Air Collision Avoidance (TMACA) system "is a proven solution to prevent collisions during helicopter tactical mission and formation flights." Helicopters equipped with TMACA "are netted to each other in a system envelope arrangement," IAI said.
The Bell/Agusta BA609 program is preparing for the second phase of flight-testing this year in which the tiltrotor craft will be operated in its high-speed airplane mode for the first time. The first flight took place in March 2003.
WOOD GROUP TURBOPOWER, LLC moved its Santa Monica, Calif.-based PT6A/T regional support shop to Pasadena, Calif. The company said the new location provides more office and warehouse space. The shop is located at 2531 Nina St., Pasadena, Calif. 91107; telephone: (626) 304-9756; fax: (626) 304-0387.
AL CONKLIN, a long-time business aviation industry executive and consultant who specialized in business aircraft financing, retired from Conklin & de Decker. Conklin's career in aviation began in 1942 as a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He subsequently held management and sales positions with several business aviation companies, including Atlantic Aviation, Aero Commander, Beechcraft, Cessna, Sabreliner and Dassault Falcon Jet. Conklin and his wife, Martha Conklin, founded Al Conklin and Associates in 1984.
BOMBARDIER received orders for three Challenger 300 super-midsize business jets. Qatar Airways ordered one Challenger 300 for its Amiri Flight Division. Scheduled for delivery in March 2005,the aircraft will be based at Doha International Airport and join a VIP fleet that will include two Bombardier Global Express long-range business jets. The Royal Jet Group of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates signed an agreement for two Challenger 300s. Royal Jet will operate the aircraft for charter service, beginning in the second quarter of 2005.
HONDA MOTOR COMPANY, which plans to continue development of its HF118 turbofan engine for the entry-level jet market, also is expected to pursue a new piston engine for the general aviation market. A new Honda piston engine is expected to feature use of Full Authority Digital Electronic Control (FADEC) for ease of operation by pilots and be able to burn a variety of fuels to make it more versatile and eliminate dependence on expensive and sometimes hard-to-find aviation gasoline.
The Senate Thursday confirmed Rear Adm. David Stone to the newly created position of assistant secretary of homeland security, Transportation Security Administration. In that position Stone will continue to lead the Transportation Security Administration, where he served as acting administrator since early December. The White House formally nominated Stone to be assistant secretary in April.
CORRECTION: An article July 19 issue about Honda Motor Company's plans to enter the U.S. aviation market incorrectly identified the U.S. firmworking with Honda to build and test the HondaJet, which is powered by the Honda HF118. Atlantic Aero of Greensboro, N.C. is cooperating with Honda on the flight test program.
JET SOURCE is expanding its facilities at McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad, Calif. with the construction of a 50,000-square-foot hangar with 11,000 square feet of office space. The renovation also includes removal of two older hangars for customer parking and relocation of a fuel farm. The new hangar will accommodate Gulfstream-sized aircraft and enable Jet Source to expand its avionics department.
The Federal Aviation Administration, after years of discussions and negotiations with sport pilot enthusiasts, finally published new regulations governing the manufacture, certification, operation and maintenance of light-sport aircraft. The regulations pertain to aircraft that weigh less than 1,320 pounds (1,430 pounds for aircraft designed to operate on water).
CESSNA has scheduled educational forums on the new Garmin G1000 avionics panel that the company is offering on its single-engine products. The forums will be held July 29 and 31 during the EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis. The sessions will orient pilots to the G1000, which provides an advanced avionics suite with integrated primary flight, navigation, communication, terrain, traffic, weather and engine sensor data on two 10.4-inch glass displays.
Eclipse Aviation expanded its agreement with Compass Aerospace, giving the Southern California-based structural component specialist a greater role in the production of the new Eclipse 500 entry-level jet. Under the long-term agreement, Compass will build structural components and sub-assemblies for the cockpit, fuselage and doors on the Eclipse 500. Eclipse executives estimated that the agreement has a potential value of more than $400 million, based upon projected delivery rates, one of the largest contracts ever awarded to Compass.
RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT SERVICES (RAS) expanded its customer support and sales teams with the appointment of four executives to key positions. Allan Kramer, a 20-year FBO veteran, was appointed general manager at RAS's facility in Van Nuys, Calif. Kramer formerly was regional general manager for Mercury Air Centers. Dennis Murphy was tapped as manager of supply chain/logistics for the RAS network. Murphy will be based in Wichita and oversee material support for RAS systemwide operations. Robert MacKenzie was named regional sales manager for RAS.
THALES won contracts to provide air traffic management systems in Thailand and Iran. The Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Ltd. contracted for an advanced and integrated air traffic management and surveillance system, SATCONS, for Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. The contract includes installation of equipment and construction of primary, secondary and surface movement radar towers. The Iranian Airport Company signed an agreement for four air traffic management systems for the main regional airports in Iran.
KYLE HULTQUIST, the veteran public affairs and communications executive based in Phoenix, Ariz. with Honeywell, has accepted a new assignment with the company in China. Hultquist, who had been vice president of communications for Honeywell Aerospace's Electronic Systems, is now vice president of communications for Honeywell Asia Pacific. He is responsible for internal and external communications strategies and programs for Honeywell businesses within the region. Hultquist and his family will be living in Shanghai.
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
