First Aviation Services, Inc.'s shareholders last week re-elected Michael Culver and Robert Kirk to the board of directors and rejected a dissident stockholder proposal for cumulative voting for director elections. Shareholders also voted to appoint Ernst & Young LLP as the company's independent auditors for the year ending Jan. 31, 2004. The re-election of Culver and Kirk during the 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders in Memphis came after an effort by a dissident group, the Wynnefield Group led by Nelson Obus, to gain a seat on the board (BA, May 31/249).
Business-aircraft makers last week came one step closer to winning a one-year extension of certain bonus depreciation tax benefits for their customers after the House Thursday approved the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, H.R.4520, by a margin of 251-178. The Jobs bill included a provision that extends the placed-in-service requirements by one year for business aircraft purchasers to qualify for the 50 percent bonus depreciation tax benefits.
CESSNA READY TO BEGIN DELIVERY OF GARMIN-EQUIPPED LSEs - Cessna Aircraft officials are hoping to begin deliveries of 182T Skylanes this week equipped with Garmin G1000 avionics packages. Cessna received certification for the G1000 in the single-engine model late Thursday. There are about 100 new aircraft at Cessna's single-engine production facility in Independence, Kan. that workers had built while the avionics approval was pending.
AAR Corp. signed an agreement to move into part of United Airlines former aircraft maintenance facility at the Indianapolis, Ind. Airport. United vacated the property in March 2003. AAR signed a 10-year lease with an option for 10 more years. AAR will initially occupy two of the 12 hangar bays on the airport and provide heavy maintenance for commercial aircraft. It has the option to occupy additional space on the airport as its business grows.
Passage of the Vision 100 FAA reauthorization bill was delayed last year because the National Air Traffic Controllers Association staged a pitched battle in Congress in an attempt to stop expansion of FAA's contract tower program, but a repeat of that fight doesn't seem likely this year. Spencer Dickerson, executive vice president of the American Association of Airport Executives and executive director of the U.S. Contract Tower Association, told reporters this month that "we hope it's not an issue" this year.
"As of today I shot an Arrow into the air. The reorganization plan was very fair. Go fly your birds everywhere. Haul your cargo with a great deal of flair. Keep your planes on the runway and out of the muck. May you continue to operate with the best of luck." Those were the good wishes U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Emeritus A. Jay Cristol read after formally approving the reorganization plan submitted for Arrow Air to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
Jet Aviation Basel won a VIP outfitting contract for two B747-400 aircraft owned and operated by Dubai Air Wing. The contract, the largest outfitting contract the facility has received, calls for Jet Aviation to work with Dubai Air Wing over the next two years on a nose-to-tail program, including installation of head-of-state interiors. Jet Aviation also will retain the services of Gamit LTD's aviation division on the project.
Despite a lack of definitive physical evidence and the absence of cockpit or flight data recorders, the National Transportation Safety Board said the actions of a Papillon Airways AS350-B2 helicopter pilot were responsible for the fatal crash of the aircraft nearly three years ago.
JAYSON GEHRI joined EADS Socata Aircraft as a marketing manager. Gehri had served as spokesman for Safire Aircraft after the company's senior marketing executives were let go when Safire experienced financial problems (BA, May 3/197). Gehri is a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
CANADIAN AVIATION EXECUTIVE BROWN TAKES LEAD POST AT CAE - Robert Brown is stepping down as chairman of Air Canada to take the helm of another Canadian aviation company - international training giant CAE, the company announced last week. Brown will become president and chief executive officer of CAE on Aug. 12, succeeding Derek Burney, who is retiring. Burney will continue as vice chairman of the Montreal-based company until he formally retires Oct. 31.
CMC Electronics, Inc. entered into an agreement to divest its Cincinnati Electronics business unit (also known as CMC Electronics Cincinnati) to L-3 Communications Corp. The agreement, signed June 15, is expected to be completed next month. The sales price will be approximately $172 million (U.S.). Cincinnati Electronics, based in Mason, Ohio, designs and builds a range of infrared detectors, imaging sensors, missile warning systems and spacecraft electronics.
BAE Jetstream Model 4101 airplanes (Docket No. 2004-NM-46-AD) - proposes to require a test for free movement of the capsule/bearing of the nose landing gear (NLG), and related investigative, significant, and corrective actions. This action is necessary to prevent failure of the NLG to extend fully, which could reduce controllability of the airplane during landing. FAA estimates that 57 airplanes on the U.S. Registry would be affected by this proposed AD at a cost of $22,230, or $390 per airplane.
Jet Works Aviation won FAA approval to install a Class A Honeywell Mark VIII Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System on Beechjet 400A aircraft. Based at Meacham Airport in Fort Worth, Texas, Jet Works is a certified Honeywell services and sales representative. The service provider also is an authorized service center for Collins, B.F. Goodrich, Universal and Garmin as well as Piaggio and Pilatus PC-12 aircraft.
National Transportation Safety Board Chair Ellen Engleman Conners asked NATA to serve as a resource during Part 135 accident investigations. The NTSB chair met with NATA President James Coyne and Byer last week to discuss Part 135 safety issues. The NATA officials agreed to form a closer relationship with the board and to collaborate during pertinent board investigations. Engleman Conners also said she wants to hold a forum on ground safety, highlighting the association's Safety First line and ramp safety program.
Aviation & Space Center Of The Rockies named Greg Anderson president and chief executive. Anderson previously spent 21 years with the Experimental Aircraft Association, including serving as executive vice president with oversight of the Young Eagles Programs and AirVenture Museum.
JET AVIATION BREAKS GROUND ON NEW DUBAI FACILITY - Jet Aviation, teamed with the Dubai-based Al Mulla Business Group, broke ground for a new full-service fixed-base operation in Dubai. The facility is slated for completion by January 2005. Jet Aviation retained Robert Matthew Johnson-Marshall and Higgs & Hill LLC for construction of the new facility, which will be Jet Aviation's third in the region. "We are honored to be the first private executive aviation company in Dubai with a global network," said Jet Aviation CEO Heinz Kohli.
Aircraft Owners And Pilots Association upgraded its free online instrument approach chart service, permitting faster downloads and offering higher resolution. The service provides instrument approaches and terminal procedures published by FAA's National Aeronautical Charting Agency. AOPA President Phil Boyer said the online service has been "hugely popular with our members since first introduced in 2001."
Richard Heckman, 43, a founding officer and executive vice president at Flight Options, died June 12 following a two and one-half year battle with brain cancer. Flight Options credited him with helping develop the company from start-up to one that generated more than $600 million in sales. He also served with Raytheon Aircraft and helped launch the TravelAir fractional ownership program. "He was an inspiration, innovator and true leader," Flight Options said. He is survived by his wife, Barbie, and two children.
National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will discuss means to mitigate the threat of volcanic ash at its second International Conference on Volcanic Ash and Aviation Safety to be held today (June 21) in Alexandria, Va. James Mahoney, assistant secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere, and NOAA deputy administrator; Steve Brown, FAA vice president of operations and planning; and Charles Groat, director of the U.S. Geological Survey, are among the scheduled speakers.
Iridium Satellite LLC said the Federal Communications Commission expanded its spectrum with access to an additional 3.1 MHz, increasing the company's ability to provide satellite voice and data services. FCC previously had provided temporary authority for operating in the additional segment of the band on an emergency basis. The FCC's latest action formalizes Iridium's access to the band.
NBAA CHAIRMAN BALDWIN NO LONGER SEEKING PRESIDENCY - National Business Aviation Association Chairman Donald Baldwin, who had indicated two weeks ago he planned to seek the job of president of the association, has reversed course again.
