National Business Aviation Association scheduled three Business Aviation Regional Forums this summer in Chicago, Hong Kong and Seattle. The events provide a place for business aircraft owners, operators, manufacturers, customers and other industry personnel to discuss regional business aviation issues. The forums are scheduled for June 24 at DuPage Flight Center on DuPage Airport near Chicago, Ill., July 15-16 at Hong Kong Business Aviation Centre at Hong Kong International Airport in China and Aug. 26 at Boeing Field/King County International Airport in Seattle, Wash.
TORT REFORMERS HOPE STUDY WILL FUEL LEGAL CHANGE - U.S small businesses are being "victimized" by a legal system running out of control, a U.S. Chamber of Commerce affiliate charged last week. The Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) released the results of a new study, Tort Liability Costs for Small Businesses, which found that small businesses with $10 million or less in annual revenue pay 68 percent of the annual cost of the tort system - an estimated $88 billion. The study estimates the entire cost of the tort system to U.S. business is $129 billion.
EARNINGS, BACKLOG INCREASE AT IAI - Israel Aircraft Industries reported increased earnings and a sharply larger backlog at the end of the first quarter.
Small businesses bear the brunt of tort liability costs, a study released last week by U.S. Chamber of Commerce affiliate the Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) found. The ILR study, entitled Tort Liability Costs for Small Businesses, finds that small businesses, those with less than $10 million in annual revenue, shoulder some $88 billion in annual liability costs, while larger businesses pay about $41 billion.
Air Routing International entered into a long-term agreement with Jet Aviation's Singapore fixed-base operation to serve as the preferred handling agent for private and business aircraft at the Seletar Airport. "Jet Aviation maintains a close relationship with Air Routing at their fixed-base operations in Europe and the United States," said Geoffrey Hopkins, senior vice president and general manager at Jet Aviation Singapore.
Executive Jet Management added two aircraft to its charter fleet in May - a Falcon 2000 based at Teterboro, N.J. and a Gulfstream 100/Astra SPX that will operate out of Garfield County Regional Airport in Rifle, Colo.
SENTIENT JET NAMES NEW CEO - Sentient Jet, Inc., the Norwell, Mass. company that arranges transportation on business jets for its TravelCard members, named a new top executive last week. Steven M. Hankin, who had been with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, was named CEO of Sentient Jet. Hankin succeeds Mark Stone, who was CEO of Sentient for the past two years, during which it grew rapidly in terms of members and revenues.
Jet Aviation Dallas completed the expansion of its transient aircraft ramp and refurbishment of its fixed-base operation. The improvements include a remodeled customer lounge, a multi-media conference room, expanded flight planning capabilities, high-speed Wi-Fi Internet access, modernized restrooms and a new pilot's lounge. The transformation project also includes additional parking space.
B/CA ADDS TWO AVIATION VETERANS TO STAFF - Business & Commercial Aviation magazine announced the addition of two veteran aviators and writers to its staff this month. Kathleen Bangs, an aeronautical studies graduate of the University of North Dakota, has logged more than 10,000 flight hours in a variety of aircraft and operations. She began her flying career at 16 and became a certified flight instructor three years later.
Boeing selected Kidde Technologies to supply fire protection systems for the plane-maker's new 7E7 jet. The systems detect and extinguish fires in the engines, auxiliary power system and cargo areas. Boeing plans to use the 7E7's centralized software to control Kidde's fire protection system.
VINCENT PALAZZOLO was named chief financial officer for CPI Aerostructures. He formerly was audit partner for JH Cohn, LLP. Before that, Palazzolo spent 15 years with Goldstein Golub Kessler LLP (GGK), most recently as audit partner. He managed the firm's audit practice including SEC reporting and compliance. He also worked with corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions, and played an integral role in the CPI audit team when CPI retained GGK's services. He also has been a managing director for American Express Tax and Business Service.
Honeywell is enjoying the trend toward fully integrated, central processor-driven avionics systems with the certification of its latest aircraft platform, the Cessna Citation Sovereign, June 2 (BA, June 7/258). The Sovereign, a mid-size business jet, is the fourth and smallest aircraft to win FAA approval with Primus EPIC avionics. Honeywell expects FAA to approve several more aircraft equipped with new EPIC avionics shortly, including the Gulfstream 450, Falcon 2000EX EASy, AgustaBell AB 139 and Hawker Horizon.
HOUSE PANEL OUTLINES POSSIBLE SECURITY MEASURES TO REOPEN DCA - Gateway airports, the "30-minute" rule and crew certification are a few possible security measures that the House Appropriations Committee told the Department of Homeland Security that it could incorporate into a plan to reopen Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to business aviation. The committee Wednesday approved a "managers amendment" to the Department of Homeland Security fiscal 2005 appropriations bill that directs DHS to issue a plan by Nov.
ADAM BUILDS ORDERBOOK, CREDIBILITY WITH IFLY DEAL - Adam Aircraft's new 75-aircraft order helps increase the startup airplane maker's credibility among prospective buyers as well as rounding out an already growing orderbook, company President Joe Walker said. Adam late last month announced an order from People Express founder Donald Burr and former American Airlines CEO Robert Crandall for 75 A700 AdamJets valued at $150 million. Burr and Crandall plan to launch a new air taxi service, for now called iFly Air Taxi, with the aircraft (BA, June 7/260).
Butler National's Avcon Industries of Olathe, Kan., and its RVSM project partner BIZJET have upgraded 25 Model 20 series Learjets with the AVCON/BIZJET RVSM Group Solution. The companies said they have orders booked or pending for RVSM upgrades on another 55 Learjets. The RVSM upgrade, which will permit aircraft to meet new 1,000-foot separation requirements at altitudes of 29,000 through 41,000 feet effective Jan. 20, 2005 when reduced vertical spacing goes into effect, is priced at $156,975 plus the cost of required autopilot components, inspections and repairs.
Congress postponed a number of activities last week during the funeral proceedings for former President Reagan, including consideration of a bill that would extend the bonus depreciation tax benefit for corporate aircraft buyers. Consideration of that bill, H.R.4520, the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, originally was scheduled for June 10, but instead will begin today (June 14) in the House Ways and Means Committee. The Senate passed its version of the Jobs bill, the Jumpstart Our Business Strength Act, in May (BA, May 17/221).
Jetequity, based at Westchester County Airport in White Plains, N.Y., added a Gulfstream III to its charter fleet. The Gulfstream can accommodate 11 passengers and is equipped with an entertainment system with dual VCR, a CD player and five personal LCD TVs.
The House Appropriations Committee last week, however, managed to approve the Department of Homeland Security fiscal 2005 budget before most congressional activities were put on hold on Wednesday. The DHS appropriations bill includes a measure that orders the Secretary of Homeland Security to "develop and implement a reasonable and effective security plan restoring access to DCA for security-qualified charter and GA operations by Nov.
Thales won a contract from Airservices Australia to upgrade The Australian Advanced Air Traffic System (TAAATS). TAAATS incorporates Thales' Eurocat air traffic management system. The latest contract will include enhancements designed to improve controller situational awareness such as alert and warning upgrades and expanded ADS-B functionality. In addition, the system will incorporate conflict detection tools to support the first phase of User Preferred Routing in Australia.
Phillips 66 Aviation recently awarded Orlando, Fla.-based Showalter Flying Service its "Wings of Excellence" recognition for the FBO's "pioneering efforts and its many contributions to general aviation, which have helped the industry prosper." Showalter, one of Florida's oldest and largest family-owned FBOs, began offering services to the aviation community in 1945. Phillips credited the FBO for leading the industry with above-ground tank farm designs, unbundling of services and employee bonus programs to stimulate fuel sales.
Eclipse Aviation took delivery of a Mecaer landing gear assembly that will be installed on the company's first certification flight test Eclipse 500 business jet, N502EA. The first aircraft, powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PW610F engines, is on track for first flight in the fourth quarter of the year.
