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.
Keith Wolken was named president of Prime Flight Aviation Services, which provides a range of landside and airside services such as ramp services, cabin cleaning and skycap for airlines at more than 60 airports. Wolken previously was chief operating officer of PrimeFlight parent SMS Holdings. Wolken has served with SMS since 1991 and has overseen facility services, aviation services and strategic planning.
KING AIR TRANSPONDER PROBLEMS LED TO CAPITOL HILL EVACUATION - Thousands of people, including members of Congress, Capitol Hill staffers, reporters and visitors were abruptly ordered to evacuate the Capitol and nearby office buildings Wednesday afternoon after security officials issued a warning because a King Air 100 operated by the state of Kentucky showed up as an unidentified aircraft in the restricted airspace surrounding the Washington, D.C., area. The evacuation order came just after 4:30 p.m.
FLIGHT OPTIONS NAMES GULFSTREAM VETERAN TO HEAD SALES - Flight Options, the Cleveland, Ohio fractional aircraft provider, named James Guerin senior vice president of sales. He will be responsible for "leading the Flight Options sales force and developing strategic sales programs for the organization," the company said.
New Piper Aircraft, Inc. named Senate Aviation Limited in Dorset, England as an authorized sales and service representative in Spain, Ireland and the United Kingdom including the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
Romeo Oscar Inc., the marketing communications firm headed by James R.O. (Jamie) McIntyre, is moving from downtown Montreal after 15 years there to a building on Trudeau International Airport. The new address is: Romeo Oscar, Inc., P.E. Trudeau International Airport, 9501 Ryan Ave., Suite 201, Dorval, Quebec H9P 1A2. The new telephone number is (514) 780-8525 and the fax line is (514) 780-8535. The company's Web site address is www.RomeoOscar.com. The move will be effective June 14.
Jet Aviation has a graphic example on its Web site of why pilots are taught to avoid hailstorms. The site shows the tattered and dented nose of a Citation II after a 15-second encounter with tennis-ball sized hailstones while flying at 10,000 feet at a speed of 250 knots. After field repairs, the aircraft was flown to Jet Aviation's Saarbrucken, Germany facility where the Citation underwent 3,000 hours of repairs over a six-month period. Viewers should click on the "Latest News" section at www.jetaviation.com.
Cirrus Design Corp. received European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification for its SR20 single-engine model. Cirrus said the SR20 certification is the "first of its kind awarded by the new agency." European certification was formerly administered by the Joint Aviation Authorities for aircraft imported into the European Union.
IRISH COMPANY PICKED TO ESTABLISH INTERNATIONAL AIRCRAFT REGISTRY - Aviareto of Ireland was selected by the International Civil Aviation Organization to establish the International Registry for the Cape Town Convention, an international treaty on financing and leasing of aircraft signed during a diplomatic conference in Cape Town, South Africa in November 2001. Aviareto will act as registrar once the treaty goes into effect following ratification by eight states. To date, four states have signed on.
ATR TAPS EUROFIGHTER EXECUTIVE AS CEO - ATR appointed Filippo Bagnato, formerly chief executive officer of Eurofighter GmbH, to become the new chief executive of the Franco-Italian airframe consortium. Bagnato succeeds Jean-Michel Leonard, who stepped down in May after his three-year term expired.
Others with insight into the search process say the committee has narrowed the list of candidates to fewer than a dozen individuals. Officials would like to make a final selection by the end of June or early July. The NBAA board is scheduled to meet late next week, but a final decision is not expected that soon.
