While the level of support for bonus depreciation legislation is encouraging, Ed Bolen, president of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, said the timing is becoming "kind of dicey." After the legislation passes the House, it must go through a House-Senate conference committee to resolve differences between the two bills and then a final vote in each chamber.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-1A11 (CL-600), CL-600-2A12 (CL-601), and CL-600-2B16 (CL-601-3A, CL-601-3R, and CL-604) series airplanes (Docket No. 2003-NM-175-AD; Amendment 39-13628; AD 2004-09-37) - supersedes an existing AD that currently requires a detailed inspection to detect cracks of the vane brackets of the inboard flap actuator beam, and follow-on repetitive detailed inspections or corrective actions, as applicable. That AD also provides for two optional terminating actions for the detailed inspection(s).
Cessna Aircraft appointed Abelag Aviation S.A., Delta System-Air a.s., and MAC Aviation S.A. authorized sales representatives in Europe for the Caravan and single piston-engine aircraft lines. Abelag, which does business as ABC Aviation in Belgium, will sell single-engine piston airplanes in Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Delta System-Air will sell both the Caravan and the piston lines in the Czech and Slovak Republics. MAC Aviation, based in Zaragoza, Spain, will market Cessna piston aircraft.
GEORGE KOKINAKIS was promoted to vice president of aviation for JM Family Enterprises. Kokinakis, who has been director of aviation for the automotive company since 1989, will manage all JMFE corporate flight operations and hangar facilities. He joined JMFE in 1977 as a first officer and was promoted to captain in 1981.
DASSAULT INTRODUCES 900DX TO SUPPLANT 900C - Dassault Aviation announced the Falcon 900DX business jet, a trijet design with more powerful engines and the EASy flight deck that will replace the 900C in the Falcon Jet product line.
NATA'S RISK-MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AIMS FOR 'ZERO TOLERANCE' - The National Air Transportation Association is developing a risk management program for aviation businesses that is designed to reduce ground-related accidents by 50 percent over the next five years, the association announced during its annual convention this month in Las Vegas. NATA President James Coyne said the association is hoping the program will create a "zero tolerance" culture for ground safety.
The proliferation of low-cost carriers during the past four years, a shrinking business-fare market and increasing point-to-point service have combined to produce an aviation trust fund balance that's $3 billion lower than once predicted, according to DOT Inspector General Kenneth Mead. Addressing the Senate Commerce aviation subcommittee May 18, Mead cautioned that the multibillion-dollar decline will require FAA to tighten its belt.
Timken Co. is developing special surface coatings to extend the life of bearings used in gas-turbine aircraft engines under a $2.7 million order from the U.S. Air Force. The order was placed under an existing $20 million Air Force contract for bearing development, the Canton, Ohio-based company said.
AC-U-KWIK has launched a new Web-based service that will allow pilots to plan international trips. TheAcukwik.com site includes pre-flight planning resources such as current weather, map diagrams, hotels, service providers and fuel options for more than 8,000 airports worldwide. AC-U-KWIK plans to add a number of other resources to the site over the next six months, including customs, overflight and landing clearance requirements, visas, medical advisories and local charter operators. Information for U.S.
NEW YORK BILL WOULD MAKE SECURITY GUIDELINES MANDATORY - National Business Aviation Association wrote to New York officials last week urging them to eliminate provisions in proposed legislation that would mandate a lengthy list of security requirements for owners and operators of private aircraft and aviation facilities.
Proponents of extending until Dec. 31, 2005 the date-in-service deadline for aircraft buyers to avail themselves of bonus depreciation say they continue to receive "very good feedback about the level of support" for the measure from House members and staffers on the House Ways and Means Committee. The legislation passed the Senate by a wide margin three weeks ago (BA, May 17/221). The House was in recess last week, but supporters hope the measure will reach the House floor this week or next.
Dassault Falcon Jet expanded its field service network with the appointment of four representatives. The company promoted Bernie Curtis to field service representative and Falcon 2000/2000EX model specialist covering New England. He had been a Help Desk representative. The company also named Travis Dick as field service representative and Falcon 900/900EX model specialist in the Western region. Dick has served with Dassault Falcon for nearly five years, most recently in flight-testing in Little Rock, Ark.
Gulfstream Aerospace said FAA has decided that the manufacturer's G450 and G350 business jets will share the same pilot type rating with the G550 and G500 models. Additionally, since the G550 and GV already share the same type rating, Gulfstream said the GV pilot rating will apply to the four new aircraft as well. GV pilots will be authorized to fly the G500 and G350 upon completion of a five-day "differences" course that highlights the airplanes' PlaneView flight deck.
Aircell tapped Tom Myers to serve as director of marketing. Myers will oversee corporate communications, brand management, product positioning, advertising and media relations for the airborne telecommunication systems specialist. Myers formerly was a senior account executive for the advertising agency fd2s in Denver, Colo., where he represented aerospace clients including Pilatus Business Aircraft, FlightSafety International and Embraer. He also has served as director of marketing at Elliott Aviation.
Emirates-CAE Flight Training continued to expand its business base with agreements valued at about $2.5 million from Jet Aviation in Switzerland, Jet Alliance in Austria and Aramco in Saudi Arabia. Jet Aviation, an original Emirates-CAE Flight Training customer, renewed its contract for ongoing BBJ training. Jet Alliance has signed a multi-year agreement for Gulfstream IV, and GV training. Aramco also signed a contract for GIV training as well as training on the Boeing 737NG and Hawker 800.
Raytheon Aircraft recently delivered its 100th Beechcraft Premier I to FDRS Air, Inc., based in Norfolk, Va. The Premier I fleet has accumulated more than 23,000 hours and is certified in 16 countries. Thirteen of the part-composite business jets are operating in Europe.
Dassault Falcon Service has begun a major expansion of its facilities at Le Bourget Airport in Paris. The project includes construction of a 36,000-square-foot, three-floor building that will house an underground parking lot, customer facilities and new administrative offices. The new building is slated for completion in March 2005. The expansion also includes consolidation of DFS facilities for airline services in the existing "H1" building and expansion of the aircraft parking apron. The expansion will provide space for six more medium-sized aircraft.
Despite the many issues still unresolved in the Part 135 rewrite, the FAA official overseeing the project is confident the task can be accomplished on schedule. Kathy Perfetti told the Regional Air Cargo Carriers Association in Scottsdale, Ariz. Wednesday she expects the ARC's June meeting will be "a real tough one" with more than 50 significant issues to be addressed.
CONTROLLER TRAINING FEES WOULD HELP FAA BUDGET, BLAKEY SAYS - A proposal to make federal controllers help pay for their own training could be part of a plan FAA will submit to Congress at the end of the year in response to controller staffing concerns. The agency's training budget would go further if controllers shouldered some of their training costs, FAA Administrator Marion Blakey said at a National Air Traffic Controllers Association conference last week.
