William C. (Bill) Sanderson, director of heliports and technical programs for the Helicopter Association International, died April 20 after a long battle with cancer. Sanderson, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, held an airline transport pilot certificate. He joined HAI in June 1997.
Business Aviation advocates are hopeful that the Senate within the next few weeks will vote on a bill that includes an extension of certain bonus depreciation benefits for business aircraft purchases. The bonus depreciation measure, included in the Jumpstart Our Business Strength (JOBS) Act, S.1637, would extend the "placed-into-service" deadline for newly purchased business aircraft from Dec. 31, 2004 to Dec. 31, 2005 (BA, March 29/139). While the Senate may act on the JOBS bill soon, a timeline on House action is less clear.
Bombardier's latest reorganization is claiming a number of management jobs at the company's Learjet facility in Wichita, Kan., including that of James L. Ziegler, vice president and general manager of Bombardier Business Aviation Services, where he was in charge of combined worldwide customer support and company-owned service center networks, which provide technical information, maintenance and overhaul services.
BAE Model Avro 146-RJ series airplanes (Docket No. 2003-NM-92-AD) - proposes to require replacing the existing digital flight guidance computer(s)(DFGC) with a new flight computer(s). This action is necessary to prevent a premature flare due to an erroneous reading by the DFGC(s) occurring at any point on the approach after 1,500 feet plus 10 seconds once Category III landing status has been achieved, and subsequent reduced controllability of the airplane. FAA estimates that 36 airplanes on the U.S.
April 27-29 - Flight Safety Foundation/National Business Aviation Association Corporate Aviation Safety Seminar, Tucson, Ariz., (202) 783-9000 May 17-19 - Regional Air Cargo Carriers Association Spring Conference, Radisson Resort and Spa, Scottsdale, Ariz. Contact Stan Bernstein, (508) 747-1430 May 18-20 - AS 3/GSE Aviation Services and Suppliers Supershow, National Air Transportation Association/Professional Aviation Maintenance Association, Las Vegas, Nev. (703) 845-9000
Bombardier this month delivered the first Challenger 300 slated for corporate service to Dean Phillips Inc. The aircraft, S/N 20010, was the fifth Challenger 300 to enter service. Bombardier's Flexjet fractional ownership program took delivery of the first four Challenger 300s, and by the end of March, the fleet had accrued more than 1,000 flight hours. Positioned between Bombardier's Learjet 60 and Challenger 604, the Challenger 300 can fly up to Mach 0.82 with a maximum non-stop range of 3,100 nautical miles with eight passengers.
BE A PILOT, the nationwide program designed to introduce prospective students to flying, this week is kicking off a nearly $1 million television advertising campaign offering a free introductory flight certificate and a $49 first flying lesson that is valid at more than 2,000 participating flight schools in the U.S. and Canada. The advertising campaign will emphasize flying testimonials and target the baby boomer generation.
Raytheon Aircraft received export approval for its Hawker 800XP equipped with Collins Pro Line 21 avionics from the Centro Tecnico Aeroespacial of Brazil and expects follow-up certification shortly. Raytheon Aircraft delivered the aircraft to a customer in Sao Paulo in December.
NBAA TAPS DOUBRAVA TO ENHANCE SECURITY EFFORTS - National Business Aviation Association, in an effort to expand airspace and airport access for its members, hired aviation security veteran Richard Doubrava to fill the newly created role of director of security. Doubrava will serve as a point person for the association's Secure Access program developed to demonstrate business aviation security and increase access to restricted airspace.
Federal Aviation Administration last week agreed to hold two regional public hearings on its National Air Tour Safety Standards proposal, which has drawn as much criticism as any rulemaking in recent years. The agency, which announced the public hearings in the April 20 Federal Register, reversed its position on the regional hearings after facing a barrage of criticism. FAA already had held a two-week Internet-based public "hearing," but many people felt disenfranchised from the electronic forum and complained that it prevented an honest, open dialogue.
The National Business Aviation Association's board of directors and former President John W. Olcott issued statements taking strong exception to characterizations of the association contained in a letter by a recently departed NBAA senior executive.
Veteran aviation marketer John Gauch left Diamond Aircraft to join Cirrus Design Corp. as national fleet sales manager. At Cirrus he will focus on sales to major flight training institutions. Before joining Diamond, Gauch spent many years with Sporty's in a variety of management posts.
TSA SOLICITS CARGO SECURITY ADVICE - The Transportation Security Administration this month released a Request for Information (RFI) pre-solicitation notice seeking advice on enhancing air cargo security. TSA noted that the government is contemplating how to further develop air cargo security and would like to receive input from the aviation industry and related industry sectors. Companies submitting their ideas may be invited to a forum in the future, TSA said.
A pitch rate three times higher than recommended and a fuel system that allowed fuel to slosh unrestricted from one tank to another set the stage for the Oct. 10, 2000 crash of an experimental Challenger 604 during takeoff from Bombardier's Flight Test Center (BFTC) in Wichita, Kan., according to a National Transportation Safety Board report this month (BA, April 19/173). Two of the three crewmembers were killed in the crash and resulting fire. The third was severely injured and died 36 days after the accident.
JOHN ENTICKNAP TO REMAIN AT HELM OF MERCURY AIR CENTERS - Allied Capital Corp., which completed its acquisition of 19 Mercury Air Center fixed-base operations this month, plans to retain MAC's existing management team, including President John Enticknap and Carl Vanderlinden, vice president of finance and CFO. While the existing management team runs the FBO businesses, an Allied Capital official said the new parent company will concentrate on providing the resources MAC needs and looking for acquisitions to grow the FBO network.
Boeing plans to slash its corporate flight department and consolidate its in-house flight operations in Gary, Ind., near company headquarters in Chicago, Ill. A spokeswoman said the airliner manufacturing company plans to sell a Boeing Business Jet, two Challengers, two Learjets and two helicopters. It will retain one BBJ and five Challengers. Flight bases in Seattle, Wash., St. Louis, Mo. and Long Beach, Calif. will be closed.
Bombardier is offering an "introductory package" for Learjet 40 customers in Latin America that includes 25 hours for free air travel aboard a Learjet 45 through the Bombardier Flexjet fractional ownership program and 60 months of the company's Smart Parts Plus component coverage. The package, valued at more than $350,000 (U.S.), is available to customers in South America, Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean who order a Learjet 40 before Oct. 31.
