GROB'S RANGER TAKES FLIGHT - Grob-Werke Aerospace Division's new Grob Ranger G160 turboprop completed its first flight late last month. The first prototype, Registration D-FTBG, took off March 29 from the airport at the company's plant in Tussenhausen-Mattsies, Germany.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes (Docket No. 2004-NM-20-AD; Amendment 39-13507; AD 2004-05-12) - requires repetitive inspections of the left and right engine throttle control gearboxes for wear, and corrective action if necessary. This action is necessary to prevent excessive wear of the gearboxes and subsequent movement or jamming of the engine throttle; movement of the throttle towards the idle position brings it close to the fuel shut-off switch, which could result in an in-flight engine shutdown.
Avbase Flight Services, LLC last month added two Gulfstream 200s to its charter and management fleet. One of the G200s will be based at Cleveland Hopkins Airport in Cleveland, Ohio and the other will be based at Addison Airport in Dallas, Texas. Both aircraft are configured to seat 10 passengers. Avbase manages aircraft at 20 locations throughout the country.
ATP'S DANIELS HIRES TECHNICAL, AVIATION VETERAN AS PRESIDENT - Carol Daniels, long-time president and chief executive of Aircraft Technical Publishers, hired Gerald Kosbab to handle the duties of president. Daniels will continue as CEO of the 30-year-old technical publishing firm that her father previously ran. Kosbab, who has more than 25 years of aviation and technical experience, joins Brisbane, Calif.-based ATP as it plans to launch the company's new regulatory software tool, ATP Navigator V.
SIKORSKY CHAIRMAN BORGMAN ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT - Sikorsky Aircraft Chairman Dean Borgman announced plans to retire July 1 following five decades of service in the helicopter industry. Borgman was named chairman of Sikorsky in 2003 and before that was president for five years. Before joining Sikorsky he was senior vice president overseeing Boeing's helicopter facility in Mesa, Ariz. He joined the Boeing unit as part of the merger with McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Company, where he had served as president. Borgman also served in the U.S. Army Aviation Command.
BAE SYSTEMS Model BAe 146 series airplanes (Docket No. 2001-NM-148-AD; Amendment 39-13506; AD 2004-05-11) - requires repetitive general visual inspections of the inside of the condenser regenerative air ducts, air cycle machine turbine outlet, and the jet pump ducts on each air conditioning pack to detect oil and/or oil breakdown products leaking from the engine(s) or auxiliary power unit (APU). This AD also requires further inspections and replacement of any affected engine, APU, or component with a serviceable part, if necessary.
ARINC Engineering Services this month successfully flight tested a new precision approach and landing system designed to withstand electronic jamming. The flight test, conducted at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., is part of the Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS) program to develop the next-generation precision approach and landing system for the Department of Defense.
BAE SYSTEMS Model BAe 146 series airplanes (Docket No. 2001-NM-148-AD; Amendment 39-13506; AD 2004-05-11) - requires repetitive general visual inspections of the inside of the condenser regenerative air ducts, air cycle machine turbine outlet, and the jet pump ducts on each air conditioning pack to detect oil and/or oil breakdown products leaking from the engine(s) or auxiliary power unit (APU). This AD also requires further inspections and replacement of any affected engine, APU, or component with a serviceable part, if necessary.
Conklin & De Decker released the latest version of its Aircraft Cost Evaluator software package that provides information on direct costs, fixed costs and annual budgeting. The package also includes information on fractional ownership as well as pilot reports, aircraft interior and exterior diagrams, photos and histories. The edition includes more than 380 jets, turboprops, helicopters and piston aircraft.
RICK LARSEN was named vice president of marketing for the Experimental Aircraft Association. Larsen joins EAA from ATA Airlines, where he also served as vice president of marketing. A 25-year aviation industry veteran, Larsen also held various marketing duties with Midway Airlines.
NAA PRESIDENT ANNOUNCES PLANS TO STEP DOWN - Donald J. Koranda, who has served as president and chief executive officer of the National Aeronautic Association for the past six years, told the organization's Executive Committee last week "of my desire to step down as president and CEO of NAA and to look for new opportunities and new directions within the aviation industry."
National Air Transportation Association President James Coyne will hold a Town Hall meeting April 8, at Signature Flight Support at Dallas Love Field. The meeting will provide a forum to discuss the latest legislative and regulatory issues affecting aviation businesses. "So much is happening right now -- rising fuel prices, escalating insurance premiums, continued security concerns -- that it is more important than ever to make sure our members are apprised of the latest government actions," Coyne said.
SIGNATURE BREAKS GROUND FOR NEW FRENCH FBO - Signature Flight Support broke ground last month on an expanded fixed-base facility at the airport in Toulon, France. Signature, which operates the largest chain of FBOs in the U.S., took over the existing FBO at the Toulon-Hyeres Airport (TLN/LFTH) in January and is operating from space in the main terminal while using the airport's VIP lounge for its customers. Construction of the new 2,410-square-foot facility is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2004.
INDIAN NATION LAUNCHES CHARTER OPERATION - The Oneida Indian Nation, based in Upstate New York, is launching a new charter service, Four Directions Air, that is believed to be the first such operation by a sovereign American Indian nation. The charter will fly a nine-passenger Dassault Falcon 50 and have access to a Learjet 35. The new endeavor also has partnered with Atlanta-based Smith Air to provide more comprehensive services.
Soft drink producer Dr. Pepper is making a major marketing investment in 11 air shows scheduled this year in the southern U.S. The company will sponsor shows in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana beginning April 24-25 in Shreveport, La. and ending Nov. 6-7 in San Antonio, Texas. Financial terms of the agreement between Dr. Pepper and Leesburg, Va.-based International Council of Air Shows were not disclosed.
Honeywell has developed an enhanced digital audio equalizer for business jets that balances music and movie audio to provide a clear sound in Honeywell's Ovation integrated cabin system. The equalizer provides 10 factory programmable presets, such as jazz, rock, movie and concert, and the ability for the user to customize 10 presets.
Thales Air Traffic Management won a contract from Airservices Australia to provide 57 AS 680 Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) ground stations at 28 sites to complement existing en route and terminal radar coverage in Australia. Thales said the contract is the first wide-scale implementation of ADS-B to be undertaken by a provider of air navigation services. ADS-B provides aircraft GPS position, altitude and speed to air traffic controllers.
CAE won an order valued at $9.2 million (Canadian) from Australia's Defense Materiel Organization for virtual maintenance trainers for the Royal Australian Navy's S-70B Seahawk and Australian Army's S-70A Black Hawk helicopters. The contract also calls for replicated cockpit for the Seahawk and in-service support.
Avfuel Corporation added L.J. Aviation of Latrobe, Pa. to its network of dealers. The facility, built in 2000, includes a private passenger lounge, crew lounge, conference room, weather center, computer connections, snooze room and showers.
