The Japanese aviation community discussed plans last week to convert Nagoya International Airport into Japan's first airport dedicated for business aviation use. Commercial airlines currently operating at the airport will move to the new Chubu International Airport once it opens, likely next year, freeing up Nagoya for other uses. U.S.
Bellingham Fuel Service, based at Bellingham International Airport in Washington, has joined the Avfuel network of dealers. Bellingham, a flight school established in October 2002, last month expanded operations to include air taxi and fuel service. The owner, Fred Knutzen, has a 40-year background in aviation and also owns Aqua Seaplane Service near Mt. Vernon, Wash.
A Bombardier Global Express business jet struck a bird while taking off from the Westchester County Airport in White Plains, N.Y. (HPN) Wednesday, and the crew returned to land at HPN. The aircraft, N404VL, landed without further incident and taxied to the ramp. Initial examination revealed damage to the right engine.
FAA's internet-based public meeting on its air tour proposal has generated more than 750 responses, most of which are vehemently opposed to the rule. The Internet opposition is in addition to the more than 1,700 comments formally filed into the public docket (BA, Jan. 19/24).
Aircraft Shopper Online is launching a new service that would allow people to search for shares of co-owned aircraft through a geographically based listing online. Buyers will be able to pull up a list of shares for sale in their area by entering a zip code, ASO said, adding that sellers will benefit because they will be able to connect with buyers through means other than posting a notice at the local FBO.
SUMMARY: Pursuant to FAA's rulemaking provisions governing the application, processing, and disposition of petitions for exemption (14 CFR Part 11), this notice contains a summary of certain petitions seeking relief from specified requirements of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR Chapter I), dispositions of certain petitions previously received, and corrections. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities.
Regional Air Cargo Carriers Association established a cargo security committee to exchange information and make recommendations on improving smaller cargo operator security. Jeanne Cook, vice president and chief pilot of Bankair, is chairing the new committee, which also includes Bill Womick of IBC Airways, John Hazlet of Ameriflight, Geoff Gallup of Suburban Air Freight and RACCA President Stan Bernstein.
PRC-Desoto, the aerospace unit of PPG Industries, signed a contract with Groco Specialty Coatings under which PRC-DeSoto will be an exclusive distributor of Groco's Transseal temporary protective coatings, coatings removers and dyes to aerospace manufacturers worldwide. The Groco products will be distributed from the PPG Aerospace Global network of 16 application support centers.
BOMBARDIER Model DHC-8-102, -103, -106, -201, -202 -301, -311, and -315 airplanes (Docket No. 2002-NM-11-AD; Amendment 39-13459; AD 2004-03-15) - supersedes an existing AD that currently requires a one-time inspection to detect chafing of electrical wires in the cable trough below the cabin floor; repair, if necessary; installation of additional tie-mounts and tie-wraps; and application of sealant to rivet heads. This amendment requires adding a modification of the electrical wires in certain sections.
Signature Flight Support named Jeffrey Magnus general manager of the company's Palm Springs, Calif., International Airport (PSP) facility. Magnus previously was the major shareholder and president of Magnus Aviation, which owned and operated two full-service fixed-base operations in Wisconsin. Magnus shareholders sold the company in 2002. In addition, Magnus formerly provided independent aircraft sales and distribution services. He is a former U.S. Marine Corps reserve pilot who left the service as a captain in 1982.
March 10 - National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Regional Forum, West Palm Beach, Fla., (202) 783-9000 March 11-12 - National Business Aviation Association Maintenance Management Workshop, West Palm Beach, Fla., (202) 783-9000 March 11-13 - Women In Aviation International 15th Annual Women In Aviation Conference, Reno, Nev., (386) 226-7996 March 15-17 - Helicopter Association International Heli-Expo 2004, Las Vegas, Nev., (703) 683-4646
EADS Socata, which has based its sales and marketing functions at Paris-Le Bourget Airport since 1994, moved those units to the company's main facility at Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrenees Airport. EADS Socata said the move is designed to improve sales department efficiency and reduce costs. EADS Socata's manufacturing facility also is at Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrenees. The new sales office can be reached at telephone: +33 (0)5 62 41 77 88; or fax: +33 (0)5 62 41 71 40. The new address is EADS Socata, DC, 65921 Tarbes cedex 9, France.
ASTRONICS BUYING COCKPIT PANEL MANUFACTURER - Astronics Corp., the East Aurora, N.Y.-based manufacturer of high-performance lighting and electronics systems, signed a letter of intent to acquire the assets of FTG Aerospace from Circuit World Corp. FTG Aerospace, located near Toronto, Ontario, manufactures illuminated cockpit panels, keyboards and bezels for original equipment manufacturers of avionics products as well as for airframe manufacturers. FTG, which has approximately 60 employees, had revenues of $7.5 million (Canadian) in the fiscal year ended Nov. 30, 2003.
DOD WANTS TO USE COMANCHE MONEY FOR OTHER AIRCRAFT -The U.S. Defense Department plans to send a proposed budget amendment to Congress "relatively soon" that would take money allocated to the canceled RAH-66 Comanche helicopter program and use it to modernize and buy more than 2,000 military aircraft, the DOD comptroller said March 1.
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which co-wrote the four-year reauthorization bill Vision 100 that calls for unprecedented FAA funding, called the Bush Administration's FAA budget for fiscal 2005 "extremely shortsighted." In its annual "Views and Estimates" of the budget, the committee noted the Vision 100 recommendation for a $2.993 billion FAA Facilities & Equipment (F&E) budget in fiscal 2005 was based on the Administration's own reauthorization proposal released last year.
SABRELINER-MIDCOAST REALIGNS SALES TEAM - Sabreliner-Midcoast has made a number of personnel changes in its sales team, moves aimed at creating "a more focused and unified sales approach." Rodger Renaud was promoted to senior director, major modification sales, where he will oversee the interior design department, managing both the staff and the creation and delivery of proposals for interiors, paint, avionics and aircraft completions. Blake Hogge, formerly manager, avionics, was promoted to director, avionics sales. He will report to Renaud.
DELTA CONNECTION INCREASES CRJ FLEET - Long-time Bombardier customer Delta Connection is increasing its fleet of Bombardier regional jets with an order valued at $780 million for 32 50-seat CRJ200s. The order converts 32 of 169 options that Delta Connection carriers held for the aircraft. Delta Connection carriers ASA and Comair operate 279 CRJ200s and 70-passenger CRJ700s. The carriers have placed firm orders for a total of 329 CRJs, about a quarter of the entire CRJ orderbook. Deliveries of the latest order are expected to begin in first quarter of 2005.
Electromech Technologies, a member of the McKechnie Aerospace Electromechanical Group, received Parts Manufacturer Approval for a longer-life ventilation fan for use in all Learjet 20 and 30 series airplanes. The new brushless fan is designed to replace P/N EM608 fans, and Electromech said its new fan has a mean time between failure of more than 2,000 hours, compared with an average of 600 hours for the EM608 model. For more information, contact Encore Sales at (800) 668-6732.
AIA CALLS FOR SHARP INCREASES IN AEROSPACE RESEARCH FUNDING - Troubled by the slow growth of the Federal Aviation Administration's air traffic control equipment and research funding, the Aerospace Industries Association rolled out a new five-year aerospace research and development plan last week that calls for dramatically increased spending in those areas as well as in NASA's aeronautics program.
