Cessna Aircraft selected Goodrich Corp. to supply the wheels, brakes and brake control system for the Citation Mustang entry-level business jet, which is scheduled for certification in the third quarter of 2006. Goodrich said the contract represents the first commercial application of its production brake control system, a technology that was developed in-house.
EMBRAER Model EMB-120 series airplanes (Docket No. 2002-NM-87-AD; Amendment 39-13418; AD 2004-01-04) -- supersedes an existing AD that currently requires revising the airplane flight manual (AFM), and either installing hydraulic tube assemblies incorporating a check valve, or visually inspecting the check valve if already installed and performing corrective actions if necessary. This action adds airplanes to the applicability of the existing AD.
TRIUMPH BUYS GEAR BUSINESS FROM ROLLS-ROYCE - Triumph Group, Inc. acquired Rolls-Royce Gear Systems, Inc., from Rolls-Royce North America Venture, Inc. for $36 million. Located in Park City, Utah, the gear business is expected to have revenues of approximately $55 million in 2005 and be accretive to Triumph Group's earnings. The Park City operation employs 200 people and specializes in the design, manufacture, sale and repair of gearboxes, high-lift flight control actuators and gear-driven actuators and gears for the aerospace industry.
Sun Air Jets, based in Camarillo, Calif., opened a satellite charter office in Van Nuys, Calif. Jennifer Van Winkle will manage the new office, which is based in the Castle & Cooke Aviation Services complex at 7530 Hayvenhurst Ave., Van Nuys, Calif. 91406.
Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.), the ranking Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, last week offered little hope that business aviation would be given access to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) anytime in the near future. "I think DCA should have been opened a long time ago to general aviation," Oberstar said.
SENATE SENDS MASSIVE FUNDING BILL TO WHITE HOUSE - The Senate last week gave final approval to an $820 billion spending package that includes some $14 billion for the Federal Aviation Administration in fiscal 2004, ending a contentious debate that threatened to hold up the bill indefinitely. The Senate passed the bill 65-28, clearing it for President Bush's signature, after agreeing earlier by a 61-32 vote to end debate on the bill.
General Aviation businesses harmed by the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks will have to wait until at least 2005 before they get any relief aid. In the Vision 100-Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act, Congress authorized up to $100 million for general aviation businesses that could demonstrate losses stemming from 9/11. But the fiscal 2004 omnibus appropriations bill passed last week without any funding for that relief measure.
Docket No.: FAA-2003-16518 Petitioner: Helicopter Association International Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 61.197(b)(2) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit certificated flight instructors who renewed their certificates at the Helicopter Association International's HELI-EXPO in February 2002, and whose certificates are due to expire on Feb. 29, 2004, an extension period to March 31, 2004. Denial, Dec. 2, 2003, Exemption No. 8184
AIA PRESSES AIR SHOW ORGANIZERS TO FIND COST-CUTTING MEASURES - Complaints by CEOs of some Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) member companies about the high cost of last year's Paris Air Show prompted the association to contact officials of the four major aerospace shows - Paris, Farnborough, Asian Aerospace and Dubai -- about finding ways to cut rental expenses for chalets and exhibition space.
RAYTHEON CELEBRATES 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF KING AIR LINE - Raytheon Aircraft Company (RAC) is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Beechcraft King Air twin turboprop in the business aviation marketplace and is asking current and former King Air owners and pilots to share their memories of the aircraft. The first King Air, a Model 90, made its first flight Jan. 20, 1964, the beginning of what Raytheon claims is "the most successful business aircraft of all time." The company had sold well over 5,000 King Airs through the end of 2003, and expects to deliver No.
Russell Chew, the chief operating officer of FAA's new Air Traffic Organization, is expected to announce the formal rollout of the ATO Feb. 9, along with posting the list of management jobs to be filled.
TRANSPORT CANADA SUSPENDS OPERATING CERTIFICATE OF CARAVAN OPERATOR - Transport Canada Thursday suspended the Air Operator's Certificate of Georgian Express Ltd., the carrier whose Cessna Grand Caravan was involved in a fatal accident less than a week before. The agency said it decided to suspend the carrier's certificate "based on the review of the company's documentation and the department's assessment of the preliminary information" from the accident. Transport Canada said its action "does not preclude" further regulatory action later.
RAYTHEON CELEBRATES 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF KING AIR LINE - Raytheon Aircraft Company (RAC) is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Beechcraft King Air twin turboprop in the business aviation marketplace and is asking current and former King Air owners and pilots to share their memories of the aircraft.
CAE SIMUFLITE LANDS EXCLUSIVE FLIGHT OPTIONS TRAINING CONTRACT - CAE SimuFlite received an exclusive three-year contract to train all of Flight Option's pilots at CAE's Dallas-Fort Worth center. The agreement, the largest ever for CAE SimuFlite, is valued at $28 million. The deal includes an option to extend the training for two years, which would boost the value of the training to $48 million.
CAE SIMUFLITE LANDS EXCLUSIVE FLIGHT OPTIONS TRAINING CONTRACT - CAE SimuFlite received an exclusive three-year contract to train all of Flight Option's pilots at CAE's Dallas-Fort Worth center. The agreement, the largest ever for CAE SimuFlite, is valued at $28 million. The deal includes an option to extend the training for two years, which would boost the value of the training to $48 million.
Sun Air Jets, based in Camarillo, Calif., opened a satellite charter office in Van Nuys, Calif. Jennifer Van Winkle will manage the new office, which is based in the Castle & Cooke Aviation Services complex at 7530 Hayvenhurst Ave., Van Nuys, Calif. 91406.
SENATE SENDS MASSIVE FUNDING BILL TO WHITE HOUSE - The Senate last week gave final approval to an $820 billion spending package that includes some $14 billion for the Federal Aviation Administration in fiscal 2004, ending a contentious debate that threatened to hold up the bill indefinitely. The Senate passed the bill 65-28, clearing it for President Bush's signature, after agreeing earlier by a 61-32 vote to end debate on the bill.
EMBRAER Model EMB-135 and -145 series airplanes (Docket No. 2002-NM-336-AD; Amendment 39-13426; AD 2004-01-12) -- requires operators to inspect the pitot-true air temperature (TAT) relays and the full authority digital engine control (FADEC) electronic interface resistor modules to detect contamination.
MICHELLE PRINCI was appointed director of membership for the Aerospace Industries Association. Princi will direct all membership functions for the association, including recruitment, retention and research and development. She joined AIA from the Vision Council of America, where she was senior manager of divisions and councils. She also was manager of meetings and conventions there.
General Aviation businesses harmed by the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks will have to wait until at least 2005 before they get any relief aid. In the Vision 100-Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act, Congress authorized up to $100 million for general aviation businesses that could demonstrate losses stemming from 9/11. But the fiscal 2004 omnibus appropriations bill passed last week without any funding for that relief measure.
Federal Aviation Administration, among the objectives of its Flight Plan 2004-2008 initiative, wants to come up with some sort of composite safety index that will measure the safety of the entire U.S. civil aviation system. The index would include the full spectrum of aviation activities, from general aviation through the scheduled airlines. FAA assembled about two dozen representatives of government, industry and academia to discuss the issue last week.
JOHN GILMORE was named vice president of sales for Ballistic Recovery Systems, Inc. Gilmore previously was vice president of sales for Jetways, Inc. He has 15 years of technology sales experience in the computer industry, including sales of CAD/Design and Visualization computer workstations for Compaq. He also served with Rosemount Aerospace. An aircraft owner and flight instructor, Gilmore has more than 3,000 hours of flight time.
TRIUMPH BUYS GEAR BUSINESS FROM ROLLS-ROYCE - Triumph Group, Inc. acquired Rolls-Royce Gear Systems, Inc., from Rolls-Royce North America Venture, Inc. for $36 million. Located in Park City, Utah, the gear business is expected to have revenues of approximately $55 million in 2005 and be accretive to Triumph Group's earnings.
Docket No.: FAA-2003-14423 Petitioner: Dassault Aviation Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 25.785(b) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To amend a previously granted exemption regarding occupant protection requirements for persons occupying multiple-place side-facing seats during takeoff and landing on Falcon Model 2000EX airplanes manufactured before Jan. 1. The amendment would remove the limitation that restricts its applicability to airplanes manufactured before Jan. 1. Grant, Dec. 1, 2003, Exemption No. 8007A
Docket No.: FAA-2003-16618 Petitioner: Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd. Sections of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 25.783(h), 25.807(g)(1), 25.810(a)(1), 25.813(b)(3), 25.857(e), and 25.1447(c)(1) Description of Relief Sought: Petitioner requests exemption from certain provisions of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), to allow carriage of two non-crewmembers on Boeing Model 737-300 airplanes when operated in a freighter configuration.
