CONKLIN & DE DECKER updated its Life Cycle Cost software, releasing Version 4.70. The software accounts for costs of owning and operating an aircraft, including acquisition, operations, taxes, final residual value and commercial revenues. Version 4.70 analyzes different methods of acquisition and different types of operations. It also offers users eight different tax-depreciation schedules including the bonus depreciation. The software costs $695 for one database, gradually increasing to $1,445 for four databases.
GINETTE COLOT was named corporate secretary and treasurer of the Aerospace Industries Association. Colot succeeds George Copsey, who retired after 37 years with the association. Colot has more than 20 years of non-profit management experience, most recently as vice president of administration for Goodwill Industries International, where she was a senior management leader for financial and administrative functions.
The Jackson Hole, Wyo. Airport Board is considering a ban of all Stage 2 aircraft weighing less than 75,000 pounds, the National Business Aviation Association told its members. The airport board will take up the issue at its April meeting, and, if adopted, the ban could take effect by the end of June. The Jackson Hole proposal would provide exceptions for in-flight or medical emergencies. The proposal also would postpone the implementation date for owners of Stage 2 aircraft that have contracted to either hushkit or replace their aircraft.
MARGE BECKER was promoted to senior vice president of accounting and administration for Piedmont Hawthorne Aviation. Becker will manage the Information Technologies Department, Human Resources and insurance as well as continuing her duties as corporate controller. Becker joined the company in 2000 as corporate controller and was promoted to vice president and controller in 2001. As controller she manages day-to-day operations and controls all accounting functions. Before joining Piedmont Hawthorne, she was with Ernst and Young.
OFFICE OF SECURITY TECHNOLOGIES at the Transportation Security Administration issued a request for information about air cargo security. The RFI asked interested parties for "data, information and samples" for explosives detection systems for air cargo. TSA plans a three-phase evaluation program "to assess the viability of commercial off-the-shelf or non-developmental item explosive detection systems" for cargo. Based on the response to the RFI, TSA will pick potential contactors to provide samples for laboratory evaluation.
MILLION AIR CHARTER, TETERBORO changed its name to Meridian Air Charter. The charter company has operated in conjunction with the Million Air maintenance and fixed-base operation for more than 20 years, but said the new name separates the charter service "in order to highlight its points of differentiation, which include, among other things, inter-continental capacity."
Piaggio America finished moving its headquarters from Greenville, S.C. to facilities at Jet Aviation at West Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) this month, and top officials say the new location is already paying dividends.
IBIS AEROSPACE named Deep Blue Technology a distributor for the Ae270 turboprop. Based in Hallwil, Switzerland, Deep Blue will sell the Ae270 in several European countries, including Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Yugoslavia-Macedonia. Deep Blue ordered nine Ae270s and took options for five more.
Title I - AIRPORT AND AIRWAY IMPROVEMENTS Section 101. Airport Improvement Program: authorizes $3.4 billion for fiscal 2004, $3.5 billion for fiscal 2005, $3.6 billion for fiscal 2006 and $3.7 billion for fiscal 2007 Section 102. Facilities and Equipment - Authorizes $3.138 billion for fiscal 2004, $2.993 billion for fiscal 2005, $3.053 billion for fiscal 2006 and $3.110 billion for fiscal 2007
BAE Model BAe 146 and Avro 146-RJ series airplanes (Docket No. 2002-NM-144-AD; Amendment 39-13421; AD 2004-01-07) -- requires one-time inspections of the inner webs and flanges at Frames 15, 18, 41, and 43 for evidence of corrosion or cracking; and corrective actions if necessary. This action is necessary to detect and correct corrosion and cracking of the inner webs and flanges at Frames 15, 18, 41, and 43, which could reduce structural integrity of the airplane. FAA estimates that 55 airplanes on the U.S.
FAA ADMINISTRATOR Marion Blakey is still struggling with an embarrassing vacancy in the agency's senior executive ranks. Back on Nov. 18 Blakey announced that Thomas R. Bloom, who had been director and chief executive officer of the Department of Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), was joining FAA as chief financial officer (CFO). However, after agreeing to take the post and being introduced at a senior staff meeting, Bloom changed his mind and took a job as senior deputy comptroller and CFO for the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
NATIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION will hold Maintenance Management Workshops March 11 in West Palm Beach, Fla. and Aug. 25 in Seattle, Wash. The workshops will cover Occupational Safety and Health Administration issues, environmental and aviation regulations, personnel and asset management, aircraft reliability and productivity measures. For more information about NBAA events, visit the association's web site at www.nbaa.org/events.
EXECUTIVE JET MANAGEMENT continued to expand its aircraft management and charter fleet with the addition of two more aircraft last month. EJM added a Falcon 50 based at New Castle County Airport in Wilmington, Del., and a Hawker 800, based at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey.
RAYTHEON AIRLINE AVIATION SERVICES and Raytheon Aircraft Services are offering a T2CAS combined traffic alert and terrain avoidance system retrofit for Beechcraft 1900C and 1900D regional airliners. The system, developed by the L-3 Communications/Thales joint venture ACSS, integrates TCAS II and Class A TAWS, meeting federal requirements. Raytheon expects certification of the system on a 1900C this quarter, with 1900D certification following.
CBS EVENING NEWS drew fire from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the National Air Transportation Association and the National Business Aviation Association last week for a segment by Bob Orr on the Jan. 14 broadcast that stated there is "no security" at general aviation airports in the U.S. and that "nothing had been done" since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
A Federal Aviation Administration proposal to impose new restrictions on commercial air tour operators and severely limit local sightseeing flights near airports has generated a wave of protest from across the country and spurred more than 1,100 comments to the federal docket.
NEW PIPER is offering special 20th anniversary models of Malibu Mirage and the Malibu Meridian "to celebrate the significant innovations these models have brought to New Piper as well as the general aviation industry as a whole," the company said. The 20th anniversary editions will have commemorative paint schemes and a 20th anniversary logo placed on the leather seats as well as beside the last window on the exterior. New Piper said it also is offering discounts on certain option packages.
AJ WALTER AVIATION, which specializes in aircraft component supply and maintenance, opened a new office in Singapore to serve the Asia and Asia Pacific Regions.
HELICOPTER ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL is urging its members to contact their U.S. senators to voice opposition to a provision in S.1637, the Jumpstart our Business Strength (JOBS) Act. HAI supports most of the provisions of the bill, which was approved by the Senate Finance Committee Nov. 7, but it opposes Section 424, which would amend the tax code by eliminating the business expense tax deduction for punitive damages.
After falling in 2002, worldwide civil helicopter sales rebounded in 2003 and are expected to total $18.7 billion over the period from 2003 to 2012, according to a new study by Forecast International. Deliveries over the next decade should rise from 934 units in 2003 to about 970-975 in 2004-2005, before dipping to approximately 925 annual shipments in 2012, according to the forecast. The study projects total shipments of nearly 9,500 commercial helicopters from 2003-2012, including 3,600 piston-powered models.
GOODRICH CORPORATION was selected to supply and integrate the wheel and braking system for Sukhoi Civil Aircraft's new Russian Regional Jet (RRJ) family of aircraft. Sukhoi is collaborating with Ilyushin, Yakovlev and Boeing on a family of 60-, 75- and 95-seat regional jets. First flight is expected in mid-2006 and certification is planned for a year later. Goodrich will provide the wheels, carbon brakes, brake control system, tire pressure indicating system and brake temperature monitoring system technologies.
NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD is recommending that FAA require a number of modifications to the Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67B turboprop engine, following the inflight failure of an engine that forced an emergency landing of a Pilatus PC-12, which was substantially damaged when it overran the runway.
Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer reported that deliveries dropped nearly 24 percent in 2003, but predicted a sharp turnaround with deliveries expected to climb nearly 60 percent in 2004. Embraer delivered 101 aircraft in 2003, down from the 131 commercial, corporate and military aircraft shipped in 2002.
SLOWDOWN IN GROWTH of the fractional aircraft market last year was reflected in the number of pilots added, about one-fifth of that recorded in 2002, based on pilot hiring figures compiled by Atlanta-based AIR, Inc. The four major fractional operators added 198 pilots in 2003, compared with 997 a year earlier.
