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.
Avions de Transport Regional received a contract from Czech Airlines (CSA) for seven new ATR 42-500s. CSA already operates four ATR 72s and five ATR 42s, but the order is the first from the Czech flag carrier for the ATR 42-500. Delivery of the first three ATR 42-500s is scheduled between March and July with the remaining four coming in 2005.
Bombardier made a successful first flight Jan. 8 of its second Global 5000 aircraft. The flight lasted nearly four hours and reached a maximum altitude of 17,000 feet and a maximum airspeed of 340 knots. The flight took off from Bombardier's Downsview, Ontario facility, where it was assembled.
Three companies are in talks to receive contracts to design anti-missile systems for commercial aircraft, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Jan. 6. BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman and United Airlines are leading teams selected to enter final contract negotiations to provide detailed designs for systems to defend airliners against shoulder-fired missiles, DHS Assistant Secretary Penrose "Parney" Albright said in a conference call with reporters.
AN AEROSPATIALE AS 365 N2 was destroyed late last month during a positioning accident at the Santa Fe, N.M. Municipal Airport (SAF). National Transportation Safety Board said the pilot of the aircraft, N291LL, which was operated by Aerowest Helicopters, Inc. and doing business as New Mexico Life Rescue, was aero taxiing the helicopter between a parking ramp and a maintenance hangar on the afternoon of Dec. 27. Investigators said the pilot brought the helicopter to a hovering stop and while turning around the main rotor blades struck the maintenance hangar.
SCHUBACH AVIATION, the San Diego, Calif.-based charter company, added a Bombardier Challenger to its fleet. Schubach operates 13 turbine aircraft, including King Airs, Citations, Learjets and Hawkers.
CIVIL AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURERS were relieved that the Department of State last week released a rule that removes a certain avionics chip from U.S. Munitions List requirements. The rule, published in the Jan. 7 Federal Register, removes quartz rate sensors (QRS) from the Munitions List when used in civil aircraft. QRS chips are used in standby attitude indicators installed on most turbine aircraft. The chips, however, have long been on the Munitions List because they also are used for military purposes, such as guided missile systems.
GRETCHEN ADIN joined Geotest-Marvin Test Systems as marketing program manager. Adin will develop and oversee the company's corporate branding, marketing collateral and company events. Adin also will be the primary media contact for Irvine, Calif.-based Geotest, which supplies electronic test equipment for aerospace, semiconductor, telecom, medical and other industries. BRADFORD DREW was named vice president of sales for Sentient Jet. Drew spent more than 20 years with American Express Financial Advisors, most recently as group vice president.
AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION President Jim May said the cost of oil is higher than it should be because the government is buying petroleum on the open market to boost the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. During a meeting with reporters Thursday, May said he believes oil prices are $6 to $8 per barrel higher than they otherwise would be because of the government's SPR purchases.
THE EUROPEAN CIVIL AVIATION CONFERENCE, a coalition of transportation directors general in Europe who help set policy for the Joint Aviation Authorities, plans to meet in late February to discuss the regulation of fractional ownership. ECAC is expected to establish a task force that will take an in-depth look at fractional ownership and which could begin its work by March. The United Kingdom, meanwhile, is continuing its outreach to U.S. industry leaders on the issue.
JET AVIATION BASEL recently delivered a second Boeing Business Jet to an undisclosed Middle East customer, the ninth BBJ completion to be done by the Basel facility. The second head-of-state aircraft seats up to 44 passengers and five crew members. It includes a first-class seating area, both forward and aft club seating areas and a forward lounge with two berthable three-person divans, and an array of communications and entertainment systems, including a six-channel SATCOM with CD, DVD, VCR and Airshow 400 systems.
AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGIES OF AUSTRAILIA N22B, N22S, and N24A airplanes (Docket No. 2000-CE-43-AD) -- proposes to require inspection of the forward and aft face of the rear fuselage frame for cracks and repair or modification, accordingly. This proposed AD stems from mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for Australia. FAA is issuing this proposed AD to detect and correct cracks in the rear fuselage frame, which could result in failure of the fuselage rear bulkhead and consequent loss of structural integrity.
The Federal Aviation Administration Friday formally okayed the use of enhanced flight vision systems for straight-in Category I instrument approaches below the certain minimum altitudes. FAA published a rule in the Federal Register that will allow, "but not mandate," the use of enhanced flight vision systems (EFVS) and other similar technologies to operate below decision height or minimum descent altitude for straight-in-landing instrument approaches.
Federal Aviation Administration last week extended the comment period until March 15 for its proposed new extended-range twin-engine operations (ETOPS) regulations. The proposal, which would place certain restrictions on flights longer than 180 minutes, was released in November and called for comments by Jan. 13 (BA, Nov. 17/217). FAA agreed to the extension at the request of several operators and industry associations, including both the National Air Transportation Association and National Business Aviation Association.
