Honeywell has developed a naming convention for its new engine lines to closely align the identification of the engine with its type and performance. The convention will not apply to engines in the field, but will apply to all new engines, including the former AS907 that is powering the Bombardier Challenger 300. The new names will identify propulsion type -- whether turbofan, turboshaft or turboprop -- and thrust class. The AS907, for instance, is now called HTF7000 for Honeywell turbofan in the 7,000-pound thrust class.
NATIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION will hold its 10th Annual Corporate Aviation Management conference Feb. 24-25 in Anaheim, Calif. The conference will discuss corporate aviation leadership and management issues, such as attracting and retaining qualified flight department members and personnel management. For more information, contact NBAA's Brenda Smith at (202) 783-9267.
DAVID S. BENOFF, who has been maintenance editor of Business & Commercial Aviation magazine since the spring of 2000, is moving to Global Jet Services as vice president, effective today. Global, based in Simsbury, Conn., is a maintenance training company.
JAMES BELL, a 31-year Boeing veteran who has been the company's acting chief financial officer since November, was formally named CFO. Bell previously was senior vice president of finance and corporate controller.
FAA changed the service difficulty reporting (SDR) requirements for repair stations in new Part 145 regulations by reinserting "serious" in its language describing failures, malfunctions and defects required for reporting.
NEW ACTING Transportation Security Administration chief Rear Adm. David Stone has begun to reach out to the general aviation community, meeting with different associations to discuss their views on security issues. Stone, who took over for former TSA head Adm. James Loy in December, met last week with both the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and the National Air Transportation Association.
Air Transport Association President James May supports last week's decision by the Department of Homeland Security to issue contracts to study the feasibility of installing anti-missile systems on the commercial civil aircraft fleet to protect against man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS), but he said the industry has concerns about the costs and operational issues of a fleet-wide installation.
SAFIRE AIRCRAFT submitted an application to the FAA for type certification of its new Safire Jet. The application comes as the company prepares to begin assembly of the first prototype this spring. "Filing of the type certificate application marks the first phase of the Safire Jet's certification process," said Safire Aircraft President and CEO Camilo Salomon. "It also represents a significant milestone in the aircraft's development process." The company will build two flying prototypes, a static test article and a fatigue test article.
Steve Fossett, who has set records piloting airplanes, gliders, balloons and yachts, is preparing to attempt a solo flight around the world in a unique aircraft built by Burt Rutan's Scaled Composites, Inc.
JOHNSON CONTROLS won a $2.6 million contract to provide an integrated security system and network upgrades at Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, Mich. The contract includes installation and integration of a card access control system for some 2,200 employees and an advanced closed-circuit television system with digital video recording.
HONEYWELL named Roger Fradin president and chief executive of its Automation and Controls Solutions business. Fradin, who reports directly to Honeywell Chairman and Chief Executive Dave Cote, succeeds Kevin Gilligan, who left the company. Fradin most recently was president of Honeywell Automation and Control Products (ACP), which includes Sensing and Control, Security, Fire and Environmental and Combustion Controls. He also has been president of Honeywell's Security and Fire Solutions.
Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.) has asked the Transportation Department Inspector General to conduct an investigation into the use of non-certificated foreign repair stations by U.S. carriers. Oberstar said he had heard of "disturbing reports in the media about how some U.S. airlines are relying on aircraft repair stations that have not been 'certificated' or licensed by the FAA."
ARINC opened an office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates to support its aviation and airport clients in the Middle East and Africa as well as build on plans to expand in the region. The offices are based in the newly developed West Wing of the Dubai Airport Free Zone. ARINC has offices or representation in eight European and Middle East cities.
BOMBARDIER appointed Ocean Air Aero Taxi its exclusive business jet sales representative in Brazil. Ocean Air, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, will work with Bombardier's South American sales team to sell Bombardier Learjet, Challenger and Global aircraft.
VAIL VALLEY JET CENTER said U.S. Customs, Immigration and Agriculture inspections became available Jan. 1 at the Eagle County, Colo. Regional Airport (EGE). "We serve as the gateway to Vail and Beaver Creek, two of the most luxurious resort destinations in the world," said Bryan Burns, president of the Vail Valley fixed-base operation. "Our guests expect the highest level of service, convenience and accommodation," Burns said, adding that the addition of the inspection services was a direct result of customer requests.
SPORTY'S PILOT SHOP is offering a new DVD, How They Flew the Concorde, that details the experience of flying the Concorde supersonic airliner. The 75-minute DVD provides a "pilots-eye-view" of a flight from New York to London. The DVD can be ordered at sportys.com or by calling (800) SPORTYS/(800) 776-7897.
GAMA is jointly hosting an industry gathering with the executive director of the European Aviation Safety Agency, Patrick Goudou. The meeting, also hosted by the Aerospace Industries Association, will be held Feb. 11, the same date as GAMA's Annual Industry Review and Outlook Briefing.
Aviation veteran Stan Mackiewicz returned to Washington, D.C. in his new role as government and industry affairs representative for the National Air Transportation Association. Mackiewicz will serve as the primary liaison between the association and the Federal Aviation Administration. In addition, he will steer insurance issues and oversee NATA's Flight Training Committee and Airline Services Council.
FRANK JACKMAN, veteran aviation reporter and editor, has been named editorial director of three publications, Overhaul & Maintenance, the World Aviation Directory & Aerospace Database, and the Homeland Security Directory published by McGraw-Hill's Aviation Week Group. Jackman previously served as editor-in-chief of those publications. Jackman began his aviation writing career in October 1987 when he joined Aviation Daily after working at the Tampa Tribune.
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE named James McQueeney vice president-material at the Savannah, Ga. business jet manufacturer. McQueeney will manage the company's procurement supply chain and execute procurement development plans. A 12-year employee of the company, McQueeney formerly served as director of production before serving as vice president and general manager of Gulfstream's Oklahoma City, Okla. and Mexicali, Mexico facilities. He also served as manufacturing manager during development of the Gulfstream V.
Federal Aviation Administration released two proposals that would set standards for certain next-generation communications and navigations equipment. FAA has developed a draft technical standard order (TSO) for VDL Mode 3 datalink communications equipment that would operate within the frequency range of 117.975 to 137.000 MHz.
AERO COMMANDER 690A crashed during approach to the Cortez, Colo. Airport Jan. 3. FAA said the accident occurred under unknown circumstances. The pilot was fatally injured and the aircraft, N700SR, was destroyed.
MAY's concern about the government's oil buying program is exacerbated by the possibility that the target for total reserves may increase. Currently, the upper limit for the SPR is 700 million barrels, he said, and the government has 639 million barrels in storage. However, the energy bill pending before Congress has a provision to boost the SPR to 1 billion barrels, which would keep upward pricing pressures in place for the foreseeable future.
The number and severity of accidents involving the U.S. business jet and turboprop fleet increased in 2003, according to data compiled by Robert E. Breiling Associates of Boca Raton, Fla.
