LOCKHEED MARTIN won a $5.9 million contract from the U.S. Air Force to install the first eight Avionics Modernization Program kits into C-5B transports. The U.S. Air Force also awarded Lockheed Martin $42.8 million to buy the next 18 kits. Installation of the kits is slated to begin in June. The program will cover up to 112 C-5Bs with installation expected to continue through 2007. The Avionics Modernization Program will replace the analog cockpit instruments with digital displays and equipment.
BUSINESS AVIATION groups were disappointed that FAA late last month refused to extend the Jan. 1 deadline for installation of emergency locator transmitters on turbojet aircraft. Congress mandated that all turbojet operators install ELTs after an aircraft crashed in New Hampshire in 1996 and was not found for three years. Congress permitted FAA to extend the deadline for installation by two years - to Jan. 1, 2004. But in a meeting with business aviation groups late last month, the agency maintained that it did not have the authority to provide a further extension.
NATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION issued a call for nominations for a Customer Service Excellence Award that will recognize an FAA field office for demonstrating a high level of customer service to aviation businesses. The award will be presented during the association's annual convention May 18-20 in Las Vegas. Previous winners include the Flight Standards District Offices in Farmingdale, N.Y., San Diego, Calif., Fargo, N.D. and Washington, D.C. NATA members must submit nominations by Feb. 6.
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.
Harry B. Combs, a pilot and aviation businessman who helped develop the modern concept of fixed-base operations to appeal to corporate pilots and their passengers, and who oversaw the turnaround of Gates Learjet Co. in the 1970s, died Dec. 23 at his home in Wickenberg, Ariz.
DON PHILLIPS, the veteran transportation writer for The Washington Post, ended his tenure at the newspaper Dec. 31. Phillips, who is widely respected in aviation circles for his knowledge of the industry and reporting ability, is one of a number of top-level Post reporters who accepted yearend buyout packages from the newspaper.
General aviation manufacturers are hoping to capitalize on the election year to secure quick passage of an extension of the accelerated depreciation schedule that went into effect last spring. Congress first adopted a 30 percent "bonus depreciation" for the purchase of qualified property in the Job Creation and Worker Assistance Act of 2002.
AEROSPATIALE Model ATR42 and ATR72 series airplanes (Docket No. 2002-NM-116-AD) -- proposes to require replacement of the swinging lever spacers in the left and right leg assemblies of the main landing gear with new, improved spacers. This action is necessary to prevent propagation of fatigue cracking, which could result in failure of the spacer base and could affect the symmetrical functioning of the braking system. Asymmetrical braking could result in the airplane overrunning the runway during takeoff or landing.
AERONAUTICAL REPAIR STATION ASSOCIATION will hold its 2004 Annual Repair Symposium March 5-7 at the Ritz-Carlton Pentagon City in Arlington, Va. For information, visit the ARSA web site at www.arsa.org or contact Keith Mendenhall at (703) 739-9543.
FEDEX CORPORATION signed an agreement to purchase Kinko's copy center business from Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, Inc. for $2.4 billion in cash. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2004.
THALES AIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT'S terminal radar system was commissioned last month at Sarajevo International Airport in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The radar system includes a STAR 2000 S-Band primary and RSM970S monopulse Mode S secondary surveillance radar. The system also includes air situation displays for terminal approaches in the Sarajevo Terminal Management Area. Thales previously provided navigational aids, including ILS, VOR, DME and NDB, in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION was pleased that the Department of Transportation okayed the sport pilot/light-sport aircraft proposal and shipped it to the Office of Management and Budget on Dec. 23 for the mandatory 90-day review. "This is great news, as it completes an important step to make sport pilot/light-sport aircraft a reality," said EAA President Tom Poberezny. The proposal would create a new sport pilot certificate and new class of "light-sport" aircraft.
MICHAEL P. LEE was appointed vice president for technology and compliance at FlightSafety International. He has been the general manager of courseware support and director of maintenance training standards at FlightSafety for the last 16 years. A licensed airframe and powerplant mechanic, Lee was previously vice president of the Professional Aviation Maintenance Association and currently is on the board of directors for the Aviation Technician Education Council and the Northrop/Rice Foundation.
The Federal Aviation Administration is seeking bids on a proposal to outsource the operation of the agency's network of Automated Flight Service Stations, which provide an array of information, weather and advisory services for the aircraft pilot community.
NATA PUSHES GROUND SAFETY - National Air Transportation Association is developing a program to cut ground-based aviation accidents, NATA President Jim Coyne said. NATA represents airport-based businesses including fixed-base operators and charter aircraft companies. "In 2004, we'll raise the bar on ramp safety," he said at a press luncheon in Washington last month. "It's a fact that there are more accidents on the ground than in the air...unfortunately, there are a few pilots that turn off their brain when the nose wheel touches down."
BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (BWI) opened a new consolidated rental car facility Dec. 22. The new facility centralizes the operations of eight different national rental car companies. The $134.8 million facility sits on a 100-acre site on the west side of the airport and provides covered areas to protect customers while picking up and dropping off rental vehicles.
THE NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM'S new addition, the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, has gotten off to a strong start with officials estimating some 150,000 visitors in its first two weeks. The center, designed to house a portion of NASM's collection that had been in storage, officially opened Dec. 15, but hosted several dedication events before that date.
EXECUTIVE JET MANAGEMENT added three aircraft to its charter fleet. The aircraft include a Challenger 600 based at Aiken Municipal Airport in Aiken, S.C. and a Gulfstream IV-SP at Republic Municipal in Farmingdale, N.Y. EJM also added a Citation Bravo at Chicago Midway. Executive Jet Management manages 120 aircraft based at more than 50 locations throughout the U.S.
U.S. SERVICES EXERCISE JPATS OPTIONS IN $228 MILLION CONTRACT -- Raytheon Aircraft won a $228 million contract for 47 T-6A trainers as part the U.S. Navy/Air Force Joint Primary Aircraft Training System program, which is now in its 11th option year. The JPATS program calls for up to 800 aircraft to be delivered through 2017. The U.S. Air Force and Navy have ordered 301 of the aircraft so far and have taken delivery of 149 T-6As. The latest contract extends deliveries through 2007. Raytheon valued the program orders and options to date at $2.3 billion.
BOMBARDIER SECURES ORDER FOR Q300S -- Bombardier won an order from Qantas Airways of Sydney, Australia for six 50-passenger Bombardier Q300 turboprops and options for two more. Delivery of the aircraft is slated for the first half of the year. The aircraft will replace 36-seat Dash 8 Series 100 aircraft currently operated by Qantas regional operation QantasLink.
ROLLS-ROYCE secured a contract from Houston, Texas-based ExpressJet to extend Rolls' TotalCare maintenance package to ERJ 145-XR aircraft, which are powered by the AE 3007 engine. Rolls-Royce, which already provides its TotalCare services for the ExpressJet ERJ 135 and 145 fleets, valued the total deal at $720 million through 2015. Under TotalCare, Rolls-Royce manages all engine maintenance, repair and overhaul. The program can be tailored to customer needs. Rolls-Royce currently maintains 2,800 engines through TotalCare.
