FAA Administrator Marion Blakey made it clear last week that the agency doesn't want to see any more unannounced destruction of airports by local government officials. Referring to Chicago Mayor Richard Daley's sneak attack on and destruction of that city's lakefront airport this spring (BA, April 7/153), Blakey told the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association convention in Philadelphia that "What happened to Chicago's Merrill C. Meigs Field...was a travesty. The national air system is national.
NEW PSA CRJ200s SET TO REPLACE SOME AIRBUS NARROWBODIES - The 60 Bombardier 50-seat CRJ200s entering service with US Airways' subsidiary PSA Airlines will replace not only the regional's Dornier 328 turboprops, but also mainline Airbus A319s and A320s.
After weeks of controversy and debate over air traffic control privatization language, the House passed a revised FAA reauthorization bill last week. But the legislation faces an uncertain fate in the Senate this week as Republican leaders struggle to gather enough votes to prevent a filibuster attempt by Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.).
FlightSafety International plans to deliver seven new Level D-certified simulators to its training centers around the U.S. in the next year. The additions include a Global Express simulator at the Wilmington, Del. center by the end of the year; Beechcraft King Air 350 simulator for the Wichita Raytheon Center by next January; Sikorsky S-92 simulator for the West Palm Beach, Fla. center by the first quarter of 2004; Falcon 2000EX simulator with EASy cockpit for the Teterboro, N.J.
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn., is being awarded a $21.9 million modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price, time and materials contract for the special progressive aircraft rework in support of the in-service VH-3D and VH-60N helicopters. Work will be performed in Stratford, Conn. (90 percent) and Quantico, Va. (10 percent), and is expected to be completed in September 2004. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md. is the contracting authority.
Representatives of major fractional aircraft providers expressed optimism last week that improving economic conditions will help rekindle growth in their segment of the aviation industry. Senior executives and attorneys representing the four largest U.S. fractional providers and another half dozen smaller operators met in Baltimore Thursday and Friday under the auspices of the Fractional Business Aircraft Council, for which the National Air Transportation Association is providing administrative support.
Jet-Care International is now offering its engine performance monitoring program for all 1,200 Williams-Rolls FJ44 engines in the corporate fleet. The FJ44 powers the Cessna Citation CJ1 and CJ2, Raytheon's Premier I and Sino-Swearingen's SJ30-2.
MICA, MEAD ACCUSE FAA OF CONTRACT MISMANAGEMENT - Facing accusations on Capitol Hill that FAA continues to mismanage its largest contracts, a top agency official told lawmakers last week that FAA's latest contract moves have boosted the accountability of major contractors, such as aerospace giants Lockheed Martin and Raytheon.
FEDEX OBJECTS TO VAN TINE'S NOMINATION AS MINETA'S DEPUTY - FedEx insists White House nominee Kirk Van Tine is the wrong person for the No. 2 job in the U.S. Transportation Department because of disagreements the cargo carrier had with DOT while Van Tine was general counsel, but DOT has urged FedEx not to personalize its dispute.
PISTON DELIVERIES REMAIN STEADY WHILE OVERALL AIRCRAFT SHIPMENTS DROP - Piston-engine airplane deliveries were up for the third quarter in a row, signaling a potential recovery in the next year for the larger general aviation industry, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association reported (BA, Oct. 27/189). Shipments of piston-engine airplanes totaled 1,101 units in the first nine months of this year, a 0.2 percent increase from 1,099 units delivered during the same period last year.
Federal Aviation Administration is nearing completion of operational tests at Milwaukee Airport of the agency's new airport ground surveillance system, one of the last big steps toward national deployment. Technicians recently resolved the last minor problems with the airport surface detection equipment-model X(ASDE-X) system, clearing the way for officials to declare the system in-service. ASDE-X will next be deployed at Orlando Airport.
PPG TO SELL AIRLINES REPLACEMENT WINDOWS DIRECTLY - The windshield and window business of PPG Industries - PPG Aerospace Transparencies - signed a licensing agreement with Boeing and has started selling replacement cockpit windows for Boeing airplanes directly to airlines.
GOODRICH RELOCATING REPAIR, DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS TO N.C. - Goodrich Corporation plans to add 125 to 150 new jobs next year in Monroe, N.C. as part of a move to relocate some of the company's aerospace operations. Goodrich, which is headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., said it plans to open a customer services facility in a vacant building the company owns in nearby Monroe. Goodrich plans to move equipment and capabilities from an Englewood, N.J. facility and a site in Aurora, Ohio to the 60,000-square-foot building in Monroe.
Mary Schiavo, the controversial former inspector general of the U.S. Department of Transportation, has joined the Mt. Pleasant, S.C. law firm of Motley Rice, LLC, which bills itself as "the nation's preeminent plaintiffs' law firm." Schiavo, the author of Flying Blind, Flying Safe, was formerly associated with the firm of Baum, Hedlund, Aristel, Guilford and Schiavo in Los Angeles. The South Carolina firm represents the plaintiffs in Burnett v.
VIRGIN ATLANTIC TO SPONSOR SOLO, NONSTOP GLOBAL FLIGHT - U.K. carrier Virgin Atlantic unveiled plans to sponsor an attempt by a single pilot to fly nonstop around the world.
Gulfstream Aerospace signed a letter of intent with Safe Flight Instrument Corp. of White Plains, N.Y. to install Safe Flight's Enhanced Autopower automatic throttle system (ATS) in the Gulfstream G200 (formerly Galaxy) business jet. The airspeed management system will be available for purchase by G200 owners following Gulfstream's receipt of a supplemental type certificate from FAA, which is expected by the end of the second quarter of 2004.
AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGIES OF AUSTRALIA PTY Models N22B, N22S, and N24A Airplanes [Docket No. 2003-CE-37-AD] - proposes to adopt a new AD that would require repetitive inspection of wing fittings for fatigue defects, replacement or repair of defective wing fittings, and replacement of the stub wing front spar assembly and wing fitting when fatigue life limits are reached. This proposed AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for Australia.
Transportation Security Administration recently moved a step closer to launching 20 airport security pilot programs with the award this month of an $8 million contract to Unisys, which will be systems integrator for the programs. As required by the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, TSA is setting up the Airport Access Control pilot programs to test new technology for access control and other security requirements of airport secure areas.
October 26-28 - International Aviation Womens Association 15th Annual Conference, Lisbon, Portugal, www.iawa.org, e-mail [email protected] October 26-30 - ATCA 48th Annual International Technical Program and Exhibits, Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Washington, 703-522-5717, fax 703-527-7251, e-mail [email protected] October 30-November 1 - Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Expo 2003, Philadelphia, Pa., (301) 695-2000
MESABA TAPS TIMCO FOR HEAVY MAINTENANCE, CUTS 65 JOBS - Mesaba is farming out heavy maintenance C-checks on its Saab 340s and Avro RJ85s to Triad International Maintenance Corp. (TIMCO), resulting in 65 job cuts at its maintenance bases at Central Wisconsin Airport in Mosinee, Wis., and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport.
San Jose Jet Center, which provides a range of services to business aircraft operators, recently broke ground on a new complex at Mineta San Jose International Airport. The expansion will include an additional 46,000 feet of hangar space and 16,000 square feet of office space and terminal. San Jose Jet Center currently has 200,000 square feet of hangar and office space on 15 acres at the airport. The project will expand the total leasehold to 22 acres. The new facility is designed for use by large groups such as corporate shuttles and sports teams.
