Safe Flight Instrument Corp. signed a letter of intent with Gulfstream Aerospace to supply its automatic throttle system, AutoPower, for the Gulfstream G200 business jet. Gulfstream will seek FAA supplemental type certificate approval for installation of the system on the G200. The system is slated to be available for production aircraft in the third quarter of 2004. It also will be offered as a retrofit on existing G200s.
GULFSTREAM ADDS G450 TO FAMILY - Gulfstream introduced the Gulfstream 450 last week, filling out a product line that the Savannah, Ga.-based manufacturer expanded considerably last year.
BAE SYSTEMS Jetstream Model 4101 airplanes [Docket No. 2001-NM-270-AD] - proposes to require various inspections of the fuselage nose structure between stations 4 and 11, and corrective actions if necessary. This action is necessary to detect and correct fatigue cracking in the primary structure of the nose of the airplane at the forward avionics bay (Fuselage Stations 4 to 11), which could reduce the structural integrity of the airplane. FAA estimates that 57 airplanes on the U.S.
Messier-Dowty is researching and designing a new low-cost, high-volume, simple landing gear system for Part 23 lightweight aircraft and military unmanned air vehicle applications. Messier-Dowty displayed its Small Aircraft Landing Gear Technology (SALT) demonstrator last week at the NBAA convention in Orlando. SALT is designed to reduce costs by minimizing parts, provide elements of electrical actuation systems for retraction, eliminate traditional torque links and evaluate use of composite materials, among other goals.
Jet Professionals, the Teterboro, N.J.-based temporary and permanent aviation staffing company, is unveiling a new corporate identity to more closely align with its parent Jet Aviation. Jet Professionals, celebrating its 20-year anniversary, works with flight departments seeking pilots, flight attendants, corporate aviation executives, maintenance technicians, flight schedulers, dispatchers and other general support staff.
NORTHROP GRUMMAN TEAMS WITH GULFSTREAM FOR MILITARY SENSOR CONTRACT - Military contractor Northrop Grumman Corp. selected Gulfstream Aerospace to join its team in pursuit of a multibillion-dollar contract for U.S. military's Aerial Common Sensor (ACS) contract, the next-generation intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) system. The military is seeking a replacement for aging Guardrail aircraft platforms, such as the Beech King Air, and the de Havilland DHC-7, both multi-engine, turboprop models.
KaiserAir, the Oakland, Calif. aircraft services firm, has launched a new service aimed at assisting customers with aircraft acquisition and sales. KaiserAir will provide expertise in matching the proper aircraft to the needs of the buyer, analyzing the marketplace, negotiating a price, conducting pre-purchase evaluation, preparing the paperwork and licensing, and following through to delivery.
'BUY AMERICA' MEASURE DRAWS PROTEST FROM U.S., EUROPEAN INDUSTRY - The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) is helping to lead an effort among several industry groups to squash a "Buy America" measure in the 2004 Defense Authorization Bill that would severely hinder the Department of Defense's ability to buy any non-U.S.-made weapons system or component. The measure was included in the House version of the Defense Authorization bill, H.R. 1588, but is not in the Senate bill.
ROCKWELL COLLINS, CONNEXION BY BOEING TO OFFER BROADBAND FOR BUSINESS JETS - Rockwell Collins and Connexion by Boeing are teaming to offer broadband connection in business aircraft with Bombardier on board as the launch customer for the new product. Collins eXchange, which will be incorporated into the Collins Airshow 21 cabin electronics system, will allow passengers to access Internet, fire-wall protected corporate intranets, e-mail, news, weather and destination information and direct broadcast satellite television programming at speeds comparable to cable.
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
FAA FIVE-YEAR PLAN AIMS TO IMPROVE SAFETY, CAPACITY - The Federal Aviation Administration finalized a comprehensive five-year strategic plan that calls for improving safety among all the aviation modes, increasing capacity, and striving for both international leadership and "organizational excellence." The FAA Flight Plan 2004-2008, which was released in draft form last summer for industry review and comment, includes demonstrable goals and strategies that both the agency and industry can adopt to achieve those goals.
AFTER SLOW FIRST HALF, DASSAULT OFFICIALS SAY ORDERS PICKING UP - Officials of French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Falcon Jet acknowledge that the first six months of this year were one of the slowest periods in recent memory for new aircraft orders, but the situation has improved since mid-year and the company now expects to log between 30 and 40 aircraft orders in 2003.
CESSNA PRESIDENT JOHNSON RECOVERING FROM ILLNESS - Cessna Aircraft President Charles Johnson is making progress in recovering from a serious illness, but there is no indication of when he may be able to return to work. Johnson took a leave of absence late this summer in an attempt to recover from a major intestinal infection that had laid him low, a situation made worse by an adverse reaction to some of the medication that was initially prescribed.
BOMBARDIER UNVEILS IMPROVED GLOBAL EXPRESS MODEL - Bombardier Aerospace launched a new version of the Global Express, one of three new aircraft derivations introduced at last week's National Business Aviation Association convention in Orlando, Fla. The Bombardier Global Express XRS, scheduled to enter service in early 2006, features the Bombardier Enhanced Vision System (BEVS) as standard equipment, increased range at high speeds, improved takeoff capabilities and a new fast-fueling technology.
Cessna Aircraft said that the order rate for Citation business jets is up 28 percent from last year. Caravan turboprop sales have been steadily improving and are almost sold out until 2004. In the aftermarket and customer support segment, Cessna is offering RVSM solutions for operators but expressed pessimism about the January 2005 deadline for RVSM.
CESSNA TO REPLACE CITATION EXCEL WITH XLS VERSION - Cessna announced last week a successor to its Citation Excel, which will feature an expanded standard equipment list and a variety of performance upgrades.
The bonus depreciation provision, which GAMA championed, was contained in this year's tax bill, the Job Creation and Worker Assistance Act. It boosted first-year depreciation to 50 percent for business property acquired after May 5, 2003 and put into service before Jan. 1, 2005 (Jan. 1, 2006 if the aircraft is used by charter operators or scheduled airlines). Bolen told BA there is widespread interest among his members in extending the current legislation. An extension attempt would not come before next year because of the congressional schedule (BA, June 2/251).
CAE SimuFlite is adding a Cessna Citation X simulator to its Dallas/Fort Worth facility. The simulator, which will be FAA Level D certified, will be operational in the fall of 2004. The simulator is the first for the Citation X that CAE has installed in its global network of training centers. In addition to the Citation X, CAE provides training for the Citation 500, 550, 560, 560XL, 650, Ultra, Bravo and CitationJet. CAE operates 29 simulators at the Dallas facility and 44 business aviation simulators worldwide.
National Business Aviation Association has scheduled the next several sessions of its Business Aviation Regional Forums, which provide exhibits, static displays and informational sessions locally. The one-day events typically have attracted some 60 exhibitors, 40 aircraft and 1,000 attendees. The next sessions are scheduled for Nov. 13 in Scottsdale, Ariz.; March 10, 2004 in West Palm Beach, Fla.; May 2004 in London; June 24, 2004 in Chicago; July 2004 in China; Aug. 26, 2004 in Seattle; and Nov. 18, 2004, in Dallas/Fort Worth.
French Transportation Officials are in the U.S. on a fact-finding mission about fractional aircraft operations. France sent officials from the equivalent of the U.S. Department of Transportation's Inspector General's Office to the National Business Aviation Association annual meeting and convention to attend a presentation on fractional ownership Friday that was designed as a "primer" on that market niche.
