Innotech Aviation won a supplemental type certificate to install DirecTV service in Bombardier Challenger 601 aircraft using the Honeywell AIS-1000 OneView TV system. The system, which has channels for DVDs and Airshow, will be able to accommodate four independent input signals from various cabin and cockpit locations. The first installation of the system will use a North American transmission uplink for a U.S.-registered aircraft. Innotech also recently installed a Honeywell HS-700 high-speed data link in a Bombardier Global Express for an American customer.
Embraer completed mating of the sections of the first fuselage of the Embraer 190 regional jet, calling the milestone "a landmark not only for Embraer, but also for all of the customers, partners and suppliers of the program." Embraer said the mating of the three sections was completed on schedule. The Embraer 190 is part of Embraer's new family of larger regional jets and can be configured with 98 to 108 seats in a single class. The aircraft also can be configured with dual-class service and will be equipped with "ample" stowage space for longer flights.
Air BP added eight new dealers to its aviation fuel network. In the Southwest, the new locations include Encore Aviation, Inc. of Caldwell, Texas, N.W. Regional Airport of Roanoke, Texas and Trajen of Tucson, Ariz. The three new dealers in the Northeast are Jamestown Aviation in Jamestown, N.Y., Middle Peninsula Regional in Mattaponi, Va. and Turbo Prop East, Inc. of North Adams, Mass. Also, Medford Air Service of Medford, Ore. was added in the Northwest and Quality Aviation Services, Inc. of Hastings, Mich. was added in the Midwest.
Bombardier Skyjet is offering a new incentive program for flight departments in need of supplemental lift. Under the program, Skyjet Premier Fleet jet customers can earn cash credits for Bombardier Business Aviation Services maintenance/modifications or pilot/technician training at a BBAS service center training center. A 25-hour Skyjet agreement would earn a $2,000 credit, a 50-hour agreement earns $4,000 in credits and a 100-hour agreement would earn $8,000. The credit must be redeemed within 12 months of the completion of the Premier Fleet contract term.
CONGRESS EXTENDS FAA FUNDING FOR ONE MONTH - The House and Senate passed a continuing resolution (CR) last week that will keep FAA in business for another month as Congress decides on the fate of the besieged reauthorization bill.
BAE Systems Aerospace Controls was selected to develop and build a fly-by-wire flight control system for Sikorsky's S-92 medium-flight helicopter and H-92 Superhawk military derivative. The agreement also makes BAE Systems Sikorsky's preferred supplier for future fly-by-wire systems. The S-92/H-92 system will include a flight control computer, two pilot control sticks and sensors for processing pitch, roll and yaw. BAE said the system would decrease weight, increase the helicopter's flying range and/or boost its lift capacity.
A Bombardier Challenger 300 flight simulator won FAA Level C certification. The simulator is based at the Bombardier Aerospace training center at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Certification comes three months before Bombardier's Challenger 300 super-midsize business jet is slated to enter service. Bombardier expects Transport Canada Level C certification will follow shortly with European JAA Level C certification coming early next year. The simulator is on target to receive FAA Level D certification next year as well.
CHINA TO BUILD 100 AIRPORTS - China will build 100 airports over the next seven years at a cost of 113.6 billion yuan (US$14.2 billion), 35 more airports than initially planned. Most of the airports to be built will be high-altitude facilities in the western region, which is poorly linked to most parts of China. By 2010, the number of civilian airports will have increased from the current 143 to 243. Construction already has begun at 28 airports, while the remaining 72 will be built between 2005 and 2010.
TRIUMPH NAMES NEW PRESIDENT FOR CASTINGS BUSINESS - Triumph Group named a scheduled airlines veteran to head its castings business. Christopher Doan was named president of Triumph Precision Castings Co. The unit, based in Chandler, Ariz., produces complex investment castings of turbine blades, vanes and nozzles for gas turbine engines.
Mercury Air Group won a contract to operate a fixed-base operation at Long Beach, Calif. Airport. Mercury will provide full FBO and commercial fueling services. The new Mercury Air Center will include an FBO terminal with two adjacent hangars and a separate stand-alone hangar. Mercury will provide customer service, line service, hangar facilities and commercial into-plane fuel services.
Gulfstream Aerospace also marked a recent milestone, the completion of the 200th flight of its G100 business aircraft that is used to bring critical components and technicians to resolve AOG situations for Gulfstream customers. Gulfstream dedicated an Astra SPX business jet to tech support missions in May 2002, the keystone of its Gulfstream Airborne Product Support (GAPS) program (BA, May 13, 2002/226).
NEW SIKORSKY BLACK HAWK TAKES TO SKIES - Sikorsky Aircraft's UH-60M Black Hawk successfully completed its first flight in West Palm Beach, Fla. Test pilots Kevin Bredenbeck and Chris Geanacopoulos took the helicopter, Aircraft No. 1, on a 75-minute flight on Sept. 17 over the Sikorsky Flight Development Center. Sikorsky said the aircraft met "all objectives of the aggressive flight test development schedule, achieving forward flight out to 120 knots and successfully executing 45-degree turns."
HAWKER 700 TRAINING ACCIDENT CLAIMS THREE - All three persons aboard a Hawker 700A were killed Sept. 20 when the airplane crashed near Beaumont, Texas during what was described as a training flight. The 1978 model aircraft departed Houston, Texas for Beaumont Saturday evening, but radio and radar contact with the plane were lost shortly before 7 p.m. local time. The registered operator of the aircraft, N45BP, was Benson Properties of Houston, according to information from Aviation Data Service of Wichita.
GINA BEY was promoted to manager of special projects at Sabreliner Corp. She will serve as the team leader for the company's ISO/AS implementation and also be responsible for government and commercial proposal development and engine-related support for the Sabreliner fleet. Bey, who has worked for Sabreliner since 1986, will relocate to Perryville, Mo. for her new position.
PILOTS SURVIVE FIERY COLLISION AT RUNWAY INTERSECTION - The pilots of two single-engine aircraft survived last week when their aircraft - one taking off and the other attempting to land - were involved in a fiery collision at a runway intersection at the North Las Vegas, Nev. Airport (VGT).
ARINC commissioned a stand-alone test station at Eurocontrol's Experimental Center in Bretigny, France. The test center simulates air/ground data link messaging and communications between a ground network and aircraft in flight. The test station enables avionics suppliers to pre-test hardware protocols for the new ATN/VDL Mode 2 (VHF Data Link Mode 2) network ARINC is deploying across northern Europe.
