AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGIES OF AUSTRALIA Models N22B and N24A airplanes (Docket No. 2003-CE-21-AD) - proposes to adopt a new AD that would require a visual inspection of the ailerons for damage and replacement if necessary; adjusting the engine power levers aural warning microswitches; setting flap extension and flap down operation limitations; and fabrication and installation of cockpit flap extension and flap down operation restriction placards.
The U.S. Army awarded Rockwell Collins a two-year ground-based GPS receiver application module contract, which has an estimated value of $30 million if all options are exercised.
DynCorp International LLC, Fort Worth, Texas, won a $51 million contract increment as part of a $364 million firm-fixed-price contract for work on 39 C-12 (Beech King Air) turboprops. The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting authority. The government said DynCorp was one of two bidders for the contract.
National Transportation Safety Board last week recommended that FAA require nonscheduled Part 135 operators to annually report activity, including total hours flown, revenue flight hours, revenue miles flown and number of departures by category/class of aircraft. NTSB also recommended that FAA "develop, validate and document an unbiased method" for activity estimates based on reporting.
Key Equipment Finance named James Crowley senior vice president and director of Business Aviation Finance, where he will be responsible for developing and managing the company's strategic direction for business aviation financing. He joined Key Equipment Finance in December 1999 as national sales manager and has managed Key's Northeast direct sales teams since February 2002. Crowley has nearly 25 years in the leasing business, including 10 years in the aviation finance market.
Pilatus Aircraft retained BMW's DesignworksUSA to develop a new series of executive interiors for its PC-12 single-turboprop. DesignworksUSA will develop nine interiors that will be consistent with the interiors of luxury automobiles.
Gulfstream Aerospace and its customers got a break last week as federal officials decided that the same type rating will apply to pilots flying the Gulfstream V and Gulfstream 550. Some additional "differences" training will be required for pilots moving from one model to the other. See article below.
McKechnie Aerospace's Electromech Technologies unit in Wichita, Kan. said its synchronized flap actuator system was successfully tested on the Eclipse jet. The digital flap system synchronizes linear extend and retract motion that can be programmed to any interim flap position necessary. Communication between the actuators is continually monitored through a two-wire digital controller area network bus. Integrated drive electronics provide servo control.
MOONEY MEETS FIRST-HALF TARGETS, EXPECTS INCREASE IN DELIVERIES - Kerrville, Texas plane-maker Mooney Aerospace took in more than $4.5 million in revenue during the first six months of 2003, meeting its self-set targets for the beginning of its first complete year of production since it recaptured a production certificate to restart its lines last summer. The company delivered eight planes in the first half and recorded about $1.35 million in revenue from parts and services.
BRS CONTINUES TO POST SALES INCREASES - Ballistic Recovery Systems, Inc. reported nearly a 20 percent third-quarter increase in sales and close to a 50 percent nine-month jump as demand remained strong for the company's line of aircraft parachute systems. Third quarter revenues for the three months ended June 30 were $1.8 million, compared with $1.5 million in the third quarter of 2002. Through the first nine months of BRS's fiscal 2003, revenues topped $5.1 million, up from $3.4 million in the year prior.
CHALLENGER 300 WINS EUROPEAN CERTIFICATION - The Bombardier Challenger 300 won type certification from the European Joint Aviation Authorities, clearing the last major hurdle before deliveries begin in the fourth quarter of this year.
National Business Aviation Association is expecting to draw record numbers at its 56th Annual Meeting and Convention Oct. 7-9 in Orlando, Fla. The number of exhibiting companies has topped 1,000, and the association has sold 4,361 exhibit booths. "We are thrilled to report that in this economic climate, the NBAA convention is doing better than last year at the same point in time," said Kathleen Blouin, NBAA vice president, conventions and seminars. The association further expects attendance at the convention to be near 30,000.
C. Dennis Wright was named executive director of the Soaring Society of America, which is headquartered in Hobbs, N.M. The appointment of Wright, who formerly held executive posts with AOPA, NBAA and RTCA, was announced by Jim Short, chairman of the board of SSA. Most recently, Wright was general manager of Flightime Business Jets, a San Antonio, Texas-based corporate aircraft fractional ownership and charter business.
NASA ATTEMPTS TO TRACK AND PREDICT AIRCRAFT WAKE TURBULENCE - Researchers including some from NASA began a three-week effort last week collecting acoustic data at Denver International Airport. Using precisely calibrated microphone arrays to measure sound generated by airplane wake vortices, researchers will use two laser radars (lidars) to record the actual position, track and vortex strength so that scientists and engineers can look for subtle characteristics within the wake acoustic signal.
PIAGGIO'S HANVEY STEPS DOWN WITH TEAM INTACT, GROWING SALES - Steve Hanvey, who helped lead the successful relaunch of the Piaggio Avanti in the North American market, is stepping down as president and CEO of Piaggio America to pursue other opportunities. The company, based in Greenville, S.C., named long-time de Havilland and Bombardier veteran Tom Appleton to replace Hanvey, effective Sept. 1.
The Transportation Security Administration, coordinating with FAA, is working on procedures that would allow operators of aircraft trapped inside the Washington, D.C.-based Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) to voluntarily relocate their aircraft outside the boundaries. TSA received several requests from GA groups asking the agency to allow aircraft that can't operate within the ADIZ because they do not meet the communications equipment requirements to move outside the ADIZ.
Megadata, Greenwich, Conn., and Melbourne, Australia-based Preston Aviation Solutions, a Boeing subsidiary, reached a joint marketing agreement to identify common business opportunities and market their information and decision support software to airlines, airports and air traffic control authorities, Megadata said.
NED CARLSON was named regional sales manager for the central region at CAE SimuFlite. He has more than 20 years of corporate and commercial aviation experience. Carlson will be based in Chicago, Ill. BOB JORDAN was named technical training sales manager for the western region at CAE SimuFlite. Jordan previously worked at FlightSafety International. Based in Dallas, Texas, Jordan also will manage the Latin American sales area.
FAA has completed work on a proposed rule that would establish Stage 4 aircraft noise standards. That proposal, which has passed Transportation Department scrutiny, was sent last week to the Office of Budget and Management for a mandatory 90-day review.
The Federal Aviation Administration has delayed issuance of a final rule governing the operation of fractional aircraft providers because of protests by the British government. Sources said U.K. officials are scheduled to meet this week with Transportation Department officials to discuss a threat by the U.K. to consider all business jet flights to the U.K. by fractional providers under the pending rule and other "managed aircraft" operators as "commercial" flights.
CESSNA PRESIDENT JOHNSON ON MEDICAL LEAVE; PELTON ASSUMES DUTIES - Cessna Aircraft President Charles Johnson, fighting persistent medical problems, has taken a leave of absence from the Wichita, Kan. manufacturer in an attempt to regain his strength and recover from the illness. Jack Pelton, senior vice president-engineering, has assumed Johnson's duties until he returns to work.
WHITE HOUSE PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR COLOMBIA 'SHOOT 'EM DOWN' PROGRAM - The White House has decided to resume its cooperation with a Colombian drug interdiction program that would permit shooting down aircraft suspected of drug smuggling, the Bush Administration said last week. The White House released a statement Tuesday saying President Bush authorized the State Department to resume its participation with the Colombia Airbridge Denial Program for interdicting aircraft suspected of drug trafficking.
Rockwell Collins Aviation Services won a five-year agreement to support the Jet Support Services, Inc. (JSSI) fleet. The deal includes forward exchange for all Rockwell Collins equipment on JSSI aircraft.
September 8-12 - Society of Automotive Engineers 2003 Aerospace Congress & Exhibition, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, (724) 772-4081 September 8-12 - Aerospace North America & SAE: Aerospace Congress & Exhibition; Palais des Congress, Montreal, PQ. (604) 473-9664 September 10-11 - Aviation Industry Conferences, Ltd. Aero-Engine Expo 2003, London, U.K., +44 207-931-7072 September 14-17 - Airports Council International - North America 12th Annual Conference & Exhibition, Tampa, Fla., (202) 293-8500
