Pilatus Aircraft is offering a special mission version of its single-turboprop PC-12 aircraft. The PC-12 Spectre is designed to meet special mission needs of local, state and federal agencies. The aircraft, which has a 270-knot "quick dash" capability and ability to loiter on station for up to eight hours, can be used for covert surveillance missions, Pilatus said. The Spectre flew in early July, and the first aircraft is slated for delivery this fall.
FIRST PRODUCTION CJ3 FLIES - The first production Cessna Citation CJ3 took to the skies Aug. 8, three weeks ahead of the Cessna-set schedule and less than four months after the first conforming prototype flew (BA, April 21/179). The production CJ3 flew for 90 minutes, departing from McConnell Air Force Base and landing at Wichita's Mid-Continent Airport. The aircraft, Serial Number 001, tested the aircraft's flight profile, including a range of speeds from stalls to maximum operating speed (MMO). S/N 001 will be used primarily for avionics development and certification.
General Aviation Groups are becoming increasingly concerned about possible delays in passing aviation reauthorization legislation once Congress returns from August recess. A privatization provision threatens the outcome of the bill, and those on both sides of the issue dug in their heels last week reinforcing their positions. Despite the privatization measure, the bill contains a host of provisions that GA groups have long sought - including $100 million in relief for GA businesses that incurred losses in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorists attacks.
IBIS Aerospace appointed East Coast Jet Center as a distributor for the Ae270 turboprop. Based in Stuart, Fla., East Coast Jet Center will sell and service Ae270s throughout the Southeast, including Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, most of Georgia and the Caribbean. East Coast Jet Center has been in operation for more than 20 years providing aircraft sales, Part 135 operations, maintenance, avionics and completions. With the addition of East Coast Jet Center, the number of firm orders for the Ae270 aircraft has grown to 76.
Santa Monica Airport is the latest airport to strongly oppose FAA's proposed policy to limit an airport authority's ability to impose weight-based restrictions. Santa Monica, which earlier this summer adopted a sliding weight-based landing fee schedule (BA, June 16/275), told FAA that the proposal would be a "nightmare for airport operators" and should be rejected.
CESSNA Model 650 airplanes (Docket No. 2002-NM-332-AD) - proposes to adopt a new AD that would require repetitive replacement of the horizontal stabilizer primary trim actuator assembly with a repaired assembly. This action is necessary to prevent uncommanded movement of the horizontal stabilizer, which could result in reduced controllability of the airplane. FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 285 airplanes on the U.S. Registry at a cost of $648,375 or $2,275 per airplane per replacement cycle. Comments must be received by Sept. 22.
National Air And Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center is unveiling the restored Enola Gay, the B-29 bomber that dropped the first atomic bomb in combat and helped end World War II, in a private ceremony today (Aug. 18). The Udvar-Hazy Center, next to Washington Dulles International Airport, is steadily adding aviation displays in advance of its Dec. 15 opening to the public.
The owners of more than 200 Model 45 Learjets will not be able to use their aircraft until the Wichita-based manufacturer is able to build, certify and install new parts in the tail section of the $10 million business jets, a process that could take several weeks.
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
The Vanallen Group has teamed with the National Business Aviation Association to offer an Emergency Response Planning Workshop on Oct. 5-6 in Orlando, Fla. The workshop, scheduled immediately prior to the start of NBAA's annual meeting and convention, will provide information on managing the circumstances surrounding an aircraft incident. The workshop will discuss communications, operations, financial, legal and regulatory issues. It also will focus on working with people involved with the incident.
FAA issued special conditions for certification of Dassault Model Falcon 10 series modified with an IS&S digital air data system. FAA said the special conditions are designed to ensure the protection of the new systems from the effects of high-intensity radiated fields. For more information, contact Greg Dunn, FAA Airplane and Flight Crew Interface Branch, at (425) 227-2799; fax: (425) 227-1149.
PARESH BUCH was named vice president of engineering at Dassault Falcon in Little Rock, Ark. He started at the Little Rock facility in 1982 as a stress engineer and was most recently director of interior design. Buch replaces Jim Aldrich, who is retiring. KELLY LANPHEER was named corporate communications manager at Air Wisconsin. She was most recently a communications strategist for Thrivent Financial, where she worked on national marketing campaigns. Lanpheer will be based in Appleton, Wis.
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association urged the European Joint Aviation Authorities to back away from a proposal calling for corporate operators to register with their national aviation authorities. Responding to a JAA advance notice of proposed amendment for non-commercial operators (JAR OPS-2), GAMA said the proposal is so vague it could apply to any corporate operation.
Labor, industry and airport groups last week continued to wage a contentious public relations campaign over a scaled back provision to ban the Federal Aviation Administration from privatizing segments of the air traffic control system, leaving the fate of the nearly $60 billion FAA reauthorization bill cloudy (BA, Aug. 4/45).
GULFSTREAM AND PARTNERS CELEBRATE G550 CERTIFICATION - Gulfstream Aerospace won FAA type certification for the Gulfstream 550 long-range business jet last week, a major objective for the Savannah, Ga. manufacturer and its major business partners in the program. Gulfstream noted that the G550 program began in 1999 as an advanced cockpit project and evolved into the GV-SP, which was ultimately renamed the Gulfstream 550 when the company revamped its product line at last year's National Business Aviation Association convention (BA, Sept. 16/126).
SHAREJET TO LAUNCH ASIAN FRACTIONAL OWNERSHIP, CHARTER SERVICES - A new fractional ownership and charter company based in Guam will launch service with a Boeing Business Jet in Asia and the Pacific Rim this fall.
National Business Aviation Association named Suzanne Cole senior manager, regional forums and static displays. Cole formerly served as managing editor of Flying magazine and senior media liaison in the marketing department at Garmin International. She also has served as vice president of national brand marketing for the Washington Redskins and marketing and promotions manager for the Kansas City Convention and Entertainment Centers. In her new capacity, Cole will be responsible for all aspects of forum planning, from budgeting and marketing to on-site management.
William Barber is retiring as senior manager of marketing for Dallas Airmotive after spending more than a decade with the company. Before that, he was senior manager of sales and customer service for Aviall. Barber, a graduate of the Naval War College, had a long career in the military, retiring from the U.S. Air Force as a Colonel. He held several logistics posts in the military, including special assistant for material management for the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense. He also was commander of aircraft maintenance organizations for the U.S.
Starport Cambarta Aviation International opened its new $3 million maintenance hangar at Orlando Sanford International Airport. The new hangar covers 45,500 square feet and is large enough to accommodate the Gulfstream V or Bombardier Global Express. The hangar also includes shop space and offices. The facility is adjacent to Starport's 72,000-square-foot fixed-base operation building.
Teledyne Continental Motors and its sister company Aerosance continue to progress with the development and applications for the Powerlink full authority digital electronic control (FADEC) system on Continental IOF-240, IOF-550 and TSIOF-550 powerplants. The Aerosance-designed FADEC is slated for installation on the Liberty XL-2, Adam Aircraft A-500 and Lancair Columbia 400 engines. "We are pleased at the continued growth of aircraft and engine applications for the PowerLink FADEC system," said Teledyne Continental Motors President Bryan Lewis.
Federal Aviation Administration's Part 135/125 review team is scheduled to hold its second round of meetings later this month, and FAA is still receiving requests from people who want a seat on one of the committees or subcommittees. Because the review group already includes more than 140 members, and given the limited amount of time to catch up on material already discussed, FAA officials do not plan to honor new requests for membership after the August meeting.
GULFSTREAM DELIVERS FIRST G300 TO UAE OPERATOR - Gulfstream Aerospace delivered its first G300 last week to charter operator Royal Jet, which is based at the Abu Dhabi International Airport in the United Arab Emirates.
