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.
FAA Administrator Marion Blakey and House aviation subcommittee Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.) are scheduled to be the keynote speakers during the Opening General Session of the National Business Aviation Association's 56th Annual Meeting and Convention, scheduled for Oct. 7-Oct. 9 in Orlando, Fla. The opening session will be held 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Oct. 7 in Orlando/Orange County Convention Center.
ECLIPSE REFINING AERODYNAMIC DATA - Despite being forced to use substitute Teledyne engines designed to power cruise missiles and drones, Eclipse Aviation officials say they are gathering lots of valuable aerodynamic data during flight tests of the company's single flying prototype.
The Aeronautical Repair Station Association's (ARSA) Model Domestic Repair Station Manual is now available in Microsoft Word format. The model manual is designed to help domestic repair stations develop their own manuals and comply with the latest FAA rules, ARSA said. The model addresses every section of the new FAR Part 145 to make it easier to verify compliance, and annotations throughout the manual outline choices and clarify the purpose of each section for users.
PROGRAM OFFICIALS BLAME FAULTY CLAMP FOR V-22 HYDRAULIC FAILURE - Bell-Boeing officials were blaming a faulty clamp installation Thursday as the source of a V-22 hydraulic failure earlier in the week that forced the pilot of Aircraft No. 21 to make an unscheduled landing. The clamp, which held a hydraulic line filter, was "not installed as required," according to the statement. The resulting vibrations caused the connection to loosen and the No. 2 hydraulic system to leak fluid. The aircraft had been on a routine flight Aug. 4 and was flying above the Quantico, Va.
OMF Aircraft will offer the Ballistic Recovery Systems (BRS) airframe parachute system as optional equipment on the Symphony 160 and 135-TDI aircraft and as standard equipment on the Symphony 4, the company said. OMF is working with BRS to certify the system on the Symphony aircraft line. The Symphony 160 is a two-place, high-wing, single-engine aircraft. The Jet A/diesel-powered Symphony 135-TDI and the four-place Symphony 4 are in development.
Experimental Aircraft Association's 51st annual fly-in attracted an estimated total attendance of 770,000, the association said. Approximately 11,000 aircraft flew into Oshkosh, Wis. or surrounding airports for the week-long event. There were a record 2,960 aircraft on display, surpassing the previous record of 2,743 in 1998. This year's total included 1,224 vintage aircraft and 405 warbirds.
GA GROUPS LAUD HOLLINGS AS GREAT FRIEND, FORMIDABLE FOE - General aviation advocates believe they will lose a long-time friend and sometime formidable foe when Sen. Ernest (Fritz) Hollings (D-S.C.) leaves the Senate next year after 38 years of service. The 81-year-old senator Monday announced his decision against running for an eighth term, saying, "Now it's time for someone else to take over." Hollings first joined the Senate in 1966, fulfilling the unexpired term of Olin Johnston.
USA TODAY BIZJET DEPICTION RILES NBAA - A USA Today front-page story depicting chief executive officers' use of business jets as an unjustified corporate perk and a "silly" use of cash-crunched company dollars drew fire last week from the National Business Aviation Association, which responded that the article "ignores the economic drivers and benefits of this important transportation sector."
TWO CHARITY AVIATION NETWORKS JOIN FORCES - Two of the nation's largest charitable aviation organizations, Angel Flight America and AirLifeLine, will merge in an effort to "maximize efficiency and effectiveness," executives of the groups announced.
Cessna Aircraft sold five more 172R Skyhawks to American Flyers. One of the oldest and largest flight schools in the U.S., American Flyers operates more than 60 172R and 172P Skyhawks. "We've been flying 172s for several decades. We keep buying them because they're robust, easy to work on and are great trainers," said American Flyers Controller Chris Hyzy. "They are very forgiving aircraft, which is important for students." American Flyers trains some 5,000 students a year at 15 domestic locations. The flight school was founded in 1939.
Agusta Aerospace Corp. delivered two Model A 119 Koala helicopters to the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP). The helicopters will be based at the state police's Aviation Patrol Units (APUs) at Capital City Airport in Fairview Township and Venango County Regional Airport in Franklin. The PSP has been building up its aviation fleet, which now numbers eight helicopters. The police plan to base a new aviation unit at the Altoona-Blair County Airport and are working to find a contractor to build a hangar at the facility.
Russell Chew, the former managing director of systems operations control at American Airlines, began his new duties at FAA last week as chief operating officer of the Air Traffic Organization.
NBAA will host a REACHBAC luncheon featuring the association's new president, Shelley A. Longmuir, on Monday, Sept. 8, in Atlanta. At the event co-hosted by the Georgia Business Aviation Association, Longmuir will present an update on NBAA issues and concerns. Anita Terry McDonald, port director of U.S. Customs in Atlanta, also is scheduled to speak. The buffet lunch will start at 11:45 a.m. and the briefings will begin at 12:15 p.m. at the Marriott Perimeter Center, 246 Perimeter Center Pkwy N.E., Atlanta, Ga. Please RSVP to June DeFontes at [email protected].
Washington generally slows down in August while the House and Senate enjoy their summer recess, but aviation groups, such as the National Business Aviation Association and AOPA, have stepped up lobbying efforts with Hill staffers and members to persuade legislators to approve FAA reauthorization legislation when Congress returns in September.
BOMBARDIER TO SELL BUSINESS JET FINANCING UNIT TO GE - Canadian manufacturer Bombardier reached agreement last week to sell the business aircraft market portfolio of Bombardier Capital to GE Commercial Equipment Financing (CEF) for $339 million (U.S.). The portfolio of business jet leases and loans will be folded into CEF's existing corporate aircraft business, which leases and provides financing for corporate aircraft and helicopters worldwide. The company said the price represents the book value of the assets being sold.
GARY DEMPSEY was named senior vice president of aircraft maintenance and OEM development at Jet Aviation. He will be responsible for maintenance services to manufacturers, aircraft operators and flight departments. Dempsey, who has 30 years of aviation experience, also will implement safety procedures and efficiency recommendations at all Jet Aviation maintenance facilities.
Raytheon Aircraft won a contract for its First Edition Centennial of Flight Beechcraft Bonanza at Oshkosh AirVenture 2003. Randy Vinson, a customer from Abilene, Texas, bought the special edition aircraft for his construction business. The aircraft are painted with a U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission logo on the engine cowling and include two Kitty Hawk Commemorative Centennial of Flight Medallions mounted onto the center console. The aircraft will be available on a limited basis.
