HOUSE APPROPRIATORS FAVOR CHARTER USE OF DCA - A half-dozen members of the House Appropriations Committee became the latest legislators to express support for reopening Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to charter aircraft operating under approved security programs. The six members - Reps.
EADS Socata named Stephane Mayer president and chief executive officer. He succeeds Philippe Debrun, who is leaving the company. Mayer also is assuming the responsibilities of Jean-Francois Trassard, senior executive vice president, who also is leaving. Mayer formerly was a member of the board and vice president of finance and administration for Matra. He is a private pilot who is rated to fly the TB 9, TB 200 and TB 20.
CONCORDE ARRIVES AT DULLES FOR LAST TIME TO ENTER NEW MUSEUM - Air France Concorde F-BVFA, the first Concorde to join that carrier's fleet, made its last flight Thursday, flying from Charles de Gaulle Airport outside Paris to Washington Dulles International Airport in three hours, 49 minutes, ending that carrier's more than 25 years of transatlantic supersonic air transportation.
HARRISON FORD 'FURIOUS' ABOUT MEIGS CLOSURE - Private pilot and action film actor Harrison Ford spoke out last week about the destruction of Meigs Field, calling it "murder" and "unbelievable." In an interview with Chicago Sun-Times columnist Bill Zwecker, who planned to discuss Ford's new movie "Hollywood Homicide," Ford said he was furious about Chicago Mayor Richard Daley's abrupt and secretive closing of the airport on March 30 (BA, April 7/153).
Air Methods Products Division won an FAA supplemental type certificate for the Eurocopter EC130 B4 Emergency Medical Interior. The company delivered its first aircraft equipped with the interior to Oklahoma University Medical Center's MEDI FLIGHT program. Air Methods spent the last year developing the product, which features a modular, flexible arrangement of medical equipment, with input from its customers - hospitals and community service emergency medical service providers - and Eurocopter.
A group meeting with TSA chief Adm. James Loy Wednesday walked away with the clear impression the TSA was not the general aviation community's advocate, some attendees told BA. While TSA is interested in listening to ideas that would generate public/private efforts to improve GA security and would be willing to pitch those ideas to other government entities, Loy conveyed the message that it is not the job of TSA to defend GA to those entities.
Boeing Company and Lufthansa Technik received approval from German aviation authorities (LBA) and the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for the use of airborne wireless applications on commercial flights. The approvals will allow passengers to use their own wireless laptop computers or personal electronic devices for real-time, high-speed Internet access through an open wireless local area network aboard a 747-400 airliner equipped with the Connexion by Boeing service.
Federal Aviation Administration's Part 135/125 regulatory review gets under way this week at a conference center in suburban Virginia, and participants will have plenty to discuss. Nearly 80 proposals for changes in the existing regulations had been posted on FAA's web site by late last week.
BAE SYSTEMS Model ATP airplanes (Docket No. 2001-NM-285-AD; Amendment 39-13165; AD 2003-11-06) - requires a one-time inspection of the fuel pipes within the fuel "float switch" test pipelines in the left and right inner wings for evidence of damage, cracks, misalignment, or fuel leakage; follow-on corrective actions, if necessary; and repetitive replacement of the fuel pipes at regular intervals. This action is necessary to prevent fuel vapors from collecting in the dry bay of the wing torsion box and consequent risk of an explosion due to fuel leakage.
National Air Transportation Association presented Gwendolyn Mayo, founder and chair of Mayo Aviation, its William A. Ong Award. The award, named in honor and memory of the association's co-founder and first president, is given annually in recognition of "extraordinary achievement and extended meritorious service to the general aviation industry." Gwen Mayo co-founded Mayo Aviation in 1978 as a Part 135 charter operation with three King Air aircraft.
Shelley A. Longmuir, formerly the top lobbyist for United Airlines, says she's excited about the opportunity to lead the National Business Aviation Association, where she's scheduled to formally assume her duties July 7. NBAA board members hope her good working relationships with top government officials will pay benefits for NBAA members.
AOPA Air Safety Foundation unveiled an online training program designed to help pilots navigate around the constantly changing airspace restrictions. The program, Know Before You Go: Navigating Today's Airspace, is designed to teach pilots about handling current airspace restrictions also reviewing everyday regulatory airspace issues. "As pilots-in-command, it's ultimately our responsibility to know where we're allowed to fly," said ASF Executive Director Bruce Landsberg.
RAYTHEON MOVING DOLANSKI TO DALLAS, RELOCATING MANAGEMENT TEAM AT HQ - Raytheon Aircraft Company (RAC), in moves both symbolic and practical, is switching some of its executives to new locations and offices. Ed Dolanski, vice president of customer service and support - and possibly some of his team - will relocate from RAC headquarters in Wichita, Kan. to the company's Parts Distribution Center in Dallas, Texas. Dolanski will continue to have responsibility for all aspects of customer service and support at RAC.
Executive Jet Management added three aircraft to its charter fleet. A Hawker 800 will be based at Pease International Tradeport (TSM) in Portsmouth, N.H. Also, a Learjet 60 will be based at Kenosha Regional Airport (ENW) in Kenosha, Wis. and a Gulfstream IV-SP will be based at Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO) in Reno, Nev. Business at EJM has been strong, with the company recently reporting that March 2003 was its best sales month since it opened in 1964.
National Air Transportation Association President Jim Coyne will host four town meetings around the U.S. this month. Coyne will review the current legislative and regulatory issues that affect NATA's membership and answer questions.
DOUG BOHAC was named paint shop manager at Duncan Aviation in Lincoln, Neb. He has worked at Duncan since 1997 and was most recently assistant paint shop manager. TRENT J. CARMAN was appointed chief financial officer at Air Methods. He will replace Aaron Todd, who will become CEO of Air Methods when George Belsey retires this month. Carman was most recently chief financial officer at StorNet, Inc. of Englewood, Calif., a company that sells data storage equipment.
TRIUMPH COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF HEAT EXCHANGER LINE - Triumph Group, Inc. of Wayne, Pa., completed the acquisition of Parker Hannifin's United Aircraft Products Division and plans to continue operating the business in Forest, Ohio. The acquired business, renamed Triumph Thermal Systems, Inc., is expected to add approximately $17 million in revenues for the remaining 10 months of fiscal 2004.
Air freight and cargo carriers that haul canceled checks for the banking industry could lose a lot of business if legislation roaring through Congress is enacted. The House Thursday - by a vote of 405-0 - passed H.R.1474, which would permit financial institutions to process checks electronically and end the practice of returning canceled checks to the bank on which they were written. The legislation is strongly supported by the banking community and the Federal Reserve.
