TAG AVIATION BUYS SIGNATURE'S CHARTER NETWORK - TAG Aviation USA acquired Signature's Charter Network, increasing the size of TAG's operation by more than 10 percent and extending its market presence to Los Angeles, the company said.
The Boeing Company agreed to sell its aerospace wiring facility in Corinth, Texas to Labinal, a Snecma Group company headquartered in Paris, France. The agreement is subject to final review by the U.S. government. The Corinth facility has 900 employees and makes wiring harnesses for a wide range of Boeing commercial and military aircraft. Boeing has entered into a long-term, single-source supply agreement with Labinal and will continue to buy wiring harnesses produced at Corinth.
GAO SEES MAJOR PROBLEMS IN GA, CARGO SECURITY - Transportation modes including air cargo and general aviation still have major security vulnerabilities, according to the General Accounting Office, which reported on progress at TSA during a field hearing in New York April 1.
Transportation Security Administration last week lifted a temporary flight restriction over Chicago and the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) around New York City after the Department of Homeland Security lowered the terror threat assessment level from Code Orange/High to Code Yellow/Elevated. Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association President Phil Boyer last week urged Asa Hutchinson, DHS under secretary for border and transportation security, to lift the ADIZ in both Washington, D.C. and New York City.
SUMMARY: Pursuant to FAA's rulemaking provisions governing the application, processing, and disposition of petitions for exemption (14 CFR Part 11), this notice contains a summary of certain petitions seeking relief from specified requirements of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR Chapter I), dispositions of certain petitions previously received, and corrections. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities.
AEROSPATIALE Model ATR 42 series airplanes and Model ATR 72 series airplanes (Docket No. 2001-NM-280-AD) - proposes to require replacement of a certain Automatic Takeoff Power Control System (ATPCS) test selector switch with a different test selector switch.
Two people aboard a Commander 500 were seriously injured when the airplane crashed while attempting to take off from Charleston, S.C. Airport on the afternoon of April 14. The aircraft, N19WL, is owned by the state of South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. The airplane, which was destroyed, was departing Runway 17 but struck the ground about 500 yards southwest of the airport.
Executive Jet Management added five aircraft last month, bringing its fleet to 111 aircraft based at 55 U.S. locations. A Citation III and Citation X will be based in Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport and a Global Express is at Centennial Airport in Denver, Colo. Another Citation III is based at Republic Airport in Farmingdale, N.Y. and a Citation SII at Buchanan Field in Concord, Calif. Based in Cincinnati, Ohio, EJM is an affiliate company of the NetJets fractional aircraft ownership program.
CitationShares said that all of its aircraft comply with reduced vertical separation minimum standards scheduled to take effect in early 2005 and that its 140 pilots have been trained and certified to use the new technology. Based in Greenwich, Conn., CitationShares is a joint venture fractional ownership company between Cessna and TAG Aviation USA.
Keystone Helicopter founder Peter Wright Sr. will receive Overhaul & Maintenance magazine's Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual convention hosted by the publication in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. this month. Wright is one of the original "Flying Tigers" of World War II and founded Keystone in February 1953. O&M Editor Frank Jackman said the magazine chose Wright for his "insight and innovation in providing maintenance, repair and overhaul helicopter services for 50 years."
The difficult market for used aircraft continues to drag down results for Gulfstream Aerospace and its parent company, General Dynamics. During a conference call with financial analysts last week, GD Chairman Nicholas Chabraja acknowledged that "there was some [continued] weakening" of used aircraft prices in the first quarter, adding, "We are anticipating that we are slogging through a swamp for the remainder of this year...this is going to be a very difficult environment."
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics commissioned a book to celebrate the 100th anniversary of powered flight. The Airplane: A History of Its Technology was written by John D. Anderson, Jr., curator for aerodynamics at the National Air and Space Museum and professor emeritus in the Department of Engineering at the University of Maryland. "The Wright Brothers' famous flight could have taken place inside the Space Shuttle's giant fuel tank.
Flightsafety Boeing Training International last week formally began operating under its new name and branding, Alteon. Boeing assumed full control of Alteon after finalizing an agreement in October 2002 to buy out FlightSafety International's interest in the training company. Boeing selected Alteon as the new name of the former joint venture in January and began operating it as Alteon April 14.
Kitty Hawk Cargo launched new operations out of San Francisco International Airport to serve the Northern California market. Kitty Hawk is sharing a 65,000-square-foot facility owned by Singapore Airlines in the West Cargo area of SFO. Kitty Hawk Cargo formerly served the Northern California market from Mineta San Jose Airport. "By moving our operations to San Francisco International Airport, we are closer to our customers by 30 minutes," said Toby Skaar, Kitty Hawk Cargo vice president and chief operating officer.
Friends Of Meigs Field continues to win early court motions to move forward with its lawsuit to prevent the city of Chicago from permanently destroying Meigs Field and turning it into a lakefront park. A Cook County judge earlier this month denied a petition by the city of Chicago to dismiss the suit, and last week the court ordered the city to hand over to Friends of Meigs Field all documents related to the March 31 runway destruction.
GAMA CAUTIONS AGAINST UNNECESSARY CONTROLS ON AIRCRAFT SALES - The General Aviation Manufacturers Association cautioned the Department of Treasury against placing excessive and unnecessary anti-money-laundering controls on a struggling aviation industry. The Treasury Department earlier this year released an advance notice of proposed rulemaking asking a series of questions about the potential risks of money-laundering activity involving "vehicle sellers" and possible programs to minimize those risks.
MANUFACTURERS SWEEPING INTO ANTI-MISSILE MARKET - Anti-missile technology manufacturers are moving swiftly to adapt their products for commercial airliners as Congress vows to pass legislation to defend the U.S. commercial fleet.
TSA APPROVES ACCESS CERTIFICATES - The Transportation Security Administration approved the first batch of TSA Access Certificates (TSAAC) for six National Business Aviation Association members to conduct international flights without the traditional TSA waivers. The TSAAC holders are all Part 91 operators based at Teterboro Airport (TEB) in New Jersey. They are a part of a new proof-of-concept security program that could ultimately grant certificate holders access to selected temporary flight restricted airspace (BA, April 7/155).
CITATION CJ3 ACHIEVES FIRST FLIGHT - The Cessna Citation CJ3 successfully completed its first flight last week and the Wichita, Kan.-based manufacturer obtained an FAA exemption to allow the aircraft to operate with a single pilot. Piloted by Dan Morris and Russ Williams, the light business jet took off from McConnell Air Force Base on April 17 at 9:20 a.m. and landed at Mid-Continent Airport in Wichita at 11:03 a.m.
Regional Air Cargo Carriers Association, which was formed in August, will hold its inaugural convention this week in Orlando, Fla., with representatives of some 41 member companies in attendance plus officials from more than 35 associate members, such as aircraft and systems providers. "Our growth has far exceeded our expectations," said Stan Bernstein, president. The organization has been focusing on FAA's upcoming Part 135 review, TSA requirements, security and insurance.
