Economic conditions that have slowed sales continue to force business aviation manufacturers to reduce production levels and lay off workers. Both Gulfstream and Cessna announced plans for additional cuts. Cessna said part of the reason for its action was a decision by fractional aircraft operator NetJets to cut back on the number of business jets it will take delivery of this year.
TWC Aviation, a charter and aircraft management services company headquartered in Burbank, Calif., awarded its worldwide operations handling contract to Baseops International. "Through this agreement, our aircraft management and charter customers are assured that everything will go smoothly in other countries, with Customs, airport fees, security, ground transportation, and other issues," said Andrew Richmond, TWC Aviation president.
National Business Aviation Association officials, "while we understand the severity of the current environment," were chafing under new flight restrictions imposed on non-airline flights last week. (See article below.) Pete West, senior vice president of government and public affairs for NBAA, said the association has repeatedly suggested security protocols and procedures that qualified business aviation pilots would be willing to meet so as not to be saddled with blanket airspace restrictions, but the government has not acted on those suggestions.
Raytheon Aircraft teamed with Harris Corporation to compete for FAA's Next Generation Communications System (NEXCOM) contract that could be worth up to $400 million by 2012. The NEXCOM contract will replace FAA's current analog communications system with the latest radio technology. The system will be designed to accommodate additional sectors and services, reduce logistics costs, replace aging radios, provide data link communications capability, reduce air/ground radio frequency interference and provide security.
A Dornier 328-300 was damaged March 13 when it was struck by lightning while descending near Wellman, Ohio. The National Transportation Safety Board said the Atlantic Coast Airlines aircraft, N419FJ, was carrying three crew and 15 passengers. The plane was passing over the TIGRR intersection in heavy rain at 11,000 feet for its approach into Cincinnati (CVG) when it was struck by lightning. All five display units and the flight management system in the cockpit failed. The first officer declared an emergency.
DASSAULT WINS CERTIFICATION FOR 2000EX - French manufacturer Dassault Falcon won certification for its 2000EX business jet from European and U.S. officials, the company announced Friday. Winning approval from the JAA and FAA "marks the successful culmination of an intensive flight test program begun in October 2001," said Jean-Louis Cuvillier, program manager for the 2000EX.
The Federal Aviation Administration might have to defer some elements of its Operational Evolution Plan (OEP) because of rising costs and declining Airport and Airway Trust Fund revenues, the Transportation Department's inspector general warned last week.
The LABACE2003 business aviation exposition in Sao Paulo, Brazil drew more than 2,660 registrants during the first two days of the event last week. The South American show attracted 88 exhibitors and featured a static display with 16 aircraft.
NU-Tech Associates was named a Canadian authorized service provider for Goodrich Corporation's aviation life rafts. The agreement covers sales and service of the rafts for corporate aircraft operators, completion centers, fixed-base operators and charter companies. Based at Montreal International Airport in Dorval, Nu-Tech provides custom aircraft interior refurbishing as well as airframe, avionics and engine maintenance for twin-piston and turbine aircraft.
BUSH APPOINTS TWO TO HEAD NEW FAA OFFICES - The Federal Aviation Administration filled two high-level positions with presidential appointments last week, following up on Administrator Marion Blakey's initiative to create two offices at the agency, one for domestic issues and another for global aviation opportunities.
JOHN ALBRECHT was named president, sales and business development at FlightSafety Boeing Training International. He started at Boeing in 1997 and was most recently the director of new business ventures for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Albrecht is also a lawyer and practiced at a law firm in Seattle, Wash. before joining Boeing. BOB BREGA was named marketing representative for Duncan Aviation Service of Lincoln, Neb. He will oversee marketing in the Northwest region. Brega joined the company in 1987 and was most recently project manager.
March 16-20 - NBAA 30th Annual International Operators Conference, Colorado Springs, Colo., (202) 783-9000 March 20-22 -- 14th Annual International Women in Aviation Conference, Cincinnati, Ohio, (386) 226-7996 March 28 - NBAA Business Aviation Forum and Static Display, Long Beach, Calif. International Airport. For more information, contact Benjamin Jones at (202) 783-9000 April 8-11 - National Aircraft Finance Association Annual Meeting, Westin Resort, Savannah, Ga., (301) 349-2070 or [email protected]
Gulfstream Aerospace will reduce its aircraft production schedule and now plans to deliver 77 "green" aircraft this year instead of the 85 it had forecast earlier (BA, Feb. 17/71). Nicholas Chabraja, chairman of Gulfstream parent General Dynamics, told stock market analysts last week that Gulfstream could build and sell 85 airplanes this year "but to do so would be at the expense of 2004 backlog. The more prudent course of conduct given the environment is to adjust the production rate now and to continue our aggressive cost curtailment policies."
Flightsafety International is offering a training program on a new Runway 15 approach at Aspen-Pitkin, Colo. Airport. Developed in coordination with FAA, the training program is required for use of the new LOC DME Runway 15 approach. The course includes two hours of ground school and two hours of coordinated simulator training. Pilots also must conduct the approach in flight with an already qualified pilot or an FAA representative.
The hottest ticket in Washington, D.C. is for a seat on FAA's Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC), which will conduct a comprehensive review of Parts 135 and 125 of the FARs. FAA was originally looking at a 15-member panel but boosted that number to 25 because of the widespread interest. Sources say the agency received more than 100 requests for a seat on the ARC, and FAA is now poring over the list to ensure widespread industry representation while keeping participants to a manageable number.
The Senate Commerce Committee last week approved several key nominations, including: Ellen Engleman as chair of the National Transportation Safety Board; Richard Healing and Mark Rosenker as NTSB members; Robert Sturgell, deputy administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration; Jeffrey Shane, under secretary of transportation for policy for the Department of Transportation; and Emil Frankel, DOT assistant secretary for transportation policy.
Some aerospace manufacturers are pondering the merits of truncating or eliminating their presence at the Paris Air Show this June to help reduce expenses in a difficult economic climate and also because of the growing animosity between France and the U.S. about the Iraqi situation. Some observers say large exhibitors who bring scores of personnel to Paris could save money by reducing their presence, but others point out that much of the money for Paris already has been spent in the form of deposits and guarantees for hotels, chalets and catering.
Rep. Jim Saxton (R-N.J.) is continuing his campaign to block U.S. Defense Department participation at Paris (BA, March 10/110). Saxton has scheduled a March 19 hearing before the House Armed Services Committee on his bill, H.R.1023, which would bar DOD from participating in the biennial show until 2008. Saxton said French threats to veto a U.S.-backed United Nations resolution demanding Iraqi disarmament "is going too far.
Edo Corp. acquired Darlington Inc., a privately held Alexandria, Va. company that designs, builds and supports military communications equipment and networking systems, for $28.5 million in cash.
S&P LOWERS BOMBARDIER'S CREDIT RATING - Bombardier's recent earnings warning and proposed accounting changes prompted Standard & Poor's to slash the transportation company's long-term credit rating from BBB+ to BBB-.
Nine members of the House aviation subcommittee last week toured Raytheon Aircraft and Cessna facilities in Wichita, Kan., and listened to the concerns of the general aviation community. General aviation leaders stressed the need to increase the bonus depreciation benefit and improve the background check process for foreign students seeking flight training in the U.S. Industry leaders reminded the congressmen that like the airlines, general aviation companies are struggling too.
Gulfstream Aerospace launched an advertising campaign that attempts to visually communicate a comprehensive method of determining the added value of a business jet through use of The Gulfstream Ownership Experience Index. The ratings device includes credit for technology, service and product support, and the cost of ownership. The campaign includes a series of 12 print ads that direct potential customers to the www.thegulfstreamexperienceindex.com to learn more about the assessment criteria.
Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. named Rocky Mountain Aircraft a recognized maintenance facility for its PT6 and JT15D engine models. Rocky Mountain, based at Springbank Airport near Calgary, Alberta, provides a range of engine, avionics and airframe maintenance as well as aircraft sales and leasing. As a recognized maintenance facility, Rocky Mountain will provide line and light maintenance on PT6A and JT15D engines as well as fly-in service, engine removal and installation and on-wing troubleshooting and repairs.
FAA FINDS NAPLES, FLA. AIRPORT IN VIOLATION, HALTS FUTURE AIRPORT GRANTS - In a move hailed by business aviation interests, FAA last week ordered a halt to funding grants for the Naples, Fla. Municipal Airport after the agency found the Naples Airport Authority's (NAA) ban on Stage 2 aircraft violated airport grant agreements. "We conclude that the Stage 2 ban as currently implemented by the NAA is unreasonable and unjustly discriminatory," FAA said in its determination issued Tuesday. "We also conclude that the Stage 2 ban is preempted by federal law."
MOONEY REORDERS PERSONNEL AT TEXAS FACILITY - Mooney Airplane Company of Kerrville, Texas reorganized its operations with several staff changes and additions last week.
