PRIVATE ATC COULD JEOPARDIZE SAFETY, SKYROCKET COSTS, STUDY SAYS - Privatizing the nation's air traffic control functions could jeopardize safety and security, result in skyrocketing user costs, and force the government into massive financial bailouts, according to a new study commissioned by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. The study, Pitfalls of Air Traffic Control Privatization, looks at privatization efforts abroad and researches the possibility of privatizing the U.S. system.
Jet Aviation Geneva, tapped in 2001 as an authorized warranty repair facility and service center for the Boeing Business Jet, has completed work on 13 BBJs and one BBJ 2 since. The facility provides a range of BBJ maintenance and warranty services, including scheduled and unscheduled inspections, service bulletins, avionics upgrades and modifications, structural work, on-wing engine work and AOG support. Jet Aviation expanded its hangar space to more than 54,000 square feet to accommodate up to three BBJs simultaneously.
CAE and The Emirates Group last week officially opened a training center that is the first phase of a new aviation college planned in Dubai. The Emirates-CAE Flight Training facility, based in the Dubai Airport Free Trade Zone, will train both airline pilots and corporate operators. The 14-bay center initially will house six full flight simulators providing Airbus A319/A320/A321, A330/340, Boeing 737 NG/BBJ, Gulfstream IV and GV training. Emirates and CAE will jointly operate the center under a 10-year agreement.
ADAM AIRCRAFT ADDS SECOND PLANE TO FLIGHT TEST PROGRAM - Adam Aircraft conducted a successful first flight Feb. 13 of its second A500 twin-engine aircraft (BA, Feb. 10/59). The company said S/N 002 was aloft for 35 minutes and reached an altitude of 13,000 feet. Both S/N 001, which made its first flight July 11, 2002 and has logged more than 122 flight hours since, and S/N 002 were built on production tooling.
Computer Science Corp. said shareholders of DynCorp are scheduled to vote March 7 on CSC's proposed acquisition of DynCorp, a transaction valued at approximately $950 million. DynCorp, with annual revenues of $2.3 billion and 23,000 employees at 550 locations worldwide, is one of the largest employee-owned technology and outsourcing firms based in the U.S. CSC said that upon completion of the acquisition, CSC will derive approximately $6 billion in annual revenue from the federal government and have nearly 30,000 people working on U.S. government programs.
March 13-15 -- The Associao Brasileira de Aviacao Geral (ABAG)/ NBAA Latin American Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (LABACE2003), Sao Paulo, Brazil, (202) 783-9000 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
CMC Electronics delivered its 1,500th high-gain satellite communications (Satcom) antenna system, the CMA-2102, to Lufthansa late last month. CMC has secured orders for the Satcom from more than 65 airlines, several corporate-VIP operators, and military operators.
BLAKEY OUTLINES 'FAST-MOVING' FAA AGENDA - FAA Administrator Marion Blakey moved to jumpstart her term last week by setting forth an aggressive agenda for the agency addressing issues such as standardization of FAA rules and regulations and increased airspace and runway capacity. At her first major speaking engagement since taking office five months ago, Blakey told the Aero Club of Washington, D.C. about three new FAA initiatives to improve customer service, step up the Operational Evolution Plan and create a new office devoted to international aviation.
FlightSafety's new training center in Orlando, Fla. received its FAA Part 142 training authority this month and initiated pilot training for customers. The center recently received FAA Level D certification for a Cessna Citation Bravo full flight simulator and will add a CJ2 full flight simulator soon. The center also will begin Citation Encore training next month followed by the Excel this spring.
FAA CLEARS PATH FOR ENHANCED VISION SYSTEMS - The Federal Aviation Administration proposes to revise takeoff and landing regulations to allow the use of certified enhanced flight vision systems (EFVS) to meet certain flight visibility requirements. The proposal, published in the Feb. 10 Federal Register, would update the regulations that are rapidly becoming outdated with the onset of several new enhanced vision products coming to market (see article on Page 90).
Adam Aircraft has completed the basic design of its new twin-jet, the A700, but company President John Knudsen said that project will remain on the back burner until the Englewood, Colo., startup manufacturer receives type certification on its first aircraft, the centerline-thrust twin-piston A500. Knudsen, a former FAA attorney, hopes to win FAA certification of the A500 by the end of June, an ambitious schedule for an airplane that first flew in July.
National Business Aviation Association is planning a New York-area Business Aviation Forum and Static Display June 5 at Republic Airport in Farmingdale, N.Y. The daylong event will include exhibits, aircraft displays and a series of briefings and seminars for the metropolitan New York business aviation community. For more information, contact Benjamin Jones at [email protected] or Joe Ponte at [email protected].
Raytheon Aircraft Company plans to build 49 Premier I business jets this year, up from the 29 delivered last year but 11 fewer than the 60 Premiers RAC originally planned to deliver in 2003. RAC President Jim Schuster told BA that senior managers came up with the 49 figure after he asked them for the most efficient and cost-effective production level for the Premier this year. Officials still are focusing on how to remove cost from the airplane, which features a composite-construction fuselage.
Raytheon Aircraft Company named two new vice presidents to lead sales efforts for the newly created Hawker and Beechcraft divisions. Mike Langston is the new vice president-Worldwide Hawker Sales, reporting to Brad Hatt, president of the Hawker Division. Don Dwyer is the new vice president-Worldwide Beechcraft sales. He reports to Bob Horowitz, president of the division and chief operating officer of RAC. The Hawker division includes the Hawker Horizon, Hawker 800XP and Beechjet 400A.
JEFF AGUR was named director of business operations at The VanAllen Group. He will be responsible for daily operations at the business aviation management consulting firm, which is located near Atlanta, Ga. Agur most recently was employed at a high tech international manufacturing firm.
Richard L. Beers, an airframe and powerplant mechanic with Keystone Helicopter Corporation's Geisinger Medical Center's Life Support Program, was awarded the 2002 Aviation Maintenance Technician Award by the Helicopter Association International at the organization's annual meeting and convention last week in Dallas, Texas. An A&P license-holder since December 1977, Beers joined the Geisinger Medical Center's new flight program in July 1981 and became a Keystone employee in 1991.
Presidential Aircraft Corp., La Jolla, Calif., acquired Certified Aviation Parts, Inc. (CAPI), of San Diego, Calif. CAPI is engaged in the disassembly and parting out of aircraft systems, flight controls, engines and avionics for resale. Presidential said the transaction will add $4.4 million to its net asset value. Presidential says its mission is to establish itself "as a major holding company for a complementary group of worldwide aviation companies."
Re-regulation of airlines could interfere with the promise of a new generation of air taxis opening up hundreds of new markets nationwide, Robert Walker, chairman of the Commission on the Future of the U.S. Aerospace Industry, told Congress this month.
Sensis Corp. won an order from FAA for 21 airport surface detection equipment systems, Model X (ASDE-X). The order, which includes support components and services, is about one-third of a $100 million production order included in a letter of intent that FAA signed last year. Sensis won the ASDE-X program in October 2000. The traffic management system for airport surfaces enables air traffic controllers to identify aircraft and follow aircraft movement.
ARINC, Inc. opened a new Asian regional headquarters office in Singapore. The office is headed by Randolph F. (Randy) Pizzi, a veteran company executive who led ARINC's Asian business development programs between 1998 and 2001. The new office is located in the 52-story Singapore Treasury Building, known as Temasek Tower, in Singapore's central business district. The telephone number is +65 6224 4152; fax, +65 6224-5171.
Dassault Falcon Jet has scheduled a series of regional seminars in March and April throughout North America. The seminars will be held: March 11 in Toluca, Mexico; March 25 in Dallas, Texas; March 27 in San Jose, Calif.; April 8 in Northbrook, Ill.; April 10 in West Palm Beach, Fla., and April 16 in Teterboro, N.J. The seminars include technical sessions, question-and-answer periods and web demonstrations. For more information, contact Dassault Falcon Jet at (201) 440-6700.
Sikorsky Aircraft selected Goodrich Corp. to provide an Electronic Standby Instrument System for the U.S. Army's fleet of more than 1,200 Black Hawk helicopters. The UH-60M upgrade program also includes Goodrich's emergency power supply and Stormscope lightning detection systems. The ESIS (GH-3001), combines all critical flight cues - attitude, altitude, airspace and heading - in one three-inch display.
BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA Model 222, 222B, and 222U helicopters (Docket No. 2002-SW-27-AD) - proposes to require a one-time inspection of the adjustable stop screws of the magnetic brake assembly; repairing, as appropriate, certain mechanical damage to the cyclic and collective flight control magnetic brake arm assembly, if necessary; and installing the stop screw with the proper adhesive, adjusting the arm assembly travel and applying slippage marks.
Orient-Express Hotels has developed a new Orient-Express Private Jet Experience program that packages itineraries with chartered business jets. The program lets customers select their own itineraries or choose scheduled ones. "The concept was fueled by continuing reductions in first-class air service and the demand for multi-destination itineraries that are too time-consuming when using conventional modes of travel," Orient-Express said.
Aviall Services, Inc. and engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce launched Model 250 ePubs, a next-generation complement to traditional Rolls-Royce technical publications. Developed by Command Technology, Inc., of Groton, Conn., ePubs provides an e-commerce link to aviall.com. The companies said customers can click on a part in a graphic and the ePubs database will take them directly to a parts configuration matrix where they can access all information related to the part (such as service bulletins) and an order button.
