FAA apparently has shelved plans to create a Part 135 and Fractional Ownership Operations Branch (AFS-250) led by Kathy Perfetti. Perfetti had hoped to establish the branch, but those plans were waylaid by union concerns as well as a funding crunch created after Congress failed to pass an FAA budget for fiscal 2003 before it adjourned in November for the year, sources say. The agency is operating under a continuation of the fiscal 2002 budget. The agency will continue with its planned review of Part 135 review of Part 135 (BA, Dec. 2/249)
GOODRICH REORDERS BUSINESS UNITS - Taking the next step to further integrate a recently acquired business unit, Goodrich is reorganizing into three new segments, the North Carolina-based company announced last week. The three new business segments: Airframe Systems, Engine Systems and Electronic Systems, bring into the fold the former TRW's Aeronautical Systems business, which Goodrich acquired in October for $1.5 billion in cash (BA, Oct.17/165).
Lockheed Martin's Common Automated Radar Terminal System (ARTS) became operational at the new consolidated Potomac terminal radar approach control facility in Warrenton, Va. The Potomac Consolidated TRACON began operations Dec. 14, combining air traffic control operations from the region's five existing TRACONS that handled traffic for Baltimore-Washington International, Washington Dulles, Ronald Reagan Washington National and Richmond airports.
As the result of a comprehensive agreement with the nation's aviation regulators, the Canadian Business Aviation Association now has the authority to administer and manage operational safety standards for Canada's business aviation operators. Merlin Preuss, director general of civil aviation for Transport Canada, formally authorized the new procedures in a letter to CBAA this month.
SABRELINER REORGANIZES SALES AND MARKETING TEAM - Sabreliner Corp., the St. Louis, Mo.- based firm whose enterprises include Midcoast Aviation, Sabreliner and Premier Turbines, has made a number of executive changes as part of an effort "to enhance customer service and foster stronger interaction" among the various units.
FD ADMINISTRATOR APPROVES SALE OF AIRBUS WORK TO RUAG; 728/928 FATE IN DOUBT - Fairchild Dornier bankruptcy administrator Eberhard Braun and the company's creditors committee Friday decided to sell the Airbus components and maintenance divisions to RUAG Aerospace of Switzerland, putting the fate of the 728/928 regional jet line in doubt. Braun and the creditor's committee also approved of the sale of the 328JET and product support divisions to U.S. consortium AvCraft/Dimeling, Schreiber & Park, pending negotiations on contractual details.
Honeywell was selected to supply the air turbine starter system for Dassault's new Falcon 7X business jet. The contract, which is estimated to have a value of nearly $70 million over the life of the 7X program, is the fifth that Honeywell has won on Dassault's newest aircraft. Honeywell also is providing the EASy Flight Deck avionics, the 36-150 auxiliary power unit, air management system and hydraulic power generation system (with Parker Aerospace) for the aircraft.
William Wulfsohn was named vice president-European coatings for PPG Industries and managing director of PPG Europe. He was formerly vice president and general manager of Nylon System for Honeywell. Before joining Honeywell, Wulfsohn was vice president, corporate officer and automotive coatings business director at Rohm & Haas.
Global Express S/N 9100, the 100th unit of the long-range Bombardier business jet model, was handed over to Allen Stanford, chairman and president of Stanford Financial Group of Houston, Texas, this month. The delivery of the 100th aircraft comes 39 months after the first Global Express entered service. Bombardier said there are currently 91 of the 6,500-nautical-mile-range airplanes in service with customers.
General Dynamics signed an agreement to buy General Motors Defense, which builds wheeled armored vehicles and turrets, from the auto manufacturing firm for $1.1 billion. The unit being acquired has 2,400 employees and four operating divisions. "Defense is our primary focus," said GD Chairman and CEO Nick Chabraja in announcing the deal. "We can provide broader understanding of the defense marketplace and provide expanded career opportunities for GM Defense employees," he said. GD also is the parent company of Gulfstream Aerospace.
BE A PILOT DRAWS NEARLY 35,000 PROSPECTIVE PILOTS - Despite a flagging economy that has continued through 2002, almost 35,000 people are expected to take advantage of BE A PILOT's low-cost introductory flight lesson this year, up 6.2 percent from last year. "We're back from 9/11, up four percent most of the year and now, even more," said Drew Steketee, BE A PILOT president and CEO. "With more than 32,000 pilot prospects thus far in 2002, our follow-up survey estimates we'll generate some 5,000 new student pilots this year."
BELL/AGUSTA BA609 CIVIL TILTROTOR ON TRACK FOLLOWING V-22 PROGRESS - Encouraged by the performance of the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey military tiltrotor aircraft since its return to flight, Bell/Agusta Aerospace Company is moving forward with the development and production of its BA609 civilian tiltrotor.
AEROSPATIALE Model ATR 42-500 series airplanes, and Model ATR 72-102, -202, -212, and -212A series airplanes (Docket No. 2002-NM-73-AD) - proposes to require replacement of insulation blankets constructed of metallized polyethyleneteraphthalate (MPET) located from Sections 11 through 16 of the fuselage with new insulation blankets constructed of Terul 18.
February 9-11, 2003 - Helicopter Association International Heli-Expo 2003, Dallas, Texas, (703) 683-4646 April 8-11, 2003 - National Aircraft Finance Association Annual Meeting, Westin Resort, Savannah, Ga., (301) 349-2070 or [email protected] April 23-27, 2003 - National Aircraft Resale Association Annual Meeting, Westin Regina Resort, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Bombardier Flexjet Asia-Pacific charter operator Rainbow Jet Co. Ltd. recently expanded its Chinese routes with the addition of operations to Lhasa's Gongga Airport in the mountainous Himalayan region. The addition follows a route-proving flight with a Challenger 604 business jet. The aircraft departed Chengdu Airport in Szechuan Province and landed on Gongga Airport's 13,123-foot runway. The Challenger is certified to land at altitudes up to 14,000 feet. Gongga Airport is at an altitude of 11,621 feet.
CPI Aerostructures won a contract valued at $1.6 million to supply 10 landing gear kneeling door assemblies for the U.S. Air Force's C-5A Galaxy cargo aircraft. The contract is the first that CSI has received for the landing gear kneeling door assemblies for the C-5A, but the company has provided more than 400 parts for the aircraft.
Although Congress adjourned last month without completing work on a follow-on aviation security bill, Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) has indicated he plans to reintroduce legislation in the new Congress that would require background checks and approval requirements for all non-U.S. citizens seeking flight training at U.S.-approved facilities.
NEW RESEARCH TO FOCUS ON PILOT NUTRITION - The U.S. Army is funding a new study to research the effects of a pilot's diet on cognition and flight performance.
Benet Wilson was named senior manager, corporate communications, at Rolls-Royce North America, Inc. in Chantilly, Va. She was most recently director of corporate communications for the Mesa Air Group in Phoenix, Ariz. Wilson has 16 years of experience as a journalist and was the editor of Commuter/Regional Airline News for eight years.
Bombardier last week appointed Paul Tellier, chief executive of Canadian National Railway Inc., to replace Robert Brown, who resigned following months of watching the Canadian conglomerate's stock price sink as aerospace revenues declined. Brown "asked to be relieved of his functions," Bombardier said, and the board agreed to appoint Tellier to the post Thursday evening. Tellier takes his new position Jan. 13. Company Chairman Laurent Beaudoin will serve as the chief executive in the interim.
CHC LOSES BP CONTRACT EXTENSION - Offshore oil and gas services provider CHC Helicopter lost a key contract extension with BP after the two companies were unable to reach agreement on terms. BP decided against renewing a contract with CHC unit CHC Scotia Limited for helicopter services in the Northern North Sea. CHC's current BP contract covering the Northern North Sea is due to expire July 31, 2004. The contract produced revenues of $54.5 million in fiscal 2002, about eight percent of CHC's total revenues.
MESA ASKS WORKERS FOR TEMPORARY SALARY CUTS - Regional carrier Mesa Air Group asked its employees to take a five percent pay cut over the next year under a voluntary program that would include the possibility for employees to make back their voluntarily contributed pay, depending on company profits. "The program would temporarily reduce the company's labor costs over the next year, while giving participating employees the opportunity to benefit financially in Mesa's future success," the company said.
Jet Aviation Business Jets received Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation certification to train pilots on Citation, Gulfstream, Challenger, Learjet, Falcon and Hawker aircraft, becoming the second company in Switzerland to win approval to train pilots on business jets. Jet Aviation will provide type rated courses that include theory, flight training and instructor rating courses.
