COMMUNICATION FIXES TO AIR FORCE ONE SINCE 9/11 HAVE COST $58 MILLION - Efforts to rectify communications difficulties experienced by President Bush aboard Air Force One on Sept. 11, 2001, have required the obligation of about $58 million so far, and work is continuing, the Air Force said. The work is going into the Presidential Data System (PDS), "an 'office in the sky' environment for the president, staff, and other passengers aboard" Air Force One, a highly modified Boeing 747, the Air Force said Nov. 25 in response to a question from BA affiliate Aerospace Daily.
Triumph Group bought the assets of Boeing's Spokane Fabrication Operation in Spokane, Wash. The deal includes an eight-year, single-source supply agreement for products manufactured at the Spokane factory. Triumph projected that the acquisition will add $60 million in revenue during fiscal 2004. The Spokane facility, which employs about 400, produces composite and thermoplastic aircraft parts, such as floor panels, air control system ducts and non-structural composite flight deck components.
Craig Williams was named staff vice president for regulatory affairs at the American Association of Airport Executives. He was previously director for safety and security at AAAE. In his new position, Williams will report to Tom Zoeller, the new vice president for regulatory affairs.
AOPA, TSA JOIN FORCES ON AIRPORT SECURITY PROGRAM - The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and the Transportation Security Administration are launching a program today (Dec. 2) that encourages the aviation community to be alert for and to report suspicious activity at general aviation airports across the country. A key element of the program is establishment of a toll-free telephone number (866) GA-SECURE or (866) 427-3287 for callers to use when they observe suspicious activity on or near an airport.
Craig Williams was named staff vice president for regulatory affairs at the American Association of Airport Executives. He was previously director for safety and security at AAAE. In his new position, Williams will report to Tom Zoeller, the new vice president for regulatory affairs.
ACI-NA CHAIRMAN: GOVERNMENT SHOULD PAY FOR MANDATES - The federal government should pay for integrating bulky baggage screening equipment into existing airport baggage systems, but not with Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funds, says Airport Council International-North America's (ACI-NA) chairman.
Craig R. Quigley was appointed vice president, communications and public affairs for Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics&Surveillance Systems. He was most recently deputy assistant secretary of defense (public affairs) at the Pentagon and retired from a 27-year career with the U.S. Navy with the rank of Rear Admiral. Quigley will be responsible for media relations, advertising and marketing communications.
Robert A. Sturgell, a former military and airline pilot, a lawyer and a top aide to FAA Administrator Marion Blakey, will be nominated as deputy administrator of FAA, the White House announced.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model AS355N helicopters (Docket No. 2002-SW-32-AD; Amendment 39-12943; AD 2002-22-16) - supersedes an existing AD that requires visually inspecting the four engine exhaust pipe ejector attachment lugs, the starter-generator (S-G) attachment flange and attachment half-clamps for cracks, and the S-G shaft for radial play. This amendment will retain the current requirements except will not require measuring the radial play.
Some industry observers expressed relief at the delay because the notice provided such a broad overview of what the rewrite would entail that there was concern it would open the door to all sorts of changes not only to Parts 135 and 125, but also to Parts 121 and 91. Industry groups are hoping that the delay will provide the agency the opportunity to tighten the language so the ARC project is not so open-ended.
John Borghese was named vice president and general manager of Kaiser Aerospace & Electronics, a Rockwell Collins company. He has more than 27 years of experience in the military aerospace industry and was most recently vice president of Kaiser Electronics.
The White House announcement that it intends to nominate Robert A. Sturgell, a top aide to FAA Administrator Marion Blakey, as deputy administrator of the agency, illustrates Blakey's clout with the Bush Administration. In years past, the White House has used the deputy slot at FAA as a way to pay back political favors, and has frequently selected individuals for the No. 2 slot with little or no input from the FAA Administrator.
Agusta/Westland delivered the last of 22 EH-101 Merlin HC Mk3 helicopters to the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force, the company said. It also announced it has completed the last of 44 EH-101 HM Mk1s for the Royal Navy. The EH-101 was designed as a successor to the H-3 Sea King and entered service in 1998 with the Royal Navy.
Federal Aviation Administration is delaying release of a notice inviting participation in a new Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) that will take a comprehensive look at Part 135, Part 125 and associated regulations. The notice received final signoff and was sent to the Federal Register for publication, but officials pulled it back after agency accountants expressed concern over funding issues. Since Congress has not approved a fiscal 2003 appropriation for FAA yet, the agency is operating under a continuing resolution that extends the fiscal 2002 budget.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and the Transportation Security Administration are launching a program today (Dec. 2) that encourages the aviation community to be alert for and to report suspicious activity at general aviation airports across the country. A key element of the program is establishment of a toll-free telephone number (866) GA-SECURE or (866) 427-3287 for callers to use when they observe suspicious activity on or near a n airport. Callers will be connected with officials at the National Response Center that is operated by the U.S. Coast Guard.
A "trusted traveler" or similar program for identifying frequent flyers likely would improve security and reduce hassles for program participants, but it also raises a host of questions such as who should be eligible, what kinds of background checks should be involved, what kind of screening procedures should be used and who would pay for such a program, the General Accounting Office told Congress late last month. At the request of Sen.
Transportation Security Administration and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association are launching a new airport watch program today designed to alert pilots to suspicious activity and get them to contact law enforcement officials. See the article and public service announcement below.
AEROSPACE AND AVIATION RANKINGS AEROSPACE AND AVIATION EMPLOYMENT PER 1,000 WORKERS IN ALL INDUSTRIES 2001 Employment Rank State Concentration United States 15.6 1 Washington 43.7 2 Kansas 43.3 3 Alaska 35.3 4 Arizona 30.7 5 Connecticut 27.5 6 Hawaii 24.2 7 Utah 22.3
Eclipse Aviation Corp., which had been counting on Williams International to provide the 770-pound thrust engines for its new entry-level business jet, said Wednesday it had terminated its agreement with Williams and is now in the final stages of reviewing bids from two other engine manufacturers.
Aircraft Owners And Pilots Association appealed to FAA to drop recent changes made to the field approval process. The new inspector guidance on field approvals was released Sept. 13 in an attempt to improve and standardize the process (BA, Sept. 30/147). But AOPA fears that the new guidance "has had the quite opposite effect." AOPA noted the changes have been particularly a problem in Alaska, and FAA already rescinded the changes there. AOPA, however, wants the changes revoked in all regions.
Embraer predicts rising demand for 61- to 90-seat jets, while interest in 91- to 120-seat aircraft will drop over the next 20 years. In its latest regional jet market forecast, the airframer revised earlier predictions of larger regional jet demand, dropping predictions by 270 aircraft to 2,510 from 2,780 in May 2002. Interest in aircraft sized in the 61- to 90-seat range should translate to an increase in 220 aircraft, from 2,370 to 2,590.
The Air Transportation Stabilization Board last week denied Medjet International's federal loan guarantee application, citing serious doubts that the airline would be able to repay the loan. Medjet applied for a $7.7 million federal guarantee on an $8.8 million loan. Birmingham, Ala.-based Medjet currently operates Learjet 35As and 36As configured to accommodate up to two patients and four medical personnel.
Kevin Colson was named director of operations for Thunder Air Charter. He most recently worked at Part 135 operator Southern Aviation and Marine in Florida, where he was responsible for flight operations. Colson, a pilot with more than 15,000 hours, has more than 17 years of experience in aviation.
Bombardier Aerospace signed a five-year contract with Air Wisconsin to provide heavy maintenance on the airline's fleet of Bombardier CRJ200 regional jets. The maintenance will include "C" checks every 4,000 flight hours and also structural inspections every two years. Air Wisconsin's fleet is expected to grow to 58 aircraft during the next five years. The maintenance will be performed at Bombardier's West Virginia Air Center in Bridgeport, W.Va. The contract could be extended to eight years if options are exercised.
BLAKEY AIDE, A FORMER UAL PILOT, TO BE FAA DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR - Robert A. Sturgell, a former military and airline pilot, a lawyer and a top aide to FAA Administrator Marion Blakey, will be nominated as deputy administrator of FAA, the White House announced.
