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
Rockwell Collins will provide its Flight Dynamics head-up guidance system (HGS) for Dassault Aviation's new Falcon 7X business jet. The 7X HGS will be based on the Flight Dynamics 4000 HGS but will be smaller and weigh less. The system, which will be integrated with the Falcon 7X avionics, will improve situational awareness in all phases of flight and enable the Falcon 7X to achieve lower-than-standard Category I minimums and some Category II. It provides all-weather approach and landing guidance in visibility as low as 600 feet runway visual range.
Nimbus Group posted a loss of $500,000 for the third quarter ending Sept. 30. Third quarter revenues remained flat from third quarter 2001, totaling $2.4 million. The financial results primarily reflect the operations of Nimbus's wholly owned subsidiary Take to Auction (TTA). However, Nimbus is negotiating a deal, which is expected to be finalized in the next month, to sell TTA for $1.5 million. The proceeds will go to starting operations at Nimbus Jet and developing the company's national air taxi service.
Rockwell Collins will provide its Flight Dynamics head-up guidance system (HGS) for Dassault Aviation's new Falcon 7X business jet. The 7X HGS will be based on the Flight Dynamics 4000 HGS but will be smaller and weigh less. The system, which will be integrated with the Falcon 7X avionics, will improve situational awareness in all phases of flight and enable the Falcon 7X to achieve lower-than-standard Category I minimums and some Category II. It provides all-weather approach and landing guidance in visibility as low as 600 feet runway visual range.
The Transportation Security Administration last week agreed to postpone the deadline for the "95K" security requirements until the agency releases a final plan of compliance and gives the affected operators at least 30 days to review it. TSA originally adopted rules in June requiring charter operators of aircraft that weigh at least 95,000 pounds to screen passengers before boarding.
Earl Robinson, the former Fairchild Dornier executive who departed the manufacturer a few years ago to form Alliance Aircraft, is in serious negotiations with German officials about acquiring the assets of the now bankrupt Fairchild Dornier. Robinson, who worked for the company until 1998, claims to have found sufficient financing to buy the manufacturer and complete development of the 728 regional jet. The German manufacturer's creditors committee plans to meet early next month to make a final decision on bids for the company.
Richard Ning was appointed sales representative at FlightSafetyBoeing. Based in Beijing, Ning will be responsible for FSB sales in China. Ning was most recently sales manager for The Boeing Company in Beijing.
FAA last week kicked off the first meeting of a new industry-based committee that will take a close look at the accuracy of the agency's cost-benefit analyses. The Aviation Rulemaking Cost Committee will identify whether variables FAA uses in its cost-benefit analyses are sound, said one industry participant. The committee, chartered for a year, comprises a cross-section of industry officials, but primarily includes participants with a background in cost analysis.
BAE Systems North America completed its acquisition of Corbett Technologies, Inc., a $15 million dollar transaction. Corbett, based in Alexandria, Va., employs more than 100 people and specializes in safeguarding information systems by providing full-service information assurance solutions. The company was formed in 1994 and ranked in the top 15 fastest growing public and private technology companies in the Washington, D.C. area in 2002.
Sporty's Pilot Shop released "Flying the North Atlantic Safely" on DVD. The two-hour DVD, presented by North Atlantic crossing expert Ed Carlson, covers topics such as requirements for the plane and pilot, what to take, where to stay, and how to get accurate weather information along the way. Sporty's also offers a planning chart and workbook for North Atlantic crossings. The DVD is priced at $89.95 and the workbook costs $39.95.
Jet Aviation Basel upgraded its completions equipment with the addition of computer numerically controlled (CNC) wood-milling, laser-cutting and sheet-metal bending machines for the cabinetry and sheet-metal shops. The CNC machines cut and bend honeycomb, plywood and sheet metal. Jet Aviation officials said the machines reduce the number of steps in the processes and ensure consistency and quality.
Members of the Commission on the Future of the U.S. Aerospace Industry want to make sure their report doesn't end up on a shelf collecting dust, so they've taken steps to keep official Washington focusing on its contents. Commission members were careful to regularly brief Bush Administration and Congressional officials while the report was being compiled during the past year to keep them interested and in the loop. Commission member and former Rep.
BELL HELICOPTER Model 407 helicopters (Docket No. 2001-SW-53-AD) - revises an earlier proposed AD that would have required preflight checking and repetitively inspecting for a crack in certain tailbooms that have not been redesigned and replacing the tailboom if a crack is found. That proposal was prompted by cracking discovered in other areas of certain tailbooms and introduction of a redesigned tailboom with a chemically milled skin, which does not require the current inspections.
Nimbus Group posted a loss of $500,000 for the third quarter ending Sept. 30. Third quarter revenues remained flat from third quarter 2001, totaling $2.4 million. The financial results primarily reflect the operations of Nimbus's wholly owned subsidiary Take to Auction (TTA). However, Nimbus is negotiating a deal, which is expected to be finalized in the next month, to sell TTA for $1.5 million. The proceeds will go to starting operations at Nimbus Jet and developing the company's national air taxi service.
RAAF TO USE KING AIR 350 FLEET FOR TRAINING - The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) signed a $94.9 million deal Nov. 20 to lease a fleet of seven Raytheon Super King Air 350 turboprop aircraft for the next 10 years. The new aircraft will replace an aging mix of HS748 and King Air B200 aircraft currently used to support navigator training for the RAAF's 32 Squadron and the School of Air Navigation at RAAF Base East Sale.
Model P-180 airplanes (Docket No. 2002-CE-46-AD) - proposes to require inspection and determination whether any firewall shutoff or crossfeed valve with a serial number in a certain range are installed and would require replacement of any valve that has a serial number within this range. The proposed AD would allow the pilot to check the logbook and would not require additional action if the check showed that one of these valves was definitely not installed.
Cessna Aircraft issued a warning to its employees last week that additional layoffs are planned next year. The company had about 12,800 workers on the payroll at the end of August (BA, Sept. 9/117), but it implemented some cutbacks about a month ago. As of last Friday, a spokeswoman said the number of people on the payroll is now about 12,000 worldwide and approximately 10,000 in the Wichita, Kan. area where the manufacturer is headquartered.
Model EC 155B helicopters (Docket No. 2002-SW-26-AD; Amendment 39-12942; AD 2002-22-15) - requires inspecting and adjusting, if necessary, the position of the locking pins on each pilot, co-pilot, and passenger-hinged and sliding door initially and each time a door is replaced. This amendment is prompted by two reports of inadvertent opening of the passenger-hinged doors in flight due to improper adjustment of the door-locking mechanism.
Andrew Rushton was named sales representative for FlightSafetyBoeing. Based in London-Luton, U.K., Rushton will be responsible for sales in northern Europe, Africa and the CIS. He has more than 20 years of experience in the aviation industry and most recently worked for BAE Systems as sales manager for the airline total support business unit.
Federal Aviation Administration last week extended the comment period until Feb. 5 on an advisory circular that provides guidance on compliance with the agency's new rules governing Part 145 repair stations (BA, Nov. 18/225). The extension came at the urging of both the Aircraft Electronics Association and National Air Transportation Association, which complained that the original 15-day comment period did not provide enough time to adequately respond to the AC, 145-MAN, Guide for Developing and Evaluating Repair Station and Quality Control Manuals.
REGIONAL FREIGHT CARRIERS FLOCKING TO NEW ASSOCIATION - Just three months after its initial board meeting in mid-August, the Regional Air Cargo Carriers Association (RACCA) has more than doubled its membership and is gearing up to represent that segment of the industry in FAA's upcoming review of Part 135 (BA, Nov. 18/225), the head of the association said.
AIRCRAFT EXHIBITS TO BEGIN MOVING INTO NEW DULLES MUSEUM IN MARCH - Historical aircraft - including the B-29 "Enola Gay" and a Mach 3+ SR-71 - will begin moving into the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center at Washington Dulles International Airport in March, about nine months before the new facility is scheduled to open to the public.
Patricia McConnell was named charter manager at Aerodynamics, Inc. She is an FAA-certified dispatcher and worked for the last 11 years at DaimlerChrysler in crew scheduling, dispatch and operations management. McConnell also has worked as a flight coordinator and charter manager at Aviation Group.
