ALPINE AIR LAUNCHES CARGO OWNERSHIP PROGRAM - Regional cargo carrier Alpine Air Express launched a program designed to help companies either expand or start up cargo operations under Alpine's Part 135 certificate. Under the program, Alpine Air would work with Raytheon Aircraft to sell used Beech 1900s or 99s to prospective owners. The aircraft would operate under Alpine Air's Part 135 certificate, and Alpine Air would provide operational assistance, training, and maintenance programs for the new owners.
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.
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.
PIEDMONT HAWTHORNE REORGANIZES, SELLS AIRLINER DIVISION - Piedmont Hawthorne Aviation completed the sale of its airliner maintenance and overhaul division to the newly formed Piedmont Aviation Component Services. The division handles auxiliary power units, landing gear, propellers and parts sales and procurement and distribution.
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.
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.
The NBAA President also observed that so far TSA's effect on business aviation operations has been relatively slight because the agency has been consumed with organizational issues and focused on congressional requirements to achieve certain security objectives with regard to scheduled airlines and their passengers. Now that those objectives are close to being met, Olcott warned that "TSA is going to have a lot more time to focus on business aviation. Six months from now we may look back on Nov. 20 as the good old days," he cautioned.
Jack Olcott, president of the National Business Aviation Association, says the current buzz words for business aviation are "access and uncertainty." Speaking at a meeting of corporate pilots at Washington Dulles International Airport Wednesday, Olcott noted that access to the national airspace system and individual airports is no longer determined by FAA, but rather by the Transportation Security Administration, which will now move from the Transportation Department to the new Department of Homeland Security.
The NBAA President also observed that so far TSA's effect on business aviation operations has been relatively slight because the agency has been consumed with organizational issues and focused on congressional requirements to achieve certain security objectives with regard to scheduled airlines and their passengers. Now that those objectives are close to being met, Olcott warned that "TSA is going to have a lot more time to focus on business aviation. Six months from now we may look back on Nov. 20 as the good old days," he cautioned.
CTT Systems received an order from Associated Air Center in Dallas for a CTT Zonal Comfort system that will be installed on a VIP Boeing 767 aircraft. The order is the first that the Swedish company has received from a U.S.-based completion center. Based in Nykoping, Sweden, CTT provides humidity control and condensation systems for aircraft and has worked with international completion centers including Lufthansa Technik and Jet Aviation. The Zonal Comfort system is designed to address problems with dry air in cabins by raising relative humidity to 25 percent.
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association said a new pilot facility at First Flight Airport in Kill Devil Hills, N.C., is slated for completion next month. AOPA and its members donated the facility, which will be the only structure that will remain permanently after the first-powered-flight centennial celebrations end in December 2003. The facility will include a pilot work area with computerized weather stations and telephones for contacting the local flight service station, and full restrooms replacing the portable toilets now available to pilots.
AVIATION GROUPS PREPARE FOR NEW HOMELAND SECURITY DEPARTMENT - Aviation groups last week began to gear up for the latest chapter in aviation security requirements as the House Friday gave its final seal of approval to create a new Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The House approval followed Senate passage by a 90-9 vote on Tuesday.
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.
The Commission on the Future of the Aerospace Industry issued an "urgent call for action to the public and lawmakers" last week with the release of its final report, in which the panel recommended sweeping changes to the nation's aerospace system.
Charlie Geiger was named vice president of flight operations at Million Air Charter in Teterboro, N.J. He will be responsible for the company's charter operation and fleet. Geiger most recently worked as manager of scheduling and dispatch for a travel services company.
Steve Antuna was named dispatch manager at Aerodynamics, Inc. in Waterford, Mich. A certified pilot, Antuna was most recently senior dispatcher for domestic and international flight operations at DaimlerChrysler/Pentar Aviation, where he worked for 20 years.
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.
Jack Olcott, president of the National Business Aviation Association, says the current buzz words for business aviation are "access and uncertainty." Speaking at a meeting of corporate pilots at Washington Dulles International Airport Wednesday, Olcott noted that access to the national airspace system and individual airports is no longer determined by FAA, but rather by the Transportation Security Administration, which will now move from the Transportation Department to the new Department of Homeland Security.
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.
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.
Piedmont Hawthorne Aviation completed the sale of its airliner maintenance and overhaul division to the newly formed Piedmont Aviation Component Services. The division handles auxiliary power units, landing gear, propellers and parts sales and procurement and distribution.
Regional Airline Association's board of directors elected Skip Barnette, Atlantic Southeast Airlines president, as chairman of the association. Barnette succeeds Atlantic Coast Airlines President Tom Moore, who was the 2002 chairman.
CTT Systems received an order from Associated Air Center in Dallas for a CTT Zonal Comfort system that will be installed on a VIP Boeing 767 aircraft. The order is the first that the Swedish company has received from a U.S.-based completion center. Based in Nykoping, Sweden, CTT provides humidity control and condensation systems for aircraft and has worked with international completion centers including Lufthansa Technik and Jet Aviation. The Zonal Comfort system is designed to address problems with dry air in cabins by raising relative humidity to 25 percent.
Model SAAB 340B series airplanes equipped with Hamilton Sundstrand propellers (Docket No. 2002-NM-200-AD) - proposes to require a one-time inspection of two remote controlled circuit breakers (RCCB), located in specific electrical compartments, to identify the part number, and replacement of the RCCBs with new RCCBs having a different part number if necessary. This action is necessary to ensure removal of 35-amp RCCBs on a 50-amp electrical circuit.
Model 750 airplanes (Docket No. 99-NM-218-AD; Amendment 39-12949; AD 2002-23-05) - requires replacement of reset circuit breakers for the auxiliary hydraulic pump system and the King KHF 950 high-frequency communication system(s) with new circuit breakers.
