Bombardier delivered a "Challenger 800," a 34-passenger corporate shuttle variant of the Bombardier CRJ200 regional jet, to Beijing-based China Ocean Aviation Group, which will use the aircraft to transport senior government personnel. China Ocean Aviation Group also operates a 50-passenger CRJ200 that will be retrofitted with a 34-seat corporate interior.
A Chinese aircraft manufacturer, AVIC 1 Commercial Aircraft Company, selected the General Electric CF34-10A turbofan to power the ARJ21 regional jet airliner the company is developing for use on feeder routes in China. GE signed a letter of intent last week to supply engines for both the 79- and 99-seat versions of the ARJ21. The 79-seat version is scheduled to enter service in 2007, with certification of the larger model to follow. GE said certification of the -10A engine is scheduled in 2005.
Honeywell was selected to supply its Primus Epic integrated avionics system for the PlaneView cockpit in the Gulfstream G500 and its SPZ-8400 avionics for the G300. The two aircraft were part of an expanded and renamed line of aircraft that Gulfstream unveiled during the National Business Aviation Association convention in September in Orlando, Fla. (BA, Sept. 16/126). The G500 is a 5,800-nautical-mile version of the GV-SP that is designed to compete against the Falcon 7X and Bombardier Global 5000.
Canadian Business Aviation Association is holding a Domestic Reduced Vertical Separation Minimums (DRVSM) information session Nov. 21 in Toronto. The meeting will focus on the proposed introduction of DRVSM in Canadian airspace, concurrent with introduction of DRVSM in the U.S., which is currently scheduled for December 2004. The meeting will be held at the Mid-Canada Mod Center at Toronto's Pearson International Airport and will begin at 10 a.m.
Bombardier delivered a "Challenger 800," a 34-passenger corporate shuttle variant of the Bombardier CRJ200 regional jet, to Beijing-based China Ocean Aviation Group, which will use the aircraft to transport senior government personnel. China Ocean Aviation Group also operates a 50-passenger CRJ200 that will be retrofitted with a 34-seat corporate interior.
CSI Aviation Services, Albuquerque, N.M., recently took delivery of two additional MD82 aircraft on lease from AirFinance to support a CSI contract with the Department of Justice.
Warning that inefficiencies in the national air transportation system cost billions of dollars annually, a senior Honeywell executive called for continued infrastructure improvements and new thinking to make the aerospace industry more efficient.
FAA PROVIDES GUIDANCE FOR USE OF INTERNET FOR WEATHER, NOTAMS - The Federal Aviation Administration released guidance that will allow pilots to use the Internet as an officially recognized source for aviation weather reports and notices to airmen. The guidance, Internet Communications of Aviation Weather and Notams (Advisory Circular 00-62), establishes a process for organizations to become a "Qualified Internet Communications Provider" (QICP) and provide aviation weather and Notams on the Internet.
Canadian Business Aviation Association is holding a Domestic Reduced Vertical Separation Minimums (DRVSM) information session Nov. 21 in Toronto. The meeting will focus on the proposed introduction of DRVSM in Canadian airspace, concurrent with introduction of DRVSM in the U.S., which is currently scheduled for December 2004. The meeting will be held at the Mid-Canada Mod Center at Toronto's Pearson International Airport and will begin at 10 a.m.
TELEDYNE UNIT BRINGS PISTON-ENGINE FADEC TO MARKET - Teledyne Technologies unit Aerosance has won FAA approval for and is offering a full authority digital engine control (FADEC) system for a number of piston-engine aircraft, the company announced late last month during the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Expo in Palm Springs, Calif. The PowerLink FADEC, the culmination of five years of development, will electronically manage piston-powered engines on general aviation aircraft.
Summary: Pursuant to FAA's rulemaking provisions governing the application, processing, and disposition of petitions for exemption (14 CFR Part 11), this notice contains a summary of certain petitions seeking relief from specified requirements of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR Chapter I), dispositions of certain petitions previously received, and corrections. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities.
Honeywell is developing a new low-cost multi-function display for piston-powered general aviation aircraft, the company announced late last month during AOPA's Expo in Palm Springs, Calif. The three-inch-high Bendix/King KMD 250 MFD is expected to enter the market in the spring. The unit will use an active matrix liquid crystal display that can display information from several optional sensors, including data link weather, lightning detection, and traffic. The system will allow pilots to switch directly to the map, weather or traffic screens.
Honeywell has developed an avionics retrofit package for early Cessna Citation 500 models that would meet the standards for operating in reduced vertical separation minimums (RVSM) airspace. The Bendix/King package, offered through Honeywell dealers, includes two AM-250 altimeter/air data computers, a KFC 325 autopilot, a two-display EFIS50 electronic flight instrument system and engineering data. Honeywell plans to win group certification, which the company estimated would save aircraft owners five to 10 hours of test flights.
The soft commercial aviation market continued to hurt manufacturers as Goodrich last week reported that sales declined by more than 16 percent and net income fell by almost 50 percent in the third quarter. Goodrich reported $882 million in sales for the three months ended Sept. 30, compared with $1.05 billion in the third quarter of 2001. Net income plummeted from $88 million in the third quarter of 2001 to $46 million in the most recent quarter.
National Business Travel Association predicted the costs of business travel will increase five percent next year with the price of business airfares growing seven percent and hotel and corporate car rental rates inching up by two percent.
Experimental Aircraft Association is working with FAA and the Transportation Safety Institute to develop materials to train new Designated Airworthiness Representatives. Initial training sessions will begin in March at the FAA's training center in Oklahoma City, Okla. EAA said the effort is designed to "ease the backlog of airworthiness inspection requests for amateur-built aircraft. The number of inspection requests to FAA has grown while the agency's resources have stagnated." EAA said that backlog is hampering the growth of aircraft homebuilding.
Hansel Tookes, former chairman and chief executive of Raytheon Aircraft Company, is retiring as president of Raytheon International. Tookes spent about 27 months at RAC before he was replaced by Jim Schuster.
Gulfstream Aerospace delivered two G100s, one G200, six GIV-SPs and eight GV business jets in the third quarter of 2003. This brings the total number aircraft delivered through the first three quarters to eight G100s, 13 G200s, 23 GIV-SPs and 24 GVs. BA inverted the numbers for the G-IVSP and GV as well as the G100 and G200 in the Business/Personal Regional Aircraft - Third Quarter Shipments chart printed in the Oct. 28 edition.
General Aviation Manufacturers Association board of directors is expected to approve membership in the organization for four non-U.S. aircraft manufacturers at GAMA's board meeting this week in Palm Springs, Calif. (BA, Sept. 23/139). The four companies are Bombardier of Canada, Dassault Falcon Jet of France, Embraer of Brazil and Piaggio of Italy. Admission of the four non-U.S. members will end an internal debate among GAMA members that has persisted periodically for years and help clear the way for other foreign OEMs to join the association in the future.
Hamilton Aerospace, the recently established Part 145 repair station based in Tucson, Ariz., received a contract from Goodrich Aerostructures Group to overhaul one of its Boeing 727 aircraft. Announcement comes on the heels of an agreement to maintain Aviation Partners Boeing's B737-300 aircraft.
Bombardier handed over the 700th 50-seat CRJ series regional jet (Serial Number 7700), to Spanish carrier Air Nostrum. The delivery increases Air Nostrum's CRJ200 fleet to 16 aircraft. The airline ordered 21 of the aircraft in March 2000. Air Nostrum, which has a franchise agreement with Spanish flag carrier Iberia, also has taken delivery of 16 of the 29 52-seat Bombardier Q300 turboprop aircraft on order.
Jim Spinder was named president and chief operating officer at Atlantic Aero and its sister companies Aero Modification&Consulting and Mid Atlantic Freight. For the past three years, Spinder has been the executive vice president and general manager of the three companies. He also worked as president of Alliance Engines before joining Atlantic Aero.
series turboprop engines (Docket No. 2001-NE-01-AD) - proposes to require removal from service of certain turbine rotor components at reduced life limits. This proposal is prompted by the result of recalculated material properties by the manufacturer. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent uncontained turbine rotor failure resulting in in-flight engine shutdown and possible damage to the airplane. FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 684 engines installed on aircraft on the U.S. Registry at a cost of $30.8 million.
Hamilton Aerospace, the recently established Part 145 repair station based in Tucson, Ariz., received a contract from Goodrich Aerostructures Group to overhaul one of its Boeing 727 aircraft. Announcement comes on the heels of an agreement to maintain Aviation Partners Boeing's B737-300 aircraft.
Robert Hudson was named aircraft services manager at Piedmont Hawthorne. He has more than 18 years of experience with Beechcraft/Raytheon Aircraft. Hudson was most recently shop supervisor at Stevens Aviation's Dayton, Ohio location.
