GEAE PLANS TO SHRINK WORK FORCE BY UP TO 2,800 - A sluggish airline industry is spurring GE Aircraft Engines (GEAE) to cut its work force by 1,000 positions this fall and consider eliminating up to 1,800 more jobs next year, David Calhoun, GEAE president and chief executive, told employees last week. Calhoun predicted that the industry is just a year into what the company believes will be at least a three-year slowdown and said, "All across GE we see signs of recession...mostly as it relates to declining or already depressed levels of investment."
Pratt & Whitney selected Engineous Software's process integration and design optimization software, iSIGHT, for use in its design exploration and optimization efforts. The agreement continues a relationship that began in 1996 when Pratt & Whitney first used iSIGHT to develop software that could decrease design cycle time and assist with engine design. Pratt & Whitney has used iSIGHT in the development of more than 40 production applications.
Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta last week noted the concerns about the stadium restrictions, which have been in place for more than a year under a series of notices to airmen. He pointed to recent changes that DOT made to the restrictions, including a clarification that they cover only large sporting events and a waiver process to allow pre-cleared traffic to operate under certain conditions.
CSI Aviation Services, noting business has jumped some 40 percent in the smaller sports travel niche, said it has secured agreements with a number college basketball programs to provide air charter to and from games during the 2002-2003 basketball season. CSI won contracts from the University of Kentucky, Texas Tech, Georgia Tech, University of Michigan, Vanderbilt, Louisiana State University and the University of Alabama. Founded in 1979, CSI provides charter management services through a network of airlines and Part 135 operators.
House Transportation Committee ranking member James Oberstar (D-Minn.) is authoring a bill giving relief to laid-off aviation workers industry-wide, including those in the manufacturing sector. Oberstar's plan was to offer the legislation as a freestanding bill "to call attention to the fact that it's unfinished business of the 107th Congress...that these folks affected by the Sept. 11 attacks have not gotten the relief that Congress promised."
Eastern Michigan University teamed with Eagle Flight Center, a flight training school based at Willow Run Airport, to create a new four-year, accredited aviation degree program. The new Aviation Flight Technology program is designed to prepare students for entry-level professional pilot positions. Eagle Flight Center will provide the flight training for the program. The curriculum also includes a number of specialized courses that incorporate aviation business and management skills, safety, crew resource management, and aviation law and regulations.
A Texas pilot partially lost control of his Cirrus SR-22 four-seat single-engine aircraft but landed uninjured after he deployed the airframe parachute. Lionel Morrison, 53, of Dallas, was flying the aircraft Oct. 3 back to its base at Dallas Executive Airport (RBD) from Addison Airport (ADS) after maintenance work, including the replacement of the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) activation cable, when he began to experience control problems.
Secretary Mineta acknowledged the frustrations of the general aviation community about ongoing airspace restrictions and said, "When it comes to general aviation, the department is trying to work as hard as it can to make sure that airports are open across the country." Speaking at an Aviation Summit at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Tuesday, Mineta reiterated that some of the remaining restrictions, particularly the ones involving the closure of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), are "something that is sort of beyond the control" of the department.
Ascent Technologies, a Phillips 66 fuel distributor based in Parish, N.Y., will expand its marketing to nine states in the South and Southwest. The added states are Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. Ascent already supports fixed-base operators in 16 states, mostly on the East Coast.
The Marquis Private Jet Card was picked to be a special featured gift in this year's Neiman Marcus Christmas Book. The card, offered by Marquis Jet Partners, is a one-year, pre-paid lease of a fractional interest in a specific aircraft, in 25-hour increments of flight time. The cost ranges from $109,000 to $299,000, depending on the type of aircraft. Marquis' fleet includes the Citation V Ultra, Citation Excel, Hawker 800 XP, Hawker 1000, Citation X, Falcon 2000 and Gulfstream IV-SP.
Jet Aviation Saudi Arabia expanded its line maintenance support and aircraft-on-ground services to provide round-the-clock coverage in the region. The company's team of eight engineers has received factory training on Gulfstream, Citation, Falcon, Hawker, Global Express and Challenger business jets. Jet Aviation opened its first facility in Saudi Arabia in 1979 in Jeddah. It added a second facility in Riyadh in 1981.
Bombardier delivered the first 74-seat Q400 aircraft to Japan Air Commuter. JAC, based in Kagoshima on the island of Kyushu in southern Japan, placed a firm order for five aircraft with one option in August 2001 and is the Japanese launch customer for the aircraft. The airline has a fleet of 12 YS-11A and 11 Saab 340B turboprops. The Q400 will replace YS-11A services on some routes.
Boeing signed a deal to acquire all of FlightSafety International's interests in their joint venture, FlightSafety Boeing Training International (FSBTI). The transaction is subject to U.S. and German government regulatory approvals. Boeing and FlightSafety formed FSBTI in 1997, which now employs 800 in 21 locations with 70 full flight simulators. Boeing will call its new subsidiary "Boeing Training International" and its headquarters will stay in Seattle.
The U.S. Air Force's Air Mobility Command is expected to issue a request for proposals by Oct. 28 for air terminal and grounding-handling services at Kuwait International Airport in Kuwait. The services sought will include personnel, equipment, tools, materials, supervision and other necessary items. The contractor will provide ground handling services, air terminal operations, and handling of classified information. Contract covers April 1, 2003 through Sept. 30, 2003. A pre-proposal site visit at Kuwait International Airport is scheduled for Nov. 6.
International Water-Guard Industries was granted a U.S. patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,454,952) for the company's aircraft potable water treatment units. The concepts of the patented technology, "fluid sterilization apparatus," were first applied to IWG's NPS-A3 aircraft potable water treatment unit, which combines carbon filtration with ultraviolet disinfection to produce water on board. IWG also will apply patent concepts to the new larger-capacity NPS-A6 that will be available before the end of the year.
Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) last week continued to block a bill in the Senate that would prohibit traffic over stadiums during events.Sen. John Breaux (D-La.) sponsored the measure, which was included as an amendment to the Aviation Security Improvement Act (BA, Sept. 23/135). The Senate was hoping to quickly pass the bill, but Inhofe placed a "hold" on the legislation in protest of the Breaux amendment. The two senators negotiated to find a compromise, but none was reached by late last week.
Stan Smith was appointed director of flight operations at Guardian Jet, LLC of Guilford, Conn. Smith recently completed a one-year active duty tour as a C-5 instructor pilot in the U.S. Air Force. He was previously director of flight operations for a single-pilot, Part 91 operator in the Boston area. Guardian Jet specializes in consulting, oversight and brokerage for the light-jet market.
International Water-Guard Industries was granted a U.S. patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,454,952) for the company's aircraft potable water treatment units. The concepts of the patented technology, "fluid sterilization apparatus," were first applied to IWG's NPS-A3 aircraft potable water treatment unit, which combines carbon filtration with ultraviolet disinfection to produce water on board. IWG also will apply patent concepts to the new larger-capacity NPS-A6 that will be available before the end of the year.
Slickedit, Inc., a software engineering firm, was selected to provide its Visual SlickEdit software to Lockheed Martin for use in developing the User Request Evaluation Tool Core Capability Limited Deployment (URET CCLD) system for FAA Air Route Traffic Control Centers. URET detects potential conflicts with other aircraft up to 20 minutes in advance and can determine if proposed changes to a flight plan are free from conflicts with other air traffic.
Eastern Michigan University teamed with Eagle Flight Center, a flight training school based at Willow Run Airport, to create a new four-year, accredited aviation degree program. The new Aviation Flight Technology program is designed to prepare students for entry-level professional pilot positions. Eagle Flight Center will provide the flight training for the program. The curriculum also includes a number of specialized courses that incorporate aviation business and management skills, safety, crew resource management, and aviation law and regulations.
Transportation Security Administration is working with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association to launch a hotline in December for people to report suspicious activity in or around airports. AOPA will enlist the help of pilots through its Airport Watch program to report security breaches. "We appreciate AOPA's proactive approach to enhance security for the general aviation community," said acting TSA Administrator James Loy.
Saab is marketing a cargo conversion kit for its 340A turboprop to executives in the U.S. and Canada. Saab is targeting mainline cargo carriers such as Federal Express and DHL. The conversion does not require structural, engine or avionics changes, Saab officials said. The cargo version carries a maximum payload of 8,500 pounds. Saab worked with Field Aviation, based in Calgary, Canada, to develop the $250,000 conversion kit. Average installation time is 30 days, Saab said.
Linda Binder was named to the Regional Aviation Partners' board of directors. Binder is an Arizona state representative and a candidate for the Arizona state Senate.
BizJet International of Tulsa, Okla., recently named several new employees, including Ron Larabie as vice president of the aircraft division, Chris Heredia as Northwest regional sales manager and Dean McKenzie as Midwest regional sales manager. The company also promoted Jace Stone to vice president of sales, marketing and business development and John Lacy to senior customer service manager for the engine division.
Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) last week continued to block a bill in the Senate that would prohibit traffic over stadiums during events. Sen. John Breaux (D-La.) sponsored the measure, which was included as an amendment to the Aviation Security Improvement Act (BA, Sept. 23/135). The Senate was hoping to quickly pass the bill, but Inhofe placed a "hold" on the legislation in protest of the Breaux amendment. The two senators negotiated to find a compromise, but none was reached by late last week.
