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."
Model AS 365 N3 and EC 155B helicopters (Docket No. 2001-SW-61-AD) - proposes to revise the Airworthiness Limitations section of the maintenance manuals by establishing a new service life limit for the Fenestron pitch change control rod. This proposal is prompted by a failure of a control rod on a prototype helicopter that led to a precautionary landing. The actions specified by this proposed AD are intended to prevent failure of the control rod, loss of control of the tail rotor, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
The organizers of the Aviation World's Fair 2003, expressing "indescribable disappointment," have begun the search for a new venue after the Commonwealth of Virginia and the City of Newport News, Va. pulled their support from the event that was planned for Newport News to commemorate the 100th anniversary o12f powered flight.
Accidents and fatalities involving U.S. business jets and turboprops continued their downward trend during the third quarter of 2002, according to data compiled by Robert E. Breiling Associates of Boca Raton, Fla. During the first nine months of 2002, the U.S. business jet and turboprop fleet experienced 47 accidents, including 12 fatal accidents that resulted in 31 passenger and crew fatalities. During the same period in 2001, there were 49 accidents, including 19 fatal accidents that resulted in the deaths of 66 passengers and crew members.
Flight Safety Technologies, the Mystic, Conn.-based developer of technologies designed to improve aviation safety and efficiency, began trading shares on the Over the Counter Bulletin Board under the symbol FLST. Flight Safety listing follows the completion of a share exchange with a Nevada company formerly known as Reel Staff, Inc. Flight Safety's stock also was approved to trade on the Berlin Stock Exchange under the symbol of FSH. Flight Safety has been developing its SOCRATES wake turbulence detection technology and UNICORN collision warning system.
Rockwell Collins Aviation Services (CAS) won certification from the United Kingdom's Civil Aviation Authority to perform on-board in-flight entertainment (IFE) maintenance on Joint Aviation Authority-registered aircraft. The JAR-145 Limited A1 authorization allows CAS facilities at London Heathrow and London Gatwick airports to service IFE systems and complete the certificate of release to service. CAS is seeking similar approval for its bases at Paris Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports.
FAA RELEASES SECURITY REMINDER FOR OPERATORS - FAA last week released a new security bulletin to small aircraft and airfield operators. FAA noted the recent statements that Al Qaeda leaders reportedly have made threatening more attacks against U.S. economic interests and said the agency is "seeking your cooperation in helping safeguard the air transportation system.
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.
Schubach Aviation, an air charter company based in San Diego, Calif., added a Citation X to its fleet. The aircraft can seat eight passengers and fly at speeds of up to 600 miles per hour. The Citation X is the 13th airplane in Schubach's fleet that includes a variety of aircraft ranging from King Air to Hawker aircraft.
ATAC SAYS PROPOSED NAV CANADA FEE HIKE BOOSTS COST HEADACHES - Nav Canada proposed raising all its airline and general aviation service fees by 3 percent, and although it's no surprise to the Canadian airline industry, the hike is unwelcome. The fee increase would take effect Jan. 1, 2003, for airlines, and two months later for general aviation. The increase will affect domestic operations, international carriers' overflights, and the significant proportion of transatlantic traffic that Nav Canada controls.
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.
HONEYWELL ENGINE POWERS CONVERTED AMPHIBIOUS AIRCRAFT - The Honeywell TPE331-12 turboprop engine successfully powered a converted Cessna Caravan C-208 aircraft, configured with floats and wheels, in its first flight tests. Aero Twin, Inc., based in Anchorage, Alaska, is converting Caravan aircraft to the "850 Caravan," which will be certified in early second quarter 2003. The company installed a 1,060 shp TPE331-12 flat-rated to 850 shp, driving a four-blade Hartzell propeller.
FAA last week released a new security bulletin to small aircraft and airfield operators. FAA noted the recent statements that Al Qaeda leaders reportedly have made threatening more attacks against U.S. economic interests and said the agency is "seeking your cooperation in helping safeguard the air transportation system.
Helicopter Association International President Roy Resavage and a panel of forestry officials appeared before Congress last week to oppose proposed legislation that would allow the use of military aircraft to fight wildfires without first comparing the cost of using commercial firefighting aircraft.
DHL International signed a 15-year, $100 million franchise agreement for the development, construction and operation of an Express Cargo Terminal at Hong Kong International Airport. The terminal, which is schedule to open in 2004, will be built in three phases, near existing cargo terminal operators. DHL expects that the terminal will create 700 new jobs and $27 million in payroll by 2004.
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.
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.
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.
Jet Aviation Zurich recently installed its first moving terrain system on a Citation Excel aircraft. Using a GPS receiver and antenna, the moving map tracks and indicates aircraft position on the ground and in flight on a LCD-display.
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.
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.
Fractional aircraft pilot hiring has picked up this year but still is lagging behind hiring levels two years ago, according to AIR, Inc. Fractional aircraft providers hired 901 pilots through the end of September of this year, up from the 843 pilots hired through October of last year but down from the 1,210 pilots hired in the first three quarters of 2000. Fractional providers hired a total of 1,038 pilots in 2001 and 1,363 pilots in 2000, AIR, Inc. said.
Million Air Charter Teterboro added a Hawker 800A and a Gulfstream IV to its fleet, bringing the total number of aircraft to eight. The Hawker is configured to seat eight and the Gulfstream can seat up to 13.
