Clay Lacy Aviation, which has operated a fixed-base operation at Van Nuys, Calif. (VNY) for 35 years, has partnered with Joe Clark, the chief executive of Aviation Partners, Inc. (API), to acquire the Flight Center FBO at Boeing Field (BFI) in Seattle, Wash. The facility will be rebranded as the Clay Lacy Flight Center.
Number of employees at Cessna is about 12,800 now, following acceptance of a voluntary separation program by about 400 workers (BA, July 1/4). Employment will drop below the 12,000 mark next year as some production rates slow, but officials are confident hiring will rebound in 2004 as new aircraft models enter production.
Jeppesen launched a new Flight Operations Services unit to deliver aircraft dispatch services to corporate operators. The new enterprise is designed to "support those operators who are constrained by limited resources by enabling them to remain focused on running healthy operations, while freeing them from making large investments in dispatch and flight operations support departments," the company said. The Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League is the launch customer for Flight Operations Services. The team operates a DC-9 under Part 125.
SENATE PANEL SUPPORTS BLAKEY, OUTLINES PRIORITIES - The Senate Commerce Committee wasted no time in offering its vote of confidence for FAA Administrator nominee Marion Blakey at her confirmation hearing last week, but senators provided detailed recommendations about the challenges facing FAA during Blakey's five-year term.
Transportation Security Administration has gotten a lot of bad press during its first months of operation, but things should improve when TSA employees begin showing up for work next year in their spiffy new uniforms. The agency issued a request for information last week seeking input to help it develop "an acquisition strategy" for the new uniforms that will go into service in October 2003.
More than a dozen air cargo carriers have formed a new Regional Air Cargo Carriers Association (RACCA) to address issues of interest to that segment of the industry.
Docket No.: FAA-2002-12474 Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR Sec. 61.153(a) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit Michael T. Kane to obtain an airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate before reaching 23 years of age. Denial, July 1, 2002, Exemption No. 7828
Cessna Aircraft, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the original Citation business jet's entry into service, is in the midst of a major expansion of its service center network to support a growing fleet that will number 4,000 business jets by the end of next year.
While Honeywell did not include the "Ultra Light" category of airplane in its annual Business Aviation Outlook, the manufacturer said its studies have shown strong potential for aircraft such as the Eclipse and Safire S-26. Honeywell said its surveys indicate a potential market for 8,000 of such aircraft over the next 10-15 years. "Based on current aircraft specifications and pricing, purchase expectations were substantial, especially in the owner-flown segment of operators." That segment alone could outpace all other new business jet deliveries put together.
Docket No.: FAA-2002-12133 Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR Sec. 121.463(c) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit SkyWest to substitute the Canadair Regional Jet Bombardier CRJ CL-65 airplane (CL-65) for the Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia airplane (EMB-120) to allow certain dispatchers to accomplish the operating familiarization during the completion of recurrent training. Grant, July 11, 2002, Exemption No. 7780A
RAYTHEON Model DH.125, HS.125, and BH.125 series airplanes; Model BAe.125 series 800A, 800A (C-29A), 800A (U-125), 800B, 1000A, and 1000B airplanes; and Hawker 800, 800 (U-125A), 1000, and 800XP airplanes (Docket No. 2002-NM-15-AD) - proposes to supersede an existing AD that currently requires an inspection for cracking or corrosion of the cylinder head lugs of the main landing gear (MLG) actuator and follow-on/corrective actions.
HONEYWELL plans to lead an industry team to develop a Structural Anomaly Mapping system, a laser guided and computer controlled robotic platform to detect aircraft surface corrosion "that is designed to scan an entire aircraft in hours with no human interaction." The SAM system will deliver "a 3-D digital visualization of the inspection results for maintenance evaluation," Honeywell said.
Iridium Satellite signed a service partner agreement with Blue Sky Network, a satellite and communications specialist, to improve cockpit and cabin communications. Iridium delivers communication services through a constellation of 66 low-earth orbiting satellites operated by Boeing. Iridium said the partnership supports its strategy to develop and market products to aviation and other commercial customers. "Blue Sky and Iridium enable pilots and passengers on planes, large or small, to communicate to and from anywhere in the world," the company said.
While Honeywell did not include the "Ultra Light" category of airplane in its annual Business Aviation Outlook, the manufacturer said its studies have shown strong potential for aircraft such as the Eclipse and Safire S-26. Honeywell said its surveys indicate a potential market for 8,000 of such aircraft over the next 10-15 years. "Based on current aircraft specifications and pricing, purchase expectations were substantial, especially in the owner-flown segment of operators." That segment alone could outpace all other new business jet deliveries put together.
ECLIPSE 500 BEGINS FLIGHT TESTING - The Eclipse 500 has begun 16 months of flight testing leading up to anticipated FAA certification in December 2003, with its first flight in Albuquerque, N.M. at the end of last month.
Jason Chamberlain was named vice president, mobility and surveillance systems at Pratt & Whitney. He will be responsible for Pratt & Whitney's airlift, surveillance and tanker products for military customers. Chamberlain joined P&W in 1979 and was most recently the program director for airlift and mature engine programs.
The merger of Conoco, Inc. and Phillips Petroleum Co. into ConocoPhillips was completed Aug. 30, following clearance by the Federal Trade Commission. The merged entity bills itself as "the third-largest integrated U.S. energy company" and the "sixth-largest publicly held energy company based on hydrocarbon reserves and production." It also is the fifth-largest global refiner.
Cessna Aircraft delivered a Citation Excel to the Swiss government's Federal Office for Civil Aviation for government and ministerial transportation, the first Excel delivered to the Swiss government.
AVIATION GENERAL NAMES FORMER MOONEY EXECUTIVE TO COMMANDER POSTS - Aviation General, Inc., the corporate parent of Commander Aircraft Company, named a former Mooney Aircraft executive to several positions at its Bethany, Okla. manufacturing operation. Joseph M. Voss was named executive vice president, chief operating officer and chief financial officer of Commander. Voss previously served as vice president of Mooney Aircraft Corp. and before joining the aviation industry he was with Dell Computer Corp.
Adam Aircraft has agreed to join NASA's Small Aircraft Transportation System (SATS) research program, which was launched in attempt to drive down the cost of small aircraft and open access to lots more airports. The initial five-year, $69 million program will develop and evaluate new technologies and operating procedures at several airports around the country with technology flight demonstrations slated by mid-2005. Adam Aircraft was invited to participate in the demonstration with its A500, a pressurized, six-place, centerline-thrust twin aircraft.
Pat Zerbe, the veteran aviation industry communications executive, joined GE Aircraft Engines global communications team in the newly created position of manager, enterprise communication. She will be based in Evendale, Ohio and report to Karen Tripp, general manager of the engine unit's communications office. In her new post, Zerbe will be responsible for use of the GE Engines brand, image advertising, interface with the financial press and environmental communications. Zerbe began her public relations career with Raytheon Aircraft in Wichita, Kan.
Richard Michaels was named vice president, sales at Flight Options. Michaels will lead a team of 10 sales representatives. Michaels, who has more than 20 years of aircraft sales experience, was previously Midwestern regional sales manager for Gulfstream.
Midcoast Aviation signed an agreement with Really Quiet LLC to provide ongoing engineering support for Really Quiet's hushkit and integrated thrust reverser system for Spey-powered Gulfstream aircraft. Midcoast also took options to install 10 of the hushkits, which were the first to win FAA approval on Gulfstream II, IIB, and III business jets (BA, Feb. 4/59). The hushkit incorporates a pylon-mounted translating ejector. During takeoff and approach, the hushkit forces exhaust through a nozzle into an ejector shroud that reduces exhaust velocity and noise.
Adam Aircraft has agreed to join NASA's Small Aircraft Transportation System (SATS) research program, which was launched in attempt to drive down the cost of small aircraft and open access to lots more airports. The initial five-year, $69 million program will develop and evaluate new technologies and operating procedures at several airports around the country with technology flight demonstrations slated by mid-2005. Adam Aircraft was invited to participate in the demonstration with its A500, a pressurized, six-place, centerline-thrust twin aircraft.
Wing Aviation opened a new service center at Montgomery County Airport in Conroe, Texas, near Houston. The facility, which has 54,000 square feet of hangar space, will provide maintenance for most Gulfstream aircraft as well as services for other mid- and large-cabin corporate aircraft. The facility is equipped to provide interior refurbishment and upgrades, FBO line services, custom paint and detailing, avionics upgrades and repair and other maintenance services.
