Cessna will roll out its 1,000th Caravan 208B in the fourth quarter this year. The 208B includes both the Grand Caravan and the Super Cargomaster. The Caravan fleet, which also includes the Caravan 675 and the Caravan Amphibian, now numbers 1,300.
Privatair added an executive Boeing 737-300 to its charter fleet. Designed with a forward cabin configured in a four-club layout, the U.S.-registered aircraft can seat up to 44 people for executive group travel. The aircraft has a bar area in the center, and the forward section can be divided off for privacy.
Max-Viz, Inc. delivered its first demonstrator EVS-1000 Enhanced Vision System (EVS) to Dassault Aviation. The tail-mounted system will be used to test and demonstrate the electro-optical system that consists of an EVS infrared sensor, EVS power supply and a modified Falcon 900EX vertical stabilizer fairing. Max-Viz and Dassault collaborated for a year to develop the EVS to meet the size, weight and design constraints of the Falcon family of aircraft.
Dassault Falcon Jet President Jean Rosanvallon says the company is "very pleased" to have 30 orders for its new 7X business jet, most of which came from long-time and loyal customers. He said it is to be expected that the 7X orderbook will probably plateau for a while since the next available aircraft would not be delivered until the second quarter of 2008. The 7X, which will be priced at about $35 million, is being designed with a maximum range of 5,700 nautical miles (BA, Nov. 5/209).
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University launched its accelerated First Officer Flight Training program (FOFT). Offered through the university's Aviation & Space Technology Academy, the program is a 10- to 12-month course that "trains first officer candidates to regional airline and corporate fleet standards," giving candidates 550 hours of total flight experience and advanced jet simulator flight time, Embry-Riddle said. Training will take place at St. Augustine Airport in Florida.
August 31-September 2 - The Cleveland National Air Show, 1501 North Marginal Road, Burke Lakefront Airport, Cleveland, Ohio. For more information call Kim Dell at (216) 781-0747 or visit www.clevelandairshow.com September 8 - National Aircraft Resale Association Fall Meeting, Peabody Hotel, Orlando, Fla. September 10-12 - National Business Aviation Association 55th Annual Meeting and Convention, Orlando, Fla., (202) 783-9000
GA leaders are meeting this week to hash out ideas that they will give to the Transportation Department on how to produce better pilot certificates; how to handle security for international operations, pilots and student pilots; how to improve charter security; and how to distribute and communicate temporary flight restrictions. DOT Deputy Secretary Michael Jackson appealed to the GA community for its input in those four areas during a meeting last month with trade association executives and several senior-level security officers.
Kaman Corp. reached agreement to buy privately held German bearing manufacturer RWG Frankenjura-Industrie Flugwerklager GmbH. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. RWG makes spherical and ball bearings, rod ends, bushings and specialty components for the aerospace industry.
Kaman Corp. reached agreement to buy privately held German bearing manufacturer RWG Frankenjura-Industrie Flugwerklager GmbH. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. RWG makes spherical and ball bearings, rod ends, bushings and specialty components for the aerospace industry.
Pilots of two Bell 206 helicopters escaped serious injury in separate incidents last month. National Transportation Safety Board said the pilot of a privately owned Bell 206B briefly lost control of his aircraft when the windshield failed while he was cruising at an airspeed of 110 knots and an altitude of 2,500 feet. After regaining control of the helicopter, the pilot made a successful emergency landing along U.S. Highway 26 near Seaside, Ore.
LYCOMING INTRODUCES NEW EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT ENGINE - Lycoming unveiled its newest engine, the IO-390-X, a derivative of the popular IO-360, last month.
Dassault Falcon Jet President Jean Rosanvallon says the company is "very pleased" to have 30 orders for its new 7X business jet, most of which came from long-time and loyal customers. He said it is to be expected that the 7X orderbook will probably plateau for a while since the next available aircraft would not be delivered until the second quarter of 2008. The 7X, which will be priced at about $35 million, is being designed with a maximum range of 5,700 nautical miles (BA, Nov. 5/209).
BAE Model HP.137 Jetstream Mk.1, Jetstream Series 200, Jetstream Series 3101, and Jetstream Model 3201 airplanes (Docket No. 2002-CE-14-AD) - proposes to require repetitive inspections of the horizontal and vertical stabilizer attachment fittings and associated hardware for corrosion and wear. If damage is found, this proposed AD also would require repair or replacement of the damaged parts. This proposed AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for the United Kingdom.
The Stock Symbol for Mooney Aerospace Group, Ltd. has changed from AASI to MASG. The company was previously known as Advanced Aerodynamics&Structures, Inc. It acquired the assets of Mooney Aircraft Corp. of Kerrville, Texas earlier this year (BA, June 24/295).
Raytheon Aircraft Charter And Management expanded its charter fleet with three more aircraft: a Beechjet 400A based in Plymouth, Mass.; a Learjet 35A in Kenosha, Wis.; and, a Challenger 604 in Opa Locka, Fla. Raytheon Aircraft has offered charter for more than 40 years.
HONEYWELL deployed its data link weather ground station network on the West Coast, expanding its coverage with seven new installations in California. "This expansion represents the beginning of the first affordable nationwide real-time weather data link system for general aviation pilots," said Dan Barks, director of marketing for Honeywell business, regional and general aviation. "We expect the U.S. to be completely covered by mid-2003." The Honeywell network comprises ground stations throughout the U.S.
Aerospace Products International signed a multi-year agreement with Gulfstream to provide logistics services for the business jet manufacturer's aftermarket product support program. API, a First Aviation Services subsidiary, will provide Gulfstream with "aerospace aftermarket information technology" and "worldwide logistics capabilities," said Jerry Schlesinger, API president and CEO.
Embraer officials expect to win certification for the Legacy business jet within the next six weeks, barring any last-minute delays. The Legacy, a corporate variant of the ERJ-135 regional jet, was slotted to compete as a lower-priced alternative to the Fairchild Dornier Envoy 7, but the Brazilian-built aircraft will benefit from the demise of the German program.
ADAM AIRCRAFT'S A500 TAKES FIRST FLIGHT - Adam Aircraft Industries' first A500 Carbon Aero aircraft completed a 40-minute first flight from Centennial Airport in Englewood, Colo. last month. Test pilots conducted a series of aircraft handling and engine performance tests at an altitude of 12,500 feet.
Cessna Aircraft won an order from the Louisiana State Department of Agriculture and Forestry for 18 Skylane 182s. The aircraft, slated for delivery in 2003, will be used for forest fire surveillance. Twin City Aviation, a Cessna Sales Team Authorized Representative (CSTAR), negotiated the contract. The Louisiana State Department of Agriculture and Forestry has operated Cessna aircraft for about 30 years and currently has older Cessna 172s and 182s in its fleet.
The U.S. Customs Service last month began notifying commercial operators that it is raising the minimums on bonds required for international travel to $75,000. Some operators, who have few international flights, previously were required to obtain only $25,000 bonds. The increase in minimums comes at a time when insurance companies - which issue a significant percentage of the bonds - have already dramatically raised their rates.
Privatair added an executive Boeing 737-300 to its charter fleet. Designed with a forward cabin configured in a four-club layout, the U.S.-registered aircraft can seat up to 44 people for executive group travel. The aircraft has a bar area in the center, and the forward section can be divided off for privacy.
Bombardier's Learjet business jet manufacturing operation in Wichita laid off another 150 employees Friday, continuing a trend that began after last September's terrorist attacks on the U.S. Last week's reductions include 115 production workers and another 35 employees in other areas of the Wichita plant. A spokesman said the layoffs reflect a decision to reduce production rates of the company's line of business jets because of softness in the market. The company is trying to cut costs wherever it can with the aim of maintaining as many jobs as possible.
Aerospace and defense industry officials testified before Congress last week that changes in the tax provisions of U.S. export law could cost the industry thousands of jobs and millions of dollars.
A hurried effort to rush through the Senate confirmation of Marion Blakey as Jane Garvey's successor as FAA Administrator fell short Thursday, leaving the nation's top civil aviation post in the hands of veteran FAA executive Monte Belger.
