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.
COST OF AIRCRAFT CORROSION ESTIMATED AT MORE THAN $2 BILLION - A new government study says corrosion costs the U.S. nearly $300 billion each year, more than three percent of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product. The study, which was performed by CC Technologies Laboratories, Inc. of Dublin, Ohio under a cooperative agreement with the Federal Highway Administration and NACE International (The Corrosion Society) of Houston, Texas, was a requirement of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), which was signed into law in 1998.
HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND Model 568F-1 propellers (Docket No. 2002-NE-02-AD; Amendment 39-12831; AD 2002-15-03) - supersedes an emergency AD, 2002-05-51, that was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (formerly Hamilton Standard Division) Model 568F-1 propellers.
The Corporate Angel Network competed its 15,000th flight July 26, when a Flight Options Hawker 800 transported an eight-year-old brain cancer patient from Tampa, Fla., to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital in New York City. "It's especially appropriate that our landmark 15,000th flight be made by Flight Options, the first fractional jet ownership provider to join the Corporate Angel Network," said Bonnie LeVar, Corporate Angel Network executive director.
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.
An Aerospatiale SA315B helicopter, N3978Y, operated by the U.S. Forest Service was destroyed Wednesday when it crashed during a fire-fighting mission near Estes Park, Colo. The pilot and sole occupant suffered fatal injuries.
The airport community is appealing to federal transportation officials to let airport operators use "market-based" incentives such as peak-hour pricing to control congestion at crowded facilities and raise additional money to increase capacity, but general aviation leaders call such incentives discriminatory and are urging policy makers to consider different approaches to reduce airport overcrowding.
Raytheon produced its 350th Beechcraft King Air 350 last month. The aircraft will be ferried to an Australian customer. In addition, the company next month will deliver its 1,800th Beechcraft King Air B200. Raytheon has sold nearly 6,000 King Airs of 17 different models.
The Aviation Foundation of America, in cooperation with Ford Motor Co., is planning next year to recreate The National Air Tours that flew around the country annually from 1925-1931.
National Business Aviation Association is sponsoring another update session at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) Aug. 19. While earlier NBAA sessions at the airport have focused on the single issue of getting DCA reopened to business and general aviation flights, this month's session also will include discussions regarding how to access information about Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) in a timely manner and NBAA's recommended "best practices" for flight department security.
Federal Aviation Administration officials were putting the finishing touches last week on a rule to create a new Subpart K of Part 91 to regulate fractional aircraft providers, and plan to have the document ready for final signoff in about a week.Administrator Jane Garvey had hoped to sign the rule before she left office, but told industry officials that if the Subpart K document wasn't ready before her departure, then the acting administrator, Monte Belger, likely would sign it shortly thereafter.
Charles Hughes was named vice president of client relations at Executive Jet Management. He will work on the maintenance, pilot and operations needs for aircraft management clients. Hughes was previously a charter services manager for the company. Executive Jet Management, a NetJets company, put in place a new client relations program two years ago on a trial basis and recently made the program permanent.
Jet Aviation West Palm Beach received Brazilian DAC maintenance approval to work on aircraft registered in Brazil. With the new approval, the facility, which is a Dassault Falcon Jet Authorized Service Center, can service Brazilian-registered Falcon aircraft without a lengthy authorization process, said Kurt Thompson, director of maintenance.
Jet Aviation West Palm Beach received Brazilian DAC maintenance approval to work on aircraft registered in Brazil. With the new approval, the facility, which is a Dassault Falcon Jet Authorized Service Center, can service Brazilian-registered Falcon aircraft without a lengthy authorization process, said Kurt Thompson, director of maintenance.
The Corporate Angel Network competed its 15,000th flight July 26, when a Flight Options Hawker 800 transported an eight-year-old brain cancer patient from Tampa, Fla., to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital in New York City. "It's especially appropriate that our landmark 15,000th flight be made by Flight Options, the first fractional jet ownership provider to join the Corporate Angel Network," said Bonnie LeVar, Corporate Angel Network executive director.
Helijet and Alaska Airlines plan to introduce helicopter service between Vancouver and Whistler Resort under a marketing partnership between the two companies. Alaska, subsidiary Horizon and Helijet have signed frequent flyer and codeshare agreements that begin Sept. 8, pending government approval.
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.
Bombardier received a follow-on order from Delta Connection carriers Atlantic Southeast Airlines and Comair for a CRJ700 and two CRJ200 regional jets. The order, valued at more than $73 million, brings the number of options Delta Connection has converted this year to six. The Delta feeder network converted options for three Bombardier CRJ200s in May. Under the most recent contract, ASA will operate one of the CRJ200s and the CRJ700, and Comair will operate the other CRJ200. The three aircraft are slated for delivery in September 2003.
A new government study says corrosion costs the U.S. nearly $300 billion each year, more than three percent of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product. The study, which was performed by CC Technologies Laboratories, Inc. of Dublin, Ohio under a cooperative agreement with the Federal Highway Administration and NACE International (The Corrosion Society) of Houston, Texas, was a requirement of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), which was signed into law in 1998.
Jan Calloway was appointed manager of business development at Thunder Aviation of Chesterfield, Mo. She will manage advertising and public relations and work to build market presence and maintain customer relations. Calloway, who has 19 years of administrative and marketing experience, was most recently an assistant to the president of a St. Louis aviation company.
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.
Helijet and Alaska Airlines plan to introduce helicopter service between Vancouver and Whistler Resort under a marketing partnership between the two companies. Alaska, subsidiary Horizon and Helijet have signed frequent flyer and codeshare agreements that begin Sept. 8, pending government approval.
Raytheon produced its 350th Beechcraft King Air 350 last month. The aircraft will be ferried to an Australian customer. In addition, the company next month will deliver its 1,800th Beechcraft King Air B200. Raytheon has sold nearly 6,000 King Airs of 17 different models.
Mario Longhi Filho, 48, took over as president and chief executive officer of Howmet Castings Aug. 1. Longhi succeeds James R. Stanley, 60, who plans to retire at the end of the year. Succeeding Longhi as president of the Alcoa Wheel and Forged Products business is Raymond B. Mitchell, 44, who has been chief financial officer of Alcoa Europe in Geneva, Switzerland. Longhi began his career at Alcoa Aluminio in Brazil where he held management positions in both the smelting and refining areas. Mitchell, who began his career with IBM, has been with Alcoa since 1994.
George Batchelor, 81, one of the pioneers of air service between Miami and Latin America, a millionaire and noted philanthropist, died July 30 in Miami. He made his fortune with three main aviation companies - Batch Air, Arrow Air and International Air Leases - with heavy emphasis on Latin America, concentrating on air freight and aircraft leasing. He donated million of dollars to the University of Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital.
