HOUSE PASSES BILL PRESERVING MEIGS FIELD - The House last week approved a bill that would ensure the continued operation of Chicago's Meigs Field at least for the next several years. The bill, cleared by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee late last month (BA, July 1/6), essentially cements a deal struck between Chicago Mayor Richard Daley (D) and Illinois Gov. George Ryan (R) that lays out a plan to significantly expand Chicago O'Hare International Airport and explore a new airport in Peotone, Ill. (BA, Dec. 10/267).
BOMBARDIER PREPARING FOR ASSEMBLY OF FIRST GLOBAL 5000 - Canadian manufacturer Bombardier is getting ready to begin final assembly of the first Global 5000, a shorter version of the very-long-range Global Express that it has been building for several years. The forward fuselage for the first Global 5000 arrived in Bombardier's Toronto facility late last month following shipment from the company's Belfast, Northern Ireland factory. First flight is expected in the first quarter of 2003, with type certification from Canadian, U.S.
Keystone Helicopter's Flight Division signed a five-year agreement with Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock to provide flight management services for the hospital's intensive-care "Angel Flight" transport program. Keystone will employ nine pilots and three mechanics to support the program's two twin-engine helicopters. Keystone also is completing the outfitting of two new Sikorsky S76C+ helicopters that will be used to upgrade the hospital's fleet (BA, July 15/27).
CESSNA Model 650 airplanes (Docket No. 2000-NM-388-AD; Amendment 39-12824; AD 2002-14-24) - requires a one-time inspection of the side brace mechanism assemblies of the left and right main landing gears (MLG) to detect any incorrect part number, and corrective actions if necessary. This action is necessary to prevent inadvertent disengagement of the locking mechanism of the side brace mechanism assembly, which could lead to collapse of the respective MLG, and result in a gear-up landing and possible injury to passengers and crew.
Pratt&Whitney Canada signed a fleet management program with Air Midwest, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Mesa Air Group, Inc. The deal includes a six-year term cost plan (TCP) covering certain engine maintenance services, in addition to the purchase of select assets of Mesa's Desert Turbine Services maintenance facility in Farmington, N.M. The agreement, valued at $70 million over six years, covers Mesa's 116 installed and spare PT6A-67D engines for its fleet of Beech 1900 airliners.
De HAVILLAND Models DHC-2 Mk. I, DHC-2 Mk. II, and DHC-2 Mk. III airplanes (Docket No. 98-CE-124-AD; Amendment 39-12828; AD 2002-14-28) - establishes a life limit for the front fuselage struts and requires repetitive replacements of the front fuselage struts every 15 years or repetitive inspections of the struts for corrosion or fatigue damage and replacement when the damage exceeds a certain level. This AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for Canada.
David Heminger was named president and chief executive of Bearing Inspection, Inc. (Bii). Heminger joins Bii from FlexTek Components, where he also held the positions of president and CEO. In addition, he has served as president and general manager of the Metals Group of United Industries Cop., vice president and general manager of ITW Paslode Corp. and general manager of ITW Ramset Fastening Systems. He succeeds Alan Sanderson at Bii, an independent bearing inspection and overhaul specialist based in Los Alamitos, Calif..
Air Security International signed an agreement to provide Le Bas International charter clients access to its "Hot Spots" security information. ASI's Hot Spots service provides a daily snapshot of worldwide travel and security events that could affect travel plans. Charter broker Le Bas uses a database of more than 5,000 aircraft worldwide for its charter clients.
Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta confirmed to Congress last week that the Bush Administration "decided not to proceed with opening" Washington Reagan National Airport to general aviation flights (BA, July 22/31). That decision came after assessing recent "intelligence reports," Mineta told the House aviation subcommittee, adding that he cannot give a date when the GA ban will be lifted.
Air Security International launched a new airline rating program. The Airline Insider provides information to users based on analysis of an airline's fleet, type and age of aircraft, safety and security history, pilot training, maintenance and financial standing.
Bob Blouin, senior vice president of operations for the National Business Aviation Association, was elected to a two-year term as chairman of the board of RTCA, Inc., the private, not-for-profit corporation that develops recommendations and technical standards for communications, navigation, surveillance and air traffic management systems.
John Thomas was named vice president, private fleet at Jet Aviation. He will be responsible for all operational aspects of Jet Aviation's U.S. private fleet of seven Gulfstream jets and a Sikorsky S-76 helicopter. Thomas has more than 27 years of aviation experience including FBO, charter, aircraft sales, training and product development. Thomas was most recently a captain at Avolar in Chicago, where he was responsible for Hawker operations.
LOY TO SUCCEED MAGAW AS TSA CHIEF; OBSERVERS CITE TENSE RELATIONS WITH HILL - TSA Under Secretary for Transportation Security John Magaw resigned under pressure Thursday. DOT Secretary Norman Mineta praised Magaw for his service, but did not explain the action. But Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.) told BA affiliate Aviation Daily Magaw's departure was requested. "It was either resign" or be let go, Oberstar, ranking member of the House Transportation Committee, said.
Thursday's announcement of John Magaw's abrupt resignation as head of the Transportation Security Administration had aviation interests hoping that a change at the top will lead to a kinder, gentler TSA. Airlines, airports and business aviation have grown increasingly frustrated by TSA's unwillingness to include industry representatives in the rulemaking process and the agency's seemingly arbitrary decision making. See article below.
SIGNATURE ADDS JACKSONVILLE TO ITS FBO CHAIN - Signature Flight Support, which has been busily swapping fixed-base operator locations with other chains and acquiring other bases outright, added its 44th FBO in the continental U.S. with the purchase of AirKaman's facility at the Jacksonville, Fla. International Airport (JAX). AirKaman was the only FBO on the field, so JAX becomes another airport where Signature is the only fuel provider (BA, July 15/22).
Raytheon Company named William H. Swanson president. He reports to Dan Burnham, chairman and CEO. In his new role, Swanson, 53, will lead Raytheon's government and defense businesses.
Aviation industry officials generally supported Wednesday's White House announcement that President Bush will nominate National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Marion Blakey to become FAA Administrator after Jane Garvey's five-year term ends early next month.
FAA Administrator Jane Garvey and other aviation officials at a House aviation subcommittee hearing last week recommended clarifying the role of FAA's chief operating officer for air traffic as one of several ways to restructure the agency.
The Joint Primary Aircraft Training System (JPATS) achieved initial operational capability July 12, announced Air Force Gen. Don Cook, commander of Air Education and Training. JPATS uses Raytheon Aircraft's T-6A Texan II aircraft as its flying platform. "All components of JPATS are in place and operational at Moody [Air Force Base], Ga.," Cook said.
CARGOLIFTER'S AIRCRANE IS DESTROYED IN STORM - German airship manufacturer Cargolifter was dealt another blow this month, when the only CL75 AirCrane prototype was destroyed in a huge storm that hit the Berlin area. The AirCrane is a transport balloon intended to carry up to 75 tons of cargo. It was first sold earlier this year to HeavyLift Canada for delivery next year. Winds of up to 100 miles an hour were too much for the balloon's hull. The AirCrane was "parked" outside of its regular hangar for tests.
Bankrupt regional aircraft manufacturer Fairchild Dornier will try to sell a license for others to build the 728/928 regional jets, after efforts to attract a strategic investor have failed. CEO Thomas Brandt said a last chance to save the program would be to sell it to Russia or China for instance, where new regional jet programs are already on the drawing board.
The number of fatal accidents and fatalities resulting from accidents involving the U.S. business jet and turboprop fleet was down sharply in the first half of 2002 compared with the same period a year ago, according to data compiled by Robert E. Breiling Associates, Inc. of Boca Raton, Fla.
German airship manufacturer Cargolifter was dealt another blow this month, when the only CL75 AirCrane prototype was destroyed in a huge storm that hit the Berlin area. The AirCrane is a transport balloon intended to carry up to 75 tons of cargo. It was first sold earlier this year to HeavyLift Canada for delivery next year. Winds of up to 100 miles an hour were too much for the balloon's hull. The AirCrane was "parked" outside of its regular hangar for tests. Cargolifter said forecast weather was well within the design limits of the balloon.
