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.
BOMBARDIER OPENS FACILITY TO SUPPORT OLDER DE HAVILLAND AIRCRAFT - Bombardier Aerospace opened a new commercial service center (CSC) at its Montreal Mirabel Airport facility July 12, an enterprise "dedicated to the specific service and support needs of out-of-production de Havilland DHC-1 through -6 models, plus the four-engine Dash 7" turboprop. The company said the objective is "to deliver world-class level support, in a one-stop shop setting."
Precise Flight, Inc. won an FAA supplemental type certificate for its 2000 series speedbrakes on Beech Bonanza Models A35 through G35 and 35R. Priced at $3,995, "Speedbrakes give the pilot the ability to create instant drag - without major power or speed changes, thus improving overall performance of the aircraft and operational flexibility," said Precise Flight. The company also is working on the certification of Speedbrakes for the rest of the 35 series.
Bombardier Aerospace opened a new commercial service center (CSC) at its Montreal Mirabel Airport facility July 12, an enterprise "dedicated to the specific service and support needs of out-of-production de Havilland DHC-1 through -6 models, plus the four-engine Dash 7" turboprop. The company said the objective is "to deliver world-class level support, in a one-stop shop setting."
Premier Turbines is offering a new repair service that guarantees the return of parts within 10 working days or less from the date of receipt. "The Bullet Shop," located at Premier Turbines near Neosho, Mo. will provide the quick-return service for component repairs and specialized processes including chrome and nickel plating, SermeTel and Nubelon coating, plasma spray, machining, balancing, air flow and welding.
GKN Aerospace Services will invest $30 million to expand the St. Louis, Mo. manufacturing plant that it acquired from Boeing 18 months ago. A key company objective at the time of acquisition was to use its strengths in the military aircraft business to expand work on commercial aircraft, said Kevin Smith, GKN managing director. "The improvements we initiate will help us to achieve that objective," Smith said. The company will enhance machine tools used in its metal business unit as well as the equipment for Resin Transfer Molding products.
Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) wrote a letter to Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta last week, seeking "an explanation for why the Department of Transportation has failed to implement a plan for business aviation access to Ronald Reagan National Airport despite testimony" from Read Van de Water, Department of Transportation assistant secretary, "committing to do so two months ago" (BA, May 13/221). Norton asked the same question of FAA Administrator Jane Garvey at a House aviation subcommittee hearing last week, calling the lack of action unfair and negligent.
ECLIPSE AVIATION SECURES MORE FUNDING, UNVEILS NEW AVIONICS FOR 500 - Eclipse Aviation completed its fourth round of private equity funding of $18 million, bringing the company's total funding to date to $238 million. The capital, which was raised from a group of undisclosed private investors, puts the Eclipse 500 program in a comfortable financial situation, said Vern Raburn, Eclipse president and CEO.
American Eagle has reached an agreement to drop 14 Embraer ERJ-145s from its fleet because of pilot scope clause restrictions. The RJs eventually will be acquired by Trans States Airlines, an AmericanConnection carrier.
Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) wrote a letter to Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta last week, seeking "an explanation for why the Department of Transportation has failed to implement a plan for business aviation access to Ronald Reagan National Airport despite testimony" from Read Van de Water, Department of Transportation assistant secretary, "committing to do so two months ago" (BA, May 13/221).
RAYTHEON 200, 300, and 1900 series, and Models F90 and A100-1 airplanes (Docket No. 2001-CE-21-AD) - proposes to require checking the airplane logbook to determine if the elevator(s) have been removed from the airplane. If the elevator(s) have been removed, this proposed AD would also require inspection of the elevator balance weight attachment screws for correct length, and, if necessary, installation of new screws that are of improved design and rebalancing the elevator, depending on the results of the inspection.
National Transportation Safety Board investigators were unable to find any major pre-impact problems or discrepancies in their initial examination of the engine of a Diamond DA 20C-1 aircraft that crashed July 6 in Leesburg, Va. The accident claimed the life of the pilot, James M. Scambos, who was a Boeing 777 pilot for United Airlines (BA, July 15/23).
Scott Bradbury was appointed senior consultant at Sinex Aviation Technologies. Bradbury has had a 24-year career in aircraft maintenance program development and customer support for Boeing and Fairchild Dornier. At Boeing, Bradbury worked to reduce maintenance cost on the next-generation 737 aircraft by 15 percent. As member and chair for a number of Air Transport Association of America committees and working groups, Bradbury specializes in maintenance program development.
Earle Boyter was named sales manager for eastern U.S. sales and marketing operations at Mooney Aerospace Group. With more than 20 years of general aviation experience, Boyter was previously the head of marketing and sales at Piper Aircraft Company and most recently worked at Socata Aircraft. He will be based in Vero Beach, Fla.
Innotech-Execaire Aviation Group of Montreal ordered a Cessna Citation Sovereign business jet for delivery in July 2005. Innotech-Execaire is Canada's only Citation authorized sales representative. The Innotech order is the third Sovereign sold in the Canadian market.
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.
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.
Earle Boyter was named sales manager for eastern U.S. sales and marketing operations at Mooney Aerospace Group. With more than 20 years of general aviation experience, Boyter was previously the head of marketing and sales at Piper Aircraft Company and most recently worked at Socata Aircraft. He will be based in Vero Beach, Fla.
D.C. DELEGATE DEMANDS ANSWERS TO DELAY IN GA ACCESS AT DCA - Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton asked FAA Administrator Jane Garvey, a witness at the House aviation subcommittee hearing on FAA restructuring last week, pointed questions about why business aviation access still is not allowed at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
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.
NO OBVIOUS PROBLEMS FOUND IN DIAMOND DA 20 ENGINE - National Transportation Safety Board investigators were unable to find any major pre-impact problems or discrepancies in their initial examination of the engine of a Diamond DA 20C-1 aircraft that crashed July 6 in Leesburg, Va. The accident claimed the life of the pilot, James M. Scambos, who was a Boeing 777 pilot for United Airlines (BA, July 15/23).
Galaxy Aviation is opening a commercial airline refueling business at Orlando International Airport (MCO). The company appointed Bill Restituto to head the commercial airline fueling department. Restituto has 42 years of commercial airline operational experience in airline refueling, quality control, airport fuel distribution systems and ground handling operations.
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.
