Bidding for Jet Aviation has been brisk, according to sources familiar with the process (BA, June 3/257). Nearly a dozen prospective buyers are said to have made it to the second round and were scheduled for interviews last week and this week to further define terms and conditions. Sources also say that Gulfstream Aerospace, initially thought to be one of those interested in Jet because of the Swiss company's overseas maintenance facilities, is not engaged in the second round of discussions.
HOUSE PANEL OKs GUNS IN COCKPIT - The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Wednesday approved by voice vote a bill that would create a two-year trial program allowing a limited number of airline pilots to carry guns in aircraft cockpits. The bill, a compromise of the version that the House aviation subcommittee passed in mid-June, would allow the Transportation Security Administration to train and deputize up to two percent of the total pilot work force, estimated at about 1,400 pilots, to carry guns in the cockpit.
Innotech-Execair Aviation Group opened an authorized Cessna Citation service center at Toronto's Lester B. Pearson International Airport. The 35,000-square-foot facility will provide complete technical services, including maintenance, inspections, parts, repairs, modifications, refurbishment and non-destructive testing. The new facility is one of 24 authorized Citation service centers worldwide, but the only one in Canada.
Dennis Hegelson was named vice president and general manager of business and regional systems at Rockwell Collins. Hegelson has worked 27 years at Rockwell Collins and was most recently vice president, business development for government systems.
CUSTOMS CALLS FOR PASSENGER NAME RECORD INFORMATION - Fulfilling another mandate from the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, the U.S. Customs Service last week ordered air carriers to provide the agency with electronic access to passenger name record (PNR) information upon request.
The full House, meanwhile, approved the Small Airport Safety, Security and Air Service Improvement Act, H.R.1979, which would permit the use of Airport Improvement Program funds to build air traffic control towers at small airports. The bill, introduced by Rep. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), would enable expansion of FAA's contract tower program.
BOEING DELIVERS BBJ FOR AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT - Boeing Business Jets delivered its first BBJ in Australia last week, the first of two ordered by the Royal Australian Air Force.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University will hold its Safety and Security Certificate program Aug. 5-22 at its campus in Prescott, Ariz. Sponsored by the university's Center for Aerospace Safety/Security Education, the program explores flight department safety and security issues through case studies and on-site investigation at the Robertson Aviation Safety Laboratory. Participants will include American Eagle Airlines, Gemini Air Cargo, and the National Transportation Safety Board.
July 23-29 - Experimental Aircraft Association 50th Annual Gathering, AirVenture Oshkosh 2002, Oshkosh, Wis., (920) 235-3007 September 10-12 - National Business Aviation Association 55th Annual Meeting and Convention, Orlando, Fla., (202) 783-9000 September 22-24 - National Association of State Aviation Officials, 71sth Annual Convention and Trade Show, Sheraton Burlington, Burlington, Vt., (301) 588-0587 Oct 24-26 - Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Expo 2002, Palm Springs, Calif., (301) 695-2000
Former Learjet demonstration pilot Susan C. Anderson recently launched a web site that specializes in posting resumes of corporate pilots and flight attendants seeking both contract jobs and full-time employment. Check the site at pilots4rent.com or contact Anderson at Factory Pilots Plus, Inc., 6542 Hypoluxo Road, Suite 285, Lake Worth, Fla. 33467; telephone, (561) 704-2885; or fax, (413) 403-8219.
National Business Aviation Association officials were pleased with last week's turnout at a one-day regional aviation event at Dupage Airport near Chicago last Thursday. More than 1,000 attendees showed up for a variety of seminars and discussions and to view some 26 business aircraft on static display. The turnout included a significant contingent of representatives from non-aircraft-operating companies in the Chicago area who were invited to take advantage of a hands-on introduction to business aircraft.
Hochtief Airport GmbH in Essen, Germany acquired a stake in the Sydney, Australia Airport Corp., as part of a privatization program. The purchase price was 3.186 billion euros, plus 113 million euros for the Ansett terminal. Sponsors of the winning "Southern Cross" consortium are Hochtief Airport, Macquarie Bank Ltd., and Commonwealth Bank of Australia Ltd. The consortium is acquiring a 100 percent stake in the Sydney Airport.
Signature Flight Support, which already operates the only fixed-base operation at Boston's Logan International Airport, expanded its reach in the Boston-area market last week with the acquisition of Mercury Air Center's Bedford, Mass. facility at Hanscom Field (BED). Signature paid Mercury $15.5 million in cash, plus payment for certain inventories for the BED facility (BA, June 10/274), where it will compete against an FBO operated by Jet Aviation, an entity whose owners are seeking bids for the entire company.
Summary: Pursuant to FAA's rulemaking provisions governing the application, processing, and disposition of petitions for exemption (14 CFR Part 11), this notice contains a summary of certain petitions seeking relief from specified requirements of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR Chapter I), dispositions of certain petitions previously received, and corrections. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities.
Hochtief Airport GmbH in Essen, Germany acquired a stake in the Sydney, Australia Airport Corp., as part of a privatization program. The purchase price was 3.186 billion euros, plus 113 million euros for the Ansett terminal. Sponsors of the winning "Southern Cross" consortium are Hochtief Airport, Macquarie Bank Ltd., and Commonwealth Bank of Australia Ltd. The consortium is acquiring a 100 percent stake in the Sydney Airport.
Docket No.: FAA-2002-12133 Petitioner: SkyWest Airlines Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 121.463(c) Description of Relief Sought: To allow SkyWest to permit newly hired dispatchers to accomplish the required five hours of dispatcher operating familiarization time in the Canadair Regional Jet (CL-65) to fulfill the dispatcher operating familiarization time requirement for the CL-65 and the Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia aircraft.
The first Citation Sovereign production aircraft made its initial flight last week. The nearly two-hour flight of Serial Number 001 included stability and control checks and engine operation, including in-flight engine restarts, Cessna said. Cessna is flying three Sovereign aircraft as part of the certification program. A prototype had its first flight in February and since has logged more than 130 flight hours. Testing on Sovereign S/N 001 and 002 will focus on certification of systems and hot and cold weather evaluations, Cessna said.
J.C. Seymour was named chief pilot at CitationShares. Seymour has been acting chief pilot since April and will continue in his position of director of flight standards. He has 23 years of military fighter experience in the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard and also has worked for 30 years in Part 121 airline operations.
Cessna Models 208 and 208B airplanes (Docket No. 2002-CE-23-AD) - proposes to require repetitive inspection of the inboard forward flap bellcranks for cracks or replace bellcranks depending on the amount of usage. This proposed AD is the result of Cessna's re-evaluation of the bellcrank life limit analysis and determination that the original estimate was too high. The actions specified by this proposed AD are intended to detect, correct, and prevent future cracks in the bellcrank, which could result in failure of this part.
The U.S. aerospace industry is heading toward a labor shortage in the next decade as mounting layoffs, coupled with a dwindling interest among students, continues to shrink the work force, the Commission on the Future of the U.S. Aerospace Industry, warned last week. Chartered to assess the overall health of the U.S. aerospace industry, the commission Wednesday released its third interim report with a series of recommendations on boosting space infrastructure, the aerospace industrial base and the future work force.
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee last week approved a bill to secure an agreement struck between Chicago Mayor Richard Daley (D) and Illinois Gov. George Ryan (R) to expand Chicago O'Hare International Airport and ensure the continued operation of Meigs Field. A companion bill in the Senate already has won Senate Commerce Committee approval and is awaiting consideration on the Senate floor.
Westchester County Airport, White Plains, N.Y., is seeking proposals for a replacement Flight Information Display System. The proposals are due Aug. 8, and county officials have scheduled a mandatory pre-proposal meeting July 16 at the airport administration offices. For a copy of the request for proposals, contact Tom Rumbarger, Property Manager, Westchester County Airport, 240 Airport Rd., White Plains, N.Y. 10604; telephone: (914) 995-4885.
TWO FATAL MALIBU CRASHES CLAIM SIX - Federal investigators are trying to determine the cause of two fatal accidents involving Piper PA-46 Malibu aircraft that resulted in six fatalities in less than a week.
Roy Norris, the veteran business jet marketing executive who took control of the troubled Jetcruzer 500 program at Advanced Aerodynamics&Structures, Inc. last year, has dumped the Jetcruzer because of technical problems and is focusing his energy on expanding the product line at newly acquired Mooney Aircraft (BA, May 20/236).
Rockwell Collins named Clayton Jones chairman of the board, in addition to his current responsibilities as president and CEO. Jones will succeed Donald R. Beall, whom the board appointed to chair the newly created executive committee.
