House Aviation Subcommittee approved a bill last week that provides for a program permitting a two-year test under which 250 deputized airline pilots would be authorized to carry firearms in the cockpit. The full Transportation&Infrastructure Committee is scheduled to consider the measure this week.
Phillips 66 donated a 100 LL aviation gasoline refueler to the Experimental Aircraft Association to fuel aircraft at the association's Pioneer Airport in Oshkosh, Wis. The donation is part of a partnership between Phillips and EAA to continue aviation educational outreach programs.
Skywest Airlines will open a new maintenance base in Tucson, Ariz., July 1, and said the facility should be fully functional by September. Tucson will be the regional carrier's fifth maintenance base and will help support its fleet of Bombardier Canadair Regional Jets. Skywest's other bases are in Portland, Ore.; Salt Lake City, Utah, and Fresno and Palm Springs, Calif. The new facility, at Tucson International Airport, will employ 55 workers and cover 31,000 square feet.
BOMBARDIER WILL PASS UP FAIRCHILD DORNIER PROGRAMS - The odds of survival for Fairchild Dornier and its 728/928 regional jet programs took a turn for the worse last week after Bombardier decided not to buy the regional jet programs. Bombardier spent about five weeks in talks with customers, suppliers and related stakeholders but "did not achieve the results required for these programs to meet Bombardier's investment standards," the Canadian company said.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-215-1A10 and CL-215-6B11 series airplanes [Docket No. 2000-NM-398-AD; Amendment 39-12784; AD 2002-12-12] - supersedes an existing AD, applicable to certain Bombardier Model CL-215-1A10 and CL-215-6B11 series airplanes, that currently requires repetitive inspections to detect cracking on certain wing-to-fuselage frame angles; and repair, if necessary. This amendment decreases the compliance time for the initial inspection to detect cracking on certain wing-to-fuselage frame angles and decreases the interval between repetitive inspections.
The Department of Justice Friday outlined its much-anticipated requirements for screening foreign applicants for flight training on larger aircraft, providing an expedited background check for already certified pilots, but proposing a lengthier process -- that could take months to implement -- for new applicants (BA, June 10/269). Attorney General John Ashcroft last week unveiled DOJ's Flight Training Candidate Checks Program (FTCCP), which he described as a "new state-of-the-art system designed to protect Americans.
CHUCK TAYLOR was named director of corporate communications at DynCorp. He was most recently senior vice president at Edelman Public Relations Worldwide. Taylor worked for 11 years at PRC, Inc., formerly Northrop Grumman, as the company spokesperson, and has more than 20 years of public relations experience.
HONEYWELL said its new Flight Management Simulation system will enable pilots to be trained on the same Honeywell flight code used in aircraft, so the displays they see in training are the same they will see when flying aircraft. "Vendors using Honeywell's FMS Simulation System in their training products will no longer need to use reverse-engineered displays," said Mads Brandt, Honeywell's training solutions manager.
KEYSTONE HELICOPTER signed a five-year agreement to provide flight management services for the MetroHealth System's Metro Life program in Cleveland, Ohio. Keystone will provide 25 pilots and nine aircraft maintenance technicians to support the hospital's four Sikorsky S-76 helicopters.
BOMBARDIER named a veteran airline pilot to head its aviation training programs. Capt. Tilmann (Tim) Gabriel, who has been vice president of flight operations for Bombardier's Flexjet fractional ownership program since 1999, was named general manager, customer training. He will report to Jim Ziegler, vice president and general manager of Bombardier Business Aviation Services. Gabriel spent 20 years with Lufthansa Airlines in his native Germany as a pilot, check airman and business unit manager.
BILL GARDNER was named vice president, Asia at FlightSafety Boeing Training International. Based in Seoul, South Korea, Gardner will be responsible for training operations in Korea and China as well as developing and expanding FSB's training services in Asia. Gardner was previously director of business and simulator operations for FSB. Before joining FSB in 1999, he spent 10 years at Boeing, working in customer services and training.
Aviation General appointed Matthew J. Goodman president and chief operating officer of Commander Aircraft Company. Goodman has worked for the manufacturer since its founding in 1988 and was most recently senior vice president, marketing and sales. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Goodman is a private pilot with commercial, instrument, multi-engine, seaplane and aerobatic ratings and has more than 11,000 flight hours. Commander Aircraft is a wholly owned subsidiary of Aviation General.
COLLINS TO BUY AIRSHOW FOR $160 MILLION - Avionics manufacturer Rockwell Collins signed a definitive agreement to buy Airshow, Inc., a provider of business jet cabin entertainment systems, for $160 million.
RAYNOR REAVIS, a veteran business jet marketing executive, is rejoining Gulfstream Aerospace this week after spending the past three and one-half years as national sales manager for the NetJets fractional ownership program. Reavis, who has worked closely in the past with Gulfstream President and COO Bill Boisture, is taking over as senior vice president of marketing and sales. He succeeds Joe Walker, who left the company a month ago to pursue other interests (BA, May 13/228).
Avionics manufacturer Rockwell Collins signed a definitive agreement to buy Airshow, Inc., a provider of business jet cabin entertainment systems, for $160 million. "This transaction will allow us to expand our capabilities for providing airborne electronic solutions to business aviation and commercial aircraft," said Clay Jones, chairman, president and CEO of Rockwell Collins. "With Airshow, we will increase our capabilities to provide high-quality, integrated solutions that bridge the flight deck and cabin for our customers around the globe."
AERONAVALI, an Alenia Aeronautica/Finmeccania unit, installed a cargo door on an ATR72 as part of an ATR Freighter Conversion Program. Aeronavali's facility in Naples won an exclusive contract last year to complete ATR 42 and ATR 72 cargo conversions for the French-Italian consortium. The ATR 72 Cargo prototype aircraft is slated for certification this month and will be handed over to launch customer FARNAIR, a European feeder airline for integrators and postal services. Aeronavali next will begin work on an ATR 42 conversion.
GENERAL DYNAMICS CANADA won a contract valued at $128 million (U.S.) from the Canadian Department of National Defense to provide and integrate a new data management system for the CP-140 Aurora, a long-range maritime patrol aircraft. GD will supply a new mission computer, integrate upgraded sensors, and provide ground facilities and logistics support. The data management system will support the Aurora's surface and undersea surveillance roles. GD will complete the work in Ottawa and Halifax.
THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF AIRPORT EXECUTIVES distributed a series of recommendations to the Transportation Security Administration that the association says are a "work in progress" to enhance security at general aviation airports. The association recommends that all GA airports prepare a comprehensive airport security plan that includes items such as installation of adequate outdoor lighting and security fencing and/or electronic monitoring.
THE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION is seeking a full-time, permanent Director of General Aviation Security, who would be based in Washington, D.C. The job posting number is TSA-02-119. The estimated pay range is $104,800 to $150,000, but TSA said it wants responses by this Friday (June 20).
Aviation General appointed Matthew J. Goodman president and chief operating officer of Commander Aircraft Company. Goodman has worked for the manufacturer since its founding in 1988 and was most recently senior vice president, marketing and sales. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Goodman is a private pilot with commercial, instrument, multi-engine, seaplane and aerobatic ratings and has more than 11,000 flight hours. Commander Aircraft is a wholly owned subsidiary of Aviation General.
HAY'S DEPARTURE MAY PRESAGE MAJOR CHANGES AT CESSNA -- Gary Hay, a career-long Cessna Aircraft employee who became chief executive of the Wichita manufacturer just two and one-half years ago, will retire from the company at the end of the month because of significant differences with officials of Textron, Inc., Cessna's parent company.
MINETA: BUSH ADMINISTRATION NOT LOOKING AT PRIVATIZATION -- In an attempt to allay fears of air traffic controllers and the general aviation community, the Bush Administration last week emphasized that it had no plans to propose privatizing the air traffic control system even though it deleted a phrase in a Clinton Administration executive order that calls air traffic services "an inherently government function." President Bush raised concerns over the potential of privatization when he removed that phrase and then re-signed a Dec.
CHARTER SERVICES (CSI), a New Mexico-based charter carrier, was selected by the National Interagency Fire Center to work with Falcon Air Express, Spirit Airlines and other carriers to transport firefighters dispatched to combat wildland fires this summer in the U.S. CSI last summer carried more than 100 firefighters from South Dakota to Oregon and transported other crews to sites in Washington and North Carolina.
EUROCOPTER Model SA330F, SA330G, SA330J, AS332C, AS332L, and AS332L1 helicopters (Docket No. 2001-SW-66-AD) - proposes to require inspecting each tail rotor blade de-icing rotating collector) for radial play and rotation torque at specified intervals. If the play or torque exceeds the specified standard, this proposal would require replacing the collector with an airworthy part. This proposal is prompted by excessive play measured on the collector of an ECF Model AS332 helicopter.
BILL GARDNER was named vice president, Asia at FlightSafety Boeing Training International. Based in Seoul, South Korea, Gardner will be responsible for training operations in Korea and China as well as developing and expanding FSB's training services in Asia. Gardner was previously director of business and simulator operations for FSB. Before joining FSB in 1999, he spent 10 years at Boeing, working in customer services and training.
