AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION relaunched the SPEC2000 web site, which provides information on the capabilities and benefits of SPEC2000 specifications, products and services designed to facilitate aviation e-business. The web site was developed by 12 international associations representing airlines, manufacturers, suppliers and repair stations.
THE HOUSE last week approved by voice vote legislation that calls for $247 million in funding for the National Transportation Safety Board between fiscal 2003 and fiscal 2005. The bill, which would authorize NTSB at the levels the agency requested, would give the NTSB training academy $4 million more per year and would allow the agency to turn over family assistance responsibilities to the Federal Bureau of Investigation if the crash is the result of a criminal act.
STEVENS AVIATION won FAA approval to install the Honeywell Bendix/King CAS 67 traffic awareness and collision avoidance system (TCAS II) and Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) on Super King Air 200 aircraft. The TCAS II unit monitors surrounding airspace, displaying air traffic information and advising of potential conflicts. The EGPWS uses the global positioning system and a terrain database to provide terrain information and warn of potential obstacles.
THE HONEYWELL TPE331 turboprop engine fleet has amassed more than 100 million hours of operation since entering service in 1965. Nearly 13,000 TPE331s have been delivered to manufacturers of 40 different regional, utility, business, general aviation and agricultural aircraft.
Private aircraft operators continue to wait for final approval of a delayed interim final rule that would restore their access to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) but some fear that the new rule would be so restrictive that many operators would not resume business with the airport. TSA announced last month that it would issue new security guidelines for access into DCA in an interim final rule to be published in the Federal Register by May 31.
THE U.S. CUSTOMS SERVICE in Kentucky moved to its new offices at the newly renovated Delta Airlines terminal at Louisville International Airport. The customs service previously was located in downtown Louisville, and the relocation will allow customs inspectors to process international passengers and cargo flights more efficiently.
GENERAL AVIATION access to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport once again has been placed on a back burner as the community awaits a delayed interim final rule that would open up the airport to private aircraft. DOT insists that it has completed its work on the rule, but approval is pending from agencies outside DOT.
HARTZELL PROPELLER signed Pilatus Aircraft to an exclusive purchasing contract covering all existing business with the Swiss manufacturer. Under the agreement, valued at $16 million, Hartzell will install propellers on Pilatus PC-6, PC-7, PC-9 and PC-12 single-engine turboprop aircraft through 2010. Hartzell and Pilatus also will collaborate on development programs such as the PC-21 Advanced Trainer, which was rolled out in May.
The Lancair Company is selling a portion of the company's stock in return for cash that will allow the company to increase production of aircraft. Lancair, the Oregon-based manufacturer of Columbia 300 aircraft, signed an agreement with a New York-based equity fund for the sale. "The cash infusion will be used for working capital and additional tooling that will allow the company to increase production to a rate of one per day by the middle of 2003," Lancair said.
AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION relaunched the SPEC2000 web site, which provides information on the capabilities and benefits of SPEC2000 specifications, products and services designed to facilitate aviation e-business. The web site was developed by 12 international associations representing airlines, manufacturers, suppliers and repair stations.
MARATHON FLIGHT SERVICES completed construction of a new $1.6 million fixed-base operation at Kissimmee, Fla., Gateway Airport. The 6,000-square-foot FBO, built with a 7,000-square-foot canopy, will help accommodate the growth that the facility has experienced since 1997. The FBO is a designated Phillips 66 Aviation Performance Center, and company officials expect fuel sales to reach 850,000 gallons by yearend.
NTSB CITES SPATIAL DISORIENTATION IN CARNAHAN CRASH -- Pilot spatial disorientation complicated by a faulty attitude indicator was the likely reason a Cessna 335 crashed near Hillsboro, Mo. Oct. 16, 2000, killing former Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan (D), his son Randy and his campaign aide, Chris Sifford, the National Transportation Safety Board reaffirmed in its final accident report released last week. The accident gained national attention as the former governor, who was in a contentious and close Senate race with then Sen.
DASSAULT FALCON JET has installed a new Teledyne Controls/EMS Technologies HSD-128 Satcom on a Falcon 900EX demonstrator aircraft, providing high-speed Internet access while in flight. The installation included the HSD-128 single-box High Speed Data unit integrated with EMS Technologies' AMT-650 High-Gain Antenna System. The installation will allow up to four users on the Internet simultaneously. Dassault Falcon Jet said the system provides digital geostationary satellite communications with 25 times the speed and efficiency of previous airborne Satcom systems.
Rockwell Collins reorganized its military and commercial leadership, promoting Gregory Churchill to executive vice president and chief operating officer of Government Systems and naming Robert Chiusano executive vice president and chief operating officer of Commercial Systems.
Mauricio Botelho, president and CEO of Embraer, said that the company has decided to establish a plant to manufacture its ERJ-145 regional jet in China, subject to final approval by the host country. Botelho added negotiations with joint-venture partner Avionic 2 and Chinese associates are progressing smoothly. He estimated that China would need 400 regional jets over the next 10 years. Separately, Embraer revealed that, in spite of the world aviation crisis, it continues to lead the list of Brazil's major exporters.
THE HOUSE last week approved by voice vote legislation that calls for $247 million in funding for the National Transportation Safety Board between fiscal 2003 and fiscal 2005. The bill, which would authorize NTSB at the levels the agency requested, would give the NTSB training academy $4 million more per year and would allow the agency to turn over family assistance responsibilities to the Federal Bureau of Investigation if the crash is the result of a criminal act.
JET AVIATION added 12 aircraft to its U.S. charter fleet and two more to its fleet in Europe and the Far East. The aircraft added to the U.S. fleet include two Gulfstream IVs, a Challenger 604, two Falcon 900s, a Falcon 20, a 731 Hawker 400, two Hawker 700s, a Hawker 800, a Citation V and a Sikorsky S-76 helicopter. The aircraft are based throughout the U.S. Jet Aviation also added a Falcon 50 to its fleet based in Zurich, Switzerland and a Global Express in Hong Kong.
NATIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION will host a Chicago-Area Business Aviation Forum and Static Display June 27 at DuPage Airport. Isaac Richardson, the Transportation Security Administration federal security director for the City of Chicago, will speak at the forum, which also will include briefings on key issues such as insurance rates, communication with management and domestic reduced vertical separation minimums. The static display will include more than 15 exhibitors and 20 vendor stations and will be set up inside the terminal.
MERCURY AIR CENTERS TO SELL BEDFORD FBO, BUY ANOTHER FBO -- Mercury Air Centers is finalizing the sale of one its fixed-based operations and buying another FBO, yielding a pretax book gain of about $9 million for the Los Angeles-based company. Mercury signed a letter of intent with an international aviation service company to sell its FBO* in Bedford, Mass. for $15.5 million in cash and in return, buy one of its FBOs for $2 million in cash.
THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION reconfirmed Parsons as its selection for the 10-year Technical Support Services Contract (TSSC), valued at more than $1.2 billion. Raytheon Technical Services Company, the previous contractor, protested FAA's decision in January. FAA re-evaluated the proposals in response to the protest and decided again to award the contract to Parsons. The contract covers upgrading of equipment and systems for air traffic control towers, air route traffic control centers, runway landing systems and navigational systems.
HONEYWELL and Stratos Aeronautical launched Mobile Connect, a new satellite telephone service "that provides each business jet traveler an unchanging, personal phone and fax number." Callers can use the same number to reach a traveler on any corporate jet. "The Mobile Connect service may be particularly attractive to fractional aircraft owners who fly on a number of different aircraft," said David Gilbert, OneLink business manager at Honeywell Aviation Information Services.
Eclipse Aviation's plans to build a new entry-level business jet took a step forward with a key FAA approval and the first flight of the EJ22 turbofan engine that will power the Eclipse 500 jet.
NATIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION will host a Chicago-Area Business Aviation Forum and Static Display June 27 at DuPage Airport. Isaac Richardson, the Transportation Security Administration federal security director for the City of Chicago, will speak at the forum, which also will include briefings on key issues such as insurance rates, communication with management and domestic reduced vertical separation minimums. The static display will include more than 15 exhibitors and 20 vendor stations and will be set up inside the terminal.
AS THE CHARTER INDUSTRY grapples with new security rule mandates, Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) is continuing his quest to add more security requirements. Kohl drafted a measure to require pre-boarding screening for charter operators. He originally intended to offer the measure as an amendment to the comprehensive emergency funding bill that passed the Senate last week, but held off on action. Kohl, however, indicated that he is eyeing the fiscal 2003 transportation appropriations bill as a possible vehicle for further charter security mandates. See article on Page 270.
