Harris Corp. has formed a team with Raytheon, Computer Sciences Corp., Lockheed Martin, Rockwell Collins, and Avidyne to go after FAA's Next Generation Air/Ground Communications (NEXCOM) program contract, which could bring the winning team $500 million over 10 years. NEXCOM will use VHF Digital Link Mode 3 (TDMA) technology to provide four communications channels for each analog air/ground frequency in use today. The added channels are needed to support new air traffic control sectors and runways.
Organizers were pleased with the results of the Second Annual European Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (EBACE2002), which drew 4,824 attendees, up from the first EBACE attendance of 3,620. Some 219 exhibitors bought 533 three by three-meter booth spaces this year and 35 aircraft were on static display. National Business Aviation Association President John Olcott said the partnership between NBAA and the European Business Aviation Association has "formed a very effective means of communicating the good news of business aviation in the European marketplace.
Proclaiming that "the days of kicking tin are over," National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Marion Blakey said her agency's future direction would include using more advanced technologies and becoming a more open, knowledge-sharing operation. Blakey, speaking to the Aero Club in Washington late last month, said NTSB's future tools will be more high tech, and industry and academic input will be encouraged.
Pratt&Whitney named long-time company executive Gilles Ouimet chairman of Pratt&Whitney Canada and Alain Bellemare to succeed Ouimet as president of the Montreal-based engine maker. "Pratt&Whitney Canada is a strong and growing segment of the Pratt family with remarkable contributions to our overall company performance," said Louis Chenevert, president of Pratt&Whitney.
Jet Aviation recently received an Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) from the Civil Aviation Department of Hong Kong, which permits the company to operate private jets for commercial aircraft charter in the Pacific Rim region. Jet Aviation manages a Bombardier Global Express aircraft that is available for charter. Equipped with seating for 10, plus a three-person couch, the aircraft has a maximum range of 6,700 nautical miles.
HARRIS-LED TEAM REVEALED FOR FAA'S NEXCOM COMPETITION - Harris Corp. has formed a team with Raytheon, Computer Sciences Corp., Lockheed Martin, Rockwell Collins, and Avidyne to go after FAA's Next Generation Air/Ground Communications (NEXCOM) program contract, which could bring the winning team $500 million over 10 years. NEXCOM will use VHF Digital Link Mode 3 (TDMA) technology to provide four communications channels for each analog air/ground frequency in use today. The added channels are needed to support new air traffic control sectors and runways.
Raytheon Aircraft has added a second aircraft to the flight test program for the Hawker Horizon, and the company expects to wrap up FAA certification for its new super mid-size business jet in 2003, Raytheon Aircraft said last week. "The Hawker Horizon is exceeding our expectations in flight test," said Jim Schuster, chairman and chief executive of Raytheon Aircraft, who added that company executives have been pleased with its progress.
Heico's Flight Support Group entered into a strategic relationship with UAL Corp. that provides for "the acceleration of Heico's efforts in developing a broad range of aircraft and engine parts slated for FAA approval." The airline company, parent of United Airlines, has agreed to purchase the newly developed parts and most of Heico's existing approved parts on an exclusive basis. Heico said the new agreement is expected to provide it with between $100 million and $150 million in revenue over the next seven years.
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport recently received two important votes of support for its proposed runway extension, but more crucial decisions are expected to come later this year. The Fort Lauderdale City Commission voted to approve the runway project, and the city's Downtown Development Authority also expressed its support of the plan. The airport seeks to extend its 5,000-foot south runway to nearly 9,000 feet but has run into strenuous objections due to the project's environmental impact.
DONN E. SEIDHOLZ was named sales vice president at NetJets. He will be responsible for sales in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming. Seidholz was most recently the vice president, sales and marketing for Jet Linx Aviation.
Gulfstream Aerospace named Jet Aviation Management AG an authorized Gulfstream service center and warranty repair facility for the Gulfstream 100 and Gulfstream 200 business jets. Under an agreement between the companies, Jet Aviation will maintain a European Spares Center in Dusseldorf, Germany with an initial provisioning of $1 million of spares and components for the two models. Jet Aviation facilities in Hannover, Germany and Singapore also were approved as service centers for the G100/G200, while the company's Geneva, Switzerland facility will support the G200.
ALTHOUGH senior Transportation Security Administration officials hoped to release a security plan by the end of May that would allow general aviation back into Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), that plan still has not been released. TSA finished its work but had not received all the necessary clearances for its release before the end of the month, said Pete West, senior vice president of government and public affairs for the National Business Aviation Association.
BOMBARDIER-ROTAX 914 F series reciprocating engines (Docket No. 2002-NE-07-AD; Amendment 39-12760; AD 2002-10-14) - requires initial and repetitive inspections of certain exhaust bend assemblies, which are located between the cylinder heads and exhaust manifold assembly. This amendment is prompted by reports of cracks found in exhaust bend assemblies. The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent carbon monoxide from entering the cabin and to prevent the possibility of an engine fire.
Lufthansa Technik, which previously completed its first two Boeing Business Jet 2 (737-800) aircraft, is preparing a specialized interior for a third BBJ 2 contracted for by Multiflight Ltd. The aircraft, which will be the first United Kingdom-based and G-registered BBJ 2, will have a 19-passenger layout.
Flight Explorer released the Personal Edition 4.0 of its Internet-based real-time flight tracking and information software. Based on aircraft situation display, the software allows access to track IFR flights in the U.S. and Canada through a personal computer. Based on Flight Explorer's Professional Edition, the Personal Edition software includes surface overlays, user defined view settings, aircraft filtering, map manipulation and a "Follow Me" function to track an individual flight from takeoff to landing.
JOHN ODEGARD was named vice president of sales at NetJets. He will be responsible for sales in Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Odegard was most recently regional sales manager for Raytheon Travel Air for four years.
Wings Aviation has become a supplier of Air BP 100LL and Jet A fuel. Based at Montgomery Airport in Conroe, Texas, the fixed-base operator provides a range of aircraft services and specializes in Gulfstream maintenance.
MARQUIS JET PARTNERS EXPANDS SERVICES TO EUROPE - Marquis Jet Partners, Inc. is extending its partnership with NetJets to open a European fractional aircraft ownership division.
Heico's Flight Support Group entered into a strategic relationship with UAL Corp. that provides for "the acceleration of Heico's efforts in developing a broad range of aircraft and engine parts slated for FAA approval." The airline company, parent of United Airlines, has agreed to purchase the newly developed parts and most of Heico's existing approved parts on an exclusive basis. Heico said the new agreement is expected to provide it with between $100 million and $150 million in revenue over the next seven years.
The 70th Anniversary of the founding of Beech Aircraft Corp. in 1932 by Walter H. Beech will be commemorated with a Sept. 21 open house at Raytheon Aircraft facilities in Wichita. In addition, the company plans to host the annual meeting of the American Bonanza Society and the Staggerwing Society that weekend. Officials expect more than 500 privately owned Bonanzas will fly into Beech Field during the weekend. The Wichita facility has produced nearly 60,000 aircraft since operations began in 1932.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION has prohibited operators of the Raytheon Model 390 Premier I from flights into known icing because of a manufacturing problem that inhibits the aircraft's anti-icing system. "Recent inspections of Raytheon Model 390 airplanes have led to the discovery of wing leading edge sealant obstructing airflow paths between the outer skin and inner leading edge skin on a number of airplanes," FAA said.
Eclipse Friday acknowledged that its 1,000-aircraft order from charter start-up Nimbus could be in jeopardy as a June 30 deadline for deposits looms, but President and Chief Executive Vern Raburn was optimistic about the market for the company's entry-level Eclipse 500 jet with or without the Nimbus order. "The Nimbus deal has always been a deal that has requirements to be met," Raburn said. "They're having a hard time raising the money [to meet those requirements]."
MD HELICOPTERS Model MD900 helicopters (Docket No. 2001-SW-26-AD) - proposes to require inspecting and, if necessary, repairing the longitudinal drive link and modifying certain nonrotating swashplate assemblies. The AD also would require recording compliance with the AD on a component history card or equivalent record. This proposal is prompted by reports of damage to the drive link assembly caused by the sharp inner edge of the bushing in the swashplate assembly.
Wings Aviation has become a supplier of Air BP 100LL and Jet A fuel. Based at Montgomery Airport in Conroe, Texas, the fixed-base operator provides a range of aircraft services and specializes in Gulfstream maintenance.
