RAYTHEON'S HORIZON MOVING TOWARD CERTIFICATION NEXT YEAR - 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.
DASSAULT FALCON JET officials say more than 300 people are working on the Joint Development Design Phase of the Falcon 7X7 business jet, with about half the team composed of Dassault Aviation design engineers, complemented by representatives of other disciplines within the company plus participants from the program's risk-sharing partners. "We're very pleased with the way the aircraft is coming together," said Yves Davaine, Dassault's program manager.
ECLIPSE CEO Vern Raburn returned Friday from a sweep through Europe that he said proved much more fruitful than he expected. "We were frankly blown away," Raburn said, adding that he found a "much higher level of interest than we were sensitized to." He called Europe a "perfect market" for the small Eclipse 500 jet because the aircraft can use the short and unimproved runways that are common in Europe. Even Geneva International Airport (GVA) has a grass strip for general aviation, he noted.
GLOBAL EXPRESS WINS JAPANESE CERTIFICATION - Bombardier's long-range Global Express business jet won type certification approval from the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau, clearing the way for customers to register the 6,500-nautical-mile aircraft in Japan. The Canadian manufacturer won Transport Canada and U.S. FAA type approval for the Global Express in 1998 and it has now been certificated in 33 countries, including 24 in Europe. Since entering corporate service in 1999, Bombardier said 64 Global Express aircraft have been delivered to operators worldwide.
Jet Aviation Dusseldorf was named an authorized service center for Raytheon Premier I aircraft. The recognition allows the Dusseldorf, Germany, facility to perform heavy and scheduled airframe and engine maintenance on the business jet. Jet Aviation Dusseldorf also is a Raytheon authorized service center for the King Air 200 and 300, Beech 1900, Beech Baron and Beech Bonanza.
Lufthansa Introduces BBJ On Dusseldorf-Newark Route - Lufthansa is the first airline worldwide to introduce a business jet on one of its thin long-haul routes. The airline plans to reintroduce its six-times-weekly service from Dusseldorf to Newark, N.J. on June 17 using a Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) wet-leased from Swiss VIP operator PrivatAir. The aircraft will be configured in a 48-seat, all-business layout, a cabin interior superior to Lufthansa's mainline product.
Central Flying Service (CFS), the Little Rock, Ark. company that bills itself as "Arkansas' largest and oldest aviation center," completed the acquisition of Midcoast Aviation's Little Rock facility from Sabreliner Corp. of St. Louis. With the addition of Midcoast Aviation's modern executive terminal, nine aircraft hangars, and maintenance and paint facilities, Central Flying Service is now "the largest full-service fixed-base operation in the world," according to Dick Holbert, president of CFS.
Federal Aviation Administration issued special certification conditions for an S-Tec modification of the Piper Mirage PA-46-350P airplane. The supplemental type certificate covers the installation of a singled-sided electronic flight instrument system, which includes a Meggitt "Magic" display. The special conditions are designed to ensure that the display can be adequately protected from the effects of high intensity radiated field.
Lufthansa is the first airline worldwide to introduce a business jet on one of its thin long-haul routes. The airline plans to reintroduce its six-times-weekly service from Dusseldorf to Newark, N.J. on June 17 using a Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) wet-leased from Swiss VIP operator PrivatAir. The aircraft will be configured in a 48-seat, all-business layout, a cabin interior superior to Lufthansa's mainline product. Seat pitch in business class on Lufthansa's Airbus A340s and Boeing 747-400s is 48 inches; PrivatAir offers 55 inches.
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.
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.
NTSB'S NEW DIRECTION TO INCLUDE MORE HIGH TECH - 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.
THE IOWA legislature last week agreed to cut the remaining $500,000 in aviation program funding (BA, May 27/245). While the state's Office of Aviation was given enough money to cover its operations, it was not given any money to spend on aviation programs. "We are already working on the challenges that lie before us," said Michelle McEnany, director of the Iowa Office of Aviation.
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.
TINA RULO was named vice president of human resources and administration for Eclipse Aviation Corp. Rulo has more than 20 years of human resources experience, serving as vice president of human resources for Western Multiplex, Hyperion Solutions and VLSI Technology Inc.
TAG AVIATION NAMES THREE TO NEW POSTS -TAG Aviation USA, Inc. named three individuals to new positions, including one who is returning to the company. William Glodfelty returns to TAG as director, client services, with responsibility for customer accounts in the western U.S. A 35-year veteran of the industry, Glodfelty began his career as an aircraft sales representative for Beech Aircraft. He later was district sales manager and western regional vice president for Gates Learjet Corp.
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.
Raytheon Aircraft is seeking new markets for its Beech 1900D 19-passenger airliner as regional airlines continue to transition their fleets from turboprops to jets. RAC was displaying a German-registered Model 1900D Executive configuration that includes an air ambulance component at last week's European Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition (EBACE). Beechcraft Berlin Aviation GmbH completed the 16-passenger interior that includes a Spectrum Aeromed Systems air ambulance installation in the aft cabin adjacent to the aircraft's cargo door.
Larry Ulrich, the veteran fixed-base operations executive, is stepping down as president of Denver jetCenter at Centennial Airport in Englewood, Calif. Ulrich has been named senior vice president of the parent company, jetCenters, Inc., where he will be involved in coordinating and enhancing FBO operations and analyzing potential acquisition opportunities. Succeeding Ulrich at Denver jetCenter is another industry veteran, David C. Miller, who most recently was director of finance and administration at the Burbank Glendale Pasadena Airport.
DAN PROSSER was named western regional sales manager at AirCell, Inc. He will be responsible for sales and marketing in the western U.S. Prosser previously held sales and management positions at Avidyne, AlliedSignal, Stevens Aviation and IFR Avionics.
Cessna Aircraft named Trans Global Aviation Limited a Caravan authorized sales representative in Spain. The company will represent Cessna as MB Aviacion S.L. The appointment comes as Cessna delivers its first four Caravans to cargo companies in Spain. The Wichita, Kan. manufacturer said interest has picked up in the aircraft over the past six months from European operators thanks to a release of a proposed rule change that would allow single-engine turbine aircraft to operate commercially in instrument meteorological and night conditions.
OUIMET NAMED CHAIRMAN, BELLEMARE PRESIDENT AT P&WC - 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.
Central Flying Service (CFS), the Little Rock, Ark. company that bills itself as "Arkansas' largest and oldest aviation center," completed the acquisition of Midcoast Aviation's Little Rock facility from Sabreliner Corp. of St. Louis. With the addition of Midcoast Aviation's modern executive terminal, nine aircraft hangars, and maintenance and paint facilities, Central Flying Service is now "the largest full-service fixed-base operation in the world," according to Dick Holbert, president of CFS.
Larry Ulrich, the veteran fixed-base operations executive, is stepping down as president of Denver jetCenter at Centennial Airport in Englewood, Calif. Ulrich has been named senior vice president of the parent company, jetCenters, Inc., where he will be involved in coordinating and enhancing FBO operations and analyzing potential acquisition opportunities. Succeeding Ulrich at Denver jetCenter is another industry veteran, David C. Miller, who most recently was director of finance and administration at the Burbank Glendale Pasadena Airport.
