NLX Corp., Sterling, Va., said its King Air 350 full flight simulator won FAA Level D approval at the CAE SimuFlite training center at Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport. The Model 350 simulator is the second of five Level D devices NLX is building for CAE SimuFlite, the manufacturer said, part of a deal it originally signed with GE Capital before GE sold the simulator training center to CAE. NLX also is scheduled to deliver Cessna CitationJet, Falcon 900 B/C/EX and Falcon 2000 simulators during the next 12 months.
KAREN TRIPP PICKED TO OVERSEE COMMUNICATIONS AT GE ENGINES - Karen Tripp, who headed communications for avionics maker Rockwell Collins for a number of years, is joining General Electric Aircraft Engines to lead that firm's communications programs.
Skyjet, Bombardier's online charter broker service, launched a new block charter program for its high-volume customers. Under the Premier Fleet program, customers purchase a block of hours on a specific aircraft type and pay a fixed hourly rate along with an annual payment. The program eliminates positioning fees and the cost of empty legs on one-way flights.
NATIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION will hold a May 13 meeting at Washington Reagan National Airport to discuss the prospects for reopening the facility to corporate and business aviation flights. Representatives of the Transportation Security Administration have been invited to attend and NBAA officials say they hope this will be the last public meeting before business aviation flights are restored (BA, April 15/177). The meeting will be held in the lobby of Signature Flight Support's fixed-base facility.
BOMBARDIER WORKERS RETURN TO PRODUCTION LINES - Bombardier employees in Canada were expected to return to work early this morning after voting to accept an arbitration settlement that ended a three-week strike last Friday.
FAA Administrator Jane Garvey tapped Charles Keegan to head the Office of Research and Acquisitions. Keegan succeeds Steven B. Zaidman, who retired from FAA last month. Keegan, who will continue to manage the agency's Operational Evolution Plan, also will oversee the modernization of the nation's airspace system, including research, acquisition, integration, development and deployment of air traffic control systems.
SINEX AVIATION TECHNOLOGIES partnered with Jouve Data Management, Inc. to provide production management software to maintenance shops. The pact combines the Sinex FleetCycle maintenance production software with the JDM AirGTI digital maintenance manual and job card software applications. "The Sinex FleetCycle products are literally conduits to the line and hangar floor for the JDM AirGTI products," said John Miller, president and CEO of Sinex.
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE President Bill Boisture told BA Friday that structural tests required by the Joint Aviation Authorities of the Gulfstream V wing were completed and were under review last week. In addition, Boisture said a JAA validation approach has been defined. The GV won FAA certification at the end of 1996 (BA, Dec. 23, 1996/284), but JAA had refused to validate that certification pending the completion of additional tests.
NLX CORP., Sterling, Va., said its King Air 350 full flight simulator won FAA Level D approval at the CAE SimuFlite training center at Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport. The Model 350 simulator is the second of five Level D devices NLX is building for CAE SimuFlite, the manufacturer said, part of a deal it originally signed with GE Capital before GE sold the simulator training center to CAE. NLX also is scheduled to deliver Cessna CitationJet, Falcon 900 B/C/EX and Falcon 2000 simulators during the next 12 months.
EXECUTIVE JET CHANGING CORPORATE NAME TO NETJETS - Executive Jet, Inc., the Columbus, Ohio-based business jet operator, changed its named Tuesday to NetJets, Inc., taking the name of its fractional aircraft program, which has become the largest part of its business. The Executive Jet name, which has been used since the company was founded in 1964, will continue in some forms, including Executive Jet Management, Inc. EJM is the Cincinnati, Ohio-based subsidiary that operates a fleet of nearly 90 aircraft under management contracts and/or for charter.
WHILE THE GENERAL AVIATION industry is struggling to convince key government officials of the need for compensation for losses stemming from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the airline community, which already has secured nearly $15 billion in compensation and guaranteed loans, is approaching Capitol Hill for more money. Airline lobbyists are eyeing a supplemental appropriations bill as a possible target to get reimbursement for security costs, such as reinforcing cockpit doors, sources say.
SPIRENT SYSTEMS is providing its AvVisor cabin display system as optional equipment on Cessna Citation business jets. First installation of the system is on a Cessna Model 550 Citation Bravo destined for an international customer. Cessna is certifying the system on its aircraft type certificate and Spirent already has supplemental type certificate approval on the Model 525 Citation.
Bombardier employees in Canada were expected to return to work early this morning after voting to accept an arbitration settlement that ended a three-week strike last Friday. Some 7,500 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 712 voted 70 percent in favor of a new labor contract, which was negotiated by a government appointed mediator last week. Highlights of the new contract include a salary increase of 16 percent over the next four years and increased vacation time.
THOMAS R. DAVIDSON, who has served as FAA's Air Traffic Customer Advocate for nearly a year, will leave that position next month to accept a promotion to Air Traffic Division Manager for the New England Region, based in Boston. Davidson won high marks from the National Business Aviation Association and other groups for his efforts in helping qualified corporate flight departments win waivers from post-9/11 flight restrictions that permitted them to resume normal flight operations.
Cessna signed a 15-year agreement continuing its recognition of FlightSafety International as the official factory-authorized training provider for Citations and Caravans. The new agreement extends the designation that has been in place since February 1980. "We are very fortunate to have such a strong relationship with FlightSafety," said Gary Hay, Cessna chairman and CEO. "Our customers have received excellent training from FlightSafety's extensive simulator and maintenance training programs.
BELL HELICOPTER Model 222, 222B, 222U, 230, and 430 helicopters (Docket No. 2001-SW-73-AD) - proposes to require removing sealant from the forward tooling hole in the right-hand upper fuel enclosure area. This proposal is prompted by the determination that fuel or water could accumulate in the right-hand upper fuel enclosure. The actions specified by this proposed AD are intended to prevent accumulation of fuel in the right-hand upper fuel enclosure area, a fire, and a subsequent forced landing. FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 151 helicopters on the U.S.
BUSINESS/PERSONAL/REGIONAL AIRCRAFT - FIRST QUARTER UNIT SHIPMENTS 1st Quarter Cal. 2002 Year -------- ------ AIRBUS -- Multi-Engine ACJ Airbus Corporate Jetliner 1 1 Total 1 1 ATR -- Multi-Engine
Although the Bush Administration has kept general aviation restricted far longer than any other industry, senior officials are opposing efforts to compensate businesses devastated by the government's actions, saying enough is being done to help already.
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association teamed with the Aircraft Electronics Association to facilitate a long-term, simple interest loan through MBNA American Bank for aircraft improvements. The loans will be available through participating avionics shops and available for interior and exterior upgrades as well as engine overhaul.
Executive Jet, Inc., the Columbus, Ohio-based business jet operator, changed its named Tuesday to NetJets, Inc., taking the name of its fractional aircraft program, which has become the largest part of its business. The Executive Jet name, which has been used since the company was founded in 1964, will continue in some forms, including Executive Jet Management, Inc. EJM is the Cincinnati, Ohio-based subsidiary that operates a fleet of nearly 90 aircraft under management contracts and/or for charter. EJM will be identified as "A NetJets company."
GOVERNMENT, INDUSTRY CONSIDER SAFETY OF WEAPONS IN COCKPIT - Momentum continues to grow on Capitol Hill for arming airline pilots with weapons, but senior government officials caution that they must continue testing the systems before they are used on airliners. House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Don Young (R-Alaska) and aviation subcommittee Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.) last week introduced legislation to allow pilots to carry firearms. "The decision to arm pilots and crew was not taken lightly.
Model 222, 222B, 222U, 230, and 430 helicopters (Docket No. 2001-SW-73-AD) - proposes to require removing sealant from the forward tooling hole in the right-hand upper fuel enclosure area. This proposal is prompted by the determination that fuel or water could accumulate in the right-hand upper fuel enclosure. The actions specified by this proposed AD are i ntended to prevent accumulation of fuel in the right-hand upper fuel enclosure area, a fire, and a subsequent forced landing. FAA estimates that this proposed AD woul d affect 151 helicopters on the U.S.
A wide-reaching bill introduced in the House of Representatives last week would authorize $1.15 billion in aeronautics research and development in the next five years to compete against a recent unified European investment in the industry.
BOISTURE was responding to questions from BA about an Internet report circulating last week that claimed the GV wing failed in a test rig at 130 percent of the ultimate wing load, short of the 150 percent requirement.
