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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
All nine persons aboard a Beech King Air 200, N26SJ, escaped injury last month when the aircraft's airstair entrance door departed the airplane during cruise at FL 190 near Hillsdale, Wis. April 22. The aircraft, being operated under Part 135 of the FARs by Flying Dollar Air, Inc., was in visual meteorological conditions when the door separated, causing minor damage to the aircraft. The crew made an emergency landing at the Chippewa Valley Regional Airport in Eau Claire, Wis. The flight had departed from St. Paul Downtown Holman Field in St. Paul, Minn.
HONEYWELL's synchronized triplex flight management system (FMS) completed its first flight on a Gulfstream V-SP. Designed to increase reliability and safety and reduce pilot workload, the triplex FMS is integrated into the GV-SP PlaneView cockpit, which uses the Honeywell Primus Epic avionics platform. With the triplex FMS, three multifunction control display units in the PlaneView cockpit provide the crew interface to three separate but synchronized navigation/performance computers.
National Business Aviation Association 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.
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.
AVOLAR'S demise came as no surprise to fractional aircraft ownership pioneer Richard Santulli, NetJets chairman and CEO of the company with the world's largest business jet fleet. "The chances of Avolar competing, especially starting at the scale they were talking about starting at, was zero," Santulli told reporters last week at his company's Columbus, Ohio headquarters. Providing fractional ownership is "a business that requires tremendous capital. To think you could start [Avolar] with seven different airplane types, all at the same time...was much too optimistic.
TRIUMPH BUYS CONNECTICUT HYDRAULICS FIRM - Triumph Group, Inc., Wayne, Pa., acquired the assets of Ozone Industries, Inc., East Lyme, Conn., a subsidiary of BBA U.S. Holdings, Inc. Triumph said the assets it purchased are used in conjunction with the design, development, testing and manufacturing of aircraft hydraulic systems and components for the defense and commercial markets. Those products include nose wheel steering assemblies and hydraulic quick-disconnect couplings. Ozone also holds an FAA repair station license.
Models SA226 and SA227 series airplanes (Docket No. 2001-CE-47-AD; Amendment 39-12709; AD 2002-08-02) - made the following correcti ons in rule document 02-9574 beginning on Page 19327 in the issue of Friday, April 19, 2002: Sec. 39.13 [Corrected] On page 19329, Sec. 39.13, in the table, under the column, "Compliance", in the third paragraph, in the fifth and sixth lines, "(the effective date of AD 2001-20-154)" should read "(the effective date of AD 2001-20-14)". On page 19329, Sec.
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.
Honeywell's synchronized triplex flight management system (FMS) completed its first flight on a Gulfstream V-SP. Designed to increase reliability and safety and reduce pilot workload, the triplex FMS is integrated into the GV-SP PlaneView cockpit, which uses the Honeywell Primus Epic avionics platform. With the triplex FMS, three multifunction control display units in the PlaneView cockpit provide the crew interface to three separate but synchronized navigation/performance computers.
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.
When the V-22 Osprey takes to the air again next month, the event will be treated as if it were the first flight of a new aircraft, according to Chief Test Pilot Tom MacDonald. "That makes us go through a much more detailed planning process and approval process," MacDonald said. "By doing it that way ... we're being incredibly safe and conservative. It'll be a simple flight."
A HOUSE PANEL this week is expected to question Bush Administration officials about why restrictions are still in place for general aviation at Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA). The subcommittee on the District of Columbia, chaired by Rep. Connie Morella (R-Md.), will hold a hearing Wednesday on DCA issues, including noise abatement and the ban on general aviation.
AVOLAR'S demise came as no surprise to fractional aircraft ownership pioneer Richard Santulli, NetJets chairman and CEO of the company with the world's largest business jet fleet. "The chances of Avolar competing, especially starting at the scale they were talking about starting at, was zero," Santulli told reporters last week at his company's Columbus, Ohio headquarters. Providing fractional ownership is "a business that requires tremendous capital. To think you could start [Avolar] with seven different airplane types, all at the same time...was much too optimistic.
General Dynamics, the parent firm of Gulfstream Aerospace, signed a definitive agreement to acquire all of the nearly six million shares of Advanced Technical Products (ATP) for a purchase price of $33.50 million per share, or about $197 million. In addition GD would assume $26.2 million of ATP's net debt and retire approximately $16.2 million in ATP stock options, bringing the transaction's value to approximately $250 million. The acquisition would be immediately accretive to GD's earnings, the company said.
ALDON COLBY was named director of maintenance at Schubach Aviation. He will be responsible for all maintenance records and updates. Colby has 26 years of aircraft maintenance experience and was most recently a technician for General Dynamics in San Diego.
