TEXTRON is consolidating all of its Aviation Finance divisions into its wholly owned subsidiary, Cessna Finance Corporation. The newly consolidated company will provide financing for all Textron aviation products, including Cessna single-engine products, Cessna Caravan, Cessna Citation business jets and the full line of Bell Helicopters. The combination will help Textron to further expand business in the worldwide aviation marketplace and support "the captive financing needs of both Cessna Aircraft Company and Bell Helicopter," Cessna said.
WING AVIATION began building its new aviation service center at Montgomery County Airport in Conroe, Texas. The facility, slated to open in April 2002, will provide adequate space to perform maintenance on Gulfstream aircraft as well as aviation services for mid- and other large-cabin aircraft, including interior/exterior custom paint and detailing, cabin refurbishments and upgrades. The new facility also will provide a host of fixed-base operation services.
TURBOMECA S.A. Arriel-1D, -1D1, -1S, -1S1, -2S1 and -2B series turboshaft engines (Docket No. 2001-NE-06-AD) - proposes to require the insertion of a sleeve in the attachment boss of the compressor bleed valve. This proposal is prompted by several cases of contained centrifugal compressor impeller blade ruptures that have occurred in service.
WILLIAM S. KOCH, the former AMR Combs executive, formed Sutherland Companies LLC, a private equity and advisory firm specializing in aviation. Sutherland Companies, based in Dallas, invests in aviation related companies through its Suthrerland Ventures group and provides management consulting and advisory services. The firm wants to build a portfolio of aviation related companies through acquisitions and new business ventures.
GOODRICH CORP. won a contract to supply wheels and brakes for Embraer's Legacy business jet. Goodrich wheels and brakes will remain standard equipment on Embraer's EMB-120 Brasilia turboprop and the manufacturer's regional jets, the ERJ-135, -140 and -145.
GULFSTREAM IV-SP business jet aircraft achieved a 99.6 percent dispatch reliability rate this past year. Gulfstream officials credit the rate to an "aggressive reliability-tracking process" that designates a quality control team to analyze and resolve problems." The Gulfstream IV fleet, with 425 aircraft in service, recorded a milestone of 1.5 million hours of in-service flight time and more than 770,000 landings.
TITAN SYSTEMS CORP., won a contract to provide a range of avionics upgrade services for the U.S. Navy, including work on the Executive Transport (Presidential helicopter) fleet. Under the five-year, $39 million contract, Titan Systems will support major Navy and Marine Corps aircraft programs, including H-60, H-3, CH-53 helicopters, satellite navigation based systems, wearable computer based systems and advanced avionics systems integration projects.
DASSAULT FALCON JET CORPORATION joined the Aerospace Industries Association. One of two new members of the trade association, Dassault Falcon Jet sells business aircraft throughout North and South America and the Pacific Rim.
NEW WORLD AVIATION added a second Learjet 55 to its charter certificate, joining a fleet that also includes a Gulstream IV, three Gulfstream IIBs, and two Twin Star helicopters.
HONEYWELL won FAA approval for installation of the new Honeywell/Thales MCS-7000 satellite communications system on the Boeing Business Jet. The MCS-7000, which won initial supplemental type certification in June, uses the INMARSAT satellite constellation and has the potential to interface with other satellite systems.
ROCKWELL COLLINS has made a 10.4-inch liquid crystal display retractable monitor for Boeing single-aisle aircraft. The new LCD monitor will directly replace the Rockwell Collins 8.6-inch LCD monitor with no necessary modifications. The new monitors will be installed starting in the first quarter of 2002.
Sabreliner Corp. reorganized senior managers at its three operations and consolidated marketing management responsibility under Chairman and CEO Holmes Lamoreux. The company said the moves are designed to streamline communications within the companies and enhance business opportunities. The company promoted Iain Glendinning to senior vice president of operations and administration, with responsibility for the company's Midcoast Aviation, Premier Turbine and Sabreliner units.
SIMUFLITE is now providing Citation Excel pilot training at its Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport training center offering either 14-day initial training on a four-day recurrent package. SimuFlite's Citation Excel full flight simulator received FAA Level D certification in August. SimuFlite trains pilots on five Citation simulators: Citation II, Citation III/VI, Citation V, Citation Ultra/Bravo and the Citation Excel.
The final report by the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center finds that even with wide and local area augmentations, "use of GPS still can be disrupted and transportation services thus im-paired." The final report, obtained by BA sister publication The DAILY, added that the "more serious consequences are very unlikely to occur and can be avoided by awareness, planning and supplementing GPS with a backup system or operational procedures when it is used in critical applications." The study stressed, however, that "public policy must ensure, primarily, that safety
Some general aviation flights operating under instrument flight rules were cleared to return to the air at 1600 EDT Friday, ending a four-day "ground-stop" on flights conducted under Part 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations.
NATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION is forming a Business Aviation Security Task Force to discuss and make recommendations about new security regulations governing Part 135 air taxi and charter operators and other segments of the business aviation community. Jim Christiansen, the former TAG Aviation executive who chaired the Fractional Ownership Aviation Rulemaking Committee, has agreed to chair the new group.
New Piper Aircraft received Federal Aviation Administration approval for operation of its Meridian single-turboprop aircraft into known icing conditions and has launched a retrofit program for aircraft to accommodate such flights. The certification comes a year after the aircraft, the PA46-500TP, first won type approval (BA, Oct. 2, 2000/149). At that time, New Piper said it would equip aircraft already delivered with placards prohibiting flight into known icing until FAA approved the operations.
ISRAEL AIRCRAFT INDUSTRIES, LTD. Model Astra SPX and 1125 Westwind Astra series airplanes (Docket No. 2001-NM-261-AD; Amendment 39-12418; AD 2001-17-27) - requires a one-time detailed visual and eddy current inspections for cracking of the drag brace on the nose landing gear, and replacement of the drag brace, if necessary. This action is necessary to prevent failure of the nose landing gear. Effective date is Sept. 13, 2001. Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or before Sept. 28, 2001.
While most of the general and business aviation fleet was grounded last week until officials could appropriately address security concerns, the industry turned its resources to help relief efforts in New York and Washington, D.C.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model AS350B, B1, B2, B3, BA, D, AS355E, F, F1, F2, and N helicopters (Docket No. 2000-SW-47-AD; Amendment 39-12424; AD 2001-17-32) - requires inspecting certain versions of the tail rotor pitch change spider assembly (spider assembly) for the proper rotational torque, axial play, and any brinelling of the bearing.
JET AVIATION BASEL modified the first GV to receive a JAA certificate in Europe. The modifications, which were made under Gulfstream's supervision, included structural changes to the aircraft's wings and pylons. Avionics and electrical system were also modified. The aircraft was to be registered in Italy and in order to meet JAA standards, software was updated and cockpit fuel displays were converted from U.S. standard measurement system to the metric system.
The National Business Aviation Association Wednesday reluctantly decided to scrap this week's 54th annual convention in New Orleans, La., bowing to the concerns of exhibitors, members and the uncertain timing of restoration of regular air traffic operations in the U.S. in the wake of Tuesday's terrorist airliner hijackings and murderous attacks in New York and Washington, D.C.
Despite the current slowing of orders for business jets due to economic conditions, Honeywell Aerospace's 10th annual Business Aviation Outlook predicts a significant upward surge in business jet deliveries through 2006, part of a wave of sustained strong shipments that will total 8,900 units valued at over $136 billion for the period 2002-2011.
