Raytheon Aircraft's new super mid-size Hawker Horizon business jet completed its first flight Aug.11 in Wichita, Kan. The 2.5-hour first flight tested the aircraft's flying qualities, engine operation, low-speed handling and climb performance, Raytheon said. The aircraft flew to 10,500 feet and operated at speeds of up to 225 knots. The flight was also a first for the Honeywell Primus Epic avionics suite that outfitted the Horizon.
A FLORIDA JURY rendered a $480 million verdict against Cessna Aircraft Company for an accident that the plaintiffs claim was caused by defects in the seat latching system of a Cessna 185. The 1989 accident left three people severely burned when the aircraft seats rocked out of place during a go around maneuver, said aviation attorney, Arthur Alan Wolk. Wolk's law firm, Wolk&Genter, won $80 million in compensatory damages and $400 million in punitive damages for its clients. Cessna is expected to appeal the verdict.
DAVID CAMPBELL was appointed Rolls-Royce Model 250/P&WC PT6T regional engine manager for Dallas Airmotive. Campbell will be responsible for engine service support for helicopter operators in 10 states. He most recently worked in his family's helicopter repair business.
EUROCOPTER FRANCE Model AS-365N3 helicopters (Docket No. 2001-SW-03-AD; Amendment 39-12354; AD 2001-15-19) - requires modifying the Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) software within 90 days after the effective date of this AD. This amendment is prompted by a design problem in the FADEC "power loss printed circuit board'' software found during laboratory testing. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent loss of the FADEC one-engine-inoperative power and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
INSPECTECH AERO SERVICES last week completed installation of new "smart" windows that use suspended particle device (SPD) shading technology on a Learjet 25C. The installation is the first use of the SPD light-control window technology on a business jet. The technology, developed by Research Frontiers Inc., allows window shading to be controlled centrally in the cabin or from the cockpit. The passenger additionally will be able to control individual windows. "The installation marks the baseline for many future certifications," said James Lang, InspecTech president.
INTERNET AUCTIONEER eBAY set a record for the highest known sale price for a single item on the Internet with its sale of a Gulfstream II business jet. The aircraft was one of several items listed for sale in eBay's new aviation category launched in July. Owned by Texas-based business jet dealer Tyler Jet, the plane was sold to an African charter company for $4.9 million.
PAM ARCHIBALD was named quality assurance manager at DPI Labs in LaVerne, Calif. Archibald has more than 15 years of experience in quality assurance management with steel, plastics, aircraft avionics and data configuration control.
TAG AVIATION USA is basing its first charter aircraft, a Falcon 50, in Palm Springs, Calif. "The amount of business we draw from this area makes it a strategic location for the Falcon," said Paul Class, vice president of charter sales at TAG Aviation.
AIR METHODS CORP. expanded its Air Medical Services operations in Iowa with the Mercy Health Network. Under the new agreement, Air Methods will operate a Eurocopter BK-117 in Sioux City in addition to the Bell 222 in Des Moines and Bell 206 in Mason City.
EMBRAER reported an increase in sales to US$1.4 billion for the first half of fiscal 2001 with a net profit of $222.8 million. The company said it benefited from a 15.6 percent depreciation of Brazilian currency against the dollar in the first half of the year.
FLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL received FAA Level D certification for the -300 configuration of its Bombardier Dash 8 simulator based at its Atlanta learning center. The simulator, which already won approval for training for the Dash 8-100, will receive certification later this year for a Flight Dynamics head-up guidance system that will be used in the Dash 8-300 configuration. FlightSafety also operates Dash 8 and Q series simulators at its facilities in Toronto, Seattle and Paris/Le Bourget.
JET AVIATION is increasing hangar space at its maintenance facility in Geneva, Switzerland, to 54,465 square feet. Jet Aviation Geneva cited a surge in demand for services for the expansion. The additional space will provide sufficient capacity for large business jets including Gulfstream Vs and Boeing Business Jets. The facility earlier this year was named a factory authorized service center for the BBJ along with Jet Aviation Basel. Founded in 1969, Jet Aviation Geneva provides full fixed-base operator services, including maintenance and avionics support.
Smaller aerospace suppliers looking to sell overseas can turn to the U.S. Department of Commerce for help, but many don't know the department has an office ready to assist them. The department's Commercial Service section provides small and mid-size aerospace exporters with a variety of services to market and sell their products overseas. "We had over 9,000 successful transactions last year," said Doug Barry, the director of communications and marketing for the Commercial Service office.
FOKKER Model F.28 Mark 0100 series airplanes (Docket No. 2001-NM-21-AD) - proposes to supersede an existing AD that currently requires replacement of the anti-skid control boxes with improved units. This action would require modification or replacement of the anti-skid control boxes with new improved units, which render the skid control boxes even less susceptible to electromagnetic interference during power-up and power-down transients. Continuing mandatory airworthiness information from a foreign airworthiness authority prompts this action.
HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE Chairman Bill Thomas (R-Calif.) promised to work with the Internal Revenue Service to address the concerns of charter operators about a recent IRS ruling that charter operators should retroactively pay segment fees on a per-passenger basis.IRS earlier this year issued a technical advice memorandum (TAM) to a specific operator that the $2.75 segment fee should be assessed on a per-passenger basis, and not per aircraft chartered.
In a strategic move to increase revenue and its client base, B/E Aerospace has purchased M&M Aerospace, a leading distributor of aerospace fasteners, for $177 million. "B/E has considered a number of options for accelerating growth and achieving superior financial returns for shareholders," said B/E President and CEO Robert Khoury.
CHARLES S. (CHUCK) MCLERAN was promoted to executive vice president and chief operating officer of TAG Aviation USA, Inc. The move comes after Jim Christiansen, who currently holds the position, announced his decision to leave the company to pursue other management opportunities (BA, Aug. 13/73). With 32 years in the airline industry and 20,000 flying hours in military and civil jet aircraft, McLeran has been with TAG Aviation since 1992 and most recently served as vice president of flight operations and standards.
BOMBARDIER named Michael Kolman and Peter Vasconcelos sales directors for the eastern U.S. Kolman will direct sales for the Learjet 31A, Learjet 45, Learjet 60 and Continental business jets in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. He has more than eight years of sales experience, including five years as an area sales manager for Cessna. Vasconcelos will be responsible for the Challenger 604 and Global Express jets in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont along with New York's Westchester County.
Cleveland-based Flight Options sold off its specialty avionics repair shop, Inertial Airline Services, Inc. (IAS), to HEICO Corp. as it continues to expand its fractional ownership program. Under the deal, HEICO paid Flight Options $20 million in cash and $5 million in Class A common stock and promised to pay $6 million more in cash if IAS meets certain earning targets during the next two years. IAS repairs and overhauls inertial navigation systems along with a host of other avionics and instruments.
BAE SYSTEMS (Operations) Limited Model BAe 146 and Avro 146-RJ series airplanes (Docket No. 2001-NM-06-AD; Amendment 39-12358; AD 2001-15-23) - requires identifying the discharge valves and cabin pressure controllers, and replacing them with new parts if necessary. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent the installation of incorrect pressurization discharge valves and cabin pressure controllers, which could subject the airframe to excess stress and adversely affect the airframe fatigue life.
UPS last week completed its acquisition of First International Bancorp, Inc., bolstering its finance offerings for small- and mid-size businesses. First International specializes in the use of U.S. government-guaranteed loan programs through the Small Business Administration, the Department of Agriculture and U.S. Export-Import Bank. Under terms of the acquisition, each share of First International common stock has been converted into the right to receive 0.1320 shares of UPS Class B common stock. UPS will issue approximately 1,062,398 shares of Class B common stock.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-2B16 (including CL-601-3A and CL-601-3R) series airplanes (Docket No. 2000-NM-397-AD; Amendment 39-12359; AD 2001-15-24) - requires modification of the wiring for the internal fuel/defuel panel. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent the loss of engine and fuel indications essential for safe flight and landing. FAA estimates that this AD will affect 18 Model CL-600-2B16 series airplanes on the U.S. Registry. The manufacturer has committed previously to its customers that it will bear the cost of labor and replacement parts.
BAE SYSTEMS (Operations) Limited Model BAe 146 and Model Avro 146-RJ series airplanes (Docket No. 2000-NM-179-AD; Amendment 39-12368; AD 2001-15-33) - supersedes an existing AD applicable to all BAe Systems Model BAe 146 and Model Avro 146-RJ series airplanes that currently requires a one-time inspection for "drill marks" and corrosion on the underside of the wing top skin, and corrective actions, if necessary until all corrective actions and protective treatment actions are done.
BRS, Inc., the South St. Paul, Minn.-based producer of the emergency parachute system for general aviation and personal aircraft, reported a 56.8 percent leap in sales to $2.7 million for the first nine months of its fiscal 2001 with net income or $247,628. Nearly half of that amount, $113,881, came in the third quarter with more than $1 million in sales, the company reported last week. "After last fiscal year's record performance of sales and net income, we're pleased to again log substantial increases,'' said BRS President and CEO Mark Thomas.
THE WEAK ECONOMY may have slowed aircraft sales, but it hasn't done anything to dampen demand for exhibit space at next month's National Business Aviation Association convention in New Orleans. As of last week, officials said 1,035 companies had signed up to show their wares in New Orleans, the first time the number of exhibitors has exceeded 1,000 for an NBAA show - and an increase of more than seven percent over last year's 965. The list includes 124 companies that have never before exhibited at the convention.
