R. SCOTT RETTIG was named vice president sales and marketing at BAE Systems' Avionics Group. Based in Arlington, Va., Rettig will be responsible for the development, oversight, and implementation of U.S. sales and marketing. Rettig was most recently vice president and director of marketing at Alenia Marconi Systems Inc.
Mesa Airlines rolled out the first of 20 CRJ-700 aircraft on order at its Phoenix hub late last month, part of a $2 billion deal that also includes firm orders for 20 CRJ-900s. Mesa will fly the equipment for code-share partner America West, which plans to use the aircraft largely to expand its Midwest and West Coast operations. The new CRJ fleet will offer six business-class seats, a rarity among regional airlines.
Aerospace industry experts say an aging engineer workforce - and a shortage of young skilled engineers - may pose the greatest challenge for the U.S. aerospace industry.
Model Mystere-Falcon 50 series airplanes (Docket No. 2000-NM-335-AD) - proposes to require repetitive tests of double-skin feeder tanks for fuel leaks, and corrective actions, if necessary. It also would require modification of seals in the feeder tanks, which would terminate the repetitive leak tests. This action is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign airworthiness authority.
CTL-92 Transponder Control Panels (Docket No. 2001-CE-22-AD; Amendment 39-12352; AD 2001-15-17) - requires modification of the altitude encoder inputs of the CTL-92 transponder control panels. This AD is the result of reports of noise generation within the CTL-92 transponder control panels that the transponder can interpret and transmit as a random altitude. Air traffic control (ATC) and traffic alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS)-equipped aircraft can then interpret these erroneous random altitudes as valid altitudes.
FLIGHT OPTIONS INC. opened regional service centers at Denver, Colo. Centennial Airport (APA) and at McClellan Park in Sacramento, Calif. The Denver facility features a private two-story terminal with a 21,000-square-foot maintenance area. The two facilities are the first of several service centers Flight Options plans to build in the near future.
Aerospace Products International of Memphis, Tenn. signed an agreement with Superior Air Parts under which API will acquire regional distribution centers from Superior in Haywood, Calif.; Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; St. Charles, Ill.; Allentown, Pa.; and Dallas, Texas. API also said it will be appointed a worldwide distributor for Superior's line of FAA approved replacement parts for Lycoming and Continental aircraft engines.
Despite positive sales in its aerospace segment, Honeywell International Inc. on July 24 posted a 92 percent drop in net profit for the second quarter due largely to charges the company took related to its failed merger with General Electric Co.
ALISON DOMINGUEZ was appointed quality assurance manager at Professional Aviation Associates. Dominguez has 20 years of aviation experience and was recently employed at Fokker Services, Inc.
CORPORATE JETS INC. expanded its air medical services in the western United States by adding a Bell 222UT helicopter this month. CJI now operates eight Regional LifeFlight programs at 14 base sites in the West.
NAV CANADA and the International Civil Aviation Organization will host the 2001 International Oceanic Conference from Oct. 2-4 at the Banff Springs Hotel in Banff, Alberta, Canada. This year's theme for the annual oceanic airspace management event is "Improving Customer Service Through Advanced Technology."
INTERNATIONAL WATER-GUARD INDUSTRIES received a Supplemental Type Certificate to install its NPS-A3 aircraft potable water treatment units on Bombardier Global Express aircraft. The NPS-A3 unit is designed for aircraft with small-capacity water systems but also can function as a "point-of-use device on larger aircraft," said the company. More than 500 IWG water disinfection units are in use in business aircraft.
Two key congressmen have come out in support of industry's position that FAA's planned two-part rewrite of the repair station rules should not be allowed to continue.
Model ATR 72-101, -201, -102, -202, -211, and -212 series airplanes (Docket No. 2001-NM-38-AD; Amendment 39-12334; AD 2001-14-23) - requires a one-time inspection of harness route 2P and the pitch control cable for wire chafing, corrective action, if necessary; and replacement of the clamp retaining the power supply cable loom of the green circuit hydraulic pump at Frame 28 with a smaller clamp in a different orientation.
THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE told a charter operator this month that the IRS would continue to apply the air transportation segment tax on a per-passenger basis retroactively, but could back off from that approach if the Secretary of the Treasury instructs the agency to do so.The IRS earlier this year issued a technical advice memorandum (TAM) that the segment tax should be applied per passenger, rather than on a per-aircraft basis, and said charter companies should pay the per-passenger tax retroactive to its beginning if they have paid it on a per-aircraft basis (BA, Apr
AVCON AIR CHARTER appointed Ettore Rodaro director of charter sales. Avcon hired Rodaro to "focus exclusively on developing its charter market products and services." Rodaro has more than 10 years business aviation experience.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R-Ariz.) is jumping into the controversy over the new Phoenix Cardinals football stadium, which is supposed to be built less than two miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on the extended centerline for Runway 26 (BA, July 23/38). McCain said Friday he had scheduled a July 30 meeting at the airport that will include himself, FAA Administrator Jane Garvey, Phoenix Mayor Skip Rimsza, Tempe Mayor Neil Guiliano and Ted Ferris, president of the Arizona Tourism and Sports Authority.
Model ATR 42-200, -300, -320, -500, and ATR72 series airplanes (Docket No. 2000-NM-380-AD; Amendment 39-12339; AD 2001-15-05) - requires a revision of the Airplane Flight Manual to add instructions that prohibit the flightcrew from selecting the reverse position on the engines in the event of propeller thrust dissymmetry. The actions specified by this AD are intended to ensure that the flightcrew is advised of the hazard associated with selecting reverse thrust during propeller thrust dissymmetry, which could reduce controllability of the airplane during landing.
AERODYNAMICS, INC. added a Westwind II to its charter aircraft fleet. The eight-passenger aircraft will be based at Detroit, Mich. Metro Airport (DTW).
ADAM AIRCRAFT INDUSTRIES said it has sold 24 delivery positions for its M-309 carbon composite aircraft powered by centerline thrust piston engines, with six aircraft still available at the introductory price of $725,000. The company also announced that the six-place aircraft will be known as the "CarbonAero," the name selected from more than 2,000 suggestions submitted to the company.
ASTRO-AIRE ENTERPRISES in Oakland, Calif. was appointed a Honeywell-Grimes repair center. The company will provide bench check, repair and overhaul or modification services on Grimes aircraft lighting and power supply devices.
ELLIOTT AVIATION is now a full-line distributor and authorized installation center for IceShield de-icing boots. Manufactured by SMR Technologies, IceShield de-icing boots will be distributed by all four Elliott Aviation locations in Moline, Ill., Des Moines, Iowa, Minneapolis, Minn. and Omaha, Neb.
The Senate last week considered a fiscal 2002 transportation appropriations bill that provides more than full funding for Federal Aviation Administration operations and calls on the agency to boost its inspector staff and promote general aviation safety initiatives. The Senate bill would give FAA $13.26 billion in fiscal 2002, including $6.92 billion for operations, compared with the Bush Administration request for $6.87 billion.
CONKLIN&DE DECKER AVIATION INFORMATION promoted Nel Sanders to full partner. The former NBAA aviation tax specialist is now one of five owners in the aviation consulting firm. Sanders specializes in aviation tax and financial matters and will be responsible for new product development and expansion of consulting services.
