ALLIEDSIGNAL AEROSPACE signed a definitive agreement with Dassault Aviation to offer a TFE731-40 engine retrofit option for Falcon 50 operators. The upgrade includes AlliedSignal's TFE731-40 engines and an Integrated PowerPlant System that covers engine build-up kits and other airframe and system components. The upgrade also will entail a modification of the bleed air system and installation of three new engine indication electronic displays.
Model F27 series airplanes equipped with Rolls-Royce 532-7 "Dart 7" (RDa-7) series engines (Docket No. 98-NM-364-AD; Amdt. 39-11288; AD 99-18-22) - requires revising the Airplane Flight Manual to provide the flightcrew with modified operational procedures to ensure continuous operation with the high pressure cock (HPC) levers in the lockout position. This amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
AL SIMON was promoted to vice president, operations for Harris Corporation. Simon joined Harris RF Communications in 1964 in the engineering department. He has held positions of increasing responsibility, including overseeing international operations and quality and customer technical services.
CHARTER OPERATORS are angry over recent legislation requiring FAA to ground all carriers who do not respond to a survey on Year 2000 computer compliance by Nov. 1 (BA, Oct. 11/161). An association official said he has been flooded with calls from companies that initially ignored the survey because it was voluntary. One operator, the official said, complained that his company did not own computers so he threw out the survey.
Garrett Aviation Services will be the "completion integrator" for Envoy 3 and Envoy 7 business jets produced by Fairchild Aerospace under an agreement between the two companies announced at last week's NBAA convention in Atlanta. In addition to completions, Garrett will provide ongoing support for the aircraft after delivery, although Fairchild will maintain overall responsibility for the programs.
An announcement by Raytheon Tuesday that it was reducing its 1999 and 2000 earnings expectations caused the company's stock price to plunge nearly 20 points Wednesday, to new 52-week lows. Raytheon A shares dropped 19.5 points to $22.5 and Raytheon B shares were off 18.75 to $24.25. Less than a year ago the stock was trading at $75 and $76 per share, respectively. Raytheon lowered its earnings forecasts because of "revenue shortfalls and lower-than-expected margins at Raytheon Systems Co.
Boeing Business Jets last week unveiled plans to build an even larger long-range corporate jet - the BBJ 2 - at the request of customers who found that the original BBJ does not provide enough space. Boeing Business Jets, the joint enterprise of Boeing and General Electric, entered the market a year ago with the long-range BBJ based upon a hybrid of the 737-700 and -800 airliners and has since delivered 28 green aircraft.
AIR ROUTING GROUP formed a partnership with Delta Air Lines and Boeing Business Jets to establish a BBJ Gold Card support program. The program provides owners access to a network of flight support services, including emergency "roadside" service, fuel discounts and consolidated invoices and billing statements. Air Routing will coordinate the billing and payment statements for the Gold Card and offer the discounted fuel prices.
PILATUS Aircraft Ltd., the Swiss manufacturer of high-performance turboprops, is for sale and officials are in the initial stages of negotiations with a number of potential buyers.A Pilatus official acknowledged that discussions have been held with other airframe manufacturers - sources suggest Raytheon is among them - but said a deal is "far away" at this point. Pilatus is owned by Oerlikon-Contraves AG.
New Piper, which delivered 303 aircraft last year with $120 million in revenues, will increase to 329 aircraft and $145 million in revenues in 1999. Company projections for 2000 call for producing 424 aircraft valued at $200 million. $1,000,000 is the minimum amount the National Business Aviation Association pledged to raise by this time next year to secure a permanent presence for business aviation in the new Dulles Center of the National Air and Space Museum.
Commander Aircraft Company named Rick Rossner vice president of marketing. He will be responsible for the sale of new Commander high-performance aircraft for the western U.S. including California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Oregon, Washington and Idaho. Rossner, a veteran pilot, has been involved in retail aircraft sales for many years and most recently was a regional manager for Cessna Finance Company. He will report to Dean Thomas, senior vice president of marketing, sales and service for Commander, which is based in Bethany, Okla.
Gulfstream continues to lead the pack in orders for high-end, very-long-range business jets. The Savannah, Ga. manufacturer claims 150 orders for the G-V, Bombardier says it has 105 commitments for the Global Express and Boeing has 56 orders for the BBJ. Airbus trails with 18 A319 Corporate Jetliner orders.
Reports of a shortfall in development funding at Fairchild Aerospace raised concerns with aircraft program partners and customers in recent months, but top officials of the manufacturer say they expect to have a financial package in place by yearend that will see the company through certification of the 428JET and 728JET aircraft.
HOUSE AND SENATE negotiators are slated to begin a conference today on comprehensive FAA reauthorization legislation (BA, Oct. 11/164). At stake are provisions in the House bill to take the Airport and Airway Trust Fund off budget, secure minimum funding levels for the agency and ensure a general fund contribution. FAA Administrator Jane Garvey emphasized the importance of the House and Senate finishing work on the legislation before Congress recesses in November.
The Head-up Guidance System has become a popular option among Falcon Jet customers with more than 60 percent of new Falcon 2000 owners and 80 percent of Falcon 900EX owners selecting the $500,000 system, Jean-Francois Georges, Dassault Aviation's director general for civil aviation, reported.
THE INNOTECH-EXECAIRE AVIATION GROUP, Cessna's authorized sales representative in Canada, ordered five Citation business jets valued at $40 million (U.S.). The deal calls for one Sovereign, Encore and CJ2 and two Citation Excels. Innotech-Execaire, which provides sales, service and aircraft management, will take delivery of the aircraft between 2002 and 2005. "We have placed multiple orders with Cessna in the past, knowing that line positions, far out, would be at a premium," said Ray Kuliavas, Innotech-Execaire vice president, aircraft sales.
Model 328-100 series airplanes (Docket No. 98-NM-112-AD; Amendment 39-11287; AD 99-18-21) - requires a one-time inspection of the propeller de-ice system to verify the proper functioning of the engine indication and crew alert system (EICAS) for the de-ice system; and corrective action, if necessary. This amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
Martin-Baker, the renowned United Kingdom manufacturer of aircraft ejection seats, will build its first U.S. plant in Pennsylvania, Gov. Tom Ridge announced late last month. The plant, which will assemble and support both ejection seats and helicopter seats for the U.S. market, will be built either in Cambria County, Delaware County or elsewhere in the Philadelphia area. The new plant is expected to be operational by mid- to late-2000. The U.S. Navy, which uses Martin-Baker seats for all its fighters and trainers, is Martin-Baker's biggest customer.
DASSAULT AVIATION expects to receive Category III certification for the Falcon 900EX equipped with a Flight Dynamics HGS-2850 Head-up Guidance System (HGS) from the French DGAC and U.S. FAA by early 2000. Dassault received similar approval for an HGS-equipped Falcon 2000 from the JAA in 1997 and FAA in 1998. SNAM, an Italian corporate flight department, recently acquired a Falcon 2000 with an HGS and is taking steps to win Italian ENAC approval for Cat III operations.
Piedmont Hawthorne, in the midst of an aggressive program to expand its network of fixed-base operations, said last week it is in the process of acquiring Shell Aerocentre FBOs at Vancouver, British Columbia, Calgary, Alberta and Toronto, Ontario.
CESSNA AIRCRAFT expects to fly the first pre-production Cessna Citation CJ2 by the end of the month. The aircraft, serial number 001, joins the prototype in the flight test program, which began in April. Cessna will add S/N 002 to the program in November on schedule for a May 2000 certification. Cessna said its production-conformed prototype is averaging eight flight hours per day and has logged more than 350 hours.
RICHARD N. AARONS, former editor and now editor-at-large of Business&Commercial Aviation magazine, last week received the National Business Aviation Association's Platinum Wing award for lifetime achievement in business aviation reporting.
DAVE STEPHENSON was promoted to vice president, tactical radio business unit for Harris Corporation. Stephenson, who joined Harris in August 1997, previously was director of the air traffic control communications business unit. In his new post, Stephenson will oversee manufacturing and engineering for the tactical radio business unit, including the air traffic control communications product line.
Galaxy Aerospace had 17 employees in Texas when the company began operations at Alliance Airport a little over two years ago, but that total is now "well over 200" and is expected to reach 300 by the end of 2000 as production of the Galaxy super mid-size business jet ramps up to two units per month.
Boeing Business Jets lists BBJ interior dimensions at 79 feet, two inches long, seven feet, one inch high, 11 feet, seven inches wide and a floor area of 807 square feet. By comparison, the BBJ 2 will be 98 feet, four inches long, seven feet, one inch high, 11 feet, seven inches wide with a floor area of 1,004 square feet. The interior completion allowance is 12,400 pounds for the BBJ, and 15,500 pounds for the BBJ 2.
