Embraer, which already offers a 37-seat and 50-seat jet, plans to split the difference with its newest product - a 44-seat regional jet that will have a "high level of commonality" with the Brazilian manufacturer's popular ERJ-145 and ERJ-135 airliners. The new jet, the ERJ-140, was launched during last week's European Regions Airline Association Meeting in Paris without firm orders in hand, but President and CEO Maurice Botelho said American Eagle and Continental Express have expressed interest.
BE A PILOT board members last week elected Russell W. Meyer, Jr., current chairman and chief executive of Cessna Aircraft, to succeed co-founder Ed Stimpson as chairman of the industry-wide program aimed at recruiting new pilots. Meyer, who plans to step down as Cessna's chief executive at the end of the year (BA, April 19/177), assumed his new role last week as Stimpson was confirmed as ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organization.
As the funding deadline for Loran-C approaches, supporters of the navigation aid are accusing the Office of Management and Budget of delaying tactics. They also say OMB is establishing itself in policy-making, which is not in its charter. The Transportation Department's 1994 and 1996 Federal Radionavigation Plans call for termination of Loran at yearend. But DOT had a change of heart and recommends continued funding of Loran in the yet-to-be issued 1998 FRP, which is being held up by OMB. OMB officials declined comment.
Eight industry associations representing the nation's air carriers, pilots and airports called on FAA to develop a national standard to comply with airport security regulations. In joint comments to FAA last month, the associations asked the agency to form a working group within 30 days to establish security compliance program standards. That request comes in response to a notice of proposed rulemaking, which questioned the feasibility of requiring airports and air carriers to establish their own compliance enforcement programs.
DeCrane Aircraft Holdings, Inc., which has been busily acquiring a range of aircraft component manufacturers over the past few years (BA, Jan. 4/2), reorganized its holdings into three business groups to "create greater synergies among its 10 subsidiary companies and provide complete systems solutions for its customers," said R. Jack DeCrane, chief executive of the company.
FORMER ROLLS-ROYCE EXECUTIVE John W. Sandford was named executive chairman of Avcorp, a Canadian firm that designs, manufactures and assembles metal, composite and plastic components for the aerospace industry. Sandford, who retired from Rolls-Royce last year after holding numerous executive posts in the U.S. and United Kingdom, joined the Avcorp board last year and has served as chairman of the executive committee. He became interim president and chief executive following the resignation of Peter Jeffrey in July.
JEFFREY SNYDER was appointed director of domestic general aviation sales for Aircraft Products International. Snyder has 20 years of experience with aerospace distribution, sales and management. Most recently, he was director of sales for Stevens Aviation and president of Raytheon Aircraft Parts and Distribution Company. He also has held management positions with United Beechcraft, Dassault Falcon Jet and Atlantic Aviation Corporation.
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE CORPORATION'S Long Beach, Calif. service center delivered its 18th new-aircraft completion of the year Sept. 29, breaking the facility's 12-month record of 17 aircraft last year. The Long Beach facility, which has been in operation since 1986, completed two Gulfstream IV-SPs and 16 Gulfstream Vs in the first nine months toward a goal of 28 for the entire year.
FAA'S BUDGET PROBLEMS are disrupting normal operations and sending senior executives scurrying to find ways to make up shortfalls.Administrator Jane Garvey sent a Sept. 10 memo to FAA's Management Board "further restricting FY 1999 travel funded by the Operations Appropriation" because "the agency is still faced with year-end shortfalls in Operations for which we need to find funding.
CHARLES BEATON was promoted to director of operations-technical services for Jet Support Services, Inc. Beaton is expected to become vice president of operations, when Karl Florian partially retires at the end of next year. Beaton formerly was director of maintenance at Texaco's corporate flight operation and has held management positions at K-C Transportation Services, Executive Jet International, Ameriflight Inc. and Executive Air Fleet Corp.
Model 205A-1 and 205B helicopters (Docket No. 98-SW-72-AD; Amdt. 39-11268;AD 99-18-02) - requires inspecting the vertical fin spar cap for cracking, corrosion, or disbonding; modifying the vertical fin; and replacing the left-hand spar cap. This amendment is prompted by five accidents involving helicopters of similar type design. The actions specified by this AD are intended to detect fatigue cracking or corrosion on the spar cap, which could lead to failure of the vertical fin spar, loss of the tail rotor, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
AL STAUFER joined Schweizer Aircraft Corp. as marketing director with responsibility for Latin America and the Middle East. Staufer has more than 25 years of aviation marketing, international distribution and sales experience. He formerly held senior positions with Piper and Mooney Aircraft.
Model 204B, 205A, and 205A-1 helicopters (Docket No. 98-SW-73-AD; Amdt. 39-11252; AD 99-17-03) - supersedes an existing AD that currently requires modifying and inspecting the vertical fin spar for cracks. This amendment requires modification and visual and dye-penetrant inspections of the fin spar for cracks, and if a crack is discovered, replacing the fin spar. A tapping test to check for disbonding, and replacement of certain fin spars within 12 calendar months, also is required.
INTERNATIONAL LORAN ASSOCIATION is holding its ILA/Nav 99 Loran-C, Satellite and Integrated Systems for the 21st Century Conference and Exhibition Nov. 1-3 at Church House in Westminster, London. The Royal Institute of Navigation is hosting the three-day event. The conference will discuss policies and plans, complementary use, backup and redundancy, augmentation and compatibility and timing and communications. For more information, contact the Royal Institute of Navigation at +44 (0)20 7591 3130.
DOUGLAS N. KOBAYASHI was named president and chief executive of Dee Howard Aircraft Maintenance, L.P., in San Antonio, Texas. He was formerly vice president of technical services and vice president of corporate planning and development for Conair Aerospace in Abbotsford, British Columbia. Before joining Conair, Kobayashi was vice president of engineering services for CAE Aviation. He also served as a lieutenant colonel in the Canadian Air Force.
NATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION proposed that Part 135 air charters add a provision to their operations specifications ensuring that pilots may decline a flight in cases of fatigue without being subject to punitive action. This would apply only in cases in which pilots received less than 10 hours notice of a flight, under the NATA recommendation. The association is hoping FAA will accept that proposal as an "acceptable means of compliance" to the agency's June 15 Notice of Enforcement Policy on flight and duty time regulations.
JB&A AVIATION, the turbine aircraft brokers and consultants based in Houston, opened a regional sales office in Tulsa, Okla. The new office joins JB&A regional branches in Tucson, Chicago, Denver and Mexico. The Tulsa office, headed by Toby Smith, is located at Tulsa International Airport, 7107 East Apache Road, Suite 203, Tulsa, Okla. 74115; phone: (918) 834-9100; fax: (918) 834-9400.
SCHWEIZER AIRCRAFT appointed Hahn Helicopter, located at Lautzenhausen/Hahn Airport, as a service center for Model 300C, 300CB and 330 helicopters in Germany. Hahn Helicopter, founded in 1996, is an approved JAR 145 maintenance organization. Schweizer also appointed Eli-Alpi as a distributor of the Model 300C, 300CB and 300 helicopters in Italy. Eli-Alpi was founded in 1998 in Rivanazzano, Italy to provide regional support services for helicopters in southern Europe.
Bombardier Aerospace, which has been considering development of an all-new 100-seat airliner for the regional market, said Thursday it is now looking closely at developing a 90-seat derivative of its CRJ-700 that could be available in about two years.
NATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION published an Emergency Response Manual to provide guidelines on aircraft incident response procedures. The manual, designed for aviation businesses, provides instruction on responding to an aircraft emergency with sections on aircraft security, hijacking, bomb threats, and search and rescue resources. It also incorporates National Transportation Safety Board forms and contains a section on dealing with the press. The manual is available to NATA members for $25 and non-members for $50.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION awarded a $2.282 million grant to the City of Austin to expand the general aviation apron and taxiways at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Once completed, the Austin Department of Aviation plans to build a number of city-owned T-hangars for private aircraft use. Initial construction is slated to begin early next year with T-hangars ready for use by yearend.
ROBERT BRUINSMA was appointed vice president and general manager for AAR Aircraft Component Services-New York. Bruinsma has 25 years of experience at AAR, most recently as vice president of operations for ACS-New York. He also has served with ACS-Amsterdam.
Model SN-601 (Corvette) series airplanes (Docket No. 98-NM-365-AD) - proposes to require repetitive inspections of the locking indication system of the main landing gear (MLG) drag strut jack for corrosion and damage, and repair, if necessary. This proposal also would require replacement of seals and backup rings with new parts. This proposal is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
