Crossings Aviation, a fixed-base operation headquartered at the Tacoma Narrows Airport in Gig Harbor, Wash., expanded its FBO activities with the acquisition of Bertea Aviation in Newport, Ore. last month. Crossings is an affiliate of Harbor Air - an Alaska Airlines feeder in the Northwest - and both are owned by Richard Boehlke, president and chief executive officer, who spent more than 20 years in the nursing-home and managed-care business before turning his attention to the aviation industry.
CHAD WINNINGS was appointed aircraft sales representative for Chrysler Pentastar Aviation. Winnings previously served as an aircraft sales representative for an aircraft dealer in Indianapolis, Ind.
A BRITISH COURT ruled against corporate jet operators in a dispute over changes in the way takeoff and landing slots at London's Heathrow Airport are allocated. Previously, corporate operators had been allowed to use unallocated "opportunity slots" on short notice when they became available during the day. Changes instituted in May, however, required corporate operators to apply for unallocated slots more than a week in advance. The airport claimed the previous system of parceling out the slots on short notice was a factor in disrupting flight operations.
FORMER EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR SHOW organizers have expanded the three-day conference and exhibition to include the commercial air transport sector and renamed the event the Air Transport and Business Aviation show. Air Transport and Business Aviation '99 is scheduled for May 20-22, 1999 at Dusseldorf-Express Airport in Germany.
GENERAL AVIATION MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION President Ed Bolen last week commended Senate appropriators for recommending nearly $9.9 billion for the Federal Aviation Administration next year, saying the fiscal 1999 money "looks outstanding." Despite Clinton Administration claims that the current tax structure is inadequate and a user fee system is necessary because FAA could suffer a $12 billion shortfall through 2002, Congress continues to adequately fund the agency, Bolen said.
FLIGHT SERVICES GROUP opened new regional aircraft management divisions in the Southwest and Southeast. J. Tyler Morris, vice president and regional manager, will oversee the new Southwest office in Fort Worth, Texas. George Schlotthauer, senior vice president of aircraft management, will manage the new Southeast center, which is based at Palm Beach, Fla. International Airport. FSG manages 38 aircraft at 14 bases in the U.S.
AERMACCHI Models F.260, F.260B, F.260C and F.260D airplanes (Docket No. 97-CE-143-AD; Amdt. 39-10597) - requires marking the airspeed indicator to indicate the correct flap operation range and stall speed of the airplane. This AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for Italy. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent the airplane from stalling at an airspeed higher than anticipated, which could result in loss of control of the airplane. FAA estimates that the AD will cover 60 airplanes.
The U.S. Air Force and Raytheon Aircraft completed the first flight of a production T-6A Texan II Joint Primary Aircraft System Trainer Tuesday with a 1.8-hour mission.
Eurocontrol reported successful flight demonstrations in May and June of real-time four-dimensional (time-plus-position) trajectory displays in the cockpit. The feasibility trials were part of Eurocontrol's PHARE (Program for Harmonized Air Traffic Management Research) project with the national aviation research agencies of France, Germany, The Netherlands and the U.K., which seeks to demonstrate advanced integrated air/ground air traffic management technologies for 2010 and beyond.
COLTEC INDUSTRIES INC., Charlotte, N.C., acquired Eaton Corporation's temperature sensor product line. Coltec makes temperature sensor products at its Lewis Engineering operation in Naugatuck, Conn.
Aerospatiale and Alenia formalized the new ATR organization in the wake of British Aerospace's departure from the former Aero International (Regional) consortium. The two former ATR partners are forming a new corporation, not only to market and support its line of ATR turboprops, but to include engineering, design and manufacturing capabilities as well, functions previously handled individually by the two partners.
FLIGHTSAFETY INTERNATIONAL nearly doubled the capacity of its Toledo, Ohio simulator training facility during a recent remodeling program and added Citation V and King Air 200 simulators. The expansion includes a new customer lounge and computer-equipped, self-paced learning room. The Toledo center houses a Citation SII/II and Citation III in addition to the newly installed units.
ALLIEDSIGNAL Model T5313B, T5317A and T53 turboshaft engines (Docket No. 97-ANE-38-AD; Amdt. 39-10610; AD 97-21-07 R1) - revises an existing AD that requires a one-time visual inspection of accessory drive carrier assemblies to determine if they have a serial number that designates a defective assembly and if applicable, replacement with a serviceable assembly. This amendment adds military helicopter models and removes one civilian helicopter model - the Kaman K-1200 - from the applicability of the AD.
SCOTT ROBERTSON was named an aviation fuel specialist for Hammonds Fuel Additives, Inc. Robertson, who has a background in aviation maintenance, will be responsible for new business development, sales and service with Hammonds.
JOHN WALKER joined Jet East, Inc. as director of maintenance. Walker has 23 years of aviation industry experience including 11 years as the director of maintenance for a fixed-base operation chain.
The U.S. Marine Corps is looking to buy commercial transport aircraft to replace the aging CT-39G Sabreliners it uses for operational support airlift. The initial order will be for up to two aircraft. The Marines want a two-pilot, six-passenger, fixed-wing, multi-engine commercial transport aircraft that could be delivered within 18 months, Naval Air Systems Command said in a July 8 Commerce Business Daily solicitation. The projected aircraft utilization rate is 75 flight hours per aircraft per month with three sorties per day.
SIGNATURE FLIGHT SUPPORT completed a renovation project at its facility at Detroit Metropolitan Airport. Signature invested $300,000 in upgrading its 7,000-square-foot terminal building, including new customer service counters, a larger pilot's lounge with flight planning equipment, and expanded conference room and a new pilot's quiet/snooze room.
CITY OF DEFUNIAK SPRINGS, Fla., requests proposals until 2 p.m. July 24 for a full-service fixed-base operator at DeFuniak Springs Municipal Airport under a 10-year contract. The proposed contract may be obtained by contacting the City Manager's Office at City Hall, 70 U.S. Highway 90W, DeFuniak Springs, Fla. 32433; telephone: (850) 892-8500.
JET AVIATION HANDLING LTD. will become the handling agent for British Airways and its franchise partners CityFlyer Express and British Regional Airlines at Zurich and Geneva, Switzerland. Jet Aviation said it will provide passenger, baggage and ramp services plus station control at both locations beginning Nov. 1. British Airways and its partners use Boeing 737s, 757s and 767s, Airbus A320s, Avro RJ100s and Embraer ERJ-145s at its Swiss destinations.
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn., signed a letter of intent to buy Helicopter Support Inc. (HSI), an independent helicopter logistical support company headquartered in Orange, Conn. HSI will continue to operate as a separate entity through its four complementary businesses: distribution, overhaul and repair, manufacturing and freight forwarding of helicopter parts and components. HSI has more than 800 customers in 55 countries.
THE BMW ROLLS-ROYCE BR715 turbofan successfully completed its full engine fan-blade-off test, "the last major test in preparation for international engine certification scheduled for September 1998, according to the German engine manufacturer. The BR715 will power the Boeing 717-200 (formerly MD- 95) airliner.
Triumph Group, Inc. reached agreement to acquire Nu-Tech Industries, Inc., a Kansas City manufacturer of precision machined parts and mechanical assemblies. Price of the planned transaction was not disclosed. Nu-Tech specializes in manufacturing complex structural components for the commercial and military aircraft market, machining of precision parts from aluminum extrusions and high-speed machining of precision parts from alloys such as titanium and stainless steel. Triumph said it expects Nu-
CAPITAL CITY AIRPORT in Lansing, Mich. was shut down during the past weekend for a major runway resurfacing program that was scheduled to be completed in just 58 hours. Repaving of the 7,251-foot by 150-foot primary runway was to begin at 0800 July 18 and continue nonstop until the airport reopens at 1900 July 20. The airport hired R.W. Armstrong of Indianapolis, Ind. to do the work, which includes removing two inches of existing asphalt and installing three inches of new material.
EMBRAER Model EMB-145 series airplanes (Docket No. 98-NM-65-AD; Amdt. 39-10604; AD 98-13-16) - requires replacement of the horizontal stabilizer anti-icing valve with a new anti-icing valve. This amendment also requires reinforcement of the insulation of the anti-icing ducts of the horizontal stabilizer thermal anti-icing system. This amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
EXECUTIVE JET'S NetJets Europe program plans to hire more than eight pilots this year for its fractional ownership program. The program launched in 1996 as a joint venture between Executive Jet, Zimex Aviation of Zurich, Switzerland and Air Luxor of Lisbon, Portugal. NetJets Europe currently employs 25 pilots and operates seven Citation S/IIs and VIIs. It expects to take delivery of three additional Citations this year. Zimex Chairman Hannes Ziegler called NetJets growth in Europe "outstanding," saying both the European market and U.S.
