UTILIZATION of Gulfstream IVs in the Gulfstream Shares partnership between the manufacturer and Executive Jet is considerably higher than either party had expected. There are now 14 G-IVs in the program, averaging an eye- popping 1,200 flight hours per year, nearly three times the average annual business jet utilization rate. Gulfstream officials say they're pleased with the ability of the G-IVs to stand up to that level of use.
ALLIEDSIGNAL ENGINES officials continue to be pleased with test results of a new 4,000- to 9,000-pounds'-thrust core engine intended for business jets and regional airliners. The engine incorporates new combustor-section technology designed to reduce emissions of both nitrogen oxides and smoke. Recent full power tests have officials smiling because NOx readings are even lower than engineers anticipated.
The U.S. Air Force and Navy exercised options valued at $60 million for 22 more T-6A Texan II aircraft for the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System. The follow-on order is the fourth since Raytheon won the JPATS contract in February 1996 and brings the total value of the contract to $362 million. The services have ordered 46 production Texan IIs and one manufacturing development aircraft in addition to a Ground Based Training System contract. Deliveries of the most recent order will begin in February 2000.
SIGNATURE FLIGHT SUPPORT named Jacqueline (Jackie) Vibbert of Union, N.J. as general manager of Signature's Washington Dulles fixed-base operation. Vibbert, a 12-year Signature veteran, has been the general aviation manager at Signature-Newark since May 1995. Before that she was a client service manager in the company's corporate marketing department.
SAAB 2000 series airplanes (Docket No. 97-NM-151-AD) - proposes to require repetitive inspections for excessive wear of the aileron control cables, cable guides and cable pulleys located at the rear wing spars, and corrective actions, if necessary. This proposal also would require replacement of the control cables and cable guides with new or serviceable components. This proposal is prompted by the issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
A federal court in Florida sentenced Jose Costales Jr., 32, to 12 years in prison and imposed a $1.3 million fine for robbing repair stations of jet engines, Allison turbine engine blades and other engine components, and then re-selling the stolen goods. A second defendant, Guy Salom, was sentenced to an 18-month term for his role in the scheme. Costales was convicted last September after a jury concluded that he robbed Miami-based Aerothrust Corp.
EXECUTIVE JET MANAGEMENT added four aircraft to its management and charter fleet, a Falcon 50, two Challenger 600s and a Citation III. EJM operates 25 aircraft in 10 locations nationwide.
Dennis DeGaetano, a 24-year management veteran of FAA, was named acting associate administrator for research and acquisitions (ARA). DeGaetano takes over the post that had been held by George Donohue, who earlier announced plans to leave the agency after he was unsuccessful in winning Senate confirmation as FAA deputy administrator (BA, March 16/120). DeGaetano, who had been Donohue's deputy, now will head the 2,000 FAA employees responsible for designing and purchasing the equipment and systems needed to keep the National Airspace System operating.
'98 JET&PROPJET, the comprehensive directory of corporate aircraft that provides registration number and owner of each plane listed, was published this month by Avcom International. The new 435-page paperback directory lists 11,702 business jets in corporate and government services, along with 10,400 turboprops. The new edition was compiled by Peter Simmonds and Dave Richardson. It identifies aircraft registered in seven world areas, covering 134 countries and lists 187 aircraft models built by 44 different manufacturers. The information was updated in December.
Gulfstream Aerospace launched a new service last week that aims to connect individuals needing charter air transportation with commercial operators of Gulfstream business jets. "Gulfstream Charter Services will act as a central clearinghouse for Gulfstream customer charter needs - simplifying the process by engaging an independent charter specialist to coordinate the availability of Gulfstream Part 135-certified aircraft with the request for these charter services," the company said in a statement last week.
Sen. Ernest Hollings (D-S.C.), the ranking Democrat on the Senate Commerce Committee, last week appealed to FAA Administrator Jane Garvey to seek relief from new flight training restrictions the Joint Aviation Authorities have adopted. The restrictions, which take effect in June 1999, require flight training schools to locate their principal place of business in a JAA-member country in order for that country to recognize the flight training (BA, Feb. 28/81).
DOUGLAS H. SMITH, who joined Cessna Aircraft just two years ago as director of sales and marketing for Cessna's single-engine business (BA, April 8, 1996/158), left Cessna this month to accept the position of East Coast regional sales manager for Learjet. At Cessna, Smith had been responsible for worldwide sales of the Cessna single-engine line, all related marketing activities and the Cessna Pilot Center flight training network.
TRANS WORLD ALLOYS, Gardena, Calif., said it signed an exclusive marketing distributorship contract with Baoji Non-Ferrous Metal Works of China to market and co-develop titanium sheet, plate and bar products worldwide. "Baoji's product quality, significantly shorter lead times and price structure are being extremely well-received by our aerospace and commercial customers," said Todd Mason, general manager of the U.S. company's West Coast Division.
WILLIAM MCEWEN was named manager, communications for SimuFlite Training International. McEwen, who joined SimuFlite's communications department in 1996, will be responsible for all internal and external communications, including publications, press releases and SimuFlite's Web site.
UNIVERSAL AVIONICS SYSTEMS CORPORATION selected Airport Systems International's Model 8800 digital radio for its GLS-1250 GPS landing sensor. The sensor provides position and differential correction to the Universal FMS for precision GPS approaches. Airport Systems designs, manufactures, installs and supports navaid and visual aid equipment including ILS, VOR, DME, airport signage and differential global positioning system ground stations.
TEXTRON LYCOMING said effective immediately all cylinder kits shipped from the factory will be treated with Cortec VCI-379 corrosion preventative coating. The manufacturer said the decision to use the coating is part of Lycoming's ongoing product improvement program. Paul LeFevre, director of sales, said "Not only is Cortec a superior corrosion resistant coating, but it's also 'user friendly.' Other coatings tend to be sticky or greasy, and must be removed prior to engine assembly.
EXCELAIRE, based at Islip MacArthur Airport on Long Island, added two helicopters to its fleet this month, a Eurocopter 365N2 Dauphin and a 335N Twinstar. The air charter provider said the helicopters will be used to transport customers from inner city heliports throughout the Northeast U.S. to airports where they can board business jets for long-range travel.
VISIONAIRE, which claims more than 100 orders for its composite Vantage business jet, is offering the aircraft for $1.75 million to 11 more customers before raising the price to $1.8 million. VisionAire said it anticipates a second increase to $1.85 million later this year. VisionAire expects construction to be completed on its 114,000-square-foot assembly plant in Ames, Iowa in the second quarter of this year. The first Vantage conformal test aircraft will be assembled at the Ames plant and enter flight testing in December.
MESA AIR GROUP, Farmington, N.M., said last week it is negotiating a new long-term codesharing agreement to replace its existing agreement with America West Airlines. America West notified Mesa earlier this year that it was canceling the existing contract between the carriers April 2. Mesa said it believes it has resolved the problems that previously existed, adding, "it is Mesa's intent, so long as America West concurs, to continue the America West Express operation until a new agreement has been reached."
Boeing signed a five-year agreement with Russia's Verkhnaya Salda Metallurgical Production Association (VSMPO) this month for milled titanium products for all Boeing commercial aircraft. The contract, signed in connection with a regular technical cooperation meeting between Vice President Al Gore and Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin, is valued at a minimum of $175 million, and could reach $200 million depending on the product mix.
PATRICIA REED was named vice president of sales for Alpha Flying, Inc./PlaneSense. Reed most recently was North American sales manager for the Applied Microbiology Division of Millipore Corp.
BOEING'S first Model 717 is in final assembly and "progressing swiftly" toward a May rollout, the company said last week. Work is well under way on two additional test airplanes and the first production model, which is scheduled for delivery in mid-1999. The second of two engines has been installed on the first test airplane. BMW/Rolls-Royce built the BR715 engines.
Brymon Airways of Plymouth, England placed the largest order in its history last week, an eight-aircraft deal with Bombardier's de Havilland Aircraft for Dash 8Q Series 300 regional turboprops. The contract, valued at $115 million (U.S.), is subject to execution of a definitive contract, which is expected within the next few weeks.
