JET AVIATION received expanded authorization as a service center for Raytheon Aircraft in Europe. Under the new agreement Jet Aviation will add support of Beech King Air aircraft to its capabilities at its facility in Zurich, Switzerland. The Zurich facility has been an authorized service center for Hawkers since 1994. In addition, Jet Aviation's Geneva, Switzerland facility will provide King Air and Beechjet service. Jet Aviation Dusseldorf, Germany will support Beech King Air, Baron and Bonanza products.
DCX-CHOL ENTERPRISES INC. acquired the aerospace/defense businesses of DCX Inc., Franktown, Colo., for $1.1 million. DCX-Chol, based in Colorado, said it acquired equipment, raw material inventories, finished goods and contracts related to the making of assemblies, systems, wire harnesses and cable assemblies. The transaction, which closed Oct. 8, included the leasing of the current facility with an option to buy the facility and property.
KURT RIESSLER was named corporate vice president, human resources for The Aerostructures Corp. Riessler has served as vice president of human resources for the company since 1985.
Triumph Group, the Wayne, Pa. aircraft component manufacturer and overhauler, reported an 18 percent increase in second quarter sales and a 447 percent increase in net income. For the second quarter ended Sept. 30, 1997, Triumph had net sales of $75.1 million. Net income was $6.3 million, or 60 cents per common share, compared with second quarter income of $1.2 million, or 18 cents per common share, for the same period a year earlier.
NATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION published its 1997 Compensation Survey Report listing compensation figures for 37 job titles typically employed by aviation service businesses, including line and customer service positions, charter pilots and maintenance managers. The survey data was collected and compiled by Association Research, Inc., Rockville, Md. Copies of the survey are available for $50 by contacting Cindy Aloise at (703) 845-9000.
Raytheon Aircraft signed a contract valued at $71 million with the U.S. Air Force for the Ground Based Training System (GBTS) portion of the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System (JPATS). Raytheon, which won the overall JPATS program in June 1995 with its Beech MkII - a modified version of the Pilatus PC-9 (BA, June 26/271), selected FlightSafety Services Corp. as the GBTS subcontractor in April 1997. The initial contract covers four years of engineering and manufacturing development for the GBTS components.
JULIE PEELER was appointed corporate vice president, information systems for The Aerostructures Corp. Peeler, who joined Aerostructures in 1981, most recently was director of information systems.
PATS, INC. won a supplemental type certificate for an auxiliary power unit mounted in the tail of a Falcon 20. The APU installation uses a Sundstrand T40-C9 engine and PATS is offering Falcon 20 APU assembly kits that can be installed at a facility of the operator's choice. The kits include a stainless steel enclosure, complete wiring harnesses, connectors, controls and displays, mounting hardware and documentation.
Congress last week passed legislation to provide relief to air charter companies and scheduled carriers from some of the provisions in the Pilot Records Improvement Act (PRIA) that has plagued the industry for the past 10 months. The bill, H.R.2626, was adopted by voice vote late Nov. 9 in the House and Nov. 13 in the Senate shortly before Congress adjourned for the year.
MILLER AVIATION is offering installation and service on a range of avionics components manufactured by Honeywell, Magnastar and Cal Corporation. Miller previously was authorized to exchange Honeywell products, "but now we have the authority to quote, sell and install the full line of Honeywell's avionics products. With the addition of Magnastar and Cal Corporation's quality equipment, Miller Aviation is now able to offer an even larger selection of avionics components and systems," the company said.
BRIAN JAMES was appointed chief financial officer and corporate vice president of The Aerostructures Corporation. James joined Aerostructures in 1991 as vice president of finance. Before that, he was a group controller for Textron.
CORPORATE AIRCRAFT manufacturers and operators enjoying the current business boom will be glad to know the airline industry is taking steps to convert more airline business travelers to corporate aircraft users. As if airline load factors in the 80-plus percent range weren't enough to drive business travelers away, the Association of Flight Attendants and American Airlines executives and pilots asked FAA last week to implement and enforce uniform carry-on baggage rules.
US Airways will begin regional jet service Jan. 19 under a code-share agreement with Mesa Airlines, Farmington, N.M., which will operate the 12 Canadair RJ aircraft specified in the pact. US Airways Express is a network of nine regional airlines, but none of the regional carriers in the Northeast has regional jets in service. A US Airways spokesman said there are no plans at present to increase the number of regional jets.
Cornerstone Logic, Greenville, S.C., released Version 3.00 of AeroClub Manager, a software system developed to help flying clubs manage day-to-day activities. Improvements in the latest version include new modules for tracking pilot account balances, setting up beginning balances and improving reporting and accounting procedures. The management program also provides aircraft and pilot tracking, flight tracking, leaseback reporting and maintenance tracking.
RONSON AVIATION, Trenton-Mercer, N.J. Airport, added an eight-passenger Citation II business jet to its charter fleet, which also includes two Beech C99 15-passenger airliners.
PRESIDENT CLINTON, along with a number of other top government officials, is scheduled to visit a Cessna Aircraft facility in Wichita today, but the presidential visit has a lot more to do with "workfare" than aviation. Clinton will participate in the dedication of expanded facilities for Cessna's 21st Street training program in which welfare recipients are hired and trained in basic sheet metal assembly techniques.
Model CN-235 series airplanes (Docket No. 96-NM-137-AD; Amdt. 39- 10159; AD 97-21-06) - requires repetitive inspections of the torsion tubes and fittings of the elevator and rudder assemblies to detect stress corrosion cracking and replacement of cracked parts. This action also requires accomplishment of a modification that constitutes terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This amendment is prompted by reports indicating that stress corrosion and cracking in these parts has been found on some airplanes.
A MEXICAN OPERATOR, Servicio Aereo Saltillo, S.A. de C.V., asked the Transportation Department for a one-year exemption to engage in charter transportation between Mexico and the U.S. and between other countries and the U.S. Saltillo operates a King Air C90A turboprop, XA-RXT, and anticipates it will operate 60 roundtrip flights annually between Mexico and the U.S. Among the principal users of the aircraft are executives of Agricola Gapa, S.A., de C.V., a large potato farm owned by the president of Saltillo.
WAYFARER AVIATION added a Challenger 601-3R and a King Air 200 to its fleet this month and is basing both aircraft in Massachusetts where they will be available for charter Dec. 15. The Challenger is the fifth in Wayfarer's fleet.
Model Avro 146-RJ series airplanes (Docket No. 97- NM-05-AD; Amdt. 39-10168; AD 97-21-15) - requires a modification of the electrical system in the equipment bay area by replacing certain cables, clamps and fairleads with new components. This amendment is prompted by a report indicating that the incorrect size of electrical cables were used in the generator feeder circuit to certain busbars from the generator contractors. As a result, the electrical cables are not compatible with the generator rating requirements and can overheat.
National Air Transportation Association charged that the Federal Aviation Administration was "abusing its authority" by threatening 30-day revocation notices unless operators develop their own approved maintenance program for aircraft equipment. In a Nov. 10 letter to Dennis Piotrowski, FAA assistant manager, Aircraft Maintenance Division, NATA noted that a local Flight Standards District Office in the Central Region considers original manufacturer's instructions for continued airworthiness inadequate and/or incomplete.
Air Methods Corp., Denver, Colo., reported soaring revenues and profits for the third quarter and strong gains for the first nine months, due primarily to an acquisition this summer.
GENERAL AVIATION MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION board of directors named Art Wegner, chairman, chief executive and president of Raytheon Aircraft, chairman and David Caplan, chairman and chief executive for Pratt&Whitney Canada, vice chairman for the upcoming year. Wegner has been serving as acting chairman of the association since the summer, when former Chairman Fred Breidenbach stepped down as president and chief operating officer of Gulfstream Aerospace (BA, Aug. 4/49).
