ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS are seeking ways to maximize production to help reduce record backlogs for new business jets, but the glut of civil aerospace business is making it difficult to boost the supply of critical parts. Raytheon Aircraft's Art Wegner is among those concerned about getting material through the supply chain and finding new suppliers to replace many traditional vendors who went out of business or reoriented their businesses after the last aerospace downturn.
MANUFACTURERS will deliver nearly 5,300 business aircraft valued at close to $60 billion during the 11-year period from 1998-2008, according to AlliedSignal's annual Business Aviation Market Outlook. Noting that aircraft backlogs are at the highest levels in 20 years, the AlliedSignal forecast says that "after cresting in 1999, deliveries will remain at near record levels before achieving another record peak in the years 2007-2008." See charts on Pages 143-144.
BRITISH AEROSPACE ASSET MANAGEMENT-JETS sold three 1986-87 Model BAe 146- 100s and leased several others. In the latest sales, valued at $22 million, two aircraft went to Jersey European Airways (JEA), which had been leasing them, and the third to a U.S. citizen for private use. BAe Asset Management also placed two aircraft with JEA on seven-year leases. Sabena's regional airline, Delta Air Transport, elected to retain its six BAe 146-200s instead of trading them in against its order for 23 AI(R) RJ85s and RJ100s placed in 1995.
BOMBARDIER says it now has orders for 68 Global Express aircraft and still expects to begin deliveries following certification in May. The company said a 415,400-square-foot completion center being built beside the Bombardier Aerospace administrative center and the Canadair aircraft assembly plant will be ready to receive its first Global Express in December. The new facility will be able to accommodate 14 of the very- long-range aircraft in the completion area, plus four more in the paint shop next door.
FAA ADMINISTRATOR JANE GARVEY and AMR Corp. Chairman and Chief Executive Robert Crandall will ad-dress the Opening General Session of National Business Aviation Association's 50th Annual Meeting&Convention in Dallas, Texas. The opening session is scheduled for tomorrow in Ballroom A at the Dallas Convention Center.
RAISBECK ENGINEERING ordered 150 aft fuselage baggage locker shipsets from its supplier, Composite Solutions Corp., for its modification on Learjet 31 and 35/36 aircraft. Raisbeck said the order came amid a growing demand for the modification. Raisbeck has completed more than 40 installations of the locker to date and said the installations are continuing at a rate of one per week.
RAYTHEON Model 1900D airplanes (Docket No. 97-CE-73-AD; Amdt. 39- 10111; AD 97-17-08) - requires inspecting the pro-peller mounting bolts for the proper torque and replacing or re-torquing any propeller bolt found to have the wrong torque level. The manufacturer discovered some under- torqued propeller mounting bolts during factory installation of the propeller. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent fatigue cracking and failure of the propeller mounting bolts, which, if not detected and corrected, could result in loss of the propeller.
CHC Helicopter Corp., St. John's, Newfoundland, signed an agreement with an underwriting syndicate to raise $39 million (Canadian) through the issuance and private placement of three million special warrants at a price of $13 (C) each. Part of the proceeds will be used to support the growth of CHC's repair and overhaul business and its helicopter operations. The warrants will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933.
Federal Aviation Administration issued its final procedures for participation in the airport privatization pilot program, which allows up to five airports to transfer to the private sector. As proposed in April, FAA will not accept applications before Dec. 1, but the agency has adopted suggestions for a two-stage process rather than the original plan to require airport sponsors and proposed private operators to present completed agreements.
MICHAEL SCARFE was appointed technical manager-Europe for Jet Support Services, Inc. Scarfe, previously an inspector/supervisor for Edel Air, will be responsible for overseeing all maintenance work and technical matters for JSSI's European clients.
RAPCO Filter, Part Numbers RA-1J4-4, RA-1J4-6 and RA-1J4-7 from Lot Numbers 05597, 07797 and 12597 - requires removing the filters. This action is prompted by recent operator reports and the manufacturer's report of several cracked filter housings on these in-line pressure filters. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent failure of the flight instruments during flight because of a failed in-line pressure filter, which could cause loss of control of the airplane.
EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY and Atlantic Coast Airlines (ACA) have agreed to institute a New Hire Bridge Program that allows graduates of Embry-Riddle with aeronautical science degrees to become pilots with ACA. Those students who meet specific requirements will be hired by ACA immediately after graduating. ACA, which will recommend several course changes in order to incorporate company procedures, also has been asked to join Embry-Riddle's Aeronautical Science Industrial Advisory Board.
The first production version of the new Boeing MD Explorer helicopter flew for the first time Sept. 5 at Mesa, Ariz. Boeing said the twin-turbine, eight-place aircraft has eight percent greater range and four percent more endurance than the original MD Explorer, and can carry 250 more pounds of payload.
General Electric Co., Evendale, Ohio, completed the acquisition of UNC, Inc. for $330.5 million in cash, plus the assumption of UNC's debt. In exchange for each share of UNC common stock, GE said shareholders will receive $15. In exchange for each share of preferred stock, shareholders will receive an amount equal to $15 multiplied by the number of shares of UNC common stock into which each share of preferred stock is convertible.
ROHR, INC., said merger discussions with an unidentified "third party" have been "terminated" (BA, Sept. 15/113). Rohr revealed merger discussions in a brief statement a week ago after its share price rose sharply on the New York Stock Exchange.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION certified the Flight Dynamics HGS-2850 Head-up Guidance System for use on the Falcon 2000 business jet. The system, which can now be installed on any domestic Falcon 2000, provides full guidance to touchdown. It now will be used to monitor CAT II approaches by the autopilot. More certifications are expected on the use of the HGS-2850 in all phases of flight.
THE AIR GROUP added another Hawker 800 to its fleet. The aircraft is based at The Air Group's Van Nuys, Calif. headquarters and will be used for charter under the company's Part 135 certificate. In addition to the Hawker 800, The Air Group also operates a Hawker 800 XP, two Hawker 800s and two Hawker 700s.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE AVIATION OFFICIALS elected Bob Kunkel, director of the Wisconsin Bureau of Aeronautics, chairman for the upcoming year beginning Oct. 1. Kunkel has served with the Wisconsin Bureau of Aeronautics since 1970 and has been director for the past nine years. Other officers elected to one-year terms include: William Gehman, deputy director of the Michigan Bureau of Aeronautics, vice chairman; William Blake, director of the Illinois Division of Aeronautics, secretary; and Data Batey, director of the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission, treasurer.
IN ADDITION to pursuing sales of complete aircraft, Boeing Business Jets has been focusing on the fractional business jet ownership phenomenon and expects to make an announcement in the near future about its plans for that segment of the market.
MIDWEST EXPRESS AIRLINES will add eight McDonnell Douglas MD-80 series aircraft to its fleet. The company, based in Milwaukee, Wis., already operates 26 jets, including two of the MD-80 series.
JET AVIATION added 15 aircraft to its worldwide management fleet this year, including two Falcon 900s and a Falcon 2000 in Europe, and nine aircraft in the U.S., including a Gulfstream V, three Challenger 604s and a Falcon 900.
DASSAULT Model Falcon 2000 series airplanes (Docket No. 97-NM-182-AD) - adopts a new AD requiring installation of new placards that stipulate the use of certain types of fuels, and revising the Airplane Flight Manual to specify the appropriate types of fuel for use in the affected airplanes.
WHILE ITS NORTH AMERICAN COMPETITORS fight over market share in the ultra- long-range corporate market, Dassault Aviation is focusing its sights on a swifter means of transport. Dassault officials are expected to discuss their intention to "explore seriously the idea of a supersonic Falcon business jet" at this week's NBAA convention. Citing their experience in building supersonic military aircraft, French officials claim they are not concerned about the technical feasibility of building a civil SST.
BORGE BOESKOV, president of Boeing Business Jets, said he's not sure anyone really knows the size of the market for 6,000-plus nautical mile corporate aircraft like the BBJ 737, the Gulfstream V and the Global Express, but he told an audience in Delaware last week that "it's a lot bigger than we thought it was" when Boeing jumped into the market in mid-1996 (BA, July 8, 1996/13).
SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT-manufactured Model S-64E and S-64F heli-copters (Docket No. 96-SW-04-AD) - supersedes an existing AD that currently requires initial and repetitive inspections of the main gearbox assembly second stage lower planetary plate for cracks, and removal and replacement of the plate if cracks are found; and daily inspections of certain main transmission oil filter packs for magnesium chips, and removal and replacement of the main transmission if chips are found.
