ROY NORRIS, who recently resigned as president of Raytheon Aircraft, has formed Norris Consulting to provide strategic planning, business turnaround advice, new product definition and marketing and sales performance enhancement for companies in the general aviation industry. Norris, currently residing in Wichita, Kan., plans to relocate to Savannah, Ga. later this year. In the interim he can be reached at (316) 733-8910.
RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT is holding the line on most performance characteristics of the Hawker Horizon, but it's stretching the fuselage 10 inches, moving the engine pods three inches forward and pushing the wing 4.5 inches aft. Raytheon also is increasing both the vertical and horizontal tail surfaces to increase stability of the midsize business jet announced at last year's NBAA convention (BA, Nov. 18/229).
NIAGARA FRONTIER TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY is seeking fixed-base operations proposals from firms interested in providing services at Niagara Falls International Airport. Successful applicants will provide fueling, ground handling, airport tenant management and other general aviation services.
IN THE SHORT TERM, AlliedSignal forecasters say turbine aircraft backlogs are at the highest level in more than 20 years. First half deliveries of turbofan-powered aircraft were up 43 percent compared with the first half of 1996 and business jet deliveries are expected to jump to about 400 units in calendar 1997, with another 20 percent increase expected in 1998. Despite efforts by OEMs to expand business jet sales to other regions, nearly 75 percent of all new jets sold over the next five years are expected to go to North American customers.
ARTHUR DISBROW, president of Hartzell Propeller for the past 10 years, will retire Sept. 30. Disbrow joined Hartzell as vice president and general manager in 1981 and became president when TRW sold the company to private interests in 1987. During his tenure, Disbrow oversaw the development of the composite structure propeller blades, as well as lightweight four-, five- and six-bladed propeller systems.
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association last week charged that the National Civil Aviation Review Commission's (NCARC) preliminary report on Federal Aviation Administration funding "unfairly targets general aviation with a tax hike and second-class status." The report called for the continuation of the aviation fuel taxes for general aviation, but a user fee system for the airlines. It also called for a re-evaluation of whether GA should pay more into the aviation system (BA, Sept. 1/89).
MATT NELSON was promoted to manager of Duncan Aviation's Van Nuys, Calif. avionics satellite shop. Nelson joined Duncan 10 years ago as an avionics bench technician and has held positions of increasing responsibility.
OPTIMISTIC OUTLOOK for business aircraft sales held by most original equipment manufacturers is expected to be reflected in AlliedSignal's annual market forecast at this week's NBAA convention.Last year's 10-year outlook, based on operator surveys, called for sales of 4,400 turbine- powered aircraft valued at $57 billion through 2007 (BA, Nov. 25/239). Continued strong economic conditions and surging corporate profits are expected to drive those estimates considerably higher in this year's projection.
John H. (Jack) Shaffer, 78, who served as FAA Administrator under President Richard Nixon from 1969 until 1973, died Sept. 14 in the Citizens Nursing Home in Frederick, Md. after a long illness.
BOESKOV previously announced firm orders for 20 BBJs and he's expected to update that total at this week's NBAA convention in Dallas. In addition to the 20 firm orders, Boeskov said another 24 aircraft are the subject of various stages of discussion and negotiation with customers. "Our biggest problem is lead time," he told BA, noting that BBJ is currently quoting delivery positions in the first quarter of 2000. See article on Page 125.
SAAB Model 2000 series airplanes (Docket No. 96-NM-229-AD) - adopts a new AD requiring replacement of the ignition exciter in the auxiliary power unit with a part that is designed to operate better in cold weather.
NATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION REVIEW COMMISSION will hold a public hearing on aviation safety issues Oct. 8 in Washington. The commission will be seeking questions and comments on various aviation safety topics. For more information on testimony presentation, contact Margie Tower at (202) 366- 6942.
The Federal Aviation Administration, which last year ordered operating restrictions during icing conditions on a wide range of aircraft used by commuter and regional airlines, is proposing to expand those restrictions to a long list of single- and multi-engine aircraft used by air taxi and general aviation operators. The new list includes some of the most popular twin-engine models - Beech Barons and King Airs, Twin Commanders, and more than two dozen Cessna and Piper models.
KEVIN BROWN joined Essex PB&R Corp. in Edwardsville, Ill. as sales and marketing manager. Brown has nearly 20 years of sales and marketing experience, holding positions with both the medical and aerospace industries.
Brazilian manufacturer Embraer said Tuesday it is launching production of the EMB-135, a 37-seat regional jet that shares about 90 percent commonality with the 50-seat EMB-145 already in airline service. The two aircraft are both powered by Allison 3007 engines and use the same principal systems, cockpit, wing and tail structure. The fuselage is essentially the same, although the EMB-135's will be 11.6 feet shorter.
Used turbine aircraft values climbed, but piston aircraft prices remained stable during the second quarter of 1997, according to information compiled by the Aircraft Bluebook-Price Digest, headquartered in Overland Park, Kan. The overall market rose 1.5 percent over the first quarter of 1997, continuing an upward trend that has continued for the past three and one- half years, the publication said.
Triumph Group, Inc., acquired Hydro-Mill Co., a Chatsworth, Calif., manufacturer that fabricates, repairs and overhauls precision machine parts and assemblies for the aircraft industry. Price of the transaction, completed this month, was not disclosed. Hydro-Mill has annual sales of approximately $30 million and serves a broad range of aircraft original equipment manufacturers, commercial airlines and cargo carriers. Formed in 1937, the company is an approved FAA overhaul and repair station, and also is approved for fusion welding of various metals.
The Simon Deicer Division of Terex Aviation Group Equipment, Olathe, Kan., was acquired by Air Transportation Holding Co. (AirT) and renamed Global Ground Support, LLC. The Olathe firm manufactures, services and supports aircraft deicers throughout the world. Current customers include both passenger and cargo airlines as well as major airports. Global will be operated as a wholly owned subsidiary of Mountain Aircraft Services, LLC, and is expected to boost AirT's revenue and net income by $10 million and $350,000 respectively.
BOEING said parts and labor shortages are forcing it to delay until next month its scheduled September deliveries of seven 737s, one 757 and four 747s to 10 customers. It is "too early to tell" whether only September deliveries will be affected, Boeing said. The situation could last at least six weeks, but it could go longer, the company said.
Loral Space&Communications, Ltd., reached an agreement to sell its 22.5 percent interest in K&F Industries, Inc., for approximately $80 million in cash. Loral received its stake in K&F, which builds a variety of aerospace components, in connection with the sale of Loral's defense businesses last year. Loral previously had indicated that it would sell its stake in K&F when market conditions were favorable.
PATS, Inc., the Columbia, Md. designer and fabricator of aircraft components and systems, expects its employment to nearly double when the company's new aircraft fuel tank assembly and installation facility in Georgetown, Del., is in full operation next year.
PENINSULA AIRPORT COMMISSION, Newport News, Va., is requesting proposals until Nov. 1 for the leasing of about 126,000 square feet of general aviation hangars and surrounding area. Proposals may be for one or more individual hangars or the entire area, but should be for aeronautical use only. The lease term will begin in January. For more information and to obtain copies of minimum requirements for fixed-base operators, call T.F. Smith, manager operations/properties, at (757) 877-0221.
JET SUPPORT SERVICES, INC. added three new staff members to its organization: R. Dennis Schuller, manager technical services-Midwest; Eric DiNicola, technical manager associate; and, Beverly Atton, manager accounts payable. Schuller has more than 15 years of turbine engine maintenance experience, and most recently was manager-aircraft propulsion systems for Air Atlantic in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada.
DH.125-400A, BH.125-400A and -600A, HS.125-600A and -700A, BAe 125-800A and Hawker 800 and 800XP series airplanes, including military variants (Docket No. 96-NM-27-AD) - proposes to require a one-time inspection to determine if certain high-pressure oxygen hose assemblies are installed, and, if installed, replacement of the hose assemblies with new, improved hose assemblies. This proposal is prompted by a report that certain high-pressure oxygen hose assemblies are susceptible to leakage due to those hose assemblies not meeting design specification during manufacturing.
