Socata Group Aerospatiale, the French manufacturer of the Caribbean line of single-piston trainers and TBM700 single-turboprop utility aircraft, reported light aircraft sales have leaped 228 percent so far this year and sales overall have reached 220 million francs, a 44 percent increase over the same time period in 1996. Socata noted "rejuvenated interest in subcontracting activities and the recent success in general aviation sales and customer support" and forecast 1997 revenues would approach 800 million francs with "a balanced budget" for the year.
The government of Argentina projects that the winner of the concession to operate and develop 28 to 35 airports in the country will see an average annual return on investment of 25 percent, but some significant airport concessions will remain in the hands of other entities, a government agency will set aeronautical fees and officials concede they really do not know how much it now costs to run the airports.
RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT has scheduled a press conference June 4 to unveil a fractional aircraft ownership program. The company has been considering a program featuring a mixed fleet of King Airs and Beechjets and recently hired Gary Hart from Bombardier/AMR Combs Business JetSolutions to head the program (BA, May 19/221).
MILLER AVIATION added two Hawker 700s and a Learjet 35 to its charter fleet. Miller, based at Binghamton Regional Airport in Johnson City, N.Y., has provided aircraft charter and management for 22 years in addition to its fixed-base operation services, including maintenance, avionics installation and parts distribution.
NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD last week sent a representative to Mexico to assist in the investigation of the fatal accident of an Aero Commander that was en route to Mexico City. The aircraft, N1121F, departed El Paso, Texas, and crashed about 245 miles north of Mexico City May 20, killing all four aboard. Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating's chief pilot, Mike Kirkpatrick, was reported on board the aircraft, according to The Daily Oklahoman.
E. WARD AKINS, a 35-year industry veteran who has served as director of corporate aviation and travel services for The Coca-Cola Company and chairman of the National Business Aircraft Association, has joined The VanAllen Group as a senior consultant. Akins, who will be based out of The VanAllen Group's headquarter operations near Atlanta, Ga., will work on projects with an emphasis on flight department leadership and management. He also will be involved in the firm's flight operations audit and performance review business.
TRACE WORLDWIDE CORP. was appointed a representative and distributor for Marathon Power Technologies in Europe and the Middle East. Trace, an aviation marketing and engineering company, will represent Marathon's line of nickel-cadmium aircraft batteries and airborne inverters through its Frankfurt, Germany battery distribution center and branches throughout Europe.
National Air Transportation Association urged the Department of Transportation to exclude on-demand operators from a proposal "clearly designed for large scheduled airlines" to require the collection of certain passenger information for use in the event of an air disaster. In comments on DOT's advance notice of proposal rulemaking, NATA said the passenger manifest requirements are not necessary for on-demand operations. "No problems have ever been identified with post-accident notification for Part 135 companies," the association said.
THE AIR GROUP added a Hawker 700 to its charter fleet. The aircraft will be based in the New York area. The Air Group operates about 30 aircraft, ranging from small business aircraft to the Gulfstream IV, from bases in California, Colorado, Texas and New York. The Air Group also has sales offices in Van Nuys, Calif. and Teterboro, N.J.
REGIONAL AIRLINE ASSOCIATION set record numbers in terms of attendance and exhibitors at its convention in Reno, Nev. this month. The records come as the association increased its membership to 76 airlines and 363 associate members. More than 1,100 people attended this year's convention, up from the 950 that attended the 1996 convention in Orlando, Fla. The number of exhibitors increased 12 percent to 159, occupying 178 booths.
CESSNA AIRCRAFT has accumulated more than 1,000 hours on two Citation Excels in test flight and are looking at September for certification with initial deliveries in early 1998. Cessna Chairman Russ Meyer predicted at the time of first flight that Cessna would have at least 125 orders before the first delivery, but the company already has passed that mark, company officials said.
CASA Model CN-235 series airplanes (Docket No. 96-NM-138-AD; Amdt. 39- 10020; AD 97-10-08) - requires replacement of the guide hooks of the cargo doors with new, improved guide hooks. This amendment is prompted by fatigue cracking found in the guide hooks of the cargo door. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent such fatigue cracking, which could reduce the structural integrity of the cargo door and, consequently, lead to rapid decompression of the airplane.
TOM ROTHENBUHLER was promoted to senior project engineer in the igniter and igniter-lead product design group for Unison Industries. Rothenbuhler will be responsible for the development of new products and support of other business units within the company.
ATLANTIC COAST AIRLINES promoted Thomas Moore to executive vice president and chief operating officer. In addition, ACA named John Cross vice president of technical services and Angie Shermer vice president of sales. Moore, most recently vice president for maintenance and operations, has served with the regional carrier since June 1994. In his new position, he will oversee the company's customer service, maintenance and flight operations as well as serve on the board of directors.
One week after the Federal Aviation Administration proposed requiring installation of ice-detector systems on EMB-120 Brasilias, the National Transportation Safety Board issued four urgent recommendations for the regional turboprop, including one for an automated ice detection system and others calling for minimum airspeeds, de-icing procedures and training (BA, May 19/225). The proposed AD and urgent recommendations stem from the investigation of Jan. 9 accident of Comair Flight 3272 near Detroit, Mich., in which icing may have been a factor.
FLIGHT SERVICES GROUP added four jet aircraft to its air carrier certificate - a Citation I based in Norwich, N.Y.; a Learjet 35 based in Teterboro, N.J.; a Beechjet 400A based in West Palm Beach, Fla., and a Gulfstream II based in Stratford, Conn. FSG manages 27 aircraft at 10 bases on the East Coast.
MIDCOAST AVIATION opened a new cabinetry shop at its Little Rock, Ark. International Airport facility. Midcoast-Little Rock can create custom interiors for new and used aircraft. The Little Rock facility also provides upholstery and avionics installation, aircraft maintenance and modification.
CESSNA AIRCRAFT this month held a grand-opening ceremony for its ninth U.S. Citation Service Center at the San Antonio, Texas International Airport. The center, which has 40,000 square feet of hangar space, can accommodate any Citation aircraft and will provide a range of support, including avionics and engines.
NATIONAL AIRMOTIVE CORP. received International Organization for Standardization ISO-9001 certification. NAC, Oakland, Calif., said it was the first independent engine repair and overhaul company to receive such certification, adding that ISO-9001 recognition is usually awarded to original equipment manufacturers.
The Clinton White House, which in 1993 took more time to name an FAA administrator-candidate- four months to nominate David Hinson - than any incoming administration in history (BA, April 26, 1993/161), is taking even longer this time around. Hinson left office more than six months ago and as of Friday, there still was no word from the White House on a replacement.
ROBERT La ROW joined Mercury Air Group subsidiary Maytag Aircraft Corp. as director of contract administration. La Row previously was deputy director of contracting at the U.S. Army's Fort Carson, Colo. installation, where he performed a variety of pre-award and post-award contracting functions for the government.
STEVE GARDNER was appointed contract administrator for BFGoodrich Avionics Systems' Military and Government Sales Group. Gardner previously spent two years in government contract administration at Technical Systems and 15 years in contract administration/cost management at Wolverine World Wide.
WITH ITS MOST RECENT agreement to purchase 20 Hawker 800XPs, Executive Jet has placed orders for 169 new aircraft valued at $2.3 billion over the past three and one-half years. This rivals mega-deals from large carriers including American, Delta and Singapore in terms of units ordered - American, for instance, ordered 103 Boeing aircraft last fall.
Allegheny County, Pa., commissioners voted to negotiate a long-term lease of Allegheny County Airport to COMARCO Inc. of Washington, D.C. The Pittsburgh-area general aviation airport has been operated on an interim basis since Jan. 1 by Bethesda, Md.-based Infrastructure Management Group, which has been assisting the county in its privatization initiative. COMARCO had the best financial offer, with lease payments ranging from $25 million to $42 million over the lease period, the county department of aviation said.
JETSTREAM Model 4101 airplanes (Docket No. 96-NM-168-AD; Amdt. 39- 10021; AD 97-10-09) - requires repetitive detailed visual inspections for cracks on Frame 179 at the attachment bracket for the door restraint cable, and various follow-on actions. This amendment also requires installation of new doublers and stress pads on Frame 179, which would terminate the repetitive inspections.
