Bombardier Aerospace Group-North America entered into a strategic alliance with Global Aviation Ltd. to inaugurate executive business jet charter service in China, officials announced during last week's Singapore Air Show. Under the agreement, Global Aviation Ltd., in partnership with China Southern Airlines (CSA), will operate a mix of Bombardier aircraft from a new fixed-base operation in Zhuhai, China, near Hong Kong and Macao.
RAY ANDERSON was promoted to deputy director of aviation for the Kansas City Aviation Department. Anderson previously served as assistant director of aviation-commercial development.
Engine overhaul specialist Greenwich Air Services Inc. moved last week to buy Aviall's engine service operation - a business nearly three times larger than Greenwich. If the deal goes through the Miami company would become one of the world's largest independent jet engine overhaulers. Greenwich, which posted nearly $200 million in sales last year, expects to pay anywhere from $260 million to $280 million for the Aviall units. For its money, Greenwich will get operations generating annual sales of some $550 million, along with 100 new customers.
Aerospatiale of France, Bombardier of Canada, British Aerospace, Samsung Aerospace Industries of South Korea and Taiwan Aerospace Corp. have emerged as serious suitors for troubled Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker. Ben Van Schaik, Fokker chairman, revealed the potential bidders - except for Bombardier - to reporters last week at the Singapore Air Show. Other Fokker executives said that of more than a dozen companies that inquired, the five now on the short list are the ones that are interested in keeping Fokker intact.
Seven months after Pentagon officials selected Raytheon Aircraft to provide more than 700 military trainers for the U.S. Air Force and Navy (BA, June 26/271), the General Accounting Office last week rejected a bid protest by Cessna Aircraft. The GAO decision cleared the way for Raytheon to begin work on the multi-billion dollar contract after Raytheon and government officials signed contracts last week.
KAL-AERO, INC., Battle Creek, Mich., was appointed an FAA-approved Designated Alteration Station. Kal-Aero, which repairs, maintains, completes and modifies business aircraft, now has the authority to generate supplemental type certificates for avionics installations.
BOMBARDIER'S Canadair division said the Challenger business jet fleet has logged one million hours since the first aircraft entered service in 1980. Challenger since then has built 350 aircraft, which are in service with 261 corporate, government and individual customers.
THE ARMY OTTER-CARIBOU ASSOCIATION has scheduled its 11th annual reunion Aug. 21-25 in San Antonio, Texas. For more information, call Bruce Silvey at (800) 636-8194.
DE HAVILLAND Model DHC-7 series airplanes (Docket No. 95-NM-110-AD) - proposes to require modification of the emergency light circuitry. This proposal is prompted by reports of the emergency lights turning on inadvertently due to voltage spikes from other equipment and reports that the existing emergency light switch arrangement allows the flight compartment and flight attendant's panel switches to override each other. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent such failures of the emergency light systems.
NATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION has set the schedule for a series of "Devastation Prevention" meetings to discuss FAA's proposed flight and duty time regulations: Feb. 28 at AMR Combs in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and at Showalter Flying Service in Orlando, Fla.; Feb. 29 at Eagle Aviation in West Columbia, S.C.; March 5 at Mayo Aviation in Denver, Colo.; March 6 at Petersen Aviation in Los Angeles, Calif.; March 7 at KaiserAir in Oakland, Calif.; March 12 at Executive Air Fleet in Teterboro, N.J.; March 13 at Chrysler Pentastar Aviation in Detroit, Mich.
CESSNA AIRCRAFT sold its first Citation Bravo to an Australian customer, a private operator who bought the business jet through Australian Jet Charter, an authorized Citation and Caravan sales facility since 1990. The Bravo, scheduled for delivery in early 1997 following completion of certification, will be among some 25 Citations based in Australia.
FRASCA INTERNATIONAL received a contract to provide a Model 242 flight training device (FTD) to the University of Alaska, Anchorage. The FTD is part of a subcontract to Wesson International, which is providing tower and ATC radar simulators to the university. Frasca officials said the Model 242 FTD can be configured for either single- or twin-engine aircraft training and will include a three-axis hydraulic motion base. The FTD will meet FAA Level 3 standards.
CONTINENTAL AIRLINES will close its Greensboro, N.C. flight crew base and offer relocation packages to some 300 pilots and flight attendants domiciled near Piedmont Triad International Airport. Continental attributed its decision to relocate personnel to the discontinuation of CALite service and the "lack of profitability in certain markets."
ROBIN WILSON was named managing director for Simat, Helliesen&Eichner, Inc. Wilson, who has more than 30 years in transportation and commercial aviation industries, will be responsible for expanding SH&E's commercial aviation services.
ISRAEL AIRCRAFT INDUSTRIES delivered the first Astra SPX business jet to a Canadian customer this month following Transport Canada approval. The Astra SPX, which received FAA approval in January (BA, Jan. 22/35), is expected to win German certification shortly with delivery to the first German customer expected before the end of the month.
ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE proposed reducing user fees on international commercial aircraft arrivals to $53 from the current $61. The fee reduction takes effect March 1. In the Jan. 29 Federal Register, APHIS said the lower fee "is necessary to avoid collecting more revenue than needed to cover the costs of the services we provide." The fee applies to arrivals at a port within the customs territory of the U.S.
SENATOR BARENTS? The Wichita Eagle published an editorial last week suggesting that Brian Barents, the departing president of Learjet, would make a fine candidate for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Nancy Kassebaum (R-Kan.). Barents has deep roots in Wichita. In addition to his six-year tenure at Learjet, most of his 11 years with Cessna were spent in Wichita, where he is active in community projects, currently serving as chairman of the Wichita Sedgwick County Partnership for Growth, an economic development organization.
Less than a month after being named president of Learjet, Jim Robinson last week gave company executives specific work force reduction targets, part of a continuing effort to improve the efficiency of the Wichita-based manufacturer.
UNITED AIRLINES, BAE Automated Systems and Sturgeon Electric Co. were fined $8,125 by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for five "serious violations" involving the safety of employees working in and around Denver International Airport's baggage system. The majority of the violations involved not protecting workers from falling baggage from the elevated main baggage conveyor. BAE and Sturgeon each received violations for not using "lockout or tagout" procedures when clearing bag jams from the alternative baggage conveyor.
RALPH SNIPES was appointed sales associate for the Eastern U.S. for Professional Aviation Associates. Snipes, who formerly was a parts manager for Stevens Aviation, has more than 38 years of experience in Beech King Air support in parts, inventory management, purchasing and sales.
AEROSPATIALE Models ATR-42 and -72 series airplanes (Docket No. 95-NM- 84-AD) - proposes to require replacement of the attachment clips on the wing-to-fuselage fairings and on the upper cowlings of the engine nacelle with new improved attachment clips. This proposal also would require adding cup washers on the wing-to-fuselage fairing panels on certain airplanes. This proposal is prompted by a report of deformed attachment clips found on the wing-to-fuselage fairings and on the upper cowlings of the engine nacelle.
Pratt&Whitney agreed to buy The Nordam Group's Propulsion Systems Division (PSD), the first outright acquisition under a plan to increase P&W's overhaul work from a $300 million business in 1994 to a $1 billion core enterprise by 1998. Located in Springdale, Ark., PSD repairs engine cases, frames and other components for both large and small commercial and military gas turbine engines, auxiliary power units and aircraft. Nordam's Tulsa, Okla.-based hushkit manufacturing business is not included in the planned sale.
BFGOODRICH AEROSPACE developed new brakes for Beech King Air 90, 99, 100, 200 and 300/350 series aircraft that officials say will "improve pilot control for smoother braking and increase design landing energy capabilities." BFGoodrich, which has supplied brakes for King Airs for more than 30 years, said the new brakes are standard on all new King Airs and retrofit kits will be available for existing aircraft.
Cessna Aircraft delivered 200 new turbine-powered aircraft in 1995 and officials say the company may be looking at a record performance this year. While delivering 113 Citation business jets and 87 single-engine turboprop Caravan utility aircraft last year, the company booked new orders for more than 230 aircraft - 145 Citations and 88 Caravans. "Total sales volumes are approaching the record levels of the later '70s and we are on track to surpass $1 billion in 1996 and set an all-time record for sales revenues," said Chairman Russ Meyer.
