GENERAL AVIATION MANUFACTURERS reported rebounding delivery and billings numbers on nearly all fronts for the first half of 1995. Billings for U.S. general aviation manufacturers were up 30.7 percent and shipments rose 12.1 percent. BA's international compilation of shipments by manufacturer shows delivery of 590 aircraft in the first half of the year, compared with 556 in the first half of 1994. The improved results come as the industry approaches the one-year anniversary of enactment of the General Aviation Revitalization Act of 1994.
GP EXPRESS, citing the high operating costs at the new Denver International Airport and declining passenger loads, is pulling all but its essential- air-service operations out of Colorado at the end of the month. Colorado markets losing GP Express service include Gunnison, Montrose, Telluride and Grand Junction, as well as Jackson Hole, Wyo. Sources say the high local fares and extra trip times to the new, distant airport are forcing business travelers into their cars.
THE GULFSTREAM V is beginning to look a lot like a real airplane. The "fully-stuffed" wing (with electrical, hydraulic and flight control equipment installed) arrived by rail car in Savannah, Ga. from Northrop- Grumman's Vought facility on July 18. Gulfstream technicians completed splicing of the left and right sections Thursday and were planning to mate the wing and fuselage Friday or Saturday. The empennage and vertical stabilizer are expected to be attached to the rest of the aircraft early this week.
ANTHONY MASSARO was promoted to vice president of information services for Aviall. Massaro joined Aviall in June 1989 as director of data services and, before that, managed data services for Ryder Truck Rental in Miami.
PILOTS OF SMALL AIR TAXI aircraft operated under Part 135 would be permitted to perform certain routine maintenance tasks on their aircraft without obtaining an exemption from FAA under a notice of proposed rulemaking published by the agency last week.
LEARJET has begun construction of a 30,000-square-foot production flight test hangar at its headquarters facilities on Mid-Continent Airport in Wichita. The structure, which will be capable of housing up to six Learjet aircraft, will be used for flight test and certification purposes. Alcon is the general contractor for the new building, which is slated for completion in six months.
FLIGHT SAFETY FOUNDATION, International Federation of Airworthiness and International Air Transport Association are co-hosting a safety seminar that will focus on management's role in reducing risk. The meeting, Nov. 6-9 in Seattle, Wash., will discuss safety management strategies in aviation operations, air traffic control, ramp safety, maintenance and design issues, flight crew fatigue and controlled-flight-into-terrain accidents. The event will mark FSF's 48th annual International Air Safety Seminar and IFA's 25th International Conference. The Boeing Co.
THE U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION believes FAA's controversial proposal (NPRM 95-5) to impose Part 121 operating standards on 10-19-seat aircraft operators used in scheduled service does not meet the standards of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
AEROSERVICE AVIATION CENTER purchased a building and 3.35 acres adjacent to Miami International Airport that will allow the flight crew training company to expand its space from 20,000 square feet to 60,000 square feet. The facility will be large enough to house eight full flight simulator bays plus offices and classrooms. In addition, AeroService plans to increase its staff to 50 from 35.
ROBERT GOULD has joined Simat, Helliesen&Eichner, Inc. (SH&E) as managing director of the airline safety division. Gould, formerly president and chief executive officer of MGM Grand Air, will be responsible for the company's new Airline Internal Evaluation Product.
Summary: Pursuant to FAA's rulemaking provisions governing the application, processing, and disposition of petitions for exemption (14 CFR Part 11), this notice contains a summary of certain petitions seeking relief from specified requirements of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR Chapter I), dispositions of certain petitions previously received, and corrections. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities.
U.S. general aviation billings jumped by nearly one-third and manufacturers saw improvements in jet, turboprop and piston aircraft deliveries during the first half of the year, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association reported last week. U.S. GA manufacturers shipped 445 units and billed $1.271 billion during the first six months of 1995, up 12.1 percent and 30.7 percent, respectively, from the same period in 1994. Piston-engine aircraft deliveries increased 10 percent from 221 in the first half of 1994 to 243 in first-half 1995. U.S.
COOPER AVIATION INDUSTRIES was appointed a worldwide distributor for Precision Airmotive Corp. Precision provides Marvel/Schebler/Facet carburetors and parts, the Bendix pressure carburetor product line and the RS/RSA fuel injection product line.
WILLIAM DYE was named president and general manager of Air Cargo Equipment, the Rancho Dominguez, Calif. based unit of Zero Corp. Dye joined Air Cargo Equipment in 1994 as vice president of sales and marketing.
GARRETT AVIATION SERVICES named William Nielsen vice president and general manager of its Long Island service center at MacArthur Airport in Ronkonkoma, N.Y. Nielsen, who will oversee all business aviation and support activities at the facility, will report to Jim Greenslade, Garrett vice president and chief operating officer in Phoenix, Ariz. Nielsen previously held management positions with Butler Aviation, Philip Morris Companies and United Beechcraft's Hangar One operations.
MAULE Models M-4-210 and M-4-210C airplanes with dual exhaust system 5230F (Docket No. 95-CE-22-AD) - proposes to require relocating the gascolator and electric fuel pump away from the dual exhaust system. FAA recently became aware that, with these dual exhaust systems installed, the left-hand exhaust stack is routed almost directly below the fuel gascolator. The close proximity of the flammable fuel to the exhaust system presents an unsafe condition and violates current regulations.
FAA'S DELEGATION to the Experimental Aircraft Association convention next week may get an earful of complaints from attendees about the agency's proposed new medical standards. In addition to Administrator David Hinson, the FAA contingent will include Dr. Jon Jordan, the Federal Air Surgeon. The proposed changes in FAA's pilot medical standards have been widely criticized as being intrusive, too costly, unnecessary and unlikely to improve safety (BA, Jan. 23/35).
AVIATION RESEARCH GROUP/U.S. (ARG/U.S.) of Cincinnati, Ohio and Runzheimer International (RI), the management consulting firm, formed a strategic business alliance last week. ARG/U.S. specializes in collection and analysis of operational and financial information for the business aviation industry, while Runzheimer compiles and analyzes business travel data and consults on travel policies and practices. Joe Moeggenberg, senior partner of ARG/U.S., said his company "has built a system that captures data on corporate aircraft.
UNC AIRWORK opened a fly-in turbine maintenance support facility in Van Nuys, Calif., to serve operators in the western U.S. Located in the United Beech facility, UNC Airwork Van Nuys supports Pratt&Whitney Canada PT6A-6 through -67 engines with hot section and power section services, plus blade stretch check (through -50); JT15D-1 through -4 hot section service, fan repair and bearing replacement; Allison turbine repairs and exchanges; and GE CJ610/CF700 hot section services.
Simulator manufacturer and training provider FlightSafety International reported increased net income and revenues for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30. A.L. Ueltschi, president and chief executive officer of the company he founded, said "training revenues were higher in all areas with particular strength in business aviation." The company said product sales declined somewhat "due to reductions in commercial orders for new training equipment."
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association and the National Business Aircraft Association last week asked a congressional panel for help in increasing access to Japanese airports. In testimony presented before the House aviation subcommittee, GAMA President Ed Stimpson and NBAA President Jack Olcott said business aviation has encountered "very restrictive airport and airspace policies in Japan, which have made it extremely difficult to use business aircraft."
HUNTSVILLE, ALA., INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT officials are seeking FAA authorization to impose a $3 passenger facility charge through Oct. 31, 2008. The PFC is expected to generate about $19 million, which will help fund airfield lighting control replacement and acquisition of a security vehicle. For more information, contact Elton Jay at (601) 965-4628.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION approved the noise compatibility program submitted by Palm Beach, Fla. County for Palm Beach International Airport. FAA approved 24 of 25 proposed noise mitigation actions submitted in the program and gave partial approval to one proposed action for local environmental review. In addition, the agency approved a revised noise exposure map submitted by Lee County Port Authority in Ft. Myers, Fla. for Southwest Florida International Airport.
BFGoodrich Company officials said a strong performance by the aerospace segment led the firm's strong financial results for the first half of 1995. "Our operating results are continuing to improve, and are demonstrating more consistent earnings growth," said BFGoodrich Chairman John D. Ong. "The aerospace segment has performed well throughout the year and prospects are improving in concert with strengthening market conditions."
