STRONG GROWTH demonstrated by Executive Jet Aviation's successful NetJets program seems destined to continue, based on positive reaction from current customers and their willingness to spread the word to friends and associates.EJA officials say nearly 65 percent of their new business for the NetJets fractional aircraft ownership program continues to come from referrals by the existing customer base. See related item below
Baseops International of Houston, Texas, said it will automatically file on behalf of its eligible clients for refunds of European valued-added taxes, retroactive to Jan. 1, 1994. The new service "could net returns totaling thousands of dollars for some companies, and consequently cut their cost of international business and travel significantly," said Baseops President Haden Tirey. The company noted that value-added taxes are included in charges for fuel, ground handling and many other services at European airports and billed through Baseops on a client's behalf.
Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) last week introduced legislation to establish the Federal Aviation Administration as an independent agency and mandate procurement, personnel and regulatory reforms. The legislation, S. 928, co-sponsored by Sens. Nancy Kassebaum (R-Kan.) and Conrad Burns (R- Mont.), is similar to legislation introduced in the House by Rep. James Lightfoot (R-Iowa) (BA, April 10/153).
SEN. DANIEL AKAKA (D-Hawaii) reintroduced legislation to involve the National Park Service in regulating airspace over national parks and included a variety of "safety measures" such as requirements for improved aircraft markings and installation of flight monitoring equipment. Akaka cited NTSB figures of 139 air tour accidents since 1988 in introducing his bill. About 30 of those accidents, however, involved balloons, airships or gliders.
JAPAN AIR SELF DEFENSE FORCE converted options for two additional U-125A (modified Hawker 800) search and rescue aircraft. The latest order, slated for delivery in late 1997, will bring the number of U-125As acquired by JASDF to seven. JASDF has options for an additional 20 aircraft. The first three aircraft, delivered to Japan earlier this year, are undergoing utility testing before military certification. The aircraft subsequently will undergo operational testing with the search and rescue squadron and then enter full operational service.
HARTZELL PROPELLER has begun full-scale production of its three-bladed DuPont Kevlar composite aerobatic propeller system that is currently operating on Patty Wagstaff's BF Goodrich Aerospace Extra 300 and Bill Zivko's Edge 540 aircraft. Hartzell officials said the light-weight composite blades will reduce crankshaft stress during severe aerobatic maneuvers. The propeller system has successfully completed vibration testing on the Pitts S-2B test aircraft with a Lycoming AEIO-540-D4A5 engine.
DAN ANDERSON was named president of the National Air Access Council. Anderson, who has served as vice president and general manager of Air Grand Canyon and Windrock Aviation, founded and was president of the Grand Canyon Air Tourism Association.
Executive Jet Aviation expects to take delivery of its 14th Hawker 1000 business jet by the end of June, and expects to add another half dozen of the 3,000-nautical-mile, mid-size business jets to its NetJets fractional ownership program by the end of next year. When EJA first ordered the Hawker 1000 from British Aerospace (BA, June 14, 1993/233), it placed firm orders for six planes and took options for another 14. The company expects to take delivery of two additional Hawkers from Raytheon Aircraft by yearend and four more in 1996.
SCHWEIZER AIRCRAFT appointed B&A Helicopter Services&Training of Carver, Mass. as a distributor of Schweizer Models 300C, 300CB and 330 helicopters in New England. B&A, incorporated in 1984, operates two subsidiaries - East Coast Aviation Academy and East Coast Helicopters, which is a Part 135 operation that focuses on agricultural work associated with the cranberry industry.
Bombardier's board of directors has given the long-anticipated go- ahead for the de Havilland Dash 8 Series 400 program, the 70-passenger, high-speed twin turboprop follow-on to the 50-passenger Series 300 and the 37-passenger Series 100 and 200 aircraft. Bombardier and de Havilland officials announced production approval of the aircraft - which has been on the drawing board for at least five years - last week at the Paris Air Show.
Brasil Central Airlines, currently the largest operator of Cessna Caravan single-engine turboprops outside the U.S., has ordered 15 more Cessna Grand Caravans for delivery in 1996. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in February and be completed before the end of 1996, bringing the airline's total Caravan fleet to 34 aircraft. Brasil Central, which has 1,250 employees, operates a fleet of 41 turboprops in passenger service to more than 30 cities. The carrier is part of Transportes Aero Regionals.
PETER BELLINI, chief pilot for Becton, Dickinson and Co., was elected president of the Teterboro Users Group (TUG), a nonprofit organization that includes corporate aircraft operators, fixed-base operators, various service companies and private aircraft owners that are based at the New Jersey airport or use it on a regular basis.
EDO CORPORATION is in the market for a chief financial officer following a decision by Michael J. Hegarty, 56, to leave the company. Hegarty was vice president, secretary, treasurer and a director of EDO, but he will retire Aug. 1 to become executive vice president and chief operating officer of a local bank. Hegarty will continue to serve on EDO's board.
Canadian manufacturer Bombardier would like to be involved in a new 100-passenger airliner project, but has no desire to lead it, according to Bob Brown, president of Bombardier's Aerospace Group-North America. "We've always competed in a niche where we can be a leader," said Brown, whose responsibilities include Canadair, de Havilland, Learjet and the aerospace activities of the Shorts Group. "All our products except the Global Express long-range high-speed business jet are derivatives.
Aerospatiale of France, Alenia of Italy and British Aerospace this month concluded talks to set up a joint company and hope to launch operations Jan. 1 as Aero International Regional, or AIR. But it became immediately clear that officials will be hard-pressed to meet the yearend deadline.
LUCAS AEROSPACE is consolidating its Paris-based flight controls businesses and transferring manufacturing to a new facility at St. Ouen l'Aumone in the northwest suburbs of Paris. The St. Ouen l'Aumone plant, purchased in April, will open next month. By November, all Flight Controls Systems activities, including the rescue hoist product line, will be transferred to the new plant. The Fuel&Mechanical Systems business will be consolidated at the existing Asnieres sites.
Gulfstream Aerospace, which said last fall it was considering development of an extended range version of the G-IV-SP, told reporters at the Paris Air Show the company "has decided to place the development of the Gulfstream IV-B on hold for a 12-month period while it continues to assess the market environment."
Brazilian manufacturer Embraer will roll out the new 50-passenger EMB- 145 regional jet on the company's 26th anniversary Aug. 18, breathing some optimism into a company that has been financially beleaguered in recent years. Embraer President Juarez Wanderley said privatization enabled the company to secure $92 million from the Brazilian Development Bank to complete development of the Model 145. That sum is to be paid back in two years, Wanderley said, adding that a state-owned company would not have been able to repay the loan so quickly.
JET AVIATION BASEL was appointed a major authorized service center for Falcon Jet aircraft. The agreement allows Jet Aviation Basel to perform heavy repairs, modification and maintenance on all Falcon Jet models. It also gives the facility direct access to Dassault Aviation for technical information.
HILLER AIRCRAFT Model UH-12A, UH-12B, UH-12C, UH-12D and UH-12E helicopters (Docket No. 95-SW-13-AD; Amdt. 39-9252; AD 95-12-02) - requires a dye- penetrant inspection of the head of the main rotor outboard tension-torsion (T-T) bar pin for cracks; a visual inspection of the outboard T-T bar pin for proper alignment and adjustment, if necessary; and, installation of shims at the inboard end of the drag strut. This amendment is prompted by two accidents involving failure of the outboard T-T bar pin on Hiller UH- 12E helicopters.
NATIONAL TECHNICAL INFORMATION SERVICE is offering a videotape package on FAA's Alcohol Misuse Prevention Program. The package includes a two-hour video, copies of the outline used for presentation, copies of a sample employer policy and frequently asked questions and answers accompanied by alcohol rule language. FAA prepared the videotape to provide guidance for the aviation industry. The package, Overview of Alcohol Misuse Prevention Program for the Aviation Industry, is available from NTIS for $95. The video may be purchased separately for $54.
NATIONAL AIRCRAFT RESALE ASSOCIATION will hold its fifth annual membership meeting Sept. 24 at the Golden Nugget Hotel, Las Vegas, Nev. Ed Stimpson, president of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association is the guest speaker at the meeting. NARA also will elect its 1996 officers.
Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. formed a new subsidiary, Gulfstream Financial Services Corp., "to provide a variety of financing alternatives in support of Gulfstream new and pre-owned aircraft." The company said it will provide "total aircraft acquisition, service and support in response to the needs of our customers." Chris Davis, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Gulfstream Aerospace, will serve as president and chief operating officer of the new corporate entity.
THE WINNER of the last major Pentagon contract of the century for a fixed-wing trainer is expected to be announced this week. BA sister publication Aerospace Daily said the Defense Department will select the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System contractor Thursday. The multi- billion dollar contract will provide for the purchase of more than 700 trainers for the Air Force and Navy. Cessna, Lockheed, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and Rockwell are still in the running.
Cessna Aircraft Co., which claims to have received "a virtual avalanche of serious inquiries" for its single-engine line of aircraft, is now accepting refundable $2,500 deposits for its single-engine line of aircraft, company officials announced during last week's Paris Air Show. The deposits will give customers non-transferable position reservations for the aircraft.
