SABRELINER CORPORATION terminated discussions with Triton Group Ltd., regarding the purchase of National Airmotive Corp., stating that although negotiations extended beyond the Jan. 31 expiration date of a letter of intent between the companies, those discussions "have not produced a mutually acceptable agreement." Sabreliner, which recently acquired Midcoast Aviation, said it "continues to actively seek other acquisitions to complement its existing capabilities."
SABRELINER CORP. will hold its 1995 operators symposium April 19-21 at the Hyatt Regency-Pier 66 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. For more information, contact Dave Damba at (314) 863-6880; fax, (314) 863-6887.
HONEYWELL and Ametek formed an alliance to integrate Ametek's Sentinel data acquisition unit (DAU) with Honeywell's Primus 2000 XP integrated avionics system for Bombardier Global Express. The DAU will acquire and transmit critical information from a variety of aircraft systems and transmit it to Honeywell's integrated avionics computers (IC-800s). The DAU will monitor systems such as the electronic engine controller, electrical system, air data computer, hydraulic system and other subsystems.
Christopher A. Hart, a former member of the National Transportation Safety Board, was named assistant administrator for system safety at FAA last week. Hart, an attorney and pilot who holds an aeronautical engineering degree, will report directly to FAA Administrator David Hinson.
FlightSafety International reported record revenues of more than $300 million last year, and continued its strong financial performance by recording nearly 25 cents in net income for every dollar of revenue.
FAA ADMINISTRATOR David Hinson tabbed a former member of the National Transportation Safety Board to head FAA's new system safety office. See article on Page 83.
ARCHANA AIRWAYS LTD., of New Delhi, India, is purchasing two de Havilland Dash 8 Series 200 aircraft from Bombardier Regional Aircraft Division for delivery in September and October. The carrier also is leasing two Dash 8 Series 300 aircraft. The new Series 200 aircraft are designed to provide improved "hot and high" performance and increased cruise speeds. The new aircraft provide full takeoff power up to 45 degrees C., which means they can carry full-design payloads at ISA plus 30 degrees C. at altitudes up to 5,000 feet above sea level.
SIMUFLITE TRAINING INTERNATIONAL plans to award six training scholarships valued at more than $60,000 to students graduating in the 1994/1995 school year from fully-accredited two- and four-year universities with airway science programs. Two students each will be selected by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, The University of North Dakota and the University Aviation Association. The six scholarship recipients will receive Citation II type ratings after successful completion of SimuFlite's 18-day initial training program in Dallas.
UNITED STATES AIR TRAFFIC SERVICES CORPORATION (USATS) Highlights of 1995 Clinton Administration Proposal Organization - Not-for-profit Federal Government Corporation. Has about 41,000 employees. - Responsible for operation, maintenance and development of the ATC system. - Supports national defense activities. - Responsible for compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations. Governance&Management
FEDERAL EXPRESS took delivery last month of the first two of 50 Cessna Caravan utility turboprops it ordered last year(BA, July 25/36). The airplanes, which will be used on Federal Express feeder routes, will enter service at the rate of three per month through May 1996. When deliveries of the latest order are completed, Federal Express will have taken delivery of 300 Caravans since the airplane was certificated in 1984 - more than 40 percent of the worldwide Caravan fleet.
AAI Systems Management expects its Next Generation Weather Observing System (NEXWOS) to receive FAA certification by summer, according to Ralph Petraganani, marketing manager for weather systems. NEXWOS, a follow-on to the company's Automated Surface Observing System, is targeted at general aviation airports, heliports, offshore platforms and resorts. The radar- based system has a modular design that can be tailored and upgraded to individual user needs.
AMERICAN BONANZA SOCIETY'S 27th annual convention and industry exhibit will be held July 16-20 in Spokane, Wash., at Cavanaugh's Inn at the Park. For more information, contact the ABS at P.O. Box 12888, Wichita, Kan. 67277. Organizers have hired Howell Management Co., Cherry Hill, N.J., to plan the convention and exhibit, and questions by potential exhibitors should be addressed to Mary Connor or Kathy Finnegan of Howell Management at (609) 795-6113.
Deliveries of new aircraft by companies in the General Aviation Manufacturers Association declined slightly last year, but the industry's billings rose and officials expressed optimism about growth prospects for 1995 and following years.
DOUG BUTLER, general manager at Million Air Van Vuys, has been named vice president-operations with responsibility for Million Air Van Nuys, Million Air Palm Springs, as well as the Golden West Air Terminals, Inc., Santa Maria, Calif., and wholesale fueling operations. Butler, who joined Million Air Van Nuys in 1992, has 14 years' experience in FBO operations and the wholesale fueling business.
ANNOUNCEMENT of the ATA/ALPA agreement came at a press conference called to discuss the results of last month's DOT/FAA safety conference. Officials identified 173 safety initiatives resulting from the conference, of which 104 are scheduled to be implemented or completed by the end of September. Another 36 would be completed in fiscal 1996, with the remainder phased in through fiscal 1999.
EVELYN CALDWELL was named charter marketing representative for the Charter Aircraft Department at Million Air Dallas. She had been with Continental Aviation of Naples, Fla.
GENERAL AVIATION MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION has issued GAMA Specification No. 9, the Electronic Publications Standard, developed to address the industry's movement to electronic data and the need for system format standardization. The association said the new standard is designed to improve ease of data access, use, revision timeliness, minimization of training and safety. The new specification standardizes the format for new product development and conversion of GA maintenance data. Copies of Specification No.
FOKKER Model F28 Mark 0100 series airplanes (Docket No. 94-NM-250-AD) - proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness directive applicable to certain Fokker Model F28 Mark 0100 series airplanes. This proposal would require a visual inspection to verify proper clearance between the engine fuel supply line and the hydraulic line in certain areas, and replacement of damaged fuel lines. This proposed AD also would require installation of additional clamps on the out line of the lift-dumper in certain cases.
Peregrine Flight International said the inflight breakup of a Peregrine (BD-10) that resulted in the death of the company's president and chief executive during a test flight last month "was due to flutter of the left horizontal stabilizer."
THE CANADAIR CHALLENGER business jet fleet is closing in on the one- million-flight-hour threshold. Bombardier's Business Aircraft Division said the fleet of more than 300 aircraft had logged 865,435 hours by the end of 1994. By early this month, Canadair had delivered a total of 321 Challengers: 84 Model 600s; 66 Model 601-1As; 134 601-3As; and 37 of the newest model, the 601-3R. Bombardier said Challenger production is continuing at a rate of two per month.
Transportation Secretary Federico Pena unveiled a radical proposal last week that would take revenues from the Airport and Airway and Highway Trust Funds - which until now have been reserved for aviation and highway projects, respectively - and use that money to fund an array of transportation programs including mass transit and rail projects. Pena's proposal quickly came under attack from key Congressional leaders and aviation officials. See related articles on following pages.
MOTOROLA'S Government and Space Technology Group delivered the 5,000th CM- 200 radio to FAA this month, part of a $69 million transmitter/receiver contract the company won in 1992 to produce up to 20,000 air-to-ground receivers and transmitters during the contract's five-year term.
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association and the National Business Aircraft Association are among more than 40 national organizations combining their resources to support legislation that would remove the federal transportation trust funds from the unified federal budget.
The U.S. Army formally delivered a proposal to The Commission on Roles and Missions calling for the service to take control of the Defense Department's entire rotary wing infrastructure. The unsolicited plan would consolidate all of DOD's helicopter research and development, testing and evaluation, acquisition and training under the Army. The Army already controls 79 percent of the DOD rotor wing fleet and 85 percent of helicopter acquisitions.
AEROMEDICAL PRODUCTS, West Bend, Wis., acquired the manufacturing rights to the Egan litter systems, a move that President Lanna Stafford said "will insure past worldwide customers of continuing excellence in aircraft stretcher products." The manufacturing rights include supplemental type certificate approvals for 200 different aircraft installations of the 25 different models of stretchers, divans and litters, including the Medstar Transporter. Paul Egan, who designed the original system, was named vice president of marketing for AeroMedical Products.
