Bombardier is slowing production of its CRJ line of regional jets to align with market demand. The company says the move will not result in layoffs for what it is calling a “short-term” reduction. “Although several sales campaigns for our CRJ aircraft are making progress and the long-term prospects ... remain positive, the reduced pace of orders has made a review of our production plans necessary,” says Bombardier Aerospace President Guy Hachey. Delivery guidance to stockholders of 90 aircraft this year remains unchanged.
Noted Actor and film producer John Travolta has agreed to serve as brand ambassador for Bombardier Learjet, Challenger and Global jets. An accomplished pilot, Travolta has been an advocate for corporate aviation. “John is both a film icon and knowledgeable aviator,” says Steve Ridolfi, president, Bombardier Business Aircraft.
National Air Transportation Association President James Coyne was one of four men selected to receive the National Aeronautic Association’s (NAA) Wesley McDonald Elder Statesman of Aviation Award, recognizing lifelong achievement in aviation. The awards will be presented during the NAA Fall Awards Banquet Nov. 7 in Arlington, Va. Also selected were Gen. Jack Dailey, a retired U.S.
VistaJet has taken delivery of three new Bombardier Challenger 605 jets. The new deliveries are part of the Swiss company’s $2 billion order backlog. The company’s current order backlog will take its fleet to more than 60 aircraft in four years and help it maintain its average age at less than two years, with no single aircraft being more than three years old.
London Oxford Airport plans to install Thales’ primary and secondary (Mode-S, MSSR) surveillance radar system. The system, which will include project management by the U.K. air traffic management service, NATS, will allow more efficient transits through local airspace as well as increase the throughput of IFR flight activity. The new system will be fully operational well ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games.
Dale Klapmeier, who co-founded Cirrus Aircraft with his brother Alan in 1984, assumed the role of CEO of the company in the wake of the sudden departure of President and CEO Brent Wouters. Dale Klapmeier has been chairman of Cirrus, while his brother Alan heads Kestrel Aircraft in Brunswick, Maine.
JEFF KILGORE has assumed the role of director, Savannah, Ga., service center operations for Gulfstream Aerospace. He has served at Gulfstream Aerospace for 23 years, previously as senior operations manager. He joins Darrell Frey and James Kelley in overseeing the estimated 1,400-1,500 aircraft that are expected to undergo maintenance at the center each year.
The Senate Appropriations Committee last week approved a fiscal 2012 FAA budget that would provide 19% less funding than similar legislation proposed two years earlier. Still, it fully funds the FAA’s Next Generation air traffic modernization program and increases funding for FAA operations. The bill seeks to provide $3.5 billion in Airport Improvement Program funding. That amount is more than the $3.35 billion recommended by the Senate committee’s House of Representatives counterpart. By contrast, President Obama had asked for just $2.4 billion.
Lawmakers continue to back continuation of the full Block Aircraft Registration Request program, which enables private aircraft owners to request that their tail number be withheld from real-time flight tracking programs. Senate appropriators last week approved a measure in the fiscal 2012 transportation appropriations bill that prohibits FAA from implementing “any limitation” on aircraft owners seeking to block their registration numbers from the publicly available Aircraft Situational Display to Industry data.
DARRELL FREY was named a director of Gulfstream Aerospace’s Savannah, Ga., service center operations. He has served with Gulfstream for 24 years, most recently as general manager of the Savannah center. He will report to Charles Celli, vice president of the center, and will oversee a specific series of Gulfstream aircraft models.
Landmark Aviation has expanded its fixed-base operation network to 50 locations with its acquisition of Falcon Trust Air at Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport (TMB) in Miami. Now called Landmark Aviation – TMB, the facilities include an 18,000-sq.-ft. FBO building and 42,000 sq. ft. of hangar space, along with 25 T-hangars and 11 box hangars. The FBO is equipped with a gym, library, media room, pilot’s lounge, flight planning center, passenger lobby and snooze rooms, as well as two VIP suites and an executive conference room.
STEVEN MORRIS was named director of global marketing for HOK’s Aviation + Transportation Group. Based in the Los Angeles office, Morris is overseeing HOK’s aviation and transportation design services for clients worldwide. He has 28 years of industry experience, having led projects at Lisbon International Airport, Abu Dhabi International Airport and Panama City International Airport.
Embraer has signed a deal with Jet Aviation Moscow Vnukovo to establish an enhanced 24/7 maintenance service with certified mechanics, special tools and a readily available on-site spare parts stock. Approved as an Embraer authorized service center at Vnukovo International Airport since 2009 for line support, Jet Aviation will hold a comprehensive stock of parts for Legacy 600 and Legacy 650 executive jets consigned by Embraer.
Avialogistics, a business aviation cleaning services specialist, has moved to a new location at London Luton Airport to handle its expanded business. The company provides aircraft cleaning and restocking services for both fixed-wing and rotary aircraft operators at all of London’s airports, with Farnborough, Luton and Biggin Hill being primary bases. Cleaning support is provided for several handling agents, including TAG Aviation, Harrods Aviation, Ocean Sky Jet Centre and Biggin Hill Handling.
BILL MINKOFF was named Hawker regional sales director for the lower northeastern U.S. for Hawker Beechcraft. Based at the Hawker Beechcraft Services facility slated to open next year at New Castle Airport in Wilmington, Del., he will be responsible for Hawker sales in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware, as well as certain sections of New York. Minkoff has more than 30 years of aviation experience, most recently as vice president of business development for Corporate Flight Management in Smyrna, Tenn.
Cambridge Airport in the U.K recently reported significant growth in its business aviation activity since the beginning of 2011 after it implemented its new commercial strategy. The new dedicated airport management team, led by Airport Director Archie Garden, has grown its business aviation movements year over year by 15%, increased fuel sales by 37%, and boosted parking fee revenues by 90%. Instrument approach training flights have also grown, now currently showing a 5% year-over-year rise.
Steven F. O’Neill, the CEO and founder of CitationAir, is leaving the Cessna-owned fractional aircraft operation, the company confirmed Friday. He will be succeeded by William J. Schultz, now executive vice president and COO, who co-founded the company. Schultz takes over the top position on Sept. 30; O’Neill’s official departure date is Nov. 1, but he will continue in an advisory role.
Perfect Aviation, a Switzerland-based aircraft charter company, has chosen the U.K.’s Biggin Hill Airport as its new base. Perfect Aviation hired Gary Whitecunas to serve as operation manager of the new base. The center has two U.K.-registered Learjet 45s and other aircraft based in Portugal and Moscow.
JEFF MESSMER was appointed operations manager at West Star Aviation’s newest facility at Spirit of St. Louis Airport (SUS) in Chesterfield, Mo. Messmer has more than 20 years of aircraft experience, beginning as an aircraft structural technician for the U.S. Army. Most recently he was Bombardier customer support manager for Midcoast Aviation. In his new role, he will manage all maintenance, avionics and customer service and support operations at the Chesterfield location.
Cirrus Aircraft CEO Dale Klapmeier calls the potential market for general aviation in China “mind boggling.” Speaking at AOPA’s Aviation Summit last week in Hartford, Conn., Klapmeier and other Cirrus officials noted that Brazil is the company’s No. 1 export country today, but that China could become its top overseas market in as little as 24 months. India will be another big market, adds Klapmeier. Cirrus recently finished delivering 20 aircraft to the Civil Aviation Flying University of China, reportedly the world’s largest flight school.
A cross-section of the aviation industry joined together to combat President Obama’s proposed $100 air traffic control fee for most operations in controlled airspace. Twenty-seven organizations – including all of the major general aviation associations – sent a letter of opposition to House and Senate leadership, along with Super Committee members.
40 Years Ago Sept. 20, 1971 – A Department of Transportation report finds: “General aviation, in particular, poses a major problem to the efficient and safe operation of commercial air service throughout the nation.” 30 Years Ago Sept. 28, 1981 – FAA plans reductions in airline and general aviation flights in the wake of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization strike and subsequent controller firings. 20 Years Ago
LYCOMING IO-720-A1B engines [Docket No. FAA-2011-0604; Directorate Identifier 2011-NE-21-AD; Amendment 39-16791; AD 2011-18-09] – Inspect the crankshaft to ensure that the proper parts are installed. This AD, which was prompted by the failure of a crankshaft due to the installation of incorrect parts, is intended to prevent engine crankshaft failure and damage to the airplane. FAA estimates that this AD will affect two engines installed on airplanes on the U.S. Registry and cost U.S. operators $170. This directive is effective Sept. 29.
Schubach Aviation recently celebrated the grand opening of its new 45,000-sq.-ft. headquarters at Palomar Airport in Carlsbad, Calif. The new headquarters is located 100 yd. west of its former location. The company had outgrown its previous 33,000-sq.-ft. headquarters. Schubach Aviation has signed a 10-year lease on the hangar and office space. The move comes as Schubach prepares to celebrate its 20th anniversary in San Diego. Schubach also continues to expand its fleet with the recent addition of a Gulfstream G-IVSP and plans to add another Hawker 800XP.
California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) has signed Senate Bill 619 into law, providing relief to flight training facilities facing new requirements of the California Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) (BA, Sept. 5/3). SB 619 exempts flight training providers and programs from the BPPE’s costly regulations. The National Air Transportation Association joined several other industry advocates in seeking the exemption, fearing the regulations could devastate the California flight training industry.
