Precision Castparts is acquiring Primus International, a Bellevue, Wash.-based supplier of aluminum, titanium and composite aerostructure components, for $900 million in cash. Primus, owned by private equity firm Oak Hill Capital Partners, employs 1,500 workers in sites in the U.S., Thailand, China and the U.K. The deal is expected to close in the third quarter of this year, pending regulatory approval. Precision Castparts says the deal will be immediately accretive to earnings. Wall Street welcomed the acquisition.
Quest Aircraft Company, the Sandpoint, Idaho producer of the Kodiak single-turboprop utility aircraft, has expanded its sales network, signing new deals with representatives in Africa, the Caribbean, India, the Middle East, South America and the U.S. The company is currently working on additional agreements in Australia, Brazil, Europe, Mexico, the Pacific Rim, and the U.S.
REED STAGER was named executive vice president for hands-free team communication systems provider Flightcom. Stager will oversee the company’s high-technology marketing, business development, strategic planning, services and operations to expand its communication products, including its wired and wireless aviation headsets, to other communication needs in the aviation and military markets. He was most recently CEO of Pinnacle Licensing Group, a technology licensing company based in San Francisco.
The Lom Group has opened the Lom Executive Jet Facility at L.F. Wade Bermuda International Airport. The facility includes refurbished arrival and departure lounges, as well as crew quarters. Enhancements include new furniture and flooring, along with a computer and printer. The Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art will be providing local artwork on a rotating basis for display in both the arrival and departure lounges.
SAAB 2000 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0307; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-111-AD; Amendment 39-16747; AD 2011-14-12] – Inspect the bolts that attach the actuator mounting bracket to the main landing gear (MLG) shock strut. If any nuts or bolts are loose, take corrective action, which can include removing corrosion, replacing affected bolts with new bolts, tightening loose nuts and installing the correct number of washers, per the instructions of SAAB Service Bulletin 2000-32-073.
Air Partner has relocated its U.K. headquarters to larger offices next to London Gatwick Airport. “Coinciding as it does with our 50th birthday, we are very excited about this relocation,” says Mark Briffa, Air Partner CEO. “As we expand our portfolio of products and services, it also gives us the advantage of having more room for the established international in-house training academy we operate for the group’s 200-strong team.”
Honda Aircraft CEO Michimasa Fujino, who last week unveiled his recently opened production plant in Greensboro, N.C., was surprised to learn that American business operates from so many centers of commerce. “In Japan, it’s all in Tokyo,” he says. The reason Japan works that way is a perceived efficiency, but what works in Japan does not work everywhere, Fujino says, adding, “American business is competitive and fast.”
Kansas State University in Salina has added four new bachelor’s degree programs—unmanned aircraft systems, avionics, airport management and air traffic control. The university also offers professional pilot and aviation maintenance degrees. The additional degree options grew from certificate programs that K-State Salina has offered.
SCHWEIZER 269A, A-1, B, C, C-1 and TH-55 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2011-0593; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-002-AD; Amendment 39-16723; AD 2011-12-16] – Remove each locknut on the tailboom support strut, verifying that each locknut has sufficient drag torque. Re-torque or replace the locknut, as applicable, per the instructions of Schweizer Service Bulletins No. B-295 and C1B-032 (both dated Dec. 21, 2010). Also, modify the expandable bolts, installing a cotter pin in each bolt.
Recent FAA approval of Eclipse Aerospace’s proprietary PhostrEx engine fire-suppression system marks the final milestone in certification of the total aircraft, says Eclipse Aerospace CEO and Chairman Mason Holland. “We now can service and support every part on the aircraft,” Holland says. “That was our last one.” Holland says a return to production is now a certainty, and the recent partnership with Sikorsky is a major factor in moving forward.
Emerging markets such as China, India and Brazil are beginning to catch up to the U.S. when it comes to taking delivery of private jets, according to speakers at the recent Financial Solutions for Business Aircraft (FiSBA) conference, hosted by Ireland’s Shannon Airport. U.S. dominance of the market in terms of new deliveries of private jets slipped from 72% to 42% between 2006 and 2010, says Oliver Stone, managing director of private aircraft brokerage and advisory firm Colibri Aircraft Ltd. But the U.S.
James Hoblyn, who had served as president of Bombardier Customer Services & Specialized and Amphibious Aircraft, died suddenly July 3. He was 46. “This devastating news has shaken all of us at Bombardier,” says Guy Hachey, president and COO of Bombardier Aerospace. “James’ boundless passion for our industry and his unrelenting focus on customer experience will leave a lasting imprint on us all. His contributions, kind spirit and quick wit will be deeply missed.”
FAA celebrated the 75th anniversary of federal air traffic control (ATC) services last week. The government established air traffic control in 1936 with 15 workers in three control centers – Newark, N.J., Chicago and Cleveland. The original 15 controllers took radio position reports from pilots and plotted the progress of each flight, but provided no separation services. The fastest plane in the commercial fleet at the time was a Douglas DC-3, which FAA notes could fly coast-to-coast in about 17 hr.
STEVEN MCCAUGHEY was selected to serve as executive director of the Seaplane Pilots Association. McCaughey brings a diverse background to his new role that includes flying bush planes in the northwestern U.S. and Alaska, providing aircraft management services, and serving in the U.S. Air Force with the Special Operations Command.
Cessna Aircraft delivered a Citation CJ4 to Fred Eisele, CEO of Stuttgart, Germany-based Eisele Flugdienst. The aircraft is the first CJ4 that will be used for charter operation in Europe. Atlas Air Service, Cessna’s Citation authorized sales representative for Germany, hosted the delivery ceremony at its facilities at Bremen Airport. Eisele Flugdienst’s fleet also includes Citation CJ1+, CJ2+, CJ3 and Sovereign aircraft.
DASSAULT Falcon 7X airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0152; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-079-AD; Amendment 39-16739; AD 2011-14-04] – Inspect certain wiring bundles and feeders for damage, repairing any damage found. Also, modify the applicable wiring layout by installing a protective plate on the rear tank wall and installing a hydraulic pipe, if necessary. In addition, inspect the rear tank wall for cracks and repair any cracks found.
GULFSTREAM Galaxy and G200 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0646; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-224-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to replace certain nuts, and in certain airframe locations conduct a one-time radiographic inspection for cracked nuts, replacing any cracked nuts before further flight, per Gulfstream Service Bulletin 200-51-366 (dated March 30, 2010). FAA estimates that this proposal would affect two aircraft on the U.S. Registry and cost U.S. operators $19,295 per airplane.
Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) wants pilots to have more access to information about FAA enforcement actions against them. Last week, Inhofe introduced a “Pilot’s Bill of Rights” that in the event FAA takes action against a pilot, would provide aviators with “all relevant evidence” of the administration’s decision to move ahead. It also would alter the appeals process, making changes to how the National Transportation Safety Board reviews FAA actions and would allow a pilot appealing an FAA decision to opt for a federal district court to review the appeal.
Heritage Aviation increased its footprint at Burlington International Airport in Vermont with the acquisition of the Atlantic Aviation fixed-base operation there. The transaction, facilitated by the Aviation Business Strategies Group, includes the FBO terminal building, fuel farm and three 15,000-sq.-ft. hangars. “For Heritage, this purchase gives them the opportunity to add on-field capacity, which will help expand both their transient and based customer service offerings,” says John Enticknap, ABSG’s president and founder.
EMBRAER EMB-505 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-0713; Directorate Identifier 2011-CE-023-AD] – This proposed AD would require operators to replace the bolts that attach the balance mass weights to the elevator structure, per the instructions of Embraer Phenom Service Bulletin No. 505-55-0002 (dated Jan. 14, 2011).
The Minsheng Bank of China has signed to buy 50 Gulfstream aircraft of various models, Gulfstream Aerospace confirmed last week. Gulfstream spokesman Jeff Miller says the two entities signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding for the big aircraft purchase on June 28. He says the manufacturer is “very pleased to be working” with Minsheng, which apparently intends to make the aircraft available for lease. Minsheng Financial Leasing Co. Ltd. is one of the first leasing companies approved by the China Banking Regulatory Commission.
IAOPA, the International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Associations, selected AOPA-South Africa to host the 26th biennial World Assembly of the 69 member associations. The meeting is scheduled for April 10-15, 2012 in Stellenbosch, South Africa. Delegates will work on general aviation issues during the assembly and receive briefings from officials from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), CAA South Africa and other groups. The assembly will develop resolutions to help guide policy decisions.
West Star Aviation has struck an agreement to provide maintenance services at TAC Air’s facility at Missouri’s Spirit of St. Louis Airport. TAC Air recently acquired the facility, which had been owned by Executive Beechcraft and operated by Signature Flight Support, and will provide fuel and other ramp services. West Star has agreed to retain existing maintenance personnel at the facility.
The number of business jet accidents in the U.S. grew in the first half of this year, as did turboprop incidents worldwide. But an improving safety record for business turboprops led to an overall decline in business aircraft accidents worldwide during the first six months of the year, reports safety expert Robert E. Breiling Associates. This comes in spite of the growing number of aircraft in the worldwide fleet, Breiling notes.
