Dubai-based Alpha Global Industries has signed an agreement with Empire Aviation Group to buy two Vigiplane systems, a new aircraft security system that provides round-the-clock camera surveillance of aircraft on the ground. Surveillance footage can be monitored in real time anywhere in the world through advanced tracking, GPS and satellite communications.
AgustaWestland is launching the 8-10 passenger AW169 twin to compete directly with Eurocopter’s AS365/EC155 Dauphin in the 4.5-metric-ton class. The joint Italian/U.K. development could rack up sales of close to 1,000 helicopters worldwide, AgustaWestland believes, which would require at least two production lines.
Even though the Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (ABACE) is a year away, the co-organizers are pleased with the progress being made in promoting the event. ABACE, the brainchild of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) and Asian Business Aviation Association (AsBAA), was canceled in 2009, due to the effects of the global recession (BA Feb. 5, 2009/17). But at the 2010 NBAA annual convention in October, the partners announced ABACE would be held in Shanghai in 2012.
HANNAH MITCHISON has joined BBA Aviation Engine Repair and Overhaul Group (ERO) as regional sales manager, covering the U.K., Ireland, Spain and Portugal. Mitchison will be responsible for sales of engine and accessory repair and overhaul services for all product lines offered by ERO. She most recently worked at Orange Aero, a company specializing in selling Rolls-Royce RB211 reconditioned piece parts.
The U.S. State Department Friday issued an alert advising against non-essential travel to Japan after an earthquake measuring 8.9 magnitude struck the northern part of the country. The travel alert, in effect through April 1, warns that airports may be closed or have restricted access. Tokyo’s Narita Airport shut down for much of Friday and flooding closed the airport at Sendai. Haneda Airport’s operations also were curtailed severely.
Phoenix-based Cutter Aviation has implemented an FBO-integrated safety management system (SMS) designed to cover its line service/ground handling operations and its aircraft technical services.
CHUCK WOODS was named president of Asia-Pacific region for Jet Support Services, Inc. (JSSI). He comes from Jet Asia, where he served as CEO. He also serves as chairman of the Asian Business Aviation Association, which is dedicated to the growth and expansion of business aviation throughout Asia.
Cessna Aircraft will debut the next-generation Corvalis during the Sun ’N Fun International Fly-In & Expo later this month in Lakeland, Fla. Although the piston-aircraft niche has been lagging behind the economic recovery, Cessna is moving forward with the new product. The new Corvalis TT, a fixed-gear, single-engine piston, is designed to fly at speeds up to 235 kt. and up to 25,000 ft. Cessna added the Corvalis to its product line through its acquisition of Columbia Aircraft in late 2007.
For the second time in as many years, the Pacific Northwest Business Aviation Association (PNBAA) is fighting the Washington State Legislature over a proposed 0.5% aircraft tax designed to help close the state’s $4.6 billion budget gap. The proposal was thwarted in 2010 after an effort led by PNBAA with the National Business Aviation Association, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and state business aviation groups.
The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Friday reiterated its strong opposition to FAA’s plan to limit participation in the Block Aircraft Registration Request (BARR) program, saying the actions represent unwarranted invasion of privacy for aircraft owners and operators, a threat to U.S. competitiveness and a potential security risk for passengers aboard aircraft.
Mesa, Ariz.-based Phoenix Heliparts reached a settlement with FAA that will enable the company to begin a recertification process six months ahead of an FAA order. The agency in August revoked the repair station’s certificate, citing a failure to comply with recommendations to address maintenance problems and recordkeeping lapses.
London Oxford Airport is offering enhanced operational performance for aircraft after the U.K.’s Civil Aviation Authority gave approval to permit a 21% (896 ft./273 m) increase in the declared takeoff distance from its runway. These new takeoff distances enable more business aircraft types to achieve maximum takeoff weight or near maximum performance from the airport.
The Boise City Council in Idaho has unanimously voted to change the name of an airport road in honor of the late Ed Stimpson, a long-time president of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association and U.S. Ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organization. South Ulm Street, which connects Gowen Road to the new Boise Airport control tower, was renamed Ed Stimpson Way. “The aviation industry never had a better friend than Ed Stimpson, and neither did our city,” Mayor David Bieter says.
The Chicago Department of Aviation is seeking an Assistant Commissioner – Development to develop plans and initiate and manage both design and construction projects for O’Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport. The City of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. For full details and to apply go to: https://chicago.taleo.net/careersection/100/jobsearch.ftl?lang=en
CHRISTOPHER BROWN was appointed vice president legislative and regulatory policy for the Air Transport Association. Brown has more than 15 years of experience in aviation policy and government affairs. He will join ATA on March 14 from Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, where he has been senior counsel of the Government and Regulatory Affairs Practice Group and served as senior congressional affairs advisor to the firm’s client, United Airlines.
DALE APPLEBY was appointed technical sales manager for West Star Aviation. Appleby will be based in Dallas. He has 18 years of sales, operation and business ownership experience.
Loss of control has replaced controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) as the number one aviation accident cause in recent years. Overall, the airline industry also has stopped improving its safety performance in the past decade, but as the Flight Safety Foundation’s European Aviation Safety Seminar in Istanbul concluded last week, it would be relatively easy to change that.
JDA Aviation Technology Solutions has signed a deal with Dragonfly Aviation, LLC, a Laredo, Texas-based helicopter wildlife survey and capture operator, to help it obtain FAA Part 133, 135 and 137 certifications. JDA will use its 135Pro certificate support program for all three efforts. The 135Pro support program is designed to simplify and lower costs associated with obtaining a Part 135 certificate. The program, which also supports Part 133 and 137, includes manuals tailored for the charter applicants, as well as coaching, mentoring and training assistance.
The National Air Transportation Association is expressing concern that FAA is suspending action on most new certification applications. The agency recently announced the suspension to field offices, NATA says, adding the move is in response to budgetary constraints. FAA field offices are accepting applications and placing them “in queue,” the association says, “but applicants should not expect further action to be taken at this time unless the particular [Flight Standards District Office] believes it has sufficient manpower and resources to complete the certification.”
BP Products North America has completed the sale of its interest in Epic Aviation to Downstream Aviation. BP and Downstream have entered into exclusive brand and supply agreements, and Epic will continue to operate under the Air BP brand as Air BA Aviation Services. Founded in 2002, Epic supports fuel and business needs for a branded dealer network of nearly 400 fixed-base operations in the U.S. and Canada. The management team will remain based in Salem, Ore.
The airport and airport industrial center in Salina, Kan., support nearly 8,700 public- and private-sector jobs and generate more than $280 million a year in annual payroll, according to a new report. The Salina Airport Authority commissioned Wichita State University’s Center for Economic Development and Business Research to conduct the study. The study found that aviation is thriving in the community, home to the former Schilling Air Force Base. The base closed in 1965, taking 5,000 jobs with it.
Hawker Beechcraft has named Patrick Kelly interim CFO and principal financial officer. Kelly formerly served as interim CEO for Express Jet Airlines in Houston, and before that was CFO for Vignette Corporation in Austin, Texas. He also has served with Dell, Trilogy Software, Sabre Holdings and American Airlines. He succeeds Sid Anderson, who left the company early this year after taking the position in late 2008. The company did not discuss the details of his departure.
HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND Model 247F propellers [Docket No. FAA-2009-0113; Directorate Identifier 2008-NE-25-AD; Amendment 39-16602; AD 2011-04-02] – Remove affected propeller blades from service. This AD, which was prompted by reports of blades with corrosion pits in the tulip area, is intended to prevent cracks in the tulip area of the blade from causing separation of the blade and possible loss of airplane control. FAA estimates that this AD will affect 10 propellers installed on ATR 72-210 and ATR 72-210E airplanes on the U.S. Registry and cost U.S.
The Mundus Group, an aerospace technology consortium that is involved in vertical takeoff and landing technology for unmanned air vehicles, has acquired machining specialist LKKO. The acquisition includes the Goki Manufacturing Group. LKKO and Goki operate a CNC prototyping facility and have more than 40 years of machining, fabrication and assembly experience.
