StarPortUSA recently delivered a Citation III equipped with a Universal UNS-1Lw wide area augmentation system flight management system (WAAS-FMS). The three-week-long, 350-man-hr. avionics installation, which was performed at StarPortUSA’s Orlando Sanford International Airport facility, involved interfacing the new FMS with the existing electronic flight instrument system, flight director and autopilot.
Mid-Continent Instruments recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of its West Coast facility in Van Nuys, Calif. The full-service repair station, including overhaul, repair, exchange and distribution, has expanded from a 500-sq.-ft. building to its current 15,000-sq.-ft., state-of-the-art facility.
Garmin’s new ESP system was certified aboard a King Air 200, Garmin says. The supplemental type certification comes four months after Garmin unveiled the Electronic Stability and Protection system during the Experimental Aircraft Association’s AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wis. ESP, an electronic monitoring and exceedance-correcting technology, is compatible with G1000 and G3000 integrated flight decks. The system is designed to help pilots maintain stable flight and ward off situations that could cause stalls and spins, steep spirals or other loss-of-control conditions.
Bombardier Aerospace has won the 2010 Quebec Prize of Excellence in Corporate Citizenship in the Large Enterprise category. The Quebec Prize recognizes corporations in Quebec that stand out on the basis of their fair and sustainable business practices and rewards bold, innovative ethical actions. Bombardier was lauded for strengthening the integration of corporate social responsibility and continuing to develop new products with a reduced environmental footprint.
GE Aviation is planning to build an electrical power integrated systems research and development Center on the University of Dayton campus in Dayton, Ohio. Dayton was designated as the first Ohio Aerospace Hub of Innovation, created by Gov. Ted Strickland (D), in which the state partners with local universities and businesses to foster economic development to bring high-tech companies and jobs to the region. GE Aviation is participating as an initial launch partner of the hub.
GORDON POTTER was named aircraft sales manager for PremiAir Global in the U.K. Potter joins PremiAir from Patriot Aviation, where he led the helicopter sales department. Before that, he held sales positions in the automobile industry.
Héroux-Devtek Inc. was awarded a contract by Dassault Aviation to provide the landing gear for a new business jet program. The Canadian aerospace manufacturer did not provide specifics on the new program, but it likely could be Dassault’s SMS (super mid-sized) aircraft that has been under development. Olivier Villa, Dassault’s senior vice president for civil aircraft, said earlier this year that the design is frozen for the aircraft and that supplier selection and work share would be finalized by year’s end. Formal introduction, however, would depend on market conditions.
Austin, Texas-based businessman Grant Jacobson has created Texas Jacobson Aviation (TJA) to provide free flights for two charitable organizations, Grace Flights and Veterans Airlift Command (VAC), which furnish air service to medical patients and wounded veterans, respectively.
DENNIS KANEY has joined Dallas Airmotive as regional engine manager. Kaney will sell Honeywell TFE731 engine and auxiliary power unit products, along with Pratt & Whitney Canada PW305 engine services, in the Northeast, including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island and Maine. He has worked as an airframe and powerplant technician, account manager and most recently in customer sales and support functions for maintenance service providers.
The 100th Falcon 7X was delivered during a recent ceremony at Dassault’s completion center in Little Rock, Ark. A Brazilian financial services company was the recipient of the 100th Falcon 7X. The Falcon 7X fleet has accumulated more than 57,000 flight hr., operating in more than 25 countries with orders coming from more than 40 countries. The high-time aircraft has more than 3,000 flight hr. Unveiled during the 2001 Paris Air Show, the aircraft was certificated and entered service in 2007.
The first Piper PA-46 Matrix fitted with Avidyne’s Entegra Release 9 has been delivered. The R9 upgrade features dual IFD5000 integrated flight displays and dual FMS900w wide area augmentation system (WAAS)-capable flight management systems, along with digital 16-watt VHF nav/com radios and dual WAAS/Required Navigation Performance-capable GPS receivers. List price is $72,800, plus installation. Certification of Entegra Release 9 for the Piper Mirage and the Meridian is expected next year.
JERRY HANSEN was appointed director of operations for Schubach Aviation. Hansen, who has 22 years of industry experience, will be responsible for communications with FAA, flight line oversight, company plans and policies, and flight and maintenance personnel hiring. He previously was director of operations for West Coast Charter in Santa Ana, Calif. He also has served as director of operations for Jimsair Charter in San Diego and chief pilot for Advanced Aviation in Long Beach, Calif.
Signature Flight Support continues to expand its European service offerings with a series of new agreements at fixed-base operations and airports throughout France. The agreements, similar to those Signature has in place with FBOs and airports in Germany, enables Signature to coordinate flight support and handling services at airfields throughout France. Signature also provides the services through its fixed-base operations at Paris Le Bourget (LBG), Toulon (TLN) and Nice (NCE).
Dubai-based Air Charter International (ACI) is expanding its service in the Middle East, Europe and Russia with its new “empty-legs” program, which enables travelers to book flights on trips already planned. Demand for such a service has been growing in key markets such as Dubai, Russia, Singapore, Hong Kong, London and Nice, says Claire Brugirard, ACI’s strategic business manager.
Dec. 15—The Wings Club Luncheon, featuring Gary Kelly, Chairman, President & CEO of Southwest Airlines, The Yale Club, New York, (212) 867-1770, [email protected] Dec. 15—Future of Aviation Advisory Committee Meetings, Washington, D.C., http://www.dot.gov/faac Jan. 20-21, 2011—European Business Aviation Association Regional Forum “One Europe: A Roadmap for Aligning East and West,” Hilton Vienna, www.ebaa.org Feb. 7-8, 2011—National Air Transportation Association FBO Leadership Conference, Savannah, Ga., (703) 845-9000, www.nata.aero
Gama Aviation FZC is adding two more managed aircraft to its fleet, a Bombardier Global XRS and an Embraer Legacy 600. The Middle Eastern operator already has a Challenger 604, 605 and 850 in its inventory. Meanwhile, work is progressing on a new FBO and 12,000-sq.-meter hangar the company is building at Sharjah International Airport in the United Arab Emirates. Gama Aviation FZC hopes to win Part 145 maintenance approval in the first half of next year.
FlightSafety International plans to offer general emergency training and corporate flight attendant training in Long Beach, Calif., starting early next year. The emergency training course also will be available in Dallas starting this fall.
DASSAULT Falcon 7X airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-0760; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-086-AD; Amendment 39-16520; AD 2010-24-02] – Reinforce the rear fuel tank by bonding a titanium shield plate on the tank structure above the Lightning Sensor System (LSS) antenna connector. This AD, which resulted from an MCAI originated by the European Aviation Safety Agency, was prompted by a design review that found that the LSS antenna might, in the event of belly or gear-up landing, puncture the rear fuel tank, which could result in fuel leakage and a post-landing fire.
Remos Aircraft will be operating its new sales, distribution and service center from the LoPresti facility located at Sebastian Airport in Florida. Sales and marketing, directed by Earle Boyter, is based in the administration building with LoPresti Aviation.
The Air Transport Association (ATA) has hired the former chief liaison to Congress for both Bush administrations to become its new president and CEO as of Jan. 1.
DASSAULT Falcon 50 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2010-1155; Directorate Identifier 2010-NM-238-AD; Amendment 39-16527; AD 2010-24-08] – Conduct a visual inspection for correct installation of the emergency brake system No. 2. If this emergency brake is installed incorrectly, install the system correctly, in accordance with the instructions of Dassault Service Bulletin F50-515 (dated Oct. 12, 2010).
New guidance documents for airports – one dealing with solar power use and another with tracking wildlife hazards – have been issued by FAA. Rising airport interest in solar technology prompted the agency to issue technical guidance on the use of solar power in the airfield environment. The solar power guidance document provides a checklist for uses such as hot water systems and cites the experience of three airports – Denver, Fresno Yosemite and Albuquerque. Some 15 U.S.
Airclaims has sold a Bombardier Challenger 604 to a new U.S.-based owner. “With over 50 other Challenger 604’s available for sale at the time, our remarketing team had the contacts and experience necessary to successfully close this transaction in what is a highly competitive market,” says Peter Bull, group director of risk and asset management.
CRAIG LAMMIMAN was named aircraft sales manager for aircraft sales and brokerage specialist PremiAir Global. Lammiman joins the U.K.-based firm after heading his own business aircraft brokerage company, JetConcept.
A leaner, reshaped fractional business is starting to improve, but Plano, Texas-based aviation consultancy Rolland Vincent Associates says the industry must take a number of steps before regaining full health. President Rolland Vincent says that fractional companies – including NetJets, NetJets Europe, Flexjet, Flight Options and CitationAir – have accomplished much, realigning operations and fleets, as well as reducing debt and expenses, such as charter purchasing.
