The FAA is proposing to eliminate pilot, flight-engineer and mechanic paper certificates with upgraded, counterfeit-resistant plastic versions. Student pilots would be unaffected. The agency also would require notification within five days of a transfer of aircraft ownership, and applicants for aircraft registration would be required to provide their printed or typed names with their signatures. The proposed changes are in response to the FAA Drug Enforcement Assistance Act and are aimed at improving quality of data and documents supplied to help enforce drug laws.
Regarding the Industry Outlook item on 100-seat aircraft (AW&ST Nov. 20, 2006, p. 11), Fokker produced a successful 100-plus-seat transport, the F100, of which more than 240 are in active service today, as well as 47 of the long-range 79-seat F70 version. Ten years ago, the withdrawal of financial assistance by the Dutch government and parent company DaimlerBenz--assisted by Fokker management--killed the Fokker 70 and 100 production. The bankruptcy is still considered a national disgrace.
The Chinese government will inject at least 10 billion yuan ($1.28 billion) into its three main airlines, and maybe twice that much capital, says Air China. The others are China Eastern and China Southern, both of which have been losing money.
Air Force Beech C-12C (16) Beech C-12D (6) Beech C-12F (2) Beech C-12J (4) Beech T-1A (179) Bell Helicopter Textron TH-1H (1) Bell Helicopter Textron UH-1N (62) Bell Helicopter Textron UH-1V (2) Bell/Boeing CV-22 (4) Boeing B-52H (94) Boeing C-135 (2) Boeing C-17A (150) Boeing C-22B (3) Boeing C-32A (4) Boeing C-32B (2) Boeing C-40B (4) Boeing C-40C (3) Boeing C-9A (2)
Aeroports de Paris, which manages Paris Charles de Gaulle and Orly, is proposing a 4.25% increase for this year, after hiking fees 5% last year. The move is likely to irk airlines, who are already unhappy about the cost of operations there and the lack of consultation on costly projects. Passenger fees would see the largest increase, with 7.2%. The new fees would take effect in April.
PO Box 138, Manama, BAHRAIN Code: GF Employees: 5,760 www.gulfairco.com Tel. (973 17) 322-200 Fax (973 17) 320-933 Ownership: Abu Dhabi; Bahrain; Oman- 33.33% each Executive Management Chairman Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Harthy President & CEO James Hogan VP Finance Ahmed Al Hammadi
British Airways and its staff unions are closing on a deal that would help tackle its $3.8-billion pension deficit. The four unions involved earlier this month recommended to their members that the BA proposals be accepted. They would see retirement age options between 55-65.
Boeing has won two contracts--for $248.3 million and $5 million--for C-17 sustainment-labor/engine logistics support and material. Raytheon Aircraft Co. will supply the U.S. Air Force with five King Air 350 extended-range ISR aircraft and a single King Air 350 light transport in a contract worth $132.3 million. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems garnered a $42.6-million deal for program management, repairs and support of weapons-carrying Predator MQ-1 and MQ-9 unmanned aircraft.
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA AEROSPACE Foundation and Robeson Community College are building a new flight training facility in Lumberton, N.C. The university is partnering with the college to provide training in an effort to meet growing demand for commercial pilots, airport managers and air traffic controllers. The Lumberton Flight Training Center will offer four-year courses in commercial aviation, flight education, aviation management and air traffic control. Construction is scheduled to be completed in May.
The Polish military is looking to buy six aircraft for VIP transport, with interested parties to submit intentions to bid by Jan. 19 and formal bids due by the end of April. A source selection is set for May. The government also wants the winner to provide two aircraft on lease within four months of contract signature until the first two purchased aircraft are available. The deal would encompass flight crew and maintenance training.
The ongoing debate among readers (AW&ST Oct. 2, 2006, p. 6) concerning feasibility of various concepts for flyback boosters is not likely to produce any improvements in space launch architecture. As always, having the right concept at the start is critical to success of space access activity, such as the rapid-response system being pursued by the U.S. Air Force.
Blue Origin, the secretive commercial rocket company bankrolled by Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos, is looking for engineers with experience developing big cryogenic rockets as it advances its planned New Shepherd vehicle for human suborbital flight.
The German defense ministry has awarded a large information technology contract to a consortium of Siemens Business Services and IBM Deutschland. The so-called Herkules program is the largest IT endeavor the German armed forces have ever undertaken. A joint venture is being set up to manage the 10-year, €7.1-billion ($9.4-billion) project, with the companies holding 50.1% and the state the balance.
The House Democrats' new ethics broom sweeps clean. The House code of official conduct will prohibit representatives from using official, personal or campaign funds to pay for the use of privately owned aircraft. Members still will be able to charter commercially available airplanes. The "corporate jet ban" provision was one of several amendments to House rules after Democrats took control Jan. 4.
Comair and its pilots have until Feb. 2 to reach an agreement on work rules and pay rates. Management and the Air Line Pilots Assn. unit set that date in a temporary accord reached Dec. 28, which averted a showdown. The agreement defers an $8-million pay increase scheduled to take effect Jan. 1. The 1,600-member union has authority to strike if negotiations fail to achieve an accord satisfactory to the union. Comair management is armed with court authority to impose contract terms that would reduce pilots' average annual wage of $59,600 by $6,400.
John Clark has become chief scientist for aeronautical engineering for the National Transportation Safety Board. He was director of aviation safety and will be succeeded by Tom Haueter, who has been deputy director.
Gene Cunningham (see photo) has been named vice president/deputy director of the Bell Boeing Program Office in Amarillo, Tex. He succeeds Mike Anderson, who is retiring. Cunningham was vice president-business development for Boeing Rotorcraft Systems in Philadelphia.
