Bruce Currier, vice president of avionics for Evergreen Helicopters, McMinnville, Ore., received the HAI Aviation Repair Specialist Award at February's Heli-Expo.
The FAA predicts a double-digit growth rate for the U.S. business jet fleet over the next 12 years, including the addition of nearly 5,000 very light jets. Industry forecasts also are bullish, but many observers believe the FAA's business jet predictions err on the high side, part of the administration's attempt to convince Congress that the FAA needs new funding mechanisms to deal with more business aviation traffic.
Concerns that security-sensitive operational information was publicly available prompted the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) to ask the FAA to block access to transcripts from the public hearings on a proposal to make permanent the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) over Washington, D.C. The FAA, with participation by the TSA and a number of other federal agencies, held two hearings in January that together drew more than 500 attendees -- most of them opposed to the ADIZ proposal.
Three crewmembers and one passenger were aboard a German registered-Bombardier CL600, D-ABCD, when it slid off London-Luton's 7,087-foot-long Runway 8/26 on landing Feb. 5. None of those aboard were reported injured. The aircraft was stuck in mud just a few yards off the end of the runway and as a result all arriving flights and some departures were canceled. Disruption lasted several hours and some en route aircraft were diverted to London-Stansted and Nottingham East Midlands Airport. EasyJet was forced to cancel 12 flights.
Elliott Aviation will take delivery of its first Socata TBM 850 turboprop aircraft. Elliott was named as the newest authorized service center and distributor in the Socata network and is responsible for the states of Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska starting this year. The Socata TBM 850, recently certified by EASA and the FAA, is a more powerful and faster derivative of the Socata TBM 700.
Sky Connect sold 75 of its Tracker systems to Era Helicopters of Lake Charles, La., to support its offshore oil operations. The Sky Connect tracking system uses the Iridium satellite network to provide operators with real-time information on airborne, marine and ground assets. Operators can monitor the location, track and status of an entire fleet worldwide, even in the polar regions. The system also exchanges voice and data communications.
General Aviation advocates are hoping Congress will suspend implementation of a new tax law that requires aviation jet fuel vendors to pay the higher diesel fuel tax rate and then apply for a refund for the difference between the highway fuel tax and aviation fuel tax. The Internal Revenue Service started enforcing the rules early this year. And some vendors have reported the agency was threatening to audit companies seeking refunds.
As of March 1, the Cape Town Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment and the Aircraft Protocol took effect. The convention applies to aircraft certificated for at least eight seats (including the crew), including fractional interests in such aircraft; and helicopters certificated for at least five seats (including the crew), and engines rated at 550 horsepower or more. The convention establishes new laws for aircraft transactions and the perfection of interests in aircraft and engines.
Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, Oklahoma City. The FAA has named Stan Sieg deputy director of the agency's Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center. Sieg succeeds Richard Rodine, who retired on Jan. 3.
In a dramatic unveiling at February's Heli-Expo, Bell Helicopter introduced its Bell 417. Bell Helicopter CEO Mike Redenbaugh revealed a mock-up of the new model in law enforcement configuration. "The Bell 417 is our answer to the customers' demand for a powerful single-engine helicopter with unmatched hot-and-high hover capability," explained Redenbaugh.
Dallas Airmotive, Dallas, appointed Steve Hubble as a regional engine manager for the Western United States. He will be responsible for sales of the company's TFE731 engine services. Mike Clarke has been promoted to the newly created position of territorial sales director for Scandinavia and sub-Saharan Africa.
Landmark Aviation will distribute SKYLink by ARINC Direct, the high speed satellite broadband communications system for business aircraft. Landmark Aviation, formerly Garrett/ Piedmont Hawthorne/Associated, will sell and install SKYLink in the North American corporate jet aftermarket.
Bombardier Aerospace has signed a contract with Petroleum Air Services (PAS) of Cairo, Egypt, for the sale of an additional Bombardier Q300 turboprop airliner, which will bring its Q300 fleet to five aircraft. The list price value for the aircraft on firm order is approximately $17.4 million.
On occasion, customers specing a cabin for lighting may run into the term "fiber optics" and file it away in memory as a lighting technology. It's not light, but it is a very powerful and flexible optical technology for conducting light. The borescope your engine shop uses to peer into the jet's innards is a fiber-optic viewer.
Faced with removing tires from service as a result of weather checking, cracking and dry rot? You can't stop tires from wearing, but premature tire degradation can be caused by ultraviolet and ozone exposure. SunBlock for Tires, available from Pro Tech Products, is specially formulated to block harmful sun and ozone damage. UV rays penetrate tires, attacking rubber ingredients that provide flexibility and resilience. SunBlock for Tires prevents environmental damage such as peeling, cracking or weathering away, even after years of exposure.
The first gasoline-powered vehicle appeared in 1865, and by the late 1880s car manufacturers were selling their noisy, smoke-spewing and pricey contraptions throughout Western Europe. Charles Stewart Rolls, the well-heeled son of a British lord, became one of his country's first "automobilists," and in 1902, at the age of 25, established a business selling, servicing and repairing automobiles. He also made a name for himself as a driver on Europe's racing circuit and held a number of world speed records, all of which was good publicity for his operation back home.
Adam Aircraft signed a letter of intent to form a strategic partnership with Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd. ST Aerospace will provide engineering, logistics, maintenance, repair and overhaul support for both Adam's A500 twin-piston and A700 twin jet. The agreement also includes options for ST Aerospace to invest up to $50 million in the startup aircraft maker, which is headquartered at Centennial Airport (APA) in Englewood, Colo. The option is exercisable within seven years.
B&CA: What is NATCA's position on the Next Generation Air Transportation System? Do you think it's a sound concept, and if not, why not? Church: We are not involved in either the JPDO or NGATS. The FAA has eliminated collaboration of any kind with controllers. They sent all of our technical experts home to their control facilities, including the one who was our JPDO liaison. This is the FAA's choice for us not to be involved in the JPDO. B&CA: What is your position on automation in general?
Imagine having an entire fleet of airplanes, ranging from a Cessna 206 to an Otter on floats to a Beech 99, available for you to fly on any given day. Now imagine that flying takes place in the spectacular backcountry of Idaho and Montana. Oh, and one more thing, imagine being paid very well to do it.
WHAT DOES PETE TOWNSEND think about the age 60 rule? (He just turned 61.) If your response was "Who?" you are not of "my generation," but if you adjusted your reading glasses for a moment and then exclaimed "The Who!" read on, old friend.
According to statistics provided to the National Aircraft Resale Association (NARA) by AMSTAT, the New Jersey-based aircraft market research firm, retail sales of previously owned jets and turboprops rose 11 and 14 percent, respectively, in 2005. More robust sales, coupled with declining inventories of used jets and turboprops, have led to rising prices for most previously owned turbine-powered business aircraft.
Dassault Falcon's Jack Young has been honored with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Hope Award, which is presented in recognition of outstanding corporate leadership in the community. Young is the senior vice president of finance and administration for Dassault Falcon Jet and president of Dassault Aircraft Services.
