The Helicopter Museum at Weston-super-Mare, United Kingdom, has been awarded a project grant for 4,000 through the South West Museums and Library Council to develop a stage two teaching package for schools with children ages seven through 10.
Two more European carriers are discussing all-business-class transatlantic service with PrivatAir, which recently launched its third operation with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. That makes five airlines contracting with PrivatAir to provide one class, nonstop service on a turnkey basis in Boeing BBJ or Airbus ACJ aircraft, says PrivatAir CEO Greg Thomas. Lufthansa was the first to develop the service in 2002.
MaxViz is pitching a low-cost IR EVS for Gulfstream owners looking for an alternative installation costing a typical $130,000 vs. the $1.2 million price of the factory-installed system, even though the MaxViz EVS lacks the HUD presentation of infrared (IR) imagery. MaxViz holds an STC for a Gulfstream IV installation and says one for the GV is imminent. Its business is growing nicely, having begun four years ago and doubling in volume in each of the past three. At the 2004 NBAA convention MaxViz had 30 dealers, now there are 64.
Dallas Airmotive, Orlando, named Hugh E. McElroy president and CEO. McElroy has been with DAI since the company acquired UNC Airwork Corp. in 1999, where he served as vice president and general manager for the Millville, N.J., location.
Piaggio Aero Industries says it can't afford to go-it-alone developing a twin turbofan corporate aircraft family, and is looking for a risk sharing partner to split the expected $600 million development and certification costs.
The FAA has extended the comment period until Feb. 6 on its controversial proposal to make permanent the airspace restrictions over Washington, D.C. The agency also said it would hold a public meeting on the proposal to establish a National Defense Airspace Region encompassing the inner Flight Restricted Zone and the more sweeping Air Defense Identification Zone.
Forty years ago, when corporate pilots like 2005 NBAA Doswell Award recipient Ron Guerra and his business aviation colleagues began flying their employers' new Lockheed JetStars and Grumman Gulfstream IIs overseas, they had little support outside their flight departments beyond the local FAA flight service station.
At a separate event, on the same day as Blakey's speech, National Air Traffic Controllers Association head John Carr presented his own list of FAA shortcomings. Carr faulted the agency for moving too slowly on ATC modernization and for damaging labor relations, particularly during contentious contract negotiations. He singled out runway incursion technology as an area where the agency has not acted fast enough.
While figures for the total number of foreign business jets owned by Russians are hard to come by, there is speculation among people involved in Russian business aviation that the fleet size may have topped 100 aircraft. By contrast, the number of business jets that are based in Russia and recorded in the Russian operators' AOCs is quite specific: 13. And of these, only a few carry Russian registration. For a variety of reasons described later in the article, most Russian buyers prefer to register aircraft outside of Russia.
IT SEEMED LIKE I HAD HARDLY returned from one weeklong trip when I was departing on another, this time to attend the NBAA convention in Orlando, and under quite different circumstances. On the earlier excursion my conveyance was a Falcon. For much of that trip, my wife and I had the cabin to ourselves. We savored the spaciousness, the quiet and the privacy and delighted in the convenience, since we departed from and landed at Westchester County Airport, less than a mile from the office.
Larry Mattiello, president of Aero Insurance, Inc, Addision, Texas, has been named national Safety Officer of the Year by the Civil Air Patrol, an auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. Mattiello, who holds the rank of major, is a search and rescue mission pilot.
Expect product announcements every year from Raytheon Aircraft, says Brad Hatt, president and general manager of the Hawker business unit. The Hawker 850XP, which debuted at NBAA, is the latest iteration of the 800XP and the 800XPi that was introduced at this year's EBACE. List price will be $13.65 million in 2006 dollars, up from the XPi's $13.45 million, which was itself a $250,000 increase over the 800XP.
Learjetstore.com is the first Web-based Bombardier Aerospace store. It features apparel, accessories and gadgets galore, including a premium, limited edition Learjet aviator wristwatch. So far, the store is stocked with more than 35 items from manufacturers such as Tommy Hilfiger, Nike and Maglight. You can't call the store on the phone. You can't drive there. But you can browse and buy there 24/7 from you home or office computer at: www.Learjetstore.com.
Garmin's GFC700 autopilot is now available for Raytheon's Beechcraft Bonanza G36. Garmin has just received an STC for the GFC700, which can now be integrated in any Bonanza equipped with the company's G1000 large-format integrated display avionics suite. Garmin says the GFC700 is the first entirely new autopilot to be built and certified for this class of aircraft in recent years.
Evergreen Helicopters, Inc. (EHI), McMinnville, Ore, closed on two aircraft purchases in November, an Agusta/Bell AB139 and a Bell B412. This is EHI's second AB139 and third B412 to enter the fleet, bringing the company's total number of aircraft to more than 75. Evergreen Helicopters, Inc. (EHI), McMinnville, Ore, closed on two aircraft purchases in November, an Agusta/Bell AB139 and a Bell B412. This is EHI's second AB139 and third B412 to enter the fleet, bringing the company's total number of aircraft to more than 75.
Cessna Aircraft recently won an order for 20 Citations valued at more than $200 million from Jetalliance of Vienna, Austria. The order comprises two Citation Xs, seven Sovereigns, four XLSs, five CJ2+s and two CJ3s, all of which are to be part of Jetalliance's expansion into Eastern Europe. Deliveries are scheduled to begin next year. Jetalliance is one of the largest charter operators in Europe, with a current fleet of 37 airplanes, including 20 Citations.
NBAA, Washington, D.C., has hired association marketing veteran Connie Penne as its new vice president, Membership Marketing. Most recently, Penne served as director of member data and strategic services with AARP.
Cessna Aircraft recently won an order for 20 Citations valued at more than $200 million from Jetalliance of Vienna, Austria. The order comprises two Citation Xs, seven Sovereigns, four XLSs, five CJ2+s and two CJ3s, all of which are to be part of Jetalliance's expansion into Eastern Europe. Deliveries are scheduled to begin next year. Jetalliance is one of the largest charter operators in Europe, with a current fleet of 37 airplanes, including 20 Citations.
"There is a fundamental disagreement between the FAA and the AOPA about whether the aviation trust fund is running out of money," said AOPA President Phil Boyer in a recent message to the association's members. "As I testified before Congress, even the White House Office of Management and Budget is forecasting continued growth in the fund, and the fiscal year 2005 numbers bear this out."
"UDORN, BUICK, TAXI with four Phantoms." Christmas season 1972 continued. Udorn, Thailand. We of "Buick" flight begin to roll. Despite our broadcast, Buick is really a two-ship flight. Linebacker 2, the ongoing bombardment of North Vietnam, has been tough on our fighter wing and we've got too many F-4s in maintenance. Today I'm lead, nickname "Rosie." My good friend, "Wheels" is two, my backseater, Danny, is answering as three and "Buf" in the back of Wheels' airplane is four. We hope our subterfuge will fool the commies.
