Dec. 11, 1972 — Falcon Jet Corp., the new joint venture between Pan Am and Avions Marcel Dassault, officially opens its doors at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey.
All About Planes acquired the Sittman Aviation fixed-base operation at Hawkins Field Airport in Jackson, Miss., and leased the facility to Aero Jackson, also based at HKS. Aviation Business Strategies Group (ABGS), founded by former Mercury Air Centers head John Enticknap, facilitated the sale.
Documents released after the U.S. Court of Federal Claims denied a protest filed by Sierra Nevada Corp. (SNC) to prevent the U.S. Air Force recompeting its Light Air Support (LAS) contract depict a shambolic source selection and potential bias toward SNC, offering the Embraer Super Tucano.
The Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF), which has been working with FAA and its members to expand the use of Aviation Safety Action Plans (ASAP) among smaller operators, is appealing to the International Civil Aviation Organization to endorse the protection of voluntary submitted safety data.
Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.), fearing FAA is failing to address privacy concerns involving UAVs, is taking steps to mandate privacy protections and public transparency as the agency begins to facilitate the introduction of UAVs into the national airspace system. Markey on Dec. 18 introduced a bill, H.R.6676, the Drone Aircraft Privacy Transparency Act, calling for disclosure about the use of UAVs and for warrant requirements for law enforcement use.
Because of the holiday schedule, The Weekly of Business Aviation will not publish a Dec. 31 edition. The next issue will be dated Jan. 7. Please refer to the Aviation Week Intelligence Network (subscribers only) or AviationWeek.com for additional coverage. And, please accept our best wishes for a happy holiday season and a prosperous New Year.
The prospects for confirmation this year of Michael Huerta to become FAA administrator continued to dim in as the lame-duck session of Congress enters its final days. If not confirmed by the end of this week, President Obama would need to re-nominate Huerta to the role in the new Congress beginning in January. Whether Obama would hold off until he selects a new transportation secretary is unknown. General aviation groups have urged Congress to confirm the nomination, saying the agency needs a permanent administrator for long-term stability.
GULFSTREAM Model GIV-X airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-1225; Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-219-D; Amendment 39-17288; AD 2012-25-07] – requires performing a modified system power-on self test (SPOST) of the flap/stabilizer electronic control unit (FSECU), and revising the airplane flight manual to incorporate these test procedures into the daily preflight check.
LANCE LAJARA has joined Constant Aviation as large fleet account manager. Lajara has more than 15 years of aviation industry experience, most recently serving as the customer care manager with Honeywell. During his 15 years with Honeywell, he held roles involving quality, operations, logistics and customer service.
In November 2008, the year Wanda Austin became CEO of The Aerospace Corp., Aviation Week & Space Technology featured her on the cover with a three-page profile inside. “The fact that Austin is a woman and an African-American is impossible to miss,” the magazine wrote.
GE has announced that it has agreed to purchase the aviation business of Avio S.p.A., an Italy-based manufacturer of aviation propulsion components and systems for civil and military aircraft, for $4.3 billion U.S. (€3.3 billion).
French aerospace giant Dassault Aviation has named Eric Trappier to replace outgoing Chairman and Chief Executive Charles Edelstenne, who will step down Jan. 8.
Raisbeck Engineering and Hartzell Propeller have developed and certified the first swept-blade propellers incorporating swept-wing aerodynamics, similar to those on the Airbus A400M and Lockheed Martin C-130J, in a civilian application, specifically for the Beechcraft King Air 200 family. The Raisbeck/Hartzell 96-in., 4-blade, Swept Turbofan Power Props will be available March 1 as a stand-alone installation or as part of the Raisbeck Epic Performance package for Beechcraft King Air 200/B200/B200GT aircraft. The standard King Air 200 props have a 93-in. diameter.
Sequestration would have a “significant impact” on the nation’s airspace system, possibly leading to the closure of air traffic control (ATC) towers at smaller airports, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) concludes in a report on the effects of a nearly $1 trillion across-the-board budget cut set to take place in January.
The number of general aviation accidents in the first two months of the government’s fiscal year, beginning Oct. 1, has spiked, causing FAA to voice some concern, the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) says. EAA notes that FAA has reached out to the association for help in alerting the public that “the accident rate is heading very much the wrong way.” But EAA adds that the agency has not called for specific safety measures.
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) is teaming with the Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) to promote and help develop business aviation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
Rep. Rick Larsen ( D-Wash.) is likely to replace retiring Rep. Jerry Costello ( D-Ill.) as the top Democrat on the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure aviation subcommittee next year. Larsen is lining up a number of focus areas that he says will “set the table” for the next FAA reauthorization bill. Larsen says he has talked to other Democratic members about committee leadership positions and is preparing for the new role. Larsen’s congressional district includes Everett, Wash., the home of Boeing’s major manufacturing facility.
DAVID BEACH has joined Jet Advisors as vice president of contracts. Beach formerly served as senior vice president of contracts at NetJets, where he managed contract drafting and negotiations, aircraft deliveries from manufacturers, aircraft sales positioning, FAA filings, and owner asset/liability insurance. He also has served as manager of contract administration at the then-Raytheon Corporate Jets (now Hawker Beechcraft).
CESSNA Model 525 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-0880; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-004-AD] – revises an earlier proposal that applies to certain aircraft equipped with certain part number (P/N) air conditioning (A/C) compressor motors.
Signature Flight Support is continuing to expand its brand in Canada under its second licensing agreement with an established fixed-base operator (FBO). Signature last summer signed an agreement with Airside FBO Operations at Edmonton International Airport (CYEG) to become a fully licensed Signature Flight Support location. The FBO has now rebranded as Signature Edmonton and is participating in a range of Signature services, including the Signature TailWins pilot rewards program. Signature Edmonton, which includes four 20,000-sq.-ft. hangars and nearly 40,000-sq.-ft.
The Transportation Security Administration could issue foreign repair station certification rules early next year, a senior official says. The rules are “hopefully on track to be out in January,” Ann Zipser, director-global programs and engagement in TSA’s Office of Global Strategies, said last week at an American Association of Airport Executives aviation security summit.
PACIFIC AEROSPACE Models FU240-954 and FU24A-954 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2012-1251; Directorate Identifier 2012-CE-044-AD] – proposes to supersede an existing AD calling for operating limits. That AD stems from mandatory continuing airworthiness information from the aviation authority of New Zealand, which cites reports of aircraft operating outside the aircraft aft center of gravity (C of G) limits during parachute-drop operations. Exceeding C of G limits could result in loss of control of the aircraft.
