Embraer and Avic would extend their cooperation in business jets to sales and service if Beijing approves a proposal to build Legacy 650s in Harbin. Approval should come in the first half of this year, says Ernest Edwards, president of Embraer Executive Jets.
Bell delivered its first 407GX to Toluca, Mexico operator Avemex. Announced during the 2011 Heli-Expo, the 407GX incorporates the Garmin 1000HTM integrated glass flight deck, including two 10.4-in., high-resolution LCD displays, synthetic vision and a terrain avoidance warning system. Avemex, which has operating Bell 407 helicopters for nine years, will use its new 407GX for executive transport.
CHAD LEEWARD has joined Socata North America as a sales director. Leeward will be responsible for sales of the TBM 850 single-turboprop in Florida. Leeward, a third-generation pilot in the family that developed Leeward Air Ranch, has more than 20 years of flying experience and 12 years of corporate aircraft sales experience with companies that include Pilatus Aircraft and Cirrus Aircraft.
Jet Aviation Hong Kong has received FAA approval to service Dassault Falcon 900 LX/DX/EASy, Falcon 7X and Falcon 2000EX aircraft. The approvals follow similar authorization granted by the European Aviation Safety Agency. Jet Aviation Hong Kong is an authorized Dassault Falcon line service center and is the closest base outside of mainland China for the Dassault services. The facility houses a nearly 100,000-sq.-ft. hangar and holds repair station approvals from FAA, Hong Kong and China, as well as maintenance approvals from a number of other authorities.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701 & 702), CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705) and CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes. [Docket No.
Helicopter Association International President Matt Zuccaro is appealing to FAA to take action to “remove people who shouldn’t be in the air.” During a “Meet the Regulators” session at last week’s Heli-Expo in Dallas, Zuccaro notes that some companies operate at unacceptable safety levels, but their actions get the most attention and hurt the entire industry. He concedes that it may be strange for a community to ask for more enforcement, but he notes that the industry must deal with the fallout of operators flying with thin safety margins.
JetCorp Technical Services, a St. Louis-based subsidiary of Flying Colours Corp., has received supplemental type certification for installation of the Aircell Cabin Telecommunications Router (CTR) on a Learjet 60. The CTR provides Wi-Fi capability using the Aircell Gogo Biz inflight Internet service. The system can be used on laptops, tablets and smart phones. JetCorp has completed the first two installations and has five more in the pipeline.
William Greenwalt has joined the Aerospace Industries Association, Arlington, Va., as VP-acquisition policy. He was deputy director for surveys and investigations of the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee.
Gene L. Stygles and Renee D. Palyo have been appointed chief and deputy chief, respectively, of the Facilities Div. at the NASAGlenn Research Center in Cleveland. Stygles worked on the advanced solid rocket motor program, and Palyo was head of the division's Program Management Office.
A young outfit based in Dublin, but with a distinctive New York accent, drew attention at the recent Helicopter Association International convention when its boss signed for 16 Eurocopter EC225s, worth nearly a half-billion dollars, one day and then for three Sikorsky S-92s worth an estimated $70 million the next. He never flinched. After all, he is well-practiced.
Amy K. Hoage (see photo) has been selected as VP-business development for PAS Technologies, Kansas City, Mo. She was director of aerospace business development at Goodrich Corp. Engine Components.
E. Robert Lupone has been appointed executive VP, general counsel and secretary of Textron, Providence, R.I., succeeding Terrence O'Donnell, who will retire. Lupone was senior VP and general counsel of Siemens Corp.
Richard Larson (see photo) has been named executive director-business development for MEI Technologies of Houston. He was VP-business development for space and launch at the Science Applications International Corp.
What was motivated by fashion envy is now much in vogue with environmentalists and CFOs alike. Industrialist Dennis Washington wanted his Gulfstream G-II to look like the newer G-III, which is to say he wanted it fitted with winglets, and in 1989 convinced Joe Clark, a successful aviation entrepreneur in Seattle, to take on the job.
Gilles Gosselin (see photo) has been appointed general manager of Munich-based Aviareps' subsidiary in Paris with added responsibility for the Morocco office. He was managing director for France and Europe at Air Seychelles.
William J. Lynn , 3rd, has become chairman and CEO of DRS Technologies, Parsippany, N.J., succeeding Mark S. Newman. Lynn was U.S. deputy secretary of defense in 2009-11.
For investors in aerospace stocks, it doesn't get much better than TransDigm. The supplier of aircraft components has seen its share price more than quintuple since going public six years ago, with gains of 67% in 2009, 52% in 2010, 33% in 2011 and about 20% so far in 2012. Sales are on pace to reach $1.5 billion this year—up ten-fold since 2000—and the company has posted operating margins of 44% in a sector where 20% is considered superior.
Warren Persavich has been appointed president and CEO of Wichita-based NASAM, succeeding Aki Sato. Persavich was senior VP-parts distribution of Greenwich AeroGroup.
USAF Lt. Gen. Ellen Pawlikowski, commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center of Air Force Space Command, has been selected by the Society of Satellite Professionals International of New York, to receive its Stellar Award for Government Service. Pawlikowski is being honored for introducing new satellite communications technologies and exploring ways to acquire space systems.
Ellen Tauscher has been named vice chair-designate of the Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security, which will be inaugurated later this year, by the Atlantic Council of Washington. She was U.S. undersecretary of state for arms control and international security. HONORS AND ELECTIONS
Any remaining doubts over whether the recovery in the civil helicopter market is for real were dispelled in a whirl of record orders, new product announcements and building backlogs at this year's Heli-Expo. As if to underscore the rising tide of optimism, the show itself was busy, with attendance topping 19,200, eclipsing 2008's record of almost 18,000. More than 650 exhibitors covered nearly 1 million sq. ft. of floor space; manufacturers brought in 60 helicopters for the show.
Mike Fetcko has joined Elliott Aviation, Moline, Ill., as avionics manager for the Quad Cities team. He was a systems design engineer with Great Lakes Aviation and a private contractor. Randy Davis has been promoted to accessory shop sales manager from sales data administrator.
Robert G. Semelsberger (see photo) has joined Rincon Research Corp., Tucson, Ariz., as director of the Procession and Development Div. He was a senior officer at the CIA.
