None of four foreign manufacturers has yet dropped out of talks with Chinese fighter builder Avic Aviation Techniques (AAT) aimed at joint development and manufacture of business jets. It is unclear, however, whether all of the bidders are keen to participate in the whole program proposed by AAT—transfer of a current business jet production line to the company’s Chengdu works and joint development of a large new aircraft, with considerable technological transfer.
The top executive at Cessna Aircraft’s parent company says the struggling business jet manufacturer needs to stay focused on its core market of small- and medium-sized aircraft and dismisses talk it could revive a project to develop a larger jet anytime soon.
MENA Aerospace Enterprises has awarded Hafeera Contracting a contract to carry out all civil works on its new general aviation and hangar complex at Bahrain International Airport (BIA).
Comlux Middle East believes the SBJ, the VIP version of the Sukhoi Superjet 100 airliner, will be a winner – so much so that president Richard Gaona (pictured) is willing to take an earlier delivery position rather than wait in line for his scheduled 2014 slot.
Aviation Partners, Inc. (API) has announced that as of Sunday January 15 2012 its unique patented Blended Winglet Technology has saved the world's commercial and business aircraft operators an estimated three billion gallons of jet fuel.
Bombardier Aerospace , Toronto, named Michele (Mike) Arcamone president of Bombardier Commercial Aircraft, succeeding Scott Scott, who retired in October 2011.
Lufthansa Consulting GmbH , Cologne, Germany, appointed Dr. Andreas Jahnke managing director, succeeding Werner Schuessler, who retired at the end of 2011.
DASSAULT AVIATION Falcon 7X airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-1061; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-053-AD; Amendment 39-16908; AD 2011-27-06] – requires for Falcon 7X airplanes replacement of certain ram air turbine (RAT) transformer rectifier units (TRUs) with modified units. This AD, which stems from mandatory continuing airworthiness information from the European Aviation Safety Agency, was prompted by a report of incorrect design of the TRU part of the RAT system.
ImperialJet took delivery of a new Bombardier Challenger 605 business jet. The aircraft joins the company’s charter fleet. The company says it has seen strong demand for its Bombardier Challengers, particularly in Russia and Saudi Arabia. The company operates Challenger 850, 605 and 604 aircraft in addition to Learjet 60/60 XR and Gulfstream III jets. The company further has five Learjet 85s on order that are slated to enter service in 2014.
West Star Aviation’s facility in East Alton, Ill., was named an authorized service center for the GE CF34 engine. The authorization can provide service and support of the engine and supply related parts and products. West Star’s facility in Grand Junction, Colo., has been an authorized GE service provider for more than six years.
Fokker Services, a Dutch firm that supports out-of-production Fokker aircraft, has seen demand pick up from a mining resources boom—particularly in Australia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia—and new rules in Indonesia. A total of 60 Fokker aircraft changed hands in 2011, and many of the acquirers were airlines in the Asia Pacific region, says Peter van Oostrum, director of aircraft remarketing at Fokker Services. Transactions included Indonesian carriers Sky Aviation and Transnusa each acquiring two Fokker 50s in the second half of 2011.
Saab Sensis Corp. will install its airport surface surveillance technology at nine or more U.S. airports under a contract awarded by the FAA that could be worth up to $119 million. Sensis, a U.S. subsidiary of Saab, will install systems that fuse surveillance data from multiple sources, including multilateration and automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B). This gives controllers a highly accurate picture of runway and taxiway movements, and the ability to detect conflicts and provide alerts.
SAAB Model 340A and 340B airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2011-1062; Directorate Identifier 2011-NM-038-AD; Amendment 39-16907; AD 2011-27-05] – supersedes an existing AD that requires an inspection of the main landing gear (MLG) separation bolt harness for broken wires and corroded connectors, and corrective actions if necessary; and for certain airplanes, a modification of the MLG separation bolt’s electrical harness. This new AD requires replacement of the separation bolt harness.
The National Air Transportation Association’s Safety 1st organization is establishing a new Ground Audit Program standard for the fixed-base operation (FBO) and ground-handling community. The first of its kind for FBOs, the standard was developed at the behest of NATA members who face multiple audits each year.
Eurocopter sees residual concerns from the Chinese military over efforts to ease airspace restrictions, but still expects liberalization to take hold and drive growth in the country’s demand for rotorcraft.
Avfuel added TMA Group at Cambridge Municipal Airport in Nebraska to its network of branded fixed-base operation dealers. TMA, which assumed management of the FBO at Cambridge in 2009, has since undertaken a number of improvements, refurbishing the pilot’s lounge, adding A&P services, and outfitting the facility with free Wi-Fi throughout. Ramp and taxiway upgrades also are under way and future plans include the addition of Jet A fuel, the acquisition of a new fuel truck and a ground power unit and the addition of an automated weather observing system.
ANTOINE AJARRISTA was promoted to senior vice president and general manager of Dassault Falcon’s Little Rock Completion Center in Arkansas. Ajarrista oversees day-to-day operations of Dassault’s largest facility, which is responsible for the completion of nearly all Falcon aircraft. For the past three and a half years, he was senior vice president of operational control in Little Rock. He also has served as production director in the Dassault Bordeaux-Merignac facility.
The world’s largest business association would like to see House Republicans keep up a controversial labor fight that is preventing passage of the FAA reauthorization bill. In a State of American Business speech that called on Washington to confront its tough issues with “real leadership,” U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Thomas Donohue said Congress needs to pass the FAA bill, which has been stalled for more than four years.
