Kendell Airlines of Australia has extended the leases on two of its 16 Saab 340 turboprops for another six years. Kendell aims to replace its Saabs with 12 ordered CRJ-200s, but the transition process is said to be taking longer than expected, due largely to pilot training issues. Sources say Kendell partner Ansett Australia may consolidate Kendell with subsidiaries Skywest Airlines (Western Australia) and Aero Pelican, a de Havilland Twin Otter operator in New South Wales.
Million Air has opened an FBO in Utah at the Provo Municipal Airport. Located 35 miles north of Salt Lake City, the facility offers maintenance, charter, aircraft management and flight instruction. Construction of a new FBO/terminal building and hangar is scheduled to begin this spring.
Raytheon Aircraft is outfitting two special mission King Air B200s under a $11.4 million contract with the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command. The aircraft will be equipped with Zeiss Camera Systems for use in aerial mapping and photography. The company also has been chosen to provide logistics support for C-9s operated by the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marines. The one-year contract also includes six one-year options, bringing the potential value of the contract to over $474 million.
The recommendation of the Fractional Ownership Advisory Committee (FOARC) now before the FAA proposes placing fractional ownership under a new Subpart K of FAR Part 91 that raises the safety bar -- in some cases beyond Part 135 standards -- for the operations while providing the FAA with a mechanism for compliance and enforcement.
Bob Hoover has been grounded again -- this time by his insurance company. Hoover canceled his 2000 air show schedule after being unable to obtain sufficient insurance coverage and may donate his aircraft to the Smithsonian Institution. His promoters stress that Hoover is in excellent physical and mental health.
Gulfstream Aerospace delivered the fourth Gulfstream V to the U.S. government. Designated a C-37A by the military, the aircraft is assigned to the Department of Defense's regional commander-in-chief support unit and is equipped with secure voice and data transmission capability. The manufacturer also reports delivery of a fifth Gulfstream IV-MPA to the Japanese Air Self Defense Force. The multipurpose aircraft features a quick-change interior and a special cargo door for aeromedical evacuation.
Yingling Aircraft of Wichita has returned to local ownership. Lynn Nichols, cofounder of IKON Office Solutions, has acquired the FBO from Jerry Vanier of Scottsdale, Ariz., who owned the facility for the past 18 years. Founded by Vic Yingling in 1947, the company is one of the largest Cessna parts distributors, as well as an authorized repair station for McCauley and Hartzell propellers.
Signature Flight Support parent BBA Group has acquired U.K-based Oxford Aviation from the Close Brothers Group investment partnership in a cash deal worth $88.64 million. Formerly known as CSE Aviation, Oxford owns Kidlington Airport, home of the Oxford Air Training School, and aviation maintenance facilities in Bournemouth, Gloucester and Dundee. Oxford recently developed a ``virtual training course'' that allows pilots to complete a substantial part of their ground school over the Internet.
Under the FOARC recommendation, fractional ownership is defined as a system of aircraft exchange involving two or more airworthy aircraft that meets five stipulations: (1) The provision for fractional ownership program management services by a single fractional ownership program manager on behalf of the fractional owners; (2) One or more fractional owners per program aircraft, with at least one program aircraft having more than one owner;
Lockheed Martin spin-off L-3 Communications has agreed to acquire Honeywell's TCAS business for $255 million. Once the acquisition is complete, L-3 will create a joint venture with Thomson-CSF subsidiary Sextant, which will acquire a 30-percent interest in the new company. The U.S. Department of Justice required Honeywell to sell the TCAS business as a condition of its merger with AlliedSignal in 1999. L-3 expects to consummate the acquisition later this year following approvals from U.S. and European regulators.
United Express aircraft will replace larger United Airlines jets in five markets around the United States, but mainline jets will replace United Express aircraft in four markets served from the carrier's Denver hub. United President Rono Dutta said the changes (effective June 8), ``better mesh our seat capacity to customer demand.''
Bombardier Aerospace is opening a 43,500-square-foot factory service center at Dallas Love Field. The facility will employ 30 maintenance technicians to service the entire Learjet and Challenger line, with additional staff and facilities for Bombardier Global Express aircraft expected to be available in 2001. The Dallas operation is Bombardier's seventh U.S. location, operating under Bombardier's Business Aviation Services division. K-C Aviation Dallas veteran Stephen McNally has been tapped to manage the facility.
Because of the pivotal nature they play in coordinating flight operations, corporate scheduler/dispatchers have developed a special relationship with Corporate Angel Network, the White Plains, N.Y.-based charity that arranges free medical travel for cancer patients aboard business aircraft operated by participating donor companies. At past S&D conferences, it has been traditional for CAN representatives to pitch the good works and successes of the program.
The SunBorne Cos. have completed One InterPort, a three-story, 60,000-square-foot office building adjacent to Centennial Airport in Englewood, Colo. Signature Flight Support has leased more than half the structure, but 33,000 square feet remain for office and aviation-related users. The building features mountain views, a restaurant and a 15,000-square-foot executive terminal.
Bombardier Aerospace (Montreal) -- Stephen McNally joins as director of the manufacturer's new Business Aviation Services center in Dallas. Also at Bombardier Business Aviation Services, Bert Moas is promoted to regional manager for Mexico and Latin America, Mark Neihaus joins as manager of engine service sales and Walter Cram joins as manager of sales and support at Lufthansa Bombardier Aviation Services in Berlin, Germany.
Government use of aviation safety data will be the subject of an NTSB symposium planned for later this month in Washington, D.C. Operators have expressed concern over how such data may be used, including possible exposure to criminal prosecution and civil litigation and disclosure of proprietary information to competitors.
Operators who transit Japanese airspace more than three times per month will now have to pay a user fee. The fees range from about $150 to $850 depending on whether flights occur over Japanese land masses or oceanic airspace. A separate fee structure based on gross takeoff weight and distance flown applies to aircraft landing in Japan.
NASA has awarded a $150 million research contract to Raytheon for the agency's Air Traffic Management System Development and Integration (ATMSDI) program. NASA hopes ATMDSI will result in increased activity at capacity-constrained airports, improved air routings, air traffic controller productivity gains and more effective use of high density air space. Raytheon's team includes representatives from Honeywell, technology consultant Booz Allen and Hamilton, software developer Seagull Technology, major universities and airlines.
It's no secret that business jets routinely depart places such as Aspen and Eagle, Colo., stuffed with passengers and enough fuel to make it to one or the other coasts, and absolutely no climb performance margin should a powerplant quit on departure.
Executive Jet Chairman and CEO Richard Santulli is scheduled to speak at the opening day of the Aviation Services and Suppliers SuperShow (AS3) in Tampa on May 9. It is a rare public address for Santulli and his first appearance at an industry function since the Fractional Ownership Advisory Rulemaking Committee (FOARC) sent its recommendations to the FAA.
Operators of piston-engine aircraft can avail themselves of a new oil testing service from ExxonMobil that may help save money on operating and maintenance costs. EXXGARD Aero Oil Analysis tests for wear metals, contaminants, viscosity and total acid number -- all factors that can warn of potentially severe engine problems. Results of the tests are mailed within 48 hours or faxed if the tests uncover serious abnormalities. Price: $14.00 ExxonMobil Lubricants and Petroleum Specialties 101 W. Mohave St. Phoenix, Ariz. 85003
Piedmont Hawthorne (Winston-Salem, N.C.) -- Paul Strack has been promoted to resale manager in its corporate aircraft sales department, and Deric Dymerski, Tom Zollars and Roger Davis are now regional managers of the company's FBOs. Julie Lang transitions from Piedmont's FAR Part 121 charter operation to become marketing administrator.
