The company has announced the resignation of its president Robert Fleck. KnightHawk operates scheduled air cargo flights utilizing Dassault Falcon 20s and Raytheon Beechcraft 1900Cs
The European Association of Aerospace Industries (AECMA) is conducting four research projects, known as the ``X-Noise'' initiative, to reduce average aircraft noise signatures a total of 6 dB by 2005. The X-noise projects are seeking ``technology-based solutions'' to internally generated engine noise, while developing active noise control techniques. The European Union (EU) and AECMA are funding X-noise, as part of a three-phase noise-reduction program. Cost of the current phase is expected to be 27 million Euro.
In the weeks following the RTCA conference, the heads of several airlines -- Continental Airlines Chairman and CEO Gordon Bethune, Don Carty of American and Rono Dutta of United -- made proposals to dismantle and/or privatize ATC, as Canada has done with Nav Canada. (See ``Frozen Assets,'' page 80.)
Springfield, Ohio's Spectra Jet received FAA Repair Station designation for Learjets . . . British Aerospace (BAe) and Marconi Electronic Systems merged to form BAe Systems.
In the latest twist to their ongoing trade dispute saga, Brazil and Canada have asked the World Trade Organization (WTO) to create a ``compliance panel'' to oversee each other's regional aircraft subsidy programs. Embraer continues to benefit from Brazil's ProEx financing scheme, Canada's Bombardier maintains, four months after the WTO upheld its earlier ruling that ProEx, Technology Partnerships Canada (TPC) and other financing schemes employed by the two nations violated international law.
In a survey of corporate flight attendants, FANMail -- a flight attendant newsletter --found that 63 percent of those who responded felt they were fairly compensated. Full-time flight attendant salaries ranged from $18,000 to $91,000 per year, with an average of almost $48,000. Freelance flight attendants averaged $276 per day for domestic flights and $300 for international operations. Vacation policies varied widely from a low of five to nine days to a high of 42 days annually, with an average of 17.5.
NASA Associate Deputy Administrator General John R. Dailey (USMC, Ret.) has been named director of the National Air and Space Museum, succeeding Vice Admiral Donald Engen, who died in a glider crash in July 1999. The Air and Space Museum is in the midst of a massive drive to fund construction of its new annex at Dulles International Airport. Admiral Engen, whom Dailey called ``a very close friend,'' was instrumental in launching the new Dulles center. Dailey has accrued more than 6,000 flight hours in fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft.
Southern Aviation Technologies of Orlando says it recently completed the first Cessna Citation wing main spar replacement outside of a factory service center. Additional information about the repair station is available at its new Web site: www.southernaviationtech.com.
Latrobe, Pa.'s Vee Neal Aviation has refurbished and delivered two Jetstream 31s with corporate interiors. The 12-seat aircraft were delivered to Georgia Jet, an Atlanta-based FAR Part 135 operator. Vee Neal says it already has a firm contract for two more of the converted regional airliners.
Signature Flight Support has acquired the assets of Airway Aviation, a leading FBO at Atlanta's Dekalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK). Airway began operations in 1989 as Air BP Atlanta, and in 1994 was sold to a group of private investors led by Mercer Dye. The company now employs 25 customer support and line personnel, and features an 8,000-square-foot canopy capable of accommodating aircraft as large as the Gulfstream IV during periods of inclement weather.
GE Capital Aviation Training held an Airbus ADOPT launch day at its London-Gatwick Training Centre to introduce European operators to the company's new Airbus training programs.
Cirrus Design now claims 420 non-refundable, $15,000 deposits for its new SR20 general aviation aircraft. Eight SR20s have rolled off the production line to date, with another nine now under construction. Cirrus' staff members in Duluth, Minn., are now responsible for training new owners, but this soon will shift to Seattle-based Wings Aloft. Training for foreign customers will be made available through ``international sales agents,'' Cirrus says.
Titletown Jet Centre at Austin Strauble Field in Green Bay, Wis., has just completed a major renovation. Changes include a larger lobby area that features new carpeting and furniture, plus an assortment of Green Bay Packers memorabilia. ``In addition to our daily service to transient and local aircraft, we specialize in serving aircraft flying to Green Bay for Packer games,'' the company says. ``Since we are the closest FBO to Lambeau Field [``The Frozen Tundra''], the ride only takes 10 minutes.''
Cessna delivered its 3,000th Citation -- a Citation X -- to John Menard, president and CEO of Menard, Inc., a Wisconsin home improvement retailer. Menard has been a Citation customer for the past 13 years. Cessna expects to deliver another 1,000 Citations within the next three years.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) ordered two American Eurocopter AS350B3's with an option for a third. The helicopters will be used for aerial law enforcement. Linden, N.J.-based Liberty Helicopters has taken delivery of the first of two Eurocopter EC120Bs for sightseeing flights over New York City. Liberty now operates nine Eurocopter helicopters.
Lufthansa German Airlines veteran Bernd Habbel has been named to head the company's press and public relations. Glenn Holder is the company's new area sales manager for North America -- a newly created position.
Pan Am International Flight Academy (PAIFA) has acquired Florida-based Air Safety International (ASI) in a bid to expand its ab initio pilot training program. Plans call for ASI to be relocated to Fort Pierce, Fla., and expanded. Ab initio training puts pilots with no prior experience into the cockpits of commercial airliners in minimal time. Some foreign airlines have claimed good results with ab initio training, but no U.S. majors have adopted it. PAIFA recently bought Phoenix-based Westwind Aviation Academy, another ab initio school.
The NBAA is exploring how to use its Web site to post a ``near real-time'' depiction of jet fuel prices nationwide, to help its members better manage their fuel purchases and tankering plans. The action stems from member concern that some fractional ownership businesses, management companies, and other fleet-type operators are getting preferential treatment at the pump.
Sporty's Pilot Shop has produced a general aviation calendar for 2000. The calendar measures 17 by 12 inches, and features photos of popular general aviation aircraft including the Pilatus PC-12, a Learjet 31 and Sporty's Cessna 172 sweepstakes aircraft. A portion of the proceeds will go to the AOPA. Price: $10.95 Sporty's Pilot Shop Clermont County Airport Batavia, Ohio 45103 Phone: (800) LIFTOFF Fax: (513) 735-9200 www.sportys.com
Westchester County Airport (HPN) near White Plains, N.Y., plans to review the location of its aircraft noise sensors. Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano ordered the initiative, with the goal of holding individual aircraft operators accountable for specific noise complaints.
The association has elected New Piper President and CEO Chuck Suma as chairman of the board; Michael A. Smith, president of Commercial Aviation Systems at Honeywell is elected vice chairman. The GAMA board also elected the following committee chairmen for 2000: Rockwell Collins' Clay Jones, Flight Operations Policy; Ray Sigfried of the Nordam Group, International; Steve Loranger of Honeywell, Public Affairs; Aircraft Technical Publishers' Caroline Daniels, Safety Affairs; and Boeing Business Jets' Borge Boeskov, Technical Policy.
