Avionics Innovations rolled out its AICD II, an AM-FM-CD player designed for aviation. This unit can drive six headsets or can be directly wired to an intercom. Ancillary products, the AI-Changers for six or 12 discs, enable passengers to enjoy continuous music while in flight. The AICD II has 24 station presets, 14- or 28-volt DC operation, 150 disc-title memory (when connected to the AI-Changer) and electronic volume/bass /treble/balance/fader. The unit is compatible with previous AICD installations. Price: $1,595 (AI-Changers are priced separately)
Airport Manager Charles Gunter is overseeing construction of a $4.3 million runway project, to be completed before the airport hosts the Experimental Aircraft Association's Sun 'N Fun Fly-in, to be held in April 2000. The airport says ``25 to 35 corporate jets'' use it each week.
In terms of galley and cabinet coverings, according to Midcoast Aviation's modification sales director, Roger Renaud, ``It's three times as expensive to do hardwood veneer as it is to do a laminate, like Formica, which is less expensive and more durable. But it does take the `custom' out of it, though.''
Edited by Paul RichfieldBy Paul Richfield, in Atlanta
Thousands of business aviation professionals descended upon Atlanta in October for the NBAA's 52nd Annual Meeting and Convention, showcasing an industry at its peak. While the number of new programs and major deals announced was minimal, the overall atmosphere was one of a work in progress, with companies focusing on providing the myriad goods and services sold in the preceding months. NBAA President Jack Olcott saw the show as a unique opportunity for people from across the industry spectrum to
AlliedSignal and Honeywell will divest portions of their respective aviation electronics units in return for U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) approval of the planned merger of the two companies. Honeywell will divest its TCAS business; AlliedSignal will divest its search and surveillance weather radars; space and navigation business; Chesire, Conn., operations; and MEMS
Australia's Explorer Aircraft Co. is seeking a North American partner to construct its family of single-engine utility aircraft. Speaking at the NBAA Convention, Explorer designer Graham Swannell said ``we are in discussion with three or four North American companies with a view to production.'' Explorer brought its proof-of-concept Explorer 350R, which is powered by a Continental TSIO-550, to the NBAA show. The company plans to keep research and development in Australia, and U.S.
Piedmont Hawthorne has acquired Corporate Wings' FBO at the Greater Rochester Airport (ROC), bringing its total number of locations to 25. Piedmont will offer fueling, deicing, on-call repair and GSE maintenance. Piedmont Hawthorne was created in the 1998 merger of Piedmont Aviation, Hawthorne Aviation, American Beechcraft and Transportech. The Carlyle Group -- a Washington, D.C.-based merchant bank -- is Piedmont Hawthorne's majority owner.
Avfuel dealer Austin Aero Jet Center has completed construction of its FBO and three of five planned hangars at the new Austin Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA). ``While other FBOs were skeptical about making the move, let alone the investment, we took the plunge and it has paid off big for us,'' says Thomas Mathew, the center's president. ``We have all of our hangar space fully leased, and have gained well over 80 percent of the FBO market share in Austin.'' ABIA was formerly Bergstrom Air Force Base.
Photograph: The ERJ-140 is aimed at the U.S. regional airline market. Embraer Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer will build a 44-seat derivative of its ERJ-135/145 regional jet, with first customer deliveries planned for early 2001. Development of the ERJ-140 is expected to cost around $45 million, and Embraer anticipates a per unit price of approximately $15.2 million. The only other 44-seat regional jet in development is Fairchild's 428JET, which is expected to reach customers in spring 2003.
The first Sino Swearingen SJ30-2 to conform with production specifications is taking shape at the company's headquarters facility in San Antonio, with first flight planned for March 2000. The forward fuselage section arrived in July, and the mid- and aft-fuselage sections were due to arrive by early this month. The left- and right-wing assemblies are expected to arrive in San Antonio in early December. Gamesa Aeronautica of Vitoria, Spain, is providing these components, and will build them for the first five SJ30-2 airframes.
Alfred Taufer joins the company as marketing director. A multi-rated pilot, Taufer will be responsible for the Latin America and Middle East territories.
Garrett Aviation has dropped, at least for now, plans to develop an engine retrofit program for Gulfstream IIs and IIIs. Garrett had done preliminary design work for refitting the older Gulfstreams with General Electric CF-34s, offering Stage III performance and improved SFCs. However, company officials said they would not go forward unless Gulfstream joined the program, which it has opted not to do. Garrett has been very successful with re-engining programs and recently completed its 114th TFE731 Falcon 20B retrofit.
Signature Flight Support has sold the former AMR Combs FBOs at Bradley International Airport (BDL) in Connecticut and Centennial Airport (APA) in Colorado, to TAC Air, a unit of the Texas-based Truman Arnold Cos. ``We're now working with the state of Connecticut to get the lease [at BDL] transferred,'' says TAC Air Vice President Jim McPhaul. ``At Centennial, we have a `delayed closing situation,' where we won't finalize the deal until Signature finishes and moves into its third FBO at APA on or about April of next year.''
Bombardier received two additional orders for its 50-seat Canadair Regional Jet: Adria Airways of Slovenia converted an option into a firm order for a fourth aircraft, while Maersk Air ordered its seventh.
Italy's Department of Civil Protection will purchase three additional Canadair 415 firefighting aircraft. The Italian government already operates 10 of the amphibious aircraft.
Panorama Flight Service has signed a 30-year lease to build and operate a ``state-of-the-art'' general aviation facility at West-chester County Airport (HPN). The $4 million facility -- slated for completion by mid 2000 -- will include 32 T-hangars and 132 outside tiedown spaces, a main hangar and office space. ``The general aviation community has waited a long time for a facility like this,'' says Gene Condreras, Panorama's president.
Sporty's Pilot Shop is offering a 40-page paperback book titled In-Flight Icing to explain ice shapes and types, recovery techniques and limitations of ice-protection systems to pilots. The book also covers the meteorological and operational factors of icing and tailplane stalls. Authors are Porter J. Perkins and William J. Reike from the NASA Research Center in Cleveland. Price: $8.95 Sporty's Pilot Shop Clermont County Airport Batavia, Ohio 45103 Phone: (513) 735-9100; Fax: (513) 735-9200
Gulfstream Aerospace's Long Beach completion center finished a record-breaking 18th aircraft of the year in September. The facility's previous record was 17 aircraft for all of 1998.
Edited by Paul RichfieldBy Mike Vines, Birmingham, England
Charter and corporate aviation activity at London City Airport (LCY) is growing rapidly, according to handing agent Lynton Aviation and resident charter operator London Executive Aviation. Russell Search, Lynton's handling manager for corporate movements, says LCY is very popular with financial, U.K. government and European Commission clients due to its proximity to London's financial and business districts.
Sunjet Aviation has added FBO services to its maintenance, charter and interior refurbishment operations at Orlando/Sanford International Airport. To accommodate FBO customers, the company expanded its facilities to 57,000 square feet.
Boeing has acquired The Preston Group, a developer of aviation software based in Australia. The company's major products are its Total Airspace and Airport Modeler and Terminal Management System.
Edited by Paul RichfieldBy David Rimmer, in Pontiac, Mich.
In an age when corporate mergers can lead to the downsizing, elimination or outsourcing of flight departments, DaimlerChrysler Aviation Inc. is expanding its facilities, fleet and staff. At the company's Pontiac, Mich., headquarters, construction has begun on a strengthened ramp, new kitchen, expanded parking and an enlarged hangar to accommodate a growing fleet.
The Model 2020-Turbo ProBalancer Analyzer for fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters upgrades Aces Systems' Model 2020 ProBalancer analyzer. According to the company, the Model 2020-Turbo ProBalancer provides nearly two times faster data acquisition speed for propeller balancing, rotor track and balancing, and vibration analysis (from the standard 480 ms to the turbo 280 ms), ``resulting in 71-percent faster spectrum updates.'' Also, the Model 2020-Turbo doubles frequency analysis range from the standard 600,000 rpms to the turbo 1,200,000 rpms.
