Hammonds, a Houston-based fluid-additive manufacturer for the aviation industry, added 18,000 square feet of office and shop space, including a facility for training customers in the use of fluid-powered injector systems
Europe's Joint Aviation Authority (JAA) has certified Bombardier's Global Express business jet, the last major milestone in the aircraft's development program. The JAA approval was granted under JAR Part 25, Change 14, including OP96/1, and followed extensive flight and ground testing. The Global Express received Canadian certification in July 1998, and FAA type approval in November of that year. Bombardier claims more than 80 orders for the long-range business jet, and customer deliveries begin this month.
Canada's CHC Helicopter is seeking to acquire the rest of Helicopter Services Group (HSG), only weeks after buying a 30-percent stake in the Norwegian operator. The deal would create the world's largest helicopter operator, with nearly 400 rotary-wing aircraft in four continents, while giving CHC dominance of the North Sea offshore market. HSG declined CHC's first offer of NKr45 ($6) per share, saying it was too low.
The FAA named Texas' Eastwood Airport as the state's Airport of the Year. Meanwhile, the Texas DOT selected the Fayette Regional Air Center in La Grange, Texas, for the honor
AMPORT, a division of American Port Services, purchased Dawn Aero, an FBO at New Castle Airport. The facility provides executive air charter, pilot training, cargo handling and aircraft detailing. Owners Donald Dalton, Cheryl Zapata and Scott Anglin remain on the management team.
Night operations during Westchester County Airport's (HPN) voluntary curfew period (midnight to 6:30 a.m.) increased 36 percent to 246 in April, according to the airport's noise abatement office. Airlines committed 41 percent of the ``violations,'' while corporate jets and light aircraft accounted for the rest.
Visual flights of civil aircraft between Austria and Germany are no longer required to file flight plans, effective May 1. Called the ``Schengen Agreement,'' the rule change is part of the AOPA's plan to simplify the often bewildering array of aviation regulations facing European pilots. ``Our new success proves again that consistent lobby work will lead to relief for general aviation,'' says Dieter Pade, managing director of AOPA-Germany. Italy and France are next, the group says, and talks have been scheduled.
The powerful, long-lasting nickel-cadmium battery is found in almost every helicopter, turboprop and jet aircraft. The valve regulated lead-acid battery (VRLAB) manufacturer claims its product is ``maintenance free,'' the cost over the long run is less than that of the champion, and it can deliver the knockout punch.
The AEA's 42nd Annual Convention and Trade Show's theme might well have been ``Draw Me a Picture,'' due to the proliferation of flat-panel cockpit and cabin display systems. AEA members, though, say they have been increasingly stymied by local FAA officials when they pursue installation approvals of advanced avionics.
General Electric (GE) is developing higher-powered (14,000- to 18,000-pound-thrust) versions of its CF34 turbofan, for use on the new crop of larger regional jets. Airborne testing of the CF34-8C1 on GE's Boeing 747 flying testbed was completed in late May, and Bombardier has received the first two engines (14,000-pound-thrust) for its first 70-seat Canadair Regional Jet. FAA certification of the engine is expected in December.
Jet Aviation at Hanscom Field has installed a new 55,000-gallon state-of-the-art fuel farm, complete with monitoring equipment to detect water and leak conditions. Also, the company acquired a second hangar, doubling the facility's capacity to 42,000 square feet and increasing ramp space by 18,000 square feet.
U.S. regional airlines carried 71 million passengers in 1998, a seven-percent increase over 1997, while load factors grew two percent over the same period. According to the Regional Airline Association, the 272-strong Saab 340 fleet accounted for most (15.4 percent) of the lift in 1998, followed by Bombardier's Canadair Regional Jet (11.8 percent/140 aircraft) and the Embraer Brasilia (10.2 percent/203 aircraft). American Eagle, Comair and Continental Express were the three largest regional carriers, while regional jets provided 24 percent of all regional lift.
Transport Canada has certified the Kamov KA32A-11BC helicopter after six years of deliberations by the manufacturer and Vancouver Island Helicopters Group (VIH), a Sydney, British Columbia-based operator. Kamov hopes certification of the twin-engine, heavy-lift helicopter will make it attractive to a broad range of North American buyers, but VIH's logging subsidiary expects more immediate benefits.
Westchester County Airport-based Wayfarer Aviation signed a four-year contract with FlightSafety International for training its more than 100 pilots as well as its aircraft maintenance technicians
RUSSIA AND THE CIS -- According to Dina Tkacheva, operations and sales manager for Moscow's Streamline Aviation handling service, the Russian operating environment continues to improve for business aviation: -- Entry and overflight permissions can now be obtained on three days notice; -- The number of designated international airports has been increased; -- More English-speaking controllers are on duty with ATC services;
Hoping to cash in on the business aviation manufacturing boom, defense contractor General Dynamics has agreed to acquire Gulfstream Aerospace in a stock deal worth $4.6 billion or more. General Dynamics left the GA market in 1992 when it sold Cessna to Textron, and also once owned Canadair. Gulfstream anticipates no immediate changes to its management, operations, facilities or work force. Ted Forstmann will stay on as chairman, but will relinquish his CEO title to General Dynamics Chairman Nick Chabraja.
Many companies want the advantages of operating under FAR Part 135, but don't want all of the responsibilities that go along with charter certification. One advantage that these flight departments want is to avoid a multi-million dollar sales or use tax on the delivery of a new aircraft. Charter operations also allow a flight department to offset ownership costs by bringing in extra income, and provide a legitimate means to receive reimbursement for non-business trips for company ``friends''.
The Learjet 45's Primus 1000 avionics suite features four-tube, large-format EFIS, including EICAS. The system is undergoing a series of upgrades that complement PEP improvements to engines and airframe systems. The latest of these is Phase IIB.
