Jet Aviation is expanding its Teterboro (TEB) and Basel, Switzerland facilities. The Teterboro improvements include a four-acre ramp extension, with enough room to park 30 aircraft, and a five-story, 40,000-square-foot FBO terminal. The project is expected to be completed in July 2001. Jet is adding a new four-story building in Basel and adding a story to its existing facility. Construction will begin in early 2001 and is expected to be completed by mid-2002.
The University of North Dakota's John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Science has awarded a full scholarship to Robert Claven, a university undergraduate who aspires to become an airline pilot. The scholarship, which is valued at more than $80,000, covers tuition, flight training costs, room and board, and other expenses for four years.
Rawn America has developed an organic carbon cleaner for removal of grease, oils and grime on electromechanical assemblies. Developed to replace chlorinated solvents, the cleaner is non-corrosive and residue free with a penetrating formula that is safe on sensitive metals. Electronic components are left free of oil and dust accumulation that can cause electrical failure. Rawn said the cleaner's rapid penetration and quick drying time minimize equipment maintenance downtime. Price: $7.50 Rawn America 1300 S. River St.
Honeywell is close to securing FAA approval for its Primus Epic Control Display System/Retrofit (CDS/R) program, which will bring eight-by-10-inch flat-panel displays to used aircraft cockpits. TSO approval is expected in February 2001, with STCs following shortly thereafter. The CDS/R will make flying easier and safer, by presenting information in a ``more meaningful, intuitive format,'' says John Uczekaj, Honeywell's vice president of business, regional and general aviation avionics.
Flight Services Group and Del Monte Aviation, an FBO at Monterey Peninsula Airport, Calif., have entered into a partnership to jointly market charter flights for Del Monte's Citation III and Learjet 35A managed aircraft. The partnership also calls for Del Monte to expand its marketing and service operations to support Flight Services' other charter and managed aircraft.
Eclipse Aviation continues to progress toward the projected 2003 certification and delivery of the Eclipse 500 light jet. The manufacturer says it will use friction stir welding to simplify and speed up the construction process. Friction stir welding, already in use on Boeing Delta rockets and in shipbuilding, uses heat rather than rivets to bond pieces of aluminum. Williams International also has filed type certificate applications for both the Eclipse 500 aircraft and the EJ22 turbofan engines designed to power it.
A new 11,100-foot runway has opened at Memphis International Airport (MEM). Dubbed World Runway, the runway is a rebuild and extension of Runway 18C/36C, which was 8,400 feet long.
Signature Flight Support has completed a $12.4 million dollar construction project at Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI). Renovations include a 10,000-square-foot terminal building, two 20,000 square-foot hangars, a new fuel farm, a midfield cargo complex and 300,000 square feet of expanded ramp space to accommodate up to 54 additional aircraft. In addition, Pete Mendez, Jr. has joined Signature's Regional Maintenance Center network as sales manager for the Southwest and Mexico.
The FAA has selected April 1, 2001 as the earliest start date for instituting new passenger facilities charges (PFCs) -- taxes applied to every airline ticket sold in the United States. The PFC will be raised from $3.00 to $4.00 or $4.50, a changed stipulated by the AIR-21 legislation signed into law in April. The FAA says the year lag between agreeing to raise PFCs and implementing the change was needed for the reprogramming of airline ticketing and computer reservations systems. Among other uses, PFC revenues are applied to airport and infrastructure improvements.
In a move to complete a $70 million expansion project, Hastings Aviation has acquired Avionair, an executive and cargo aircraft operator based in Montreal, Canada. This merger is the latest of Hastings acquisitions, which have included the purchase of Osmoco Emergency Team, six additional Cessna corporate jets, and a new $7 million FBO at Montreal International Airport.
Canadian niche operator Skylink Aviation has sent 11 helicopters and seven fixed-wing aircraft to Saudi Arabia to spray the mosquitoes that triggered an outbreak of Rift Valley fever (RVF), a virus related to Ebola hemorrhagic fever. By early October, nearly 200 people had died as a result of RVF, which is transmitted by mosquitoes or contact with the blood or bodily fluids of people and animals infected with the virus.
Skyways, Sweden's largest regional airline, won the Airline of the Year Gold Award at the recent European Regions Airline Association (ERA) convention in Interlaken, Switzerland. In making its decision, a panel of European aviation writers compared airlines in terms of financial growth, technical achievements, passenger approval and other criteria. Eurowings of Germany came in second; Aegean Airlines of Greece won the bronze award.
The Wisconsin Bureau of Aeronautics has approved runway extensions at Monroe Municipal Airport (EFT) and Carl's Field (RPD) in Rice Lake, Wis. The WBA said the Monroe project would extend the RW12-30 to 4,500 feet in order to better suit the needs of business aircraft at the airport. In addition, Carl's Field will be lengthened to 5,500 feet and widened to 100 feet, and will include taxiway and lighting upgrades.
Messier-Dowty has restructured, creating separate business units for regional and business aircraft, Airbus and Boeing/Military programs. Former Messier-Dowty President Ken Laver has been named group vice president for regional and business aircraft. Laver says he hopes to expand on the Snecma unit's dominance in the business and regional markets. First project on his wish list: Raytheon's Hawker 450.
General Electric Engine Services is launching a new Maintenance Cost Per Hour (MCPH) program for CF34-equipped Bombardier Challenger 601 and 604 aircraft. According to GE Engine Services marketing executive Steve Gardner, the new program will allow operators to accurately forecast operating costs, reduce the cost of ownership and improve asset utilization. GE offers a similar program for its airline customers.
Schweizer's Model 333 single-engine turbine helicopter has received FAA certification. The Rolls-Royce Allison 250-C20W-powered rotorcraft is a derivative of the 330SP, featuring advanced rotor design, increased useful load, 105-knot cruise speed and 3.5-hour endurance. The San Antonio and Houston Police departments have each ordered two 333s, which have a $595,000 base price. The San Antonio P.D. also plans to upgrade its existing 330SPs to the 333 configuration.
Dassault, Raytheon and Gulfstream each announced plans for new business jets at the NBAA convention in New Orleans. Raytheon introduced the Hawker 450, an entirely new, light midsize jet featuring a swept wing, stand-up cabin, 2,000 nm range, 0.80 Mach cruise speed and $7.8 -million to $9 million price tag. Gulfstream's new G-VSP sports updated avionics, increased MTOW, aerodynamic improvements and an $800 million, 20-aircraft launch order from Executive Jet.
Cessna has named Aeromont LTD at Carrasco International Airport in Montevideo, Uruguay and Wallan Aviation, located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as authorized sales representatives for its Caravan and Citation product lines.
Edited By Paul RichfieldMike Vines, in Interlaken, Switzerland
The European Regions Airline Association (ERA) held its 20th anniversary convention at Interlaken, Switzerland from September 27 to 29, hosting around 50 airline presidents and CEOs. Hot topics included the EC's newly proposed changes to slot allocation rules (see October, page 59), the high cost of fuel and the high value of the U.S. dollar, as well as possible heavy increases in air traffic control fees.
Construction has begun at an Ocala, Fla., fly-in community for business jet owners. Known as Jumbolair Estates, the property boasts a 7,550-foot paved runway, a VASI approach lighting system and a 10-acre aircraft parking area, as well as a community pool, gym and equestrian center. Jumbolair is the former home of Nautilus exercise equipment founder Arthur Jones -- and formerly housed Nautilus' three corporate Boeing 707s.
The ability to write off the purchase price of a corporate aircraft over the course of five and a half years, while the actual value of the aircraft may in fact increase, is a vital tax incentive that helps the industry immensely. However, the IRS occasionally takes a suspicious view of aircraft depreciation deductions. One of the most important tax decisions on aircraft depreciation involved Robert Noyce, one of the cofounders of Intel.
