Tamworth Air Services has created Aeroskills, a CASR Part 147 maintenance training program at its base at Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia. Founded on a two-year, full-time, FAA/JAA-approved mechanical and avionics training curriculum, Aeroskills was created to prepare technicians to work on the entire aircraft, not just on individual systems.
Mercury Air Group was awarded a $5 million contract to provide refueling services at NAS Meridian. Commencing on February 1, 2001, Mercury will maintain and operate the government-owned fuel and cryogenic facilities.
Illustration: Graph: Comparison Profile (Percent Relative to Average) Tradeoffs are a reality of aircraft design, although engineers attempt to optimize the blend of capabilities, performance and passenger comfort. In order to portray graphically the strengths and compromises of specific aircraft, B/CA compares the subject aircraft to the composite characteristics of other aircraft in its class, computing the percentage differences for the various parameters.
The FAA has proposed a $75,000 civil penalty against Skyway Airlines parent Astral Aviation, for allegedly failing to document a maintenance procedure on an aircraft, and for operating that aircraft in an ``unairworthy condition.'' The FAA says a routine inspection of a company Beech 1900D revealed tape covering a moisture drain hole, and the aircraft was used on 54 passenger flights before the discrepancy was corrected. Milwaukee-based Skyway is the commuter unit of Midwest Express Airlines.
Start-up operator Pacific Jets Corp. has opened a new aviation services business at the former McClellan Air Force Base near Sacramento, Calif. Company offerings include aircraft management, acquisition, charter and hangar space, plus an ``interim aircraft ownership'' plan called Fly Fast. Bill Johnson, Pacific Jets' spokesman, said Fly Fast is designed to introduce more companies to business aviation by offering ``solutions based on their corporate travel history, personal requirements and business growth plans.''
Faced with increasing air traffic delays in the Northeast and Midwest, the FAA is creating a two-year plan to reduce or eliminate air traffic trouble spots. The air traffic attack begins in the New York metropolitan area, where five major air-ports -- JFK, LGA, EWR, TEB and HPN -- generate an inordinate amount of air traffic and congestion.
Aviation Research Group/U.S., Inc. (ARG/US) and B/CA have produced a CD-ROM that provides database information on business aircraft in a manner that easily communicates your findings to first-time buyers as well as experienced owners. CompAir is a powerful and intuitive interface that can quickly and easily compare the most popular turbine business aircraft. Search parameters include performance, price, real-world operating costs and dimensions.
Trans States Airlines will discontinue Delta Connection service by March 31, 2001, Delta Connection President A. David Siebenburgan said in mid-September. Most of Trans States' flights will be replaced by ACJet and Delta subsidiaries Atlantic Southeast Airlines and Comair. ACJet is the new Atlantic Coast Airlines Holdings subsidiary formed to operate Delta connection flights using Fairchild Dornier 328JETs.
National Express Group (NEG), operator of Stewart International Airport (SWF) in Newburgh, N.Y., is selling its only other aviation businesses -- East Midlands and Bournemouth airports in England. Company officials say the sale will allow it to focus on its core bus and rail transportation businesses and will have ``absolutely no effect on the operation of Stewart,'' which the FAA privatized earlier this year.
Raytheon Aircraft Charter and Management added four aircraft to its charter certificate, including a Dallas-based Beechjet 400A, two King Air 350s -- one in Youngstown, Ohio, and the other in Hayward, Calif. -- and a Falcon 2000 in Fort Smith, Ark.
Three aviation trade groups and five local businesses have filed a lawsuit in the federal district court in Los Angeles challenging the legality of the recently adopted ``non-addition rule'' for Stage 2 aircraft at California's Van Nuys Airport (VNY).
The Aircraft Bluebook-Price Digest reports little or no increase in jet and turboprop prices at the end of this year's second quarter, whereas piston-powered aircraft stand out as the ``most increased'' segments of the used aircraft market.
EXTEX Ltd. of Mesa, Ariz., has named Superior Air Parts in Brisbane, Australia its distributor for New Zealand, Australia and Papua New Guinea. Entex is a manufacturer of over 300 PMA replacement parts for Rolls-Royce A250 engines.
Lufthansa Technik and Lufthansa CityLine will provide component support for Japanese start-up carrier The Fair under the terms of a new agreement. The carrier is operating Japan's first Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ) service with two aircraft and two additional CRJs planned for delivery in 2002.
Kaman Aerospace will continue to supply structural components for Boeing's 737, 747, 757, 767 and 777 aircraft under the terms of a three-year follow-on contract. The extension is worth up to $98 million to the Bloomfield, Conn., parts and aircraft manufacturer.
Bombardier has opened a spares depot in Beijing, China to help support the country's growing fleet of CRJ200s and Q400s. Operators have ordered 24 Bombardier aircraft, with deliveries slated to begin this month.
Brookdale International Systems is now offering the EVAC-U8 Emergency Escape Smoke Hood. The device is designed to provide up to 20 minutes of breathable air in the event of smoke in the cabin. The EVAC-U8 uses a multi-stage, air purifying, chemical catalytic filter to remove carbon monoxide, and a protective hood made from Dupont's Kapton, an 800F heat-resistant material. Brookdale said the product protects the lungs, eyes and the entire head from the heat and toxic smoke that a fire can produce.
MD Helicopters Inc. in Mesa, Ariz., has finalized the purchase of a 40,000-square-foot hangar previously owned by the Boeing Co. Included in the acquisition are five buildings that house MDHI's assembly/completion center, paint shop, warranty/repair center and administrative facilities. Construction of an additional 35,000-square-foot warehouse is scheduled for completion by the end of this month. In May, MDHI awarded Kaman a contract to supply fuselages for its entire line of single-engine helicopters.
Eagle Aviation is building a new design center to help serve aircraft refurbishment customers at its West Columbia, S.C., facility. The center is scheduled to open in December.
The Wolfsberg-Evektor partnership says its Raven 257 utility aircraft flew for the first time at Kunovice in the Czech Republic on July 28. The four-hour test flight went according to plan, test pilots said, though modifications to reduce drag are planned. FAR Part 23 certification is sought, and the company hopes to begin flight testing toward this goal by early 2001.
