British Airways' Citiflyer Express has placed a firm order for six new BAE Systems Avro RJ100 airliners, with options for six new RJX-100 regional jets. The RJX options represent the second commitment for the new ``niche'' aircraft; Druk Air of Nepal launched the RJX program with an order for two of the four-engine jets earlier this year. Nick Godwin, BAE Systems' marketing chief, said the company is undergoing a ``challenging'' transition between Avro RJ and RJX production, and the 10 remaining RJ100s are due to be sold by early 2001.
Forbes magazine has recognized WeatherTAP.com as ``Best of the Web'' in its summer Internet issue. WeatherTAP.com is a service of TAP Publishing, publisher of Trade-A-Plane.
The Air Group has added three new aircraft to its charter fleet. The Van Nuys, Calif.-based aircraft include a Gulfstream III, Gulfstream IV and a Challenger 601.
SimCom International and Pan Am International Flight Academy (PAIFA) have broken ground on a 50,000-square-foot training center at Orlando International Airport. Slated to open in second quarter 2001, the training center will have simulators for Learjet 35/36, Citation II, Hawker 800, Falcon 20 and Beechjet 400 aircraft. Tracy Brannon, SimCom's managing director, said market demand will determine future simulator acquisitions. Privately held PAIFA bought SimCom earlier this year.
Jet Aviation is adding two Cessna Citation Bravos to its Europe-based Private Fleet. The first aircraft is scheduled to enter service in October, with the second going online in early 2001. Jet also is adding a Sikorsky S-76B to its U.S. Private Fleet program. The helicopter will be based in the Northeastern United States for use in the Washington to Boston corridor.
Intheairnet says it is developing a ``next-generation'' inflight entertainment and information system, relying heavily on the Internet, for corporate aircraft and the airlines. Calling the new system a Virtual Aircraft Network, company officials say it combines traditional elements of current IFE systems with e-mail and Internet access. Board chairman of the venture is Michael Rogerson, whose Rogerson Kratos company also will develop components for the new system. Rogerson Kratos makes avionics display systems for helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.
IEC International (Berkshire, England) Trevor Carris was appointed to director of the airline division, and Neil Morgan has been named business development manager.
Descriptions of the major players in air charter e-commerce, loosely categorized, follow. New entrants are emerging almost weekly. As of midsummer, these were the movers and shakers in retail, auction and support activities. To see which works for you, log on and try them out; you can get trip quotes without booking a charter. For sites that are locked out, ask for a demonstration; some allow you to temporarily register and take a test flight. Retail Web Sites Skyjet.com (www.skyjet.com)
Faced with the possible retirement of a large percentage of the agency's air traffic control technicians and executives over the next few years, FAA Administrator Jane Garvey says she's focusing on how attract ``the best and brightest'' individuals to government work.
Photograph: The Helitanker conversion of the Erickson Air Crane (Sikorsky S-64) can refill its 2,000-gallon water tank in around 45 seconds from any water source at least 18 inches deep. Pilots can select eight different flow rates up to a maximum of 30,000 gallons per hour. Erickson Air Crane The federal government's National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) in mid-August asked U.S. and Canadian helicopter operators to participate in the fight against wildfires in 11 western states.
BBA Aviation (Orlando) Bruce S. Van Allen was named as president of BBA Aviation North America, Elizabeth Haskins was promoted to CEO and president of Signature Flight Support, T. Peter Whitehead was promoted to chief executive for Europe, Mick Daw was named managing director and chief executive of Oxford Aviation and Roberto Quarta was named chief executive of BBA Group Plc.
Premier Turbines-Independence is now a certified Honeywell Authorized Warranty and Repair Station for Rolls-Royce A250 accessories. Premier is a division of Sabreliner.
Fairchild Dornier says changing market conditions have led it to cancel the 428JET -- one of four new regional jet designs the company has in development or production. The 428JET was to have been a stretched variant of the 32-seat 328JET, itself a turbofan conversion of the Dornier 328 turboprop. Designed primarily for U.S. air carriers with a contractual cap on the number of 50-seat RJs they may operate, the 40/44-seat 428JET's future was, apparently, overcome by events.
FlightSafety International (New York) has promoted Ed Klonoski to center manager, and David Davenport was named assistant manager for the Atlanta facility.
Cessna is offering an Instrument Computer Based Instruction program (I-CBI) through the Cessna Pilot Center flight-training network. The new instrument-pilot multimedia training system is the next step for pilots after completing the private pilot CBI program. The I-CBI student kit consists of 28 fully interactive CD-ROMs, a textbook, Skyhawk pilot information manual, course syllabus, the FAR/AIM on CD, the course management module and an IFR flight organizer.
Experimental Aircraft Association Aviation Center (Oshkosh, Wis.) has appointed Stephan Brown to the position of executive vice president and chief marketing officer.
Bombardier (Toronto) James A. Dailly is named vice president of contracts, Walter Galloway is now vice president of sales for Asia/Pacific, Cameron Mountenay becomes vice president of business development and David Penhorwood is vice president of international development.
The FAA has identified 10 runway safety initiatives it hopes to implement by year-end. Gathered from suggestions made at the agency's Runway Safety Summit in June, the plan includes enhanced controller training; foreign air carrier pilot training; increased runway marking visibility; as well as work on pilot education, communication and phraseology review and the assessment of new technologies to improve safety. These initial steps have been identified by the FAA's Runway Safety Program Office as having the greatest potential for near-term safety improvement.
Lynton Aviation is now a Raytheon Beech Baron, Bonanza and King Air dealer in the United Kingdom. The company was named a Beechjet 400A and Premier I sales representative.
