Worldwide Flight Services doubles its technical service line with the acquisition of Oxford Airport Technical Services (ATS). Oxford ATS specializes in servicing passenger boarding bridges, conveyor systems, cargo/material handling systems, ground power units, pre-conditioned air systems and GSE vehicles. This is Worldwide Flight Services' third purchase in the past year. Its other acquisitions were Miami Aircraft Support and Aerolink.
Comair Jet Express will offer aircraft management programs at its new Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) FBO facility. Comair said the benefits of the program include discounted fuel and insurance, FlightSafety training for air crews, software tracking of operations and use of the hangar. ``The management program offers individuals or companies the opportunity to offset the costs of ownership by entrusting their aircraft to Jet Express,'' said Wynn Poe, director of Comair Aviation.
J.A. Air Center launched a new Web site and online store with secure online shopping. Customers can order new and reconditioned handheld and panel-mount GPS equipment, headsets, transceivers, audio panels, transponders and other avionics. For more information, visit its Web site at www.jaair.com.
Lakeland Linder Regional Airport has reopened Runway 9-27 after a nine-month, $4.9 million rehabilitation. The central Florida airport is home to the annual Sun 'n Fun fly-in.
Saying the new service will reduce the high cost of ferrying aircraft, Averitt Aviation has created a Mobile Maintenance Team that will perform helicopter maintenance and repair services at customers' own facilities.
Williams International's FJ44-2C engine has received FAA certification. The 2,400-pound thrust engine will power the Citation CJ2 and features a fuel heater system that eliminates the need for anti-ice additives. Less powerful versions of the FJ44 power the Citation CJ1, Raytheon's Premier 1 and the proposed Sino Swearingen SJ30-2.
FlightSafety International's Manchester, England-based Embraer ERJ-145 simulator has received CAA/JAR certification. The company's ERJ-145 simulators in St. Louis and Wilmington, Del., now have their Level D certification from the FAA.
BFGoodrich Avionics Systems has introduced a standby attitude indicator that's designed to withstand use in high-duty cycle environments and helicopter applications. The manufacturer says the AIM 1200 improves upon the AIM 510 series, which has been discontinued. Options for the AIM 1200 include front- or rear-mount, slip indicator and a fixed roll dial. Price: $5,275 to $6,250, options additional BFGoodrich Avionics Systems 5353 52nd St., S.E. Grand Rapids, Mich. 49588-0873 Phone: (616) 949-6600
Christie's ProEase DataFX is a supplement to battery charger/analyzers for the servicing of large, vented nickel cadmium batteries. The DataFX monitors battery current, voltage and individual cell voltage. The new design allows for simplified battery servicing, documentation and unattended operation of chargers/analyzers. The DataFX includes a print button, larger display that shows up to 22 cells, self-calibration and enhanced software. Price: $1,995 Christie Electric 18120 S. Broadway Gardena, Calif. 90428
Avionics shops may soon be able to say ``ADEOS'' to many of the delays and red tape experienced when seeking FAA approval for equipment installations. Short for AEA Designated Engineering Organization Service, ADEOS is the first of a group of private-sector initiatives, or Designated Maintenance Organizations (DMOs), the FAA will launch in the coming months.
Construction work will force intermittent closures of Runway 1/19 at New Jersey's Teterboro Airport (TEB) from September through November. According to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the project will restore the runway to its original design limitations, while adding centerline and touchdown zone lighting. Ron Regan, acting traffic manager for the FAA's Eastern region, said the project will ``cause a significant increase in delays, and flight plans should take into consideration the closure times.''
Jean Dubreuil has sold his majority holding in France's Regional Airlines to Air France, and purchased a 70-percent stake in Air Caraibes, a Caribbean inter-island operator. Air Caraibes operates a mixed fleet of single- and twin-engine turboprops under French registry, and has a number of Embraer ERJ-145 regional jets on order. Route expansion is planned once the new jets are delivered later this year.
With planned certification and initial deliveries of the Malibu Meridian only two months away, New Piper says it may begin to look at an initial public offering of stock.
Mouawad National Co., a multinational retail and jewelry manufacturing company headquartered in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, has ordered a new Airbus Corporate Jet (ACJ). The aircraft will be powered by twin V2500 engines from IAE -- a partnership of Pratt&Whitney, Rolls-Royce, Aero Engines Corp. of Japan and Germany's MTU Motoren- un Turbinen- Union Munchen GmbH. Mouawad expects the aircraft to enter service in the first half of 2001. Athens, Greece-based SAPO International SA also has ordered an ACJ for executive charter. SAPO's aircraft will be powered by IAE V2527s.
The NTSB has issued its annual Most Wanted Transportation Safety Improve-ments list, and it is virtually identical to the 1999 list. The agency called for reducing runway incursions, revising airframe icing rules, improvements in onboard data recording devices, action to reduce the possibility of explosions due to fuel-air mixtures on transport category aircraft, and studying the problem of fatigue in transportation. Changes in each of the categories require action by the FAA.
BP Amoco Group finalized an agreement to acquire Atlantic Richfield Co. (ARCO). The purchase will enable Air BP to expand service to the West Coast region with the creation of a Long Beach, Calif., office. Air BP Americas claims to be the number one marketer of jet fuel services to more than 600 locations in the United States.
British Aircraft Interior Systems has begun construction of an 85,000-square-foot aircraft seating production facility in South Wales. When completed, the new plant is expected to create 450 jobs.
Cessna says that CitationJet CJ2s in the certification program are posting ``significant improvements'' to projected performance for the light jet. According to the manufacturer, the improvements include a 10 KTAS cruise speed increase, 200-pound full-fuel payload increase and 200-foot-per-minute boost in the aircraft's rate of climb. The CJ2 also is showing improved range, single-engine rate of climb and time to climb. Certification is expected this month.
Lufthansa Technik (Dallas) -- Lutz Weirschin is appointed Lufthansa Technik Component Services' (LTCS) customer service manager and Walter Kattwinkel was named LTCS's key accounts manager.
The Kollsman infrared enhanced vision system (EVS) for the Gulfstream V is now expected to receive FAA certification in the third quarter of this year, according to Gulfstream President Bill Boisture. With an estimated $500,000 price tag, the EVS option only can be installed on aircraft equipped with the Honeywell Head-up Guidance System (HGS) offered on the G-V and the G-IV. The HGS is fitted on about 80 percent of G-Vs and about one-third of new G-IVSPs. The EVS will be certified on the G-IV once the G-V program is fielded.
UND Aerospace (Grand Forks, N.D.) -- Kirk Peterson, avionics manager at UND's John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences, has been named avionics technician of the year by the FAA flight standards district office.
