JPMORGAN is downgrading the rating of General Dynamics from “Neutral” to “OW” (overweight). The decision to downgrade GD comes as the Gulfstream backlog soared from $11.8 billion at the end of March to $18.1 billion at the end of the second quarter (BA, July 28/37). JPMorgan credited GD for a “nice run” but added, “We see more limited upside for the stock following strong recent performance.” JPMorgan believes earnings will slow as well as business jet demand.
The Federal Aviation Administration last week released a rule over the objections of the general aviation community that mandates “special awareness” training for any pilot who flies under visual flight rules within a 60-nautical-mile radius of the Washington, D.C. VHF omni-directional range/distance measuring equipment (DCA VOR/DME). The training is designed to teach pilots the proper procedures for flying through the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) and inner Flight Restricted Zone (FRZ) in the Washington, D.C. area. FAA said the rule, which takes effect Feb.
EXCELAIRE, based at Long Island MacArthur Airport, added a Beech 400A to its fleet. The aircraft joins a fleet that includes eight Gulfstreams, three Embraer Legacys, a Learjet 55 and two Cessna Citations, among others.
AVIDYNE introduced its MLX770 two-way datalink transceiver to the Latin American market. The transceiver provides graphical weather and two-way text messaging via the Iridium satellite network. Avidyne introduced the unit in Europe earlier this year, and said it planned to expand coverage worldwide throughout the remainder of the year. The MLX770 uses Avidyne’s Network Operations Center along with the 66-satellite Iridium constellation to provide datalink weather services to Entegra- and EX500-equipped aircraft.
MICHAEL GLOVER was named director of OEM sales and strategic alliances for Avidyne. Glover will oversee business and product development, program management, marketing, and general aviation and commercial sales. Glover previously served as director of commercial air transport for Innovation Solutions and Support, an Exton, Pa.-provider of flat panel products for the air transport market. A multiengine pilot and licensed Airframe and Powerplant mechanic, Glover joined Delta Airlines in 1992 as a mechanic.
SPECIAL R-22 AND R-44 TRAINING requirements would continue under a recent FAA proposal to extend the existing training and experience requirements of SFAR 73. The agency wants to eliminate the termination date of that rule, which requires special training and experience for R-22 and R-44 pilots and certified flight instructors. FAA believes the requirements would reduce the number of fatal accidents associated with low G maneuvers, which can result in main rotor/airframe contact.
Eclipse Aviation last week confirmed that it was “evaluating every aspect of the company” and hoped to announce a plan for profitability by the end of the month. The “media alert” added that the “executive management team is working diligently to develop a plan to achieve operational excellence.”
SHORT BROTHERS Model SD3-60 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0375; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-272-AD; Amendment 39-15627; AD 2008-16-09] – This rule, which supersedes two existing directives (ADs 2004-13-08 and 2005-04-13), requires an additional inspection to detect cracks in the balance weight brackets for the elevator trim tabs and replacement of balance weight brackets when they have reached their maximum life limits.
GRANT BYERS was appointed to the board of directors of Carmanah Technologies, a provider of solar power and lighting technologies for aerospace and other industrial applications. Byers is senior vice president, environment for SNC-Lavalin, an engineering and construction group. He led environmental consultancy Morrow Environmental Consultants for 18 years until SNC-Lavalin purchased the firm in 2005.
THALES UK won a contract to provide Cat III 420 Instrument Landing System (ILS) and 415 Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) for Liverpool John Lennon Airport in the United Kingdom. The contract increases the total number of Thales 420 ILS systems that the U.K. Ministry of Defence and Regional Airports has ordered to 25.
FOKKER F.28 Mark 0100 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0850; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-342-AD] – This proposed rule, which would supersede an existing directive (AD 97-13-05), would require a one-time inspection of the lower bolts of the stabilizer control unit dog-links, per the instructions of Fokker Service Bulletin SBF100-27-091 (dated Aug. 31, 2007). If a failed bolt were found, it would need to be replaced before further flight. Also, operators would need to install a tie-wrap through the lower bolts of the stabilizer control unit.
PAUL LU was appointed on-site program manager for Gulfstream. Lu will serve as a company liaison for Gulfstream G650 suppliers in the Irvine, Calif., area, overseeing design, test, certification, quality and reliability of the parts and components. He has served with Gulfstream for 12 years, most recently as manager for Special Missions. He also was sales and business manager for Gulfstream’s Long Beach, Calif. facility, an entry-into-service program manager and government programs manager.
ROB CRUICKSHANK joined the board of directors for Carmanah Technologies. Cruickshank served as president of the British Columbia Technology Industries Association (BCTIA), a nonprofit organization representing the technology industry. He held several executive roles with TELUS/BCTEL, including serving as president of BCTEL Mobility. He also spent two years as president of MDSI Mobile Data Solutions.
BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA Model 222, 222B and 222U helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2007-0178; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-20-AD; Amendment 39-15622; AD 2008-16-04] – Requires adjusting the rigging of the tail-rotor pitch-change mechanism, per the instructions of the applicable Bell Helicopter Textron Alert Service Bulletin – No. 222-07-104 for the 222 and 222B, and No. 222U-07-75 for the 222U (both dated Jan. 9, 2007).
DAVE SPECTOR joined Avidyne as senior director for aftermarket integrated flight deck sales. Spector will be responsible for sales of retrofit installation for the Avidyne Entegra systems. He formerly served as an associate director of business development for Gen-Probe Inc. in San Diego, Calif., where he managed licensing, joint ventures, equity participation, and merger and acquisition activities. He also co-founded an institutional technology and healthcare broker/dealer, WCM Partners, and served with Idec and US Filter Corporation.
FAA recently reiterated that type certificate (TC), parts manufacturer approval (PMA), and supplemental type certificate (STC) holders are responsible for the continued operational safety of their products. FAA released a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin noting that some engine manufacturers have warned that support of their products could be limited if customers opt to install replacement parts produced by other manufacturers under PMA.
BANYAN AIR SERVICES was named an authorized dealer for Raisbeck’s Learjet 30 series modifications. The fixed-base operation, located at Florida’s Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, will sell, install and service Raisbeck’s ZR LITE and aft fuselage locker performance systems for jets in the southeastern U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean. The ZR LITE system enhances the takeoff, climb, cruise and descent performance of the Learjet, enabling the aircraft to fly higher and faster and saving as much as 11 percent in fuel consumption.
AGUSTA Model A109A and A109A II helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2008-0834; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-78-AD] – This proposed rule would modify the applicability of an existing AD that requires operators to conduct dye-penetrant and visual inspections of each tail-rotor blade for cracks and replacement of any cracked blade with an airworthy one before further flight. This new proposal, which resulted from a revised MCAI issued by the aviation authority of Italy, would not apply to newly redesigned and improved tail rotor blades.
Dassault Falcon received Brazilian type certification for the Falcon 7X and announced plans to open a factory-owned Falcon Service Center at Sorocaba Airport (SOD) in Sao Paulo during the fourth quarter. Brazilian type certification enables 7Xs to be registered in Brazil. One of the three-engine aircraft already is based in that country.
NEXTANT AEROSPACE has added several options to its Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 Beechjet 400A/XP retrofit package. Available options include a second multifunction display, an integrated flight information system, XM broadcast graphical weather or Universal weather services, TCAS II, AHRS-3000S, GPS-4000S, Doppler turbulence detection weather radar, RTU-4200 radio tuning unit, DBU-5000 database loader and CDU-6200 control display unit.
BLACKHAWK MODIFICATIONS secured European Aviation Safety Agency approval for an engine upgrade for King Airs. Waco, Texas-based Blackhawk Modifications, which specializes in re-engining turboprop-powered business aircraft, gained European approval for its installation of Pratt & Whitney PT6A-61 engines in King Air 200s and B200s. The EASA endorsement of the so-called Blackhawk Super XPR61 engine offering includes the complete Raisbeck EPIC Platinum package as a prerequisite.
JET AVIATION signed a partnership agreement with Sao Paulo, Brazil-based Tropic Air to collaborate on charter and management services in Brazil and Latin America. The agreement will allow Jet Aviation to supplement its existing aircraft and charter and management services in the Latin American market. Jet Aviation will provide Tropic Air with administrative and sales support and customer services training. Jet Aviation also will leverage its fuel and insurance premium discounts for the partnership.
FAA LAST WEEK requested information and documentation from about one dozen executives at Sentient Flight Group. Some of the requested information involved questions about ownership, and many of the requests were sent to former TAG Aviation executives. The requests came out of the agency’s Eastern Region, which was involved in the investigation and certificate revocation of TAG affiliate AMI Jet Charter. Sentient plans to fully comply with the request.
AVIATION WEEK’S Top-Performing Companies Share What It Takes To Create Performance September 16-17, 2008 American Airlines Training & Conference Center Fort Worth, TX Metrics, Criteria Determine Long-Term Value and Investment -- Find out what it takes to be “best-in-class.” Align your operational management with Wall Street’s bottom line: Learn to assess performance, leverage resources and maximize investor value.
Helicopter kit manufacturer Rotorway International signed a memorandum of understanding with engine maker Rolls-Royce regarding use of the new RR300 turbine engine in Rotorway’s line of two-place helicopters.
