SOARING FUEL PRICES have not slowed business and corporate flight operations, but they are taking a toll on the airlines. Within the past week three carriers – Aloha, ATA and charter operator Champion Air – said they were immediately suspending operations or planning to do so by the end of May. ATA and Aloha said last week they were filing for bankruptcy protection while Champion Air, which operates 16 Boeing 727s, said it planned to shut down flight operations May 31.
PILATUS AIRCRAFT LTD. PC-12, PC-12/45 and PC-12/47 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0291; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-019-AD; Amendment 39-15429; AD 2008-06-17] – Requires inspections of the stick-pusher servo-cables for correct installation, position and tension. Using the instructions contained in PC-12 Service Bulletin No. 27-018 (dated Nov. 27, 2007), adjust the stick-pusher servo cable tension or replace parts, as necessary, before further flight.
MIDCOAST AVIATION was named an authorized repair center for structures that EADS Socata builds for the Dassault Falcon 7X aircraft. EADS Socata produces the upper center fuselage section and the lower body fairing for the 7X. The recognition authorizes Midcoast to perform warranty and non-warranty repairs on both metallic and composite components built by EADS-Socata.
Embraer’s board of directors approved the launch of two new business jet models Friday, a move that will fill a couple of critical niches in the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer’s product line. The two new models, which were discussed at last fall’s National Business Aviation Association convention (BA, Oct. 1/148) will be a Midsize Jet (MSJ) and a Midlight Jet (MLJ). They will have the capacity to carry 7 to 12 passengers and will be positioned between the company’s Phenom 300 light jet and the Legacy 600 super midsize.
The National Air Transportation Association last week reiterated its opposition to a proposal to permit congestion-based pricing at certain airports, telling the Federal Aviation Administration that such a scheme is only a “short-term fix to a long-term problem.” FAA in January proposed to allow airports to increase fees on operators conducting flights at congested airports during the busiest hours in an attempt to encourage air carriers and other aircraft operators to use less congested alternative airports (BA, Jan. 28/38).
AIRCRAFT EMISSIONS will come under a spotlight during a hearing before the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming scheduled April 2. The hearing, “From the Wright Brothers to the Right Solutions: Curbing Soaring Aviation Emissions,” will assess aviation’s contribution to greenhouse gases and the potential for reducing aircraft emissions. The committee noted that aviation generates 12 percent of U.S. transportation carbon dioxide emissions and three percent of the U.S. total carbon dioxide emissions.
Gulfstream Aerospace became the first aircraft manufacturer to be granted FAA Organizational Designation Authorization (ODA) for initial phase manufacturing at the company’s production facility in Savannah, Ga. The ODA approval, which Gulfstream characterized as “a significant regulatory milestone,” allows the company to act on behalf of FAA to examine Gulfstream aircraft designs, production quality and airworthiness.
CPI Aerostructures, Inc. reported a significant improvement in its finances for 2007, and officials described a rosy outlook for the future. Revenue for the Edgewood, N.Y. manufacturer was up 56 percent to just under $28 million, compared with $17.9 million during 2006. Net income totaled $1.9 million, or 32 cents per diluted share, a turnaround of more than $3 million compared to the net loss of $1.2 million, or 23 cents per share, recorded in 2006.
WEST STAR AVIATION’S facility in Grand Junction, Colo. recently completed a Hawker 800A modification for AirMed International. The modification included a new interior, air system, avionics package, satellite phone and paint. AirMed, an air ambulance service that flies more than 2,500 transport missions a year, plans to operate the aircraft to support the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. AirMed is headquartered in Birmingham, Ala. and has bases in Honolulu, Hawaii, Rochester, Minn. and soon in Hong Kong. West Star, which also has locations in East Alton, Ill.
BOMBARDIER received an order from an undisclosed customer for six CRJ700 NextGen regional jets and options for 10 more. Bombardier valued the firm orders at $207 million (U.S.), and said the value could increase to $562 million if all options are exercised. The Canadian plane-maker also confirmed that a previously announced order for 10 Q400 turboprop aircraft and 10 options was placed by Air Berlin. The airline originally had requested to remain unidentified.
EMBRAER EMB-135BJ and EMB-145XR airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0292; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-286-AD] – This proposed AD would require removing the sealant used to protect the wiring conduits of the left- and right-hand clear-ice detectors at the holes through the wing spars and installing protective Teflon spiral around the wiring. This proposal, which resulted from an MCAI issued by the aviation authority for Brazil, is designed to prevent leaking fuel from accumulating inside the conduit.
CESSNA AIRCRAFT COMPANY 208 and 208B airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0331; Directorate Identifier 2008-CE-009-AD] – This proposed AD would require inspection of the left and right wing wire bundles and repair or replacement of any damaged wires found, per the instructions of Cessna Service Bulletin CAB08-02 (dated Feb. 4, 2008). This proposal also would require inspecting the wire bundles to confirm correct attachment to the anchor points and correcting any improperly attached wires.
GERALD E. (JERRY) SCHLESINGER, 63, an aviation executive who specialized in finance and operations, died March 22. Schlesinger was the retired chief financial officer of NetJets, the former chief executive of Aerospace Products International, one of the founders of aviation training firm Simuflite and a former CFO of Butler Aviation. A pilot and intelligence specialist in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War, Schlesinger was a graduate of Bryant College. He began his career as an accountant with PriceWaterhouse.
The U.S. Coast Guard is evaluating basing options for its unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as collaborative flight tests with Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) using a Predator B wrap up in March. The Coast Guard has a requirement for maritime surveillance, according to Capt. Matt Sisson, Coast Guard aviation acquisition chief. Within the requirement, “a shore-based or shipboard unmanned aerial system may provide that kind of economical surveillance for us,” he said.
AS THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA tries to scale back operations at Santa Monica Municipal Airport (SMO) with a ban on larger business jets, city officials are beginning to discuss the long-term future of the airport. A 1984 settlement between FAA and the city obligates Santa Monica to operate and maintain SMO as a general aviation facility until July 1, 2015. Last week City Council Member Ken Genser said that airport closure is a “very rich” discussion that needs to occur, adding, “I believe we don’t have obligations past 2015.” See article below.
The operator of an aircraft based at a small airport in Ohio who felt he was being discriminated against because the airport charged tenants but not transient users got his day in court – but not the decision he was seeking.
THALES was awarded a contract from the Finnish air traffic service provider FINAVIA to deliver, install and commission the Thales MAGS1 transponder multilateration system at Helsinki Vantaa Airport. The MAGS system will provide surveillance for all transponder-equipped aircraft operating in Helsinki-Vantaa’s movement and apron areas.
DONALD R. FOREST was named chief operating officer of the Aerospace Industries Association, a newly created position. He will report to AIA President and CEO Marion Blakey and will be responsible for overseeing the daily operations of AIA and implementing the association’s strategic performance plan. Forest has an extensive background in trade issues, with a particular focus on Asia. From 1984 to 1999 he was with the Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration, serving as commerce director for China and Hong Kong for part of that time.
EMBRAER EMB-145, -145ER, -145MR, -145LR, -145XR, -145MP and -145EP airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0271; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-267-AD] – This proposal would require operators to revise the “Airworthiness Limitations” section of the “Structural Inspection Requirements and Corrosion Prevention and Control Program” portion of the “Instructions for Continued Airworthiness” to incorporate new structural-inspection requirements.
The president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association painted a grim picture last week of a growing outflow of disgruntled, experienced controllers from the nation’s air traffic control facilities and increasing numbers of operational errors in the nation’s ATC system.
The U.S. Court of Appeals last week struck down a New York law setting airline passenger service standards, ruling that Congress intended that the national aviation system be regulated under a centralized federal aviation authority, preempting state regulation. The decision overturned a New York law that that required air carriers to provide basic provisions such as food and water to passengers aboard aircraft during extended delays.
DASSAULT Falcon 2000EX and 900EX airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0301; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-284-AD] – This proposed AD would mandate the replacement of the passenger oxygen mask boxes by newly designed boxes in accordance with Dassault Service Bulletins F900EX-257, Rev. 1 or F2000EX-61, Rev. 1 (both dated March 22, 2007).
DANIEL G. CLARE, senior vice president, finance and planning for Gulfstream Aerospace, was named to the additional post of vice president of General Dynamics, the aircraft manufacturer’s parent company.
ALAN CULLOP was promoted to executive vice president and chief information officer for NetJets. Cullop previously served as senior vice president and CIO for the fractional aircraft provider. Since joining NetJets in 2005, the company said Cullop implemented a business strategy that maximizes the company’s return on its IT investments.
