BJETS, a new fractional and charter aircraft provider headquartered in India, said last week it placed orders for 40 new business jets - 20 from Cessna and 20 from Hawker Beechcraft Corp.
GKN AEROSPACE signed an agreement with AJ Walter Aviation Singapore to expand its inventory and distribution network in Asia. Under the agreement, AJ Walter will stock a full inventory of GKN Aerospace's CrystalVue IIT passenger windows and flight deck windows in the AJ Walter Changi facility. AJ Walter Aviation Singapore will oversee distribution of the hard-coated, stretched acrylic transparencies.
THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET recently cleared a proposal that would increase requirements for registering aircraft. The proposal, driven by concerns from law enforcement and other government agencies, would require periodic updates to ensure that the Civil Aviation Registry database contains the most accurate and up-to-date information. The Transportation Department does not expect the rule will impose significant costs on owners.
Europe's helicopter industry is headed for a significant structural shift as manufacturers expand abroad to reap a higher return on their euro investments.
THE 3,279 NEW AIRPLANES delivered last year by U.S. business and general aviation manufacturers isn't a large number by long-term historical standards, but it is the biggest one-year total in a quarter-century, according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. The last time annual deliveries by U.S. original equipment manufacturers exceeded 3,200 aircraft was 1982 when the total was 4,266. Billings for U.S.-built GA and business aircraft totaled $11.9 billion in 2007, nearly six times the $2 billion posted in 1982.
Was named a Cessna sales representative for Epps Aviation in the company's expanded territory in Alabama and Georgia. Cherry joined Epps, the DeKalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK) fixed-base operator, after two and one-half years representing Columbia Aircraft in the Atlantic/Southeast region. Cessna recently acquired Columbia, adding the Model 350 and 400 aircraft to its existing product line. Cherry is a graduate of the Delta Connection Academy and a certified flight instructor with more than 1,000 hours of flight time.
In the face of a slowing U.S. economy, the general aviation industry posted another record year in 2007 with billings topping $20 billion and business jet deliveries surpassing the 1,000 mark for the first time, according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. During GAMA's Annual Industry Review and Market Outlook Briefing Tuesday in Washington, D.C., GAMA Chairman and Cirrus Design Corp. Chairman and CEO Alan Klapmeier reported that the general aviation industry combined for $21.9 billion in billings with 4,272 aircraft shipped last year.
THE JOINT PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE released the next update to its Integrated Work Plan (IWP) for the Next Generation Air Transportation System. JPDO was seeking public review and input on IWP Version 0.2. JPDO Director Charles Leader said the second version covers current programs and plans as well as the vision for NextGen. "The JPDO understands that NextGen will only be achieved through the collective wisdom of the aviation stakeholder community," Leader said. The IWP can be viewed at the JPDO Web site, www.jpdo.gov.
The House and Senate last week passed another short-term extension of the FAA authorization and aviation taxes, giving themselves a June 30 deadline to adopt a longer term reauthorization bill. The extension was the fifth short-term authorization bill that Congress has passed since the end of September. The latest bill, H.R.5270, also renews the agency's airports contract spending authority, which expired at the end of 2007, freeing up Airport Improvement Program dollars in time for the early spring construction season.
The pilot of a Beech King Air C90A made a missed approach to the Mount Airy/Surry County, N.C. Airport (MWK) before the airplane crashed Feb. 1, killing the pilot and all five passengers (BA, Feb. 4/51), the National Transportation Safety Board said last week.
2000 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0115; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-240-AD] - This proposed rule would require visual and fluorescent-penetrant inspections for cracks in the center bracket of the aft engine-mounting assembly for both powerplants, per the instructions of Saab 2000 Service Bulletin 2000-71-025 (dated June 13, 2007).
BOMBARDIER AEROSPACE earned type certification from the Agencia Nacional Aviacao Civil (ANAC) of Brazil for the Challenger 300 and 605 business jets. The approval clears the way for operators to register the aircraft in Brazil. The super mid-size Challenger 300 has won approval for civil operation in more than 24 countries. The 605 entered service in January 2007.
Russ Meyer, III, who won high marks for overseeing the development and successful entry into service of Cessna Aircraft's Mustang business jet, is leaving Cessna early next month to oversee new product development for crosstown rival Hawker Beechcraft Corp. (HBC).
EMB-120, -120ER, -120FC, -120QC and -120RT airplanes [Docket No. 2003-NM-33-AD] - This proposed AD would require revision of the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) to include operational limitations on use of the autopilot, as well as installation of two placards to advise the flight crew to check the pitch trim before descent. Modifying the elevator trim system in accordance with Embraer Service Bulletins 120-27-0095 and 120-27-0096 (both dated Feb. 16, 2007) would terminate the operational limitations and placarding requirements of this directive.
DHC-6 series airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-27192; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-008-AD; Amendment 39-15350; AD 2008-03-01] - The AD requires operators to inspect, modify and/or retire affected structural components by incorporating the procedures of Bombardier Inc. DHC-6 Twin Otter PSM 1-6-11, Revision 6 (dated March 28, 2007) into the aircraft mainte
Precision Pattern Interiors (PPI), a division of DeCrane Aerospace, was chosen by Dassault Falcon Jet Corp. to build completed cabinetry for the Falcon 2000 family.
NETJETS promoted Steve Zacks to executive vice president of marketing and chief marketing officer. Zacks, who joined NetJets seven years ago, will oversee marketing of NetJets' fractional aircraft ownership business in the U.S., including all advertising, direct marketing, Internet operations, public relations, events and owner communication activities. Before joining NetJets, Zacks held marketing posts with PepsiCo, Clairol and American Express.
AVANTAIR, INC. announced the departure Wednesday of Tracy Chaplin, who had been the company's chief operating officer, and the appointment of Kevin Beitzel to replace her as COO. Beitzel, who had been executive vice president of maintenance and operations, will continue to lead those departments as well as overseeing Avantair's daily operations.
JETBLUE AIRWAYS is teaming with two aviation schools and a regional airline to help develop an ongoing source of new pilots for the New York-based carrier.
THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD cited an inadequate training program as part of the probable cause for the May 30, 2006 crash of a Eurocopter EC-135P1 that crashed in Washington, D.C., killing one and injuring three others. The pilot inadvertently had disabled the No. 1 and then the No. 2 engine full authority digital engine control system (FADEC) and subsequently failed to maintain control of the helicopter.
The French government formally authorized the construction of a major new airport near Nantes - the future Grand Quest Airport - which will be located some 250 miles west of Paris and is scheduled to be operational in 2012. The new airport, which is expected to cost about $850 million, will have an initial capacity of about three million passengers annually, which can be boosted to nine million by 2050. The new infrastructure is designed to replace the existing Nantes-Atlantique Airport and relieve some of the pressure on the Paris airport system.
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE designated Jet Aviation's maintenance center at Moscow Vnukovo Airport as an authorized warranty line service facility for the full line of Gulfstream business jets. The Moscow facility will provide basic line maintenance for the GIV, GIV-SP, GV, G100, G150, G200, G300, G350, G400, G450, G500 and G550. Gulfstream also is adding a field service representative in Moscow.
Was named vice president of finance for Avantair, Inc., the fractional aircraft provider of shares in Piaggio P-180 turboprops. Pytak was previously group controller for Gibraltar Industries/CMI. A certified public accountant, Pytak also worked at the accounting firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers. He holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from Canisus College.
