Eurocontrol has established a European VLJs Integration Platform (VIP) to help facilitate an anticipated 10 percent annual increase in the Very Light Jet fleet population in Europe. The panel will develop recommendations to ensure that the increase in VLJs over the next 10 years is handled safely and efficiently. Some 440 VLJs have been ordered by European operators, 230 of which are slated for delivery by the end of 2010. The majority are expected to be used in air-taxi operations.
Maguire Aviation, which already runs two fixed-base operations at the Van Nuys, Calif. Airport (VNY), is buying competitor Skytrails Aviation. Maguire currently operates the former Petersen Aviation facility, which it acquired in September 2006, and the former Million Air FBO. Once the Skytrails deal closes, the only non-Maguire facilities on the airport will be Clay Lacy Aviation and the Hawker Beechcraft Corp. (HBC) location. HBC announced in November that it planned to sell its aircraft fueling operations at seven airports, including VNY (BA, Nov. 5/204).
THE HOUSE TRANSPORTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE scheduled a hearing Thursday to delve into the Bush Administration's proposed fiscal 2009 budget for FAA. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters is scheduled to unveil the administration's budget proposal during a press conference today (Feb. 4) at DOT.
WHILE THE AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION has been at odds with general aviation groups over aviation user fees and general aviation's contribution to the air transportation system, ATA is getting support from two GA groups to combat a new Department of Transportation proposal to allow congestion pricing at certain airports (BA, Jan. 28/38). ATA, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and the National Business Aviation Association last week sent letters urging an extension in the comment deadline on the DOT proposal.
C-212 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-0372; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-164-AD] - For aircraft used in maritime patrol or other similar low-altitude operations, inspect for cracks and loose rivets in the center wing lower skin. If any cracks or loose rivets are detected, repair the damaged sections before further flight, following the instructions of EADS-CASA All Operator Letter 212-018, Revision 2 (dated March 20, 2007).
Model 750XL airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2008-0034; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-097-AD] - To prevent fretting damage to the wiring loom that may lead to arcing in proximity to the fuel vent lines and the possibility of fire, inspect the main wiring loom on the right-hand side of the aircraft to ensure that two pieces of protective sleeving fit correctly, per the instructions of Pacific Aerospace Corporation Limited Mandatory Service Bulletin PACSB/XL/009, issue 2 (revised July 23, 2004).
EADS SOCATA handed over the first two 2008 TBM 850s upgraded with an integrated all-glass flight deck. John LaBonte, chief executive of Big Bike Parts, took delivery of the first upgraded TBM 850 aircraft during a ceremony at Orlando Executive Airport in Florida. The upgraded aircraft are equipped with a Garmin G1000 avionics package that replaces traditional instruments with liquid crystal display screens. The system integrates primary flight, navigation, weather, traffic, ground proximity and technical information on the aircraft.
NATIONAIR AVIATION INSURANCE is offering a new Claims Advisors service for clients. The service is designed to provide a resource for clients trying to deal with complex, delayed or unusual claims. Claims Advisor will represent the client's interest to the underwriter's claims department and facilitate communications with the client. Based in Chicago, the brokerage firm represents a spectrum of clients including private aircraft owners, regional airlines and product manufacturers.
Was named to the board of directors of Aerosonic Corp., Clearwater, Fla. Robinson has more than 30 years of operational and management experience. He was CEO of Seattle, Wash.-based Aviation Technologies, Inc. from 2003 until his retirement in 2007. Previously he was president of ELDEC Corp., and chief operating officer of the Crane Aerospace Group of companies after Crane's acquisition of ELDEC.
Gulfstream Aerospace is now offering a synthetic vision system on the four largest aircraft models in its product line, a system that relies on technology developed by Honeywell Aerospace.
Eclipse Aviation and Hampson Aerospace, Inc. announced settlement of all claims and disputes between the Albuquerque, N.M. Very Light Jet manufacturer and the Grand Prairie, Texas firm that is supplying the empennage assembly for the Eclipse 500.
PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA AND ROCKWELL COLLINS are expected to be named as suppliers of the engines and avionics for Cessna Aircraft's new Large Cabin Concept business jet. See articles below.
Three executives, including an existing company executive, have purchased Pittsburgh, Pa.-based Integrated Deicing Services (IDS). Salvatore Calvino, who is owner of Quantem Aviation Services (QAS), IDS founder Larry Hopkins, and Kevin Worley, purchased the five existing operations of IDS. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Calvino will serve as the company's chief executive, Worley as president and Hopkins as chief operating officer.
Named as the Aerospace Industries Association representative to the NextGen Institute Management Council. Kaminski is currently chairman and CEO of Technovation, Inc., and senior partner in Global Technology Partners. He is a former under secretary of defense for acquisitions and technology and has been involved in large program implementation and application of advanced technology in both the public and private sectors.
VIKING AIR LIMITED, which is gearing up to produce new versions of the de Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter utility aircraft, named Ken Copiak as general manager of the company's facility in Calgary, Alberta. Copiak reports to Dominique Spragg, vice president, manufacturing. Copiak will be responsible for overseeing all operations related to the final assembly of the new Twin Otter aircraft, which has its major components and structures manufactured by Viking in Victoria, British Columbia.
SOUTHERN CONSTRUCTION GROUP was selected to build an expansion to FlightSafety International's Maintenance Training Facility in Savannah, Ga. The $3.6 million project will add 19,610 square feet to the facility. Doherty Sommers Architects Engineers, Inc. is the architect for the project, which is slated to be completed this fall. Based in Orlando, Fla., Southern Construction participates in a range of projects for aviation, healthcare, commercial/office, education, retail and other clients. The company recently completed two other aviation projects in Orlando.
Named director of operations, product support materials, repair and overhaul for Gulfstream Aerospace in Savannah, Ga. In his new position, Johnson will have oversight responsibility for the product support warehouse and for the product support transportation, parts planning and distribution, and spares production departments. Johnson joined Gulfstream nine years ago and most recently was Lean Six Sigma program manager. A former U.S.
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE ramped up research and development spending over the past several years and the company is getting ready to disclose how that money was used. "We're going to have some major announcements -- at least one of them in the first half" of 2008, said Nicholas Chabraja, chairman and CEO of General Dynamics, Gulfstream's parent company. R&D spending at Gulfstream will rise slightly again this year, closing in on two percent of sales, a level "satisfactory to support a robust program," Chabraja said.
Appointed general manager of Landmark Aviation's facility in Lakeland, Fla. Leidigh has more than 30 years experience in the fixed-base operation industry. He joined Landmark predecessor Piedmont Hawthorne in 1999 and served as general manager of the Winston-Salem, N.C. facility. He was transferred to Ocala, Fla. in 2002 and served there until 2006.
AVFUEL CORPORATION appointed Owen Busch vice president of supply and business development. Busch will be responsible for Avfuel's global supply department, supporting the network of branded dealers as well as end users. He also will be a lead advisor on acquisition and merger activity. Busch has served with Avfuel for 10 years in a number of roles involving domestic and international contract fuel, information management and other projects.
A little more than a decade after some aviation experts declared the market for the regional turboprop dead, regional-turboprop maker ATR logged its best year yet in 2007 with orders for some 113 new aircraft and sales of $1.1 billion. Sales were up 56 percent in 2007, compared with the $700 million in revenue in 2006. The increase in revenue came as the Franco-Italian consortium nearly doubled the number of deliveries in 2007.
EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY will hold a grand opening ceremony Jan. 31 for the new College of Business building at the school's Daytona Beach, Fla. campus. The new $13 million, two-story, 54,000-square-foot facility is part of an investment of $125 million in new and planned construction at the campus. The new College of Business building includes wireless, energy-efficient classrooms, seminar and conference rooms, computer labs with 90 workstations and a Business and Transportation Research Center that includes the Aviation Operations Simulation Lab.
SAS says an inspection found that 63 percent of the Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 turboprops it grounded and put out of service after three accidents showed technical defects. SAS last year suffered three Q400 accidents, prompting management to cease operating the aircraft - a move other carriers did not match, noting they retained confidence in the aircraft. But SAS says that a technical review found problems in the solenoid sequence valves in the inspected aircraft.
