Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-0262; Directorate Identifier 2007-NM-247-AD] - This proposed AD, which resulted from an MCAI originated by Transport Canada Civil Aviation, calls for application of sealant to bolts on the collector fuel tanks in accordance with the instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 601R-28-051, Revision A (dated March 30, 2005).
THE NETJETS AVIATION PILOT UNION, members of Teamsters Local 1108, approved an amendment extending their collective bargaining agreement with NetJets. The union represents more than 2,600 pilots, 75.7 percent of whom voted in favor of the contract extension. The agreement will become amendable in five and one-half years.
Encore FBO LLC and private equity firm GTCR Golder Rauner LLC signed a definitive agreement to purchase the Landmark fixed-base operation business from Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE), a transaction that will result in a network of 42 FBO locations in the U.S. and Europe. DAE put Landmark's FBO network of 33 locations on the block after purchasing Landmark Aviation and Standard Aero from the Carlyle Group this summer for $1.9 billion (BA, Aug. 6/51). DAE said it wanted to focus on the maintenance, repair and overhaul business.
BLR secured its largest orders yet for the company's King Air Winglet System from Elliott Aviation and Cutter Aviation. Elliott and Cutter each ordered 90 shipsets, which BLR said amounts to the entire 2008 and 2009 U.S. production capacity. BLR has delivered more than 100 of the systems for King Air 90s, Super King Air 200 and King Air 300s, and has begun to expand sales in Europe.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) awarded BAE Systems and American Airlines a $29 million contract to test laser jammer technology on scheduled commercial airline flights as a defense against shoulder-fired surface-to-air missile attacks, the department confirmed Dec. 10. The contract calls for installing BAE's JetEye infrared laser jamming device on project partner American Airlines aircraft making scheduled flights across the U.S. The contract runs through April 2009.
THE FRENCH DEFENSE MINISTRY selected the Eurocopter 120 light helicopter for its new lead-in helicopter training program, one of several training initiatives that are to be outsourced to private operators. France contracted earlier with EADS to provide lead-in training for air transport pilots using Grob aircraft. Government officials said the EC120 operator has been selected, but could not yet be divulged. The number of rotorcraft to be procured will be determined by the operator.
FLIGHT OPTIONS, the Cleveland, Ohio-based fractional aircraft operator, added a Hawker 800XP to its Fractional Interchange Management (FIM) program, the third aircraft to be added to the company's managed aircraft fleet. "The ground-breaking FIM program places aircraft into Flight Options' fractional fleet, maximizing the aircraft owner's ability to offset ownership costs through revenue generated by the high utilization of Flight Options' more than 1,400 customers," the company said.
Elected to the board of directors of General Dynamics Corp., the parent company of Gulfstream Aerospace. Reyes is co-chairman and one of the founders of Reyes Holdings, LLC of Rosemont, Ill., one of the leading providers of food and beverage distribution services in North, Central and South America. Reyes' election increases the number of directors on GD's board to 13.
ATR sold four ATR 72-500 aircraft valued at $74 million to Berjaya Air, a subsidiary of Berjaya Land Berhad in Malaysia. The contract, signed last month, firms up a memorandum of understanding signed in June. The 72-seat regional turboprops will be delivered in 2009 and 2010 and will replace Berjaya Air's existing fleet of 48-seat Dash 7 aircraft. Berjaya Air also will use the aircraft to expand its network.
CHINESE WORKERS will build hundreds of Liberty Aerospace XL-2 Light Sport Aircraft in a new factory in Henan, China under an agreement between top executives of the Melbourne, Fla. aircraft manufacturer and officials of Anyang Angel Aero Science and Technology Development. The agreement calls for 600 Liberty XL-2 aircraft to be manufactured in Henan and used by the Science and Technology University for its flight training program. Liberty estimated the contract value at more than $150 million.
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY sales and backlogs are at record levels, and the industry's profitability also is improving. For years aerospace industry profits had lagged behind other industrial sectors, but the profit margin for 2007 is estimated at 8.1 percent, just slightly lower than the 8.4 percent mark for industry overall. See charts below.
AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION has developed a detailed strategy to emphasize the importance of the U.S. aerospace industry to the presidential candidates of both parties. John Douglass, the departing president of AIA, a former Pentagon official and a former staffer in the Reagan White House, was in Iowa this month serving as a volunteer adviser to Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), who is seeking the Democratic nomination. Douglass told BA he plans to continue advising the Clinton campaign in the coming year.
AVANTAIR, INC. recently completed the private placement of 150,000 shares of its Series A Convertible Preferred Stock in two transactions that raised more than $15 million in new capital for the company. Avantair, headquartered in Clearwater, Fla., provides fractional aircraft services with a fleet of 39 Piaggio Avanti P.180 twin turboprops. Avantair has another 46 Avantis on order from Piaggio and also has placed orders for 20 Embraer Phenoms.
Model 206A and 206B helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2007-28690; Directorate Identifier 2006-SW-21-AD; Amendment 39-15289; AD 2007-25-07] - This AD, which applies to aircraft with two-piece vertical stabilizer supports installed, requires inserting into the maintenance manual a revision that mandates verifying the torque on the fin-support attachment hardware, inspecting the fin-support bracket and fins for paint or gaps, and inspecting the fin support bracket for cracking.
DayJet founder Ed Iacobucci is encouraged that the initial results of his per-seat, on-demand service have been "much better" than the company's worst-case scenarios - while not as good as the best estimates - and said the company continues to look at its growth plans in response to the early returns. "We have a lot of wonderful data" from the first two months of operations, Iacobucci told BA, and said the company has learned some things.
THE MARKET FOR USED AIRCRAFT remains robust heading into the New Year, despite the rising cost of fuel and a variety of ongoing economic problems that portend a possible U.S. recession in the not-too-distant future. Previous downturns in the American economy have depressed business jet prices and flooded the market with aircraft for sale. However, continuing strong overseas demand for long-range models, fueled in part by a weak dollar, is expected to sustain the market for the near term.
While long-term FAA reauthorization legislation has been sitting on Capitol Hill for the past three months, a bill that increases the mandatory retirement age limit for commercial pilots to 65 sailed through Congress last week and was signed into law by President Bush on Thursday. The House aviation subcommittee cleared the Fair Treatment for Experienced Pilots Act, H.R.4343, for floor action on Tuesday and it was approved by the full House later that day. The Senate followed suit Wednesday.
December 14 - Wright Memorial Dinner, Aero Club of Washington, Contact Nancy Hackett at (703) 327-7082; e-mail: [email protected] January 6-10, 2008 - American Association of Airport Executives, 22nd Annual Aviation Issues Conference, Kona, Hawaii; (703) 824-0500 or e-mail ww.aaae.org/product/allmeetings.html March 10-11 - Federal Aviation Administration, 33rd Annual Aviation Forecast Conference, Washington, D.C. Contact Linda Baranovics at (202) 267-5370; or e-mail [email protected]
Model SR20 and SR22 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2007-28246; Directorate Identifier 2007-CE-048-AD] - The FAA proposes to revise an earlier directive that would have required operators to inspect and, as necessary, adjust the aileron and rudder rigging and the rudder-aileron interconnect system. This revised proposal would require a check of the rudder, aileron and rudder-aileron interconnect rigging; replacement of the attaching hardware and clamp at the end of the rudder-aileron interconnect arm; and use of revised service information from Cirrus.
THE SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE has scheduled a hearing on Thursday to consider the nomination of Bobby Sturgell to become the next FAA Administrator. President Bush nominated Sturgell to a five-year term as administrator in late October (BA, Oct. 29/194). While praised for his aviation background and work as the agency's deputy administrator, many feared that Capitol Hill would not act on the nomination, leaving it up to President Bush to appoint Sturgell to the post during the congressional recess.
Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2007-0285; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-15-AD; Amendment 39-15296; AD 2007-25-14] - Before further flight and at regular intervals thereafter, visually inspect each tailpipe assembly for cracks. If cracks are found, replace the cracked tailpipe assembly with an airworthy assembly before further flight. Also, visually inspect the structure surrounding each tailpipe assembly for overheating.
AIRWOLF AEROSPACE LLC said it won FAA Supplemental Type Certificate approval "to prevent permanently the leading-edge skin delamination occurring on Robinson R22 and R44 helicopter main rotor blades." Debonding can occur when the bond line is exposed due to excessive erosion of the blade finish, or when corrosion occurs on the internal aluminum tip cap.
Model SA-365 N1, AS-365 N2, AS-365 N3, SA-366G1, EC 155B and EC155B1 helicopters [Docket No. FAA-2007-28448; Directorate Identifier 2006-SW-24-AD; Amendment 39-15290; AD 2007-25-08] - This is an amendment to an existing directive that requires a onetime inspection for end play in the pitch-control rod assembly double bearing using the tail-rotor hub control plate, and replacing that bearing before further flight if end play is present.
