HONDA AIRCRAFT COMPANY confirmed that it would begin selling the 6/7-place HondaJet at the National Business Aviation Association annual meeting and convention next week in Orlando. Honda took the wraps off the HondaJet during the EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh in July (BA, July 31/43), and formally established Honda Aircraft company in August to oversee sales, type certification and production certification (BA, Aug. 14/68). Also during the convention, HondaJet is slated to detail its plans for the jet that is 20 years in the making.
A FEDERAL JUDGE has upheld his earlier ruling in favor of Camp Systems International, Inc. in a lawsuit brought by Gulfstream Aerospace. The business jet manufacturer had charged the maintenance tracking provider with copyright and trademark infringement for using Gulfstream maintenance manuals. Judge B. Avant Edenfield ruled in June that Camp's use of the Gulfstream manuals was permissible, citing the "fair use doctrine" in a 1994 Supreme Court ruling (BA, June 19/273).
Models 250-C30, 250-C40, and 250-C47 series turboshaft engines [Docket No. FAA-2005-23392; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-47-AD; Amendment 39-14776; AD 2006-20-07] - For models with a third-stage turbine wheel, Part Number 6898663 or P/N 23065843 installed, or a fourth-stage turbine wheel, P/N 6892764 or P/N 23066744, installed, the AD adds a life limit for third- and fourth-stage turbine wheels. This AD results from analysis by the engine manufacturer of failures of third-stage turbine wheels.
MEMBERS of the aviation community who support the racing industry are being invited to a NASCAR Aviation Safety Management Systems Summit Oct. 20 at Lowes Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C. Sponsors include the Race Team Aviation Association, the North Carolina DOT Division of Aviation and FAA's Safety Team (FAASTeam).
Was named director of sales and marketing for AOG, Inc., a Dallas, Texas firm that services and repairs integral fuel tanks and systems for corporate, commercial, general aviation and military aircraft. Scullion, 44, has more than 20 years of aviation experience and is a licensed FAA technician. Before joining AOG, he was vice president of the Direct Hire division of Strom Aviation. He previously served as director of recruiting for TIMCO.
The pilots of an Embraer Legacy business jet, which officials believe collided with a GOL Airlines 737 over the Amazon jungle a week ago, remained in Brazil late last week at the request of Brazilian authorities. The apparent collision between the two airplanes took place at an altitude of 37,000 feet. The Legacy, with seven people aboard, landed at a military airport, and none aboard were injured, but the airliner plunged into the jungle, killing all 155 passengers and six crewmembers.
NATIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION sold all exhibit space for its upcoming convention, the first time the association has achieved a complete sellout prior to the convention. NBAA said 1,150 exhibitors have signed up for all 5,233 10-foot by 10-foot booth spaces at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., about a nine percent increase in booth space over the 2005 show that was held in the same facility. Manufacturers plan to display 11 fixed-wing aircraft and four helicopters on the convention floor.
THE DEBATE about the impact Very Light Jets will have on the National Airspace System got testy last week. The National Business Aviation Association took umbrage at comments by an Air Transport Association official in an interview with Bloomberg that VLJs would be a "significant burden" on the aviation system and would interfere with the operations of commercial airlines.
Was named president of Fairchild Controls, a subsidiary of EADS North America that produces power conversion and control electronics, environmental control systems and turbo-machinery. Selle formerly was director of component aftermarket services for Honeywell Aerospace. Before that, Selle was general manager of Honeywell's heat transfer and electronic power aftermarket business in Tulsa, Okla.
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS GROUP (ICG), the Newport News, Va.-based provider of aeronautical and mobile satellite communications products, developed an authorized dealer program to improve the company's relationship with avionics modification centers and provide more support and training. Authorized dealers will receive preferred dealer pricing, a demo suite for tradeshows, marketing collateral, training and technical support and space on the ICG Web site.
Operators at Teterboro Airport are calling for a voluntary ban on Stage II aircraft and a nighttime flight curfew as part of a series of initiatives unveiled last week to improve safety and community relations at the busy New Jersey general aviation airport. The Teterboro Airport Industry Working Group detailed the recommendations for the first time Wednesday in a press conference that also included Rep. Steve Rothman (D-N.J.), a persistent airport critic.
THE HOUSE AND SENATE approved the fiscal 2007 Department of Homeland Security funding late last month. The bill provides $46.3 billion for the Transportation Security Administration and Federal Air Marshall Service, including $55 million for air cargo security, $524 million for explosives detection systems and $2.6 billion for passenger and baggage screening. The bill also provides $275,000 to promote the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Airport Watch program and continued funding for the Loran-C navigation system.
A major spike in wind farm projects this year is causing headaches for FAA, which must examine the proposals to make sure that wind turbines don't interfere with signals from radars and navigation aids.
THE U.S. COURT OF APPEALS last week ordered FAA to delay the compliance deadline for the agency's new drug and alcohol testing mandate for 10 days while the court considers a filing by the Aeronautical Repair Station Association seeking a nine-month delay. The deadline was Oct. 10 and the Appeals Court motion extends the compliance date to Oct. 20. ARSA on Tuesday filed for the delay after the FAA denied the association's request for a nine-month delay (BA, Oct. 2/151).
A SERIES OF voluntary restrictions at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey is drawing strong support from local operators, who view them as necessary to ensure a long-term partnership with the surrounding community, said National Air Transportation Association President James Coyne, who co-chaired the Teterboro Airport Industry Working Group that recommended the restrictions.
NORTHWEST AIRLINES split a major order for large regional jets between Canadian manufacturer Bombardier and Brazilian manufacturer Embraer. Bombardier said Northwest ordered 36 CRJ900s and took options on an additional 96 aircraft. The firm orders are valued at $1.35 billion (U.S.) and the total could rise to more than $5 billion if all options are exercised. Embraer said Northwest placed a firm order for 36 Embraer 175s and took options on an additional 36 airplanes "and up to 100 rolling purchase rights".
Executive vice president of CAE, Inc., was elected chairman of the board of the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada. Campbell said the job of the association "is to demonstrate leadership in advocating public policy that makes sense for Canada and its aerospace industry."
MARY PETERS, who won Senate confirmation as secretary of transportation late Sept. 30 (BA, Oct. 2/147), already has begun to reach out to the aviation community in her new role. Peters, a former federal highway administrator, has invited aviation industry leaders in for a "meet and greet" Wednesday. FAA Administrator Marion Blakey is expected to be on hand.
THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD Friday released a safety alert urging pilots to "actively maintain awareness of severe weather" along the entire route of flight. The alert stems from recent accident investigations that "appear to be wholly or partly attributable to in-flight encounters with severe weather," the safety board said. The accidents all involved aircraft operating under IFR and in contact with air traffic controllers. The investigations showed that pilots either were not advised about severe weather ahead or given incomplete information, NTSB said.
SOME SOUTHWEST AIRLINES PASSENGERS soon will be traveling in a former corporate airplane that had carried top-level automotive executives. As part of a Southwest effort to pick up some used 737-700s, the carrier recently acquired an airplane that was part of the Ford Motor Company corporate fleet and which was used mostly in Europe.
Joins the sales team of VISTAGY, a Waltham, Mass. developer of specialized engineering software for the aerospace and automotive industries. Doheny has more than 20 years of marketing and sales experience. He has served with Artisoft/Vertical Communications, Technology Associates, Cisco Systems and Siemens. He will be based in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and be responsible for customers in the South Central region of North America and in South America.
