GULFSTREAM V, G550 TO SHARE SAME TYPE RATING, FAA RULES - The Federal Aviation Administration and the Joint Aviation Authorities of Europe authorized the Gulfstream V and the forthcoming Gulfstream 550 to share the same type rating, requiring only that pilots participate in a "differences" course and receive 14 hours of additional training. The five-day G550 differences course, which will highlight the aircraft's PlaneView flight deck, will be offered to GV pilots who want to fly the G550.
Raytheon Aircraft donated a Beech Starship, NC-41, to the Kansas Aviation Museum. The aircraft formerly was based in Rockford, Ill. Raytheon Aircraft decided earlier this year to stop supporting the 50-Starship fleet because of sharply rising costs. The company plans to donate a limited number of the composite aircraft to museums, airframe and powerplant schools and research institutes.
NOAA, MILITARY, FAA DEVELOPING MORE DETAILED WEATHER FORECAST SYSTEM - The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is teaming up with the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Navy and the Federal Aviation Administration to develop a new, more accurate weather forecasting system that could have valuable aviation applications.
GEAR-UP LANDING DAMAGES EMBRAER 170 TEST AIRPLANE - One of Brazilian manufacturer Embraer's Model 170 test aircraft was damaged Aug. 17 in a gear-up landing at a test facility in Gaviao Peixoto. The company said the airplane is expected to be out of service for repairs for several weeks. Damage was primarily limited to the engine nacelles and the lower aft fuselage. None of the crewmembers was injured. The company said the incident, "caused most probably by operational factors," will not affect the 170's certification program.
The Boyd Group will hold its eighth annual Aviation Forecast Conference Oct. 5-7 at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tenn. In addition to speakers representing major air carriers, the Boyd Group will unveil four forecasts, covering Airline Trends & Emerging Strategies; Airport Traffic Forecasts; Aircraft Demand Forecasts; and Air Service Development Trends. The registration fee is $750 for the first delegate from a company or organization, with additional registrations available at $295.
Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.) have ordered FAA to report to Congress on any deals the agency has struck with congressional leaders to continue operating VFR towers in certain Congressional districts using federal employees. In a politically charged letter to DOT Secretary Norman Mineta last week, the congressmen expressed "grave concern" about FAA's recent conduct in lobbying Congress for ATC privatization authority.
Eastman Kodak is warning passengers to carry film in carry-on luggage to avoid damage from high-powered baggage screening equipment. "A growing number of airports are installing high-intensity X-ray scanners to inspect checked baggage for security reasons," said Matthias Freund, president of Kodak's Consumer Imaging products and services operations. "These newer systems will damage unprocessed film, which will not be seen until the pictures are developed.
Thales Air Traffic Management said its Area Control Center (ACC) equipment was commissioned on the island of Mauritius just off the coast of Africa. Thales ATM modernized equipment at five sites on Mauritius and neighboring islands - SSR International Airport, Bigara, Rodrigues Island, Agalega Island and St. Brandon Island. The system includes Thales ATM's Eurocat air traffic management system, telecommunications equipment, aeronautical information system, meteorological equipment, and satellite-based technologies.
AIR T SPINS OFF AIRCRAFT PARTS, SUPPORT BUSINESS - North Carolina-based freight hauler Air T completed the sale of its Mountain Aircraft Services (MAS) subsidiary to a management team for $1.85 million. MAS, based in Kinston, N.C., warehouses and brokers aircraft parts and provides overhaul, repair and logistical support. Mike Marsh, who had served as vice president and general manager of MAS since it was founded in 1993, will lead the new ownership team as president. Ward McConnell, a private investor, will be chairman of MAS.
Annual Pennsylvania Aviation Conference, sponsored by the Aviation Council of Pennsylvania, will be held Oct. 22-24 at the Holiday Inn in Johnstown, Pa. For more information, contact Joseph McKelvey, Conference Chairman, at (610) 797-6911; fax, (610) 797-8238.
CHC Helicopter Corporation's CHC Scotia Limited won a three-year contract to provide offshore helicopter support services for Apache North Sea Ltd. CHC will use Super Puma AS332L aircraft based at Aberdeen to provide crew transportation services for the Forties offshore oil and gas fields in the Central North Sea. The contract, which includes two one-year options, replaces a contract CHC formerly held with BP. BP sold its Forties assets to Apache in January.
Dallas Airmotive is hosting an open house Sept. 4 to celebrate the opening of its new Boynton Beach, Fla. Regional Turbine Center. Located just south of West Palm Beach, the new facility will support engine customers in the Southeast U.S., South America and the Caribbean. The new Florida operation joined other Dallas Airmotive facilities in Dallas, Texas, Minneapolis, Minn. and the recently acquired Premier Turbines core zone inspections and heavy maintenance service center in Neosho, Mo. that provide support for Garrett/Honeywell TFE731 engines
AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGIES OF AUSTRALIA Models N22B and N24A airplanes (Docket No. 2003-CE-21-AD) - proposes to adopt a new AD that would require a visual inspection of the ailerons for damage and replacement if necessary; adjusting the engine power levers aural warning microswitches; setting flap extension and flap down operation limitations; and fabrication and installation of cockpit flap extension and flap down operation restriction placards.
The U.S. Army awarded Rockwell Collins a two-year ground-based GPS receiver application module contract, which has an estimated value of $30 million if all options are exercised.
DynCorp International LLC, Fort Worth, Texas, won a $51 million contract increment as part of a $364 million firm-fixed-price contract for work on 39 C-12 (Beech King Air) turboprops. The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting authority. The government said DynCorp was one of two bidders for the contract.
National Transportation Safety Board last week recommended that FAA require nonscheduled Part 135 operators to annually report activity, including total hours flown, revenue flight hours, revenue miles flown and number of departures by category/class of aircraft. NTSB also recommended that FAA "develop, validate and document an unbiased method" for activity estimates based on reporting.
Key Equipment Finance named James Crowley senior vice president and director of Business Aviation Finance, where he will be responsible for developing and managing the company's strategic direction for business aviation financing. He joined Key Equipment Finance in December 1999 as national sales manager and has managed Key's Northeast direct sales teams since February 2002. Crowley has nearly 25 years in the leasing business, including 10 years in the aviation finance market.
Pilatus Aircraft retained BMW's DesignworksUSA to develop a new series of executive interiors for its PC-12 single-turboprop. DesignworksUSA will develop nine interiors that will be consistent with the interiors of luxury automobiles.
Gulfstream Aerospace and its customers got a break last week as federal officials decided that the same type rating will apply to pilots flying the Gulfstream V and Gulfstream 550. Some additional "differences" training will be required for pilots moving from one model to the other. See article below.
McKechnie Aerospace's Electromech Technologies unit in Wichita, Kan. said its synchronized flap actuator system was successfully tested on the Eclipse jet. The digital flap system synchronizes linear extend and retract motion that can be programmed to any interim flap position necessary. Communication between the actuators is continually monitored through a two-wire digital controller area network bus. Integrated drive electronics provide servo control.
MOONEY MEETS FIRST-HALF TARGETS, EXPECTS INCREASE IN DELIVERIES - Kerrville, Texas plane-maker Mooney Aerospace took in more than $4.5 million in revenue during the first six months of 2003, meeting its self-set targets for the beginning of its first complete year of production since it recaptured a production certificate to restart its lines last summer. The company delivered eight planes in the first half and recorded about $1.35 million in revenue from parts and services.
BRS CONTINUES TO POST SALES INCREASES - Ballistic Recovery Systems, Inc. reported nearly a 20 percent third-quarter increase in sales and close to a 50 percent nine-month jump as demand remained strong for the company's line of aircraft parachute systems. Third quarter revenues for the three months ended June 30 were $1.8 million, compared with $1.5 million in the third quarter of 2002. Through the first nine months of BRS's fiscal 2003, revenues topped $5.1 million, up from $3.4 million in the year prior.
CHALLENGER 300 WINS EUROPEAN CERTIFICATION - The Bombardier Challenger 300 won type certification from the European Joint Aviation Authorities, clearing the last major hurdle before deliveries begin in the fourth quarter of this year.
National Business Aviation Association is expecting to draw record numbers at its 56th Annual Meeting and Convention Oct. 7-9 in Orlando, Fla. The number of exhibiting companies has topped 1,000, and the association has sold 4,361 exhibit booths. "We are thrilled to report that in this economic climate, the NBAA convention is doing better than last year at the same point in time," said Kathleen Blouin, NBAA vice president, conventions and seminars. The association further expects attendance at the convention to be near 30,000.
