OMF Aircraft will offer the Ballistic Recovery Systems (BRS) airframe parachute system as optional equipment on the Symphony 160 and 135-TDI aircraft and as standard equipment on the Symphony 4, the company said. OMF is working with BRS to certify the system on the Symphony aircraft line. The Symphony 160 is a two-place, high-wing, single-engine aircraft. The Jet A/diesel-powered Symphony 135-TDI and the four-place Symphony 4 are in development.
Experimental Aircraft Association's 51st annual fly-in attracted an estimated total attendance of 770,000, the association said. Approximately 11,000 aircraft flew into Oshkosh, Wis. or surrounding airports for the week-long event. There were a record 2,960 aircraft on display, surpassing the previous record of 2,743 in 1998. This year's total included 1,224 vintage aircraft and 405 warbirds.
GA GROUPS LAUD HOLLINGS AS GREAT FRIEND, FORMIDABLE FOE - General aviation advocates believe they will lose a long-time friend and sometime formidable foe when Sen. Ernest (Fritz) Hollings (D-S.C.) leaves the Senate next year after 38 years of service. The 81-year-old senator Monday announced his decision against running for an eighth term, saying, "Now it's time for someone else to take over." Hollings first joined the Senate in 1966, fulfilling the unexpired term of Olin Johnston.
USA TODAY BIZJET DEPICTION RILES NBAA - A USA Today front-page story depicting chief executive officers' use of business jets as an unjustified corporate perk and a "silly" use of cash-crunched company dollars drew fire last week from the National Business Aviation Association, which responded that the article "ignores the economic drivers and benefits of this important transportation sector."
TWO CHARITY AVIATION NETWORKS JOIN FORCES - Two of the nation's largest charitable aviation organizations, Angel Flight America and AirLifeLine, will merge in an effort to "maximize efficiency and effectiveness," executives of the groups announced.
Cessna Aircraft sold five more 172R Skyhawks to American Flyers. One of the oldest and largest flight schools in the U.S., American Flyers operates more than 60 172R and 172P Skyhawks. "We've been flying 172s for several decades. We keep buying them because they're robust, easy to work on and are great trainers," said American Flyers Controller Chris Hyzy. "They are very forgiving aircraft, which is important for students." American Flyers trains some 5,000 students a year at 15 domestic locations. The flight school was founded in 1939.
Agusta Aerospace Corp. delivered two Model A 119 Koala helicopters to the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP). The helicopters will be based at the state police's Aviation Patrol Units (APUs) at Capital City Airport in Fairview Township and Venango County Regional Airport in Franklin. The PSP has been building up its aviation fleet, which now numbers eight helicopters. The police plan to base a new aviation unit at the Altoona-Blair County Airport and are working to find a contractor to build a hangar at the facility.
Russell Chew, the former managing director of systems operations control at American Airlines, began his new duties at FAA last week as chief operating officer of the Air Traffic Organization.
NBAA will host a REACHBAC luncheon featuring the association's new president, Shelley A. Longmuir, on Monday, Sept. 8, in Atlanta. At the event co-hosted by the Georgia Business Aviation Association, Longmuir will present an update on NBAA issues and concerns. Anita Terry McDonald, port director of U.S. Customs in Atlanta, also is scheduled to speak. The buffet lunch will start at 11:45 a.m. and the briefings will begin at 12:15 p.m. at the Marriott Perimeter Center, 246 Perimeter Center Pkwy N.E., Atlanta, Ga. Please RSVP to June DeFontes at [email protected].
Washington generally slows down in August while the House and Senate enjoy their summer recess, but aviation groups, such as the National Business Aviation Association and AOPA, have stepped up lobbying efforts with Hill staffers and members to persuade legislators to approve FAA reauthorization legislation when Congress returns in September.
BOMBARDIER TO SELL BUSINESS JET FINANCING UNIT TO GE - Canadian manufacturer Bombardier reached agreement last week to sell the business aircraft market portfolio of Bombardier Capital to GE Commercial Equipment Financing (CEF) for $339 million (U.S.). The portfolio of business jet leases and loans will be folded into CEF's existing corporate aircraft business, which leases and provides financing for corporate aircraft and helicopters worldwide. The company said the price represents the book value of the assets being sold.
GARY DEMPSEY was named senior vice president of aircraft maintenance and OEM development at Jet Aviation. He will be responsible for maintenance services to manufacturers, aircraft operators and flight departments. Dempsey, who has 30 years of aviation experience, also will implement safety procedures and efficiency recommendations at all Jet Aviation maintenance facilities.
Raytheon Aircraft won a contract for its First Edition Centennial of Flight Beechcraft Bonanza at Oshkosh AirVenture 2003. Randy Vinson, a customer from Abilene, Texas, bought the special edition aircraft for his construction business. The aircraft are painted with a U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission logo on the engine cowling and include two Kitty Hawk Commemorative Centennial of Flight Medallions mounted onto the center console. The aircraft will be available on a limited basis.
Jon Moldovan Sr. was promoted to director of aircraft certifications, engineering and modifications for Stevens Aviation. His name was spelled incorrectly in last week's issue (BA, Aug. 4/55).
Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta made the rounds at the Experimental Aircraft Association's annual fly-in at Oshkosh earlier this month, including participating in a roundtable discussion with several original equipment manufacturers. Mineta touched on a variety of subjects during that session, ranging from the status of the sport aircraft rule to the need to push forward with reauthorization to the progress of the Wide Area Augmentation System schedule.
SUMMARY: Pursuant to FAA's rulemaking provisions governing the application, processing, and disposition of petitions for exemption (14 CFR Part 11), this notice contains a summary of certain petitions seeking relief from specified requirements of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR Chapter I), dispositions of certain petitions previously received, and corrections. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities.
FOURTH COMPETITOR ENTERS SMALL TURBOFAN JET MARKET - Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) is throwing its design weight behind a new small twin-engine aircraft to compete against the Eclipse 500 and Cessna's Mustang and CJ1 planes with planned aircraft utilization of 1,500-2,000 hours a year. IAI, developing the turbofan-powered Avocet ProJet, is aiming for a $2 million price tag - slightly less than the $2.6 million Mustang, $1.9 million cheaper than the $3.9 million CJ1, and just a bit more than the $1.3 million Eclipse 500.
WRECKING CREWS BEGIN FINAL DEMOLITION OF MEIGS - Construction crews Tuesday began to tear up the grounds of Meigs Field, following through on Chicago Mayor Richard Daley's (D) dream to eradicate the airport and turn the land into the park. The Chicago mayor scored a second victory the next day when fellow Democrat Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed a bill approving a $6.6 billion expansion of Chicago O'Hare International Airport. The O'Hare expansion was once linked to the continued operation of Meigs - Daley and former Gov.
ECCLESTON NAMED VP OF HONEYWELL ENGINE UNIT - Barry Eccleston, who spent nearly three decades with British engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce, was named by Honeywell Friday as vice president, Propulsion System Enterprises. Eccleston will be responsible for leading Honeywell's $1.4 billion engines business that provides turbofan, turboprop and turboshaft engines for business, regional, commercial, military and ground vehicle applications.
September 8-12 - Society of Automotive Engineers 2003 Aerospace Congress & Exhibition, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, (724) 772-4081 September 8-12 - Aerospace North America & SAE: Aerospace Congress & Exhibition; Palais des Congress, Montreal, PQ. (604) 473-9664 September 10-11 - Aviation Industry Conferences, Ltd. Aero-Engine Expo 2003, London, U.K., +44 207-931-7072 September 14-17 - Airports Council International - North America 12th Annual Conference & Exhibition, Tampa, Fla., (202) 293-8500
While the House/Senate agreement on a comprehensive FAA funding bill contains many provisions beneficial to business aviation, it also has a few provisions that could be controversial and omits others despite having strong industry support. House and Senate negotiators left out the "Pearce Amendment," which had been included in the House-passed version of the reauthorization legislation. Introduced by Rep. Steve Pearce (R-N.M.), the amendment would have allowed certain non-scheduled carriers to negotiate flights on a per-seat basis rather than a per-airplane basis.
National Transportation Safety Board is continuing its investigation of the Aug. 4 fatal crash of a Model 35 Learjet as the crew attempted to land at the Groton, Conn. Airport. FAA said the aircraft was on approach to Runway 23, when it touched down one-half mile short of the runway, striking a house and ending up in the Poquonock River. Both pilots were killed. The aircraft, N135PT, was manufactured in 1984 and was registered to Jetpro LLC and operated by Air East Airways, Inc., both of Republic Airport in Farmingdale, N.Y., according to AvData, Inc.
Schweizer Aircraft delivered two 300C helicopters to customers in China. One was delivered to the Shanghai Sikorsky Aircraft Company based in Shanghai's Gaodong heliport, where it will be used for customer flight demonstrations. Shanghai Sikorsky is Schweizer's exclusive manufacturer and sales agent in China for its light helicopter product line. The second 300C was delivered to Tri Star General Aviation based in Chengdu. The Sichuan Forestry Bureau will use the helicopter for agricultural spraying.
