June 14-15 - 7th Annual NBAA Flight Attendants Conference, Nashville, Tenn., (202) 783-9000 July 23-29 - Experimental Aircraft Association 50th Annual Gathering, AirVenture Oshkosh 2002, Oshkosh, Wis., (920) 235-3007 September 10-12 - National Business Aviation Association 55th Annual aMeeting and Convention, Orlando, Fla., (202) 783-9000 September 22-24 - National Association of State Aviation Officials, 71sth Annual Convention and Trade Show, Sheraton Burlington, Burlington, Vt., (301) 588-0587
The Transportation Security Administration is hoping to release a draft "standard security program" (SSP) by June 24 that will provide charter operators guidance on compliance with the so-called Twelve-Five rule and has promised that it would not enforce the requirements until operators have had at least 30 days to review them. At the direction of Congress, TSA released the Twelve-Five rule in February, calling for charters operating aircraft that weigh at least 12,500 pounds to implement a security program by June 24.
STEVENS AVIATION won FAA approval to install the Honeywell Bendix/King CAS 67 traffic awareness and collision avoidance system (TCAS II) and Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) on Super King Air 200 aircraft. The TCAS II unit monitors surrounding airspace, displaying air traffic information and advising of potential conflicts. The EGPWS uses the global positioning system and a terrain database to provide terrain information and warn of potential obstacles.
THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION reconfirmed Parsons as its selection for the 10-year Technical Support Services Contract (TSSC), valued at more than $1.2 billion. Raytheon Technical Services Company, the previous contractor, protested FAA's decision in January. FAA re-evaluated the proposals in response to the protest and decided again to award the contract to Parsons. The contract covers upgrading of equipment and systems for air traffic control towers, air route traffic control centers, runway landing systems and navigational systems.
CESSNA approved Banyan Air Service as a factory authorized service and parts distribution center for Conquest, Caravan and piston-engine aircraft. Banyan, located at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, fills a regional need in South Florida for parts and service work, Cessna said. The FBO has more than 80 technicians working in heavy maintenance, avionics, turbine engine work and propeller overhaul as well as eight people in parts distribution..
THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION (NOAA) has developed a new weather computer model that the agency said will improve the accuracy of short-range weather forecasts. NOAA's Forecast Systems Laboratory in Boulder, Colo., developed the Rapid Update Cycle (RUC20) model through a joint effort with FAA's Aviation Weather Research Program. The RUC20, covers a 20-kilometer grid, compared with the former 40-km grid, improving overall accuracy of weather data.
GENERAL AVIATION access to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport once again has been placed on a back burner as the community awaits a delayed interim final rule that would open up the airport to private aircraft. DOT insists that it has completed its work on the rule, but approval is pending from agencies outside DOT.
Revenue and profits dropped slightly in 2001 for Jet Aviation, but the Swiss-based aviation services company said its results were the second highest in company history despite the sluggish economy. The company had revenues of CHF 795 million in 2001, compared with CHF 841 million in 2000, and profits slid six percent to CHF 55 million in 2001.
KOHL'S MEASURE WAS one of several that general aviation advocates were closely following during last week's deliberation of the emergency supplemental appropriations bill. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) hoped to offer his version of the General Aviation Reparations Act, which would provide the industry $5.5 billion in direct compensation and loan guarantees to help offset demonstrated losses stemming from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Sen.
MEDAIRE released a new computer-based medical training course, Altitude Physiology, designed to teach about the physical demands of flying at high altitude. The course contains lessons that cover the atmosphere, an overview of the circulatory and respiratory system, physical gas laws, key principles of hypoxia and its treatment, aviation oxygen system, effects of altitude and pressure changes, and stresses of flight, including spatial disorientation and decompression sickness.
BII, an aviation engine bearing inspection and overhaul company, completed a new inspection center in Singapore. The new facility will support aviation turbine operators and OEMs in Asia and handle out-sourcing for the inspection and repair of main and accessory bearings. The Singapore center will inspect, test and analyze aerospace bearings locally in five days and offer complete bearing reconditioning through its U.S.-based overhaul center in 21 days or less, Bii said.
Mauricio Botelho, president and CEO of Embraer, said that the company has decided to establish a plant to manufacture its ERJ-145 regional jet in China, subject to final approval by the host country. Botelho added negotiations with joint-venture partner Avionic 2 and Chinese associates are progressing smoothly. He estimated that China would need 400 regional jets over the next 10 years. Separately, Embraer revealed that, in spite of the world aviation crisis, it continues to lead the list of Brazil's major exporters.
Weather information specialist WSI Corp. struck a deal with Sandia Aerospace to produce equipment that would bring its new real-time, in-flight weather information service into the cockpit later this year (BA, April 22/189). Under the agreement, Albuquerque, N.M.-based Sandia will build and certify the equipment, and WSI will market, sell and provide the continuous weather service, the Pilot Weather Advisor (PWA).
Models AT-502, AT-502A, AT-502B, and AT-503A airplanes (Docket No. 2002-CE-10-AD; Amendment 39-12764; AD 2002-11-03) - lowers the safe life for the wing lower spar cap established in AD 2001-10-04 R1 and further reduces the safe life for airplanes that incorporate or have incorporated Marburger Enterprises, Inc. winglets.
AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION relaunched the SPEC2000 web site, which provides information on the capabilities and benefits of SPEC2000 specifications, products and services designed to facilitate aviation e-business. The web site was developed by 12 international associations representing airlines, manufacturers, suppliers and repair stations.
THE HOUSE last week approved by voice vote legislation that calls for $247 million in funding for the National Transportation Safety Board between fiscal 2003 and fiscal 2005. The bill, which would authorize NTSB at the levels the agency requested, would give the NTSB training academy $4 million more per year and would allow the agency to turn over family assistance responsibilities to the Federal Bureau of Investigation if the crash is the result of a criminal act.
STEVENS AVIATION won FAA approval to install the Honeywell Bendix/King CAS 67 traffic awareness and collision avoidance system (TCAS II) and Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) on Super King Air 200 aircraft. The TCAS II unit monitors surrounding airspace, displaying air traffic information and advising of potential conflicts. The EGPWS uses the global positioning system and a terrain database to provide terrain information and warn of potential obstacles.
THE HONEYWELL TPE331 turboprop engine fleet has amassed more than 100 million hours of operation since entering service in 1965. Nearly 13,000 TPE331s have been delivered to manufacturers of 40 different regional, utility, business, general aviation and agricultural aircraft.
Private aircraft operators continue to wait for final approval of a delayed interim final rule that would restore their access to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) but some fear that the new rule would be so restrictive that many operators would not resume business with the airport. TSA announced last month that it would issue new security guidelines for access into DCA in an interim final rule to be published in the Federal Register by May 31.
THE U.S. CUSTOMS SERVICE in Kentucky moved to its new offices at the newly renovated Delta Airlines terminal at Louisville International Airport. The customs service previously was located in downtown Louisville, and the relocation will allow customs inspectors to process international passengers and cargo flights more efficiently.
GENERAL AVIATION access to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport once again has been placed on a back burner as the community awaits a delayed interim final rule that would open up the airport to private aircraft. DOT insists that it has completed its work on the rule, but approval is pending from agencies outside DOT.
HARTZELL PROPELLER signed Pilatus Aircraft to an exclusive purchasing contract covering all existing business with the Swiss manufacturer. Under the agreement, valued at $16 million, Hartzell will install propellers on Pilatus PC-6, PC-7, PC-9 and PC-12 single-engine turboprop aircraft through 2010. Hartzell and Pilatus also will collaborate on development programs such as the PC-21 Advanced Trainer, which was rolled out in May.
The Lancair Company is selling a portion of the company's stock in return for cash that will allow the company to increase production of aircraft. Lancair, the Oregon-based manufacturer of Columbia 300 aircraft, signed an agreement with a New York-based equity fund for the sale. "The cash infusion will be used for working capital and additional tooling that will allow the company to increase production to a rate of one per day by the middle of 2003," Lancair said.
AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION relaunched the SPEC2000 web site, which provides information on the capabilities and benefits of SPEC2000 specifications, products and services designed to facilitate aviation e-business. The web site was developed by 12 international associations representing airlines, manufacturers, suppliers and repair stations.
MARATHON FLIGHT SERVICES completed construction of a new $1.6 million fixed-base operation at Kissimmee, Fla., Gateway Airport. The 6,000-square-foot FBO, built with a 7,000-square-foot canopy, will help accommodate the growth that the facility has experienced since 1997. The FBO is a designated Phillips 66 Aviation Performance Center, and company officials expect fuel sales to reach 850,000 gallons by yearend.
