AIR CHARTER GUIDE'S latest survey revealed that charter bookings jumped an average of 17 percent in January, continuing the growth trend in the on-demand air taxi market since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Charter operators last fall admitted a softening in bookings through mid-2001, but reported a surge in demand after the Sept. 11 attacks. The Air Charter Guide last month surveyed 102 U.S.
TWO MONTHS after the National Business Aviation Association first started holding monthly meetings to discuss how to get business aviation back into Washington Reagan National Airport, Bush Administration officials are still unwilling to commit to a timeline on when it will happen.But, at NBAA's third user dialog on the issue last week, a Transportation Security Administration official offered a glimmer of hope.
ROCKWELL COLLINS selected ZNYX Networks' embedded switch design and OpenArchitect software to integrate into its new eTES commercial in-flight entertainment systems. The new systems will provide in-flight Ethernet connections for web-browsing and e-mail as well as audio and video for individual seats. The systems are scheduled to ship midyear 2002.
ALAIN LEBOUCHER was appointed director of sales for components, landing gears and auxiliary power units at Barfield, Inc. He will be responsible for component and APU sales in North and Latin America for EADS Sogerma Services Group. LeBoucher was most recently Middle and Far East sales director for EADS Sogerma Services in France.
MT-PROPELLER ENTWICKLUNG GmbH Models MTV-9-B-C and MTV-3-B-C propellers [Docket No. 99-NE-35-AD] - proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive that currently requires initial and repetitive inspections of Torx head blade root lag screws that are used on certain serial number (S/N) propellers and replacing all lag screws on the propeller if any screws are found broken or with insufficient torque. In addition, that AD currently requires replacing certain part number (P/N) Torx head blade root lag screws with improved, hexagonal head blade root lag screws.
The former owner of a popular San Jose, Calif. night spot, and a veteran pilot, was killed when his twin turboprop Cessna Conquest, N444JV, crashed shortly after taking off from Reid-Hillview Airport on the morning of March 6.
CIRRUS DESIGN CORP. won type certification from Transport Canada for the Cirrus SR20 single-engine aircraft last week and is continuing to pursue similar approval for the SR22. The Canadian certification is "another validation of the concept, design and manufacture of this innovative aircraft," said Alan Klapmeier, president and chief executive officer. "We're committed to the process of certifying our aircraft internationally, and are pleased that this initiative continues with our neighbors to the North."
CURTIS HILL was named general manager at Woodland Aviation, an authorized Raytheon Aircraft sales and service center. He will be responsible for daily business operations and supervision of department managers. Hill, who was previously the director of operations and customer service for Northwest Airlines' Cargo Division, has more than 15 years of experience in airline operations and finance.
JET AVIATION'S facilities in London Biggin Hill, United Kingdom, and Dusseldorf, Germany, were named authorized service centers for the Embraer Legacy. Embraer expects to begin Legacy deliveries in the European market this month.
ADAM AIRCRAFT INDUSTRIES, Englewood, Colo., named two pilots to head the CarbonAero flight test program, which is scheduled to begin in June. Steve Martin is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and the U.S. Navy Test Pilot School. He spent 20 years as a Marine Corps pilot and also spent several years instructing Airbus pilots for United Airlines. He holds an Air Transport Pilot rating and has logged more than 4,200 flight hours in more than 50 different aircraft types.
NATIONAL AVIATION HALL OF FAME will induct four industry pioneers during ceremonies at the Dayton Convention Center in Dayton, Ohio. Those being honored are: Frank Piasecki, who made America's second successful helicopter flight in the PV-2 in 1943. His Piasecki Helicopter Corp. began building aircraft in 1946; Dick Rutan, who in 1986 completed the first around-the-world nonstop, nonrefueled flight in the Voyager aircraft, with his co-pilot, Jeana Yeager; James Stockdale, a decorated Navy aviator who was Ross Perot's vice presidential running mate in 1992.
DE HAVILLAND Models DHC-2 Mk. I, DHC-2 Mk. II, and DHC-2 Mk. III airplanes [Docket No. 97-CE-70-AD] - proposes to require modification of the elevator tip rib on each elevator; repetitively inspecting underneath the mass balance weights at each elevator tip rib for corrosion; and either removal of the corrosion or replacement of a corroded elevator tip rib depending on the corrosion damage. This proposed AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for Canada.
KARL G. HARR, 79, the president of the Aerospace Industries Association for nearly three decades, died March 5 at a Washington, D.C. area hospital following a stroke. Harr, a native of New Jersey and a magna cum laude graduate of Princeton University where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, was engaged in Army intelligence work in the Far East during World War Two. He received a law degree from Yale University in 1948 and was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University.
Docket No.: FAA-2001-11097 Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR Sec. 135.145 Description of Relief Sought: To permit Business Jet Services to place turbo-jet airplanes in service without conducting proving flights.
Docket No.: FAA-2001-11134 Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 25.785(j) Description of Relief Sought: To allow Lufthansa Technik to configure the Boeing Model 737-800 airplane for private, not-for-hire use and be exempted, in the configuration of the interior areas specified as the "Private Bedroom'' and the "First Class'' sections, from the requirement for a "firm handhold along each aisle.''
PHILLIPS 66 AVIATION has implemented a number of changes in its general aviation business in the wake of the acquisition of Tosco Corp. by Phillips Petroleum Company. The general aviation business, which provides aviation gasoline and jet fuel to fixed-base operators and into-plane customers, is now a stand-alone unit in Phillips Refining, Marketing and Transportation Division, headquartered in Bartlesville, Okla. Mark Wagner continues to head the enterprise as aviation manager.
The biometrics industry may be set for a major expansion, with iris and fingerprint scanners turning up at airport check-in counters, at the door to your office and at the computer on your desk. An announcement last month that two of the industry's leading companies intend to merge could pave the way for an industry with a reputation for volatility to expand beyond its present law enforcement niche, according to analysts.
PILATUS AIRCRAFT LTD. Models PC-12 and PC-12/45 airplanes [Docket No. 2001-CE-44-AD] - proposes to require inspection of the left and right main landing gear (MLG) assemblies for bolts with a serial number (S/N) beginning with the letters "AT" and numbers 299 or lower and replacement of each bolt with a bolt that does not have a S/N with both the letters "AT" and a number of 299 or lower. This proposed AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for Switzerland.
Avolar Chief Stuart Oran Quits In Wake Of Decision UAL Corp. is developing a new business plan for its Avolar fractional ownership operation that does not include outside or internal investment in a move that has lead the chief architect behind the unit, Stuart Oran, to quit. The company released a statement Friday that it would to craft a plan for Avolar "that will enable it to realize its value without additional investment from UAL or the involvement of private equity investors."
PRATT&WHITNEY CANADA CORP. said a general purpose Chinese aircraft powered by P&WC engines won certification from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). The Y12E, a 19-seat aircraft powered by a PT6A-135A engine, made its first flight in August 2001. The Y12E, with the PT6A-135A engine, offers reduced noise levels and improved "hot and high" performance over previous Y12 models, including the U.S. FAA certified Y121V and the U.K. Civil Aviation Authority certified Y12II, both of which are powered by PT6A-27 turboprops.
Docket No.: FAA-2001-8722 Section of 14 CFR Affected: 14 CFR 121.434(c)(1)(ii) Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit SkyWest to substitute a qualified and authorized check airman in place of the FAA inspector to observe a qualifying pilot-in-command who is completing initial or upgrade training specified in Sec. 121.424 during at least one flight leg that includes a takeoff and a landing. Grant, Jan. 9, 2002, Exemption No. 7689
DASSAULT AVIATION signed a memorandum of understanding to name ST Aerospace Systems Pte Lte (STA Systems) of Singapore an authorized service center to maintain, repair and overhaul Falcon 2000/2000EX and Falcon 900/900EX aircraft components. The MOU would make STA Systems the first Dassault Equipements repair station in Asia. STA Systems and Dassault also will cooperate on the maintenance of flight control system equipment on Falcon and Rafale aircraft. Dassault expects to formalize the agreement by the middle of 2002.
BOMBARDIER rounded out the portfolio of carriers for the company's Flexjet Asia-Pacific charter network with two more carriers and has put the finishing touches on the new program to prepare for its launch. Singapore-based Pacific Flight Services and ExecuJet Australia joined network participants Rainbow Jet Company of China, Subic International Air Charter of the Philippines and Jet Asia Limited of Macao to kick off the program (BA, Dec. 17/281). "Everything is in place and we're ready to fly," said Gregory Kalinin, general manager of Bombardier Flexjet Asia-Pacific.
LAURIE MATTHEWS was appointed administrative assistant for Jetcraft Corporation's headquarters in Raleigh-Durham, N.C. She will support internal sales, marketing and finance initiatives. Matthews has more than 17 years of experience in corporate administration and management.
