Chicago-based Indigo last week placed its first major fleet order with Embraer for up to 75 Legacy corporate shuttles, in a deal that could be worth $1.1 billion. Indigo and Embraer finalized the agreement Wednesday, including a firm order for 25 Legacy corporate shuttle aircraft with delivery to begin in August. Indigo will operate the aircraft initially on its route between Chicago Midway and Teterboro Airport in New Jersey. The Legacy is a version of Embraer's ERJ 145.
BAE 146 series airplanes and Model Avro 146-RJ series airplanes (Docket No. 2001-NM-186-AD) - proposes to require modifying the engine start circuit. This action is necessary to prevent overheating of the soft start resistor of the engine start circuit, which could result in smoke and fumes in the cabin and consequent injury to passengers and crew. FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 65 airplanes on the U.S.
American, United and Delta airlines backed out of plans to invest in Connexion, Boeing's high-speed airborne Internet service, due to financial losses since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. "The three airlines understand the value of in-flight connectivity but they need to focus near-term on their core businesses, in light of recent events," said Fernando Vivanco, Connexion spokesman. Boeing will continue with plans to install and test Connexion on jetliners operated by its European launch customer, Deutsche Lufthansa AG, in late 2002 or early 2003, Vivanco said.
GOODRICH avionics were selected as standard options for Piaggio Aero Industrie's P180 Avanti aircraft. The aircraft will be equipped with Goodrich's SkyWatch HP traffic advisory system and the Stormscope Model WX-1000E weather mapping system. P180 operators also will have the option of installing the Goodrich LandMark terrain awareness and warning systems.
ALL THREE PEOPLE aboard a PA-46 Piper Malibu were killed last week when the aircraft crashed while the pilot was attempting to make a night landing. The aircraft, N41003, had departed Dothan, Ala., and was en route to Raleigh, N.C., according to FAA investigators. After executing a missed approach, officials said the aircraft crashed into a house. The house was destroyed in the ensuing fire, but there were no injuries to people on the ground. The accident occurred just after midnight.
NETJETS relaunched its website, www.netjets.com. The site was redesigned to provide a wider range of information about ownership in NetJets, Executive Jet's fractional program, said NetJets. The website will also offer "The Buyer's Guide To Fractional Aircraft Ownership," an online publication about fractional ownership.
WING AVIATION started construction on a 54,000 square foot facility for its Gulfstream maintenance center at the Montgomery County Airport in Conroe, Texas, 45 miles north of Houston. The new facility is on schedule to open in April 2002.
SCOTT FAIRBEE was named a non-territorial field service representative based in Teterboro, N.J. for Dassault Falcon Jet. In his new position, Fairbee will respond to urgent customer field service requests from around the western hemisphere. Fairbee was most recently flight line control chief and supervisor at the U.S. Coast Guard Aviation Training Center in Alabama. He served for 20 years in the USCG.
JACK WALL, 79, who operated his own aircraft resale business for many years, died Dec. 13 in Memphis, Tenn. Wall was president of Jack Wall Aircraft Sales, a small family firm that did a lot of repeat business.
UAL Corporation's new business jet venture Avolar is officially "open for business" with a new round of orders for up to 82 Learjet and Beechjet aircraft valued at $782 million that will fill out its fractional ownership fleet.
THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION named James J. Ballough director and Louis C. Cusimano deputy director of the Flight Standards Service. Ballough will manage more than 4,500 safety inspectors and aviation professionals.
JET AVIATION WEST PALM BEACH was named an authorized service center for the Embraer Legacy by the manufacturer. Maintenance personnel from the facility will be sent to Brazil for maintenance training on the Legacy airframe and electrical systems before the aircraft are delivered.
The general aviation community is coordinating efforts to tighten security of its operations and answer the concerns of senior Bush Administration officials that private aircraft pose a potential threat to national security.
SHORT BROTHERS Model SD3 series airplanes (Docket No. 2001-NM-113-AD; Amendment 39-12525; AD 2001-24-09) - requires repetitive tests (checks) of the engine power lever to ensure that the fuel control unit (FCU) lever is contacting the maximum stop, adjustment of the FCU rigging, if necessary, and an engine ground run for correct gas generator rotational speed. This AD also requires a static reduced power check on each engine to ensure correct operation of the reserve takeoff power (RTOP) system; and follow-on actions, if necessary.
AVOLAR, United Air Lines' fractional business aircraft ownership subsidiary, will permanently locate its headquarters in Chicago, Ill. "After studying a number of alternatives, it was clear to us that Chicago will offer Avolar the most potential for growth and operational convenience coupled with state and city governments that value and encourage the development of new business and new jobs," said Stuart I.
Canadian manufacturer Bombardier plans to sharply reduce business jet deliveries next year, but officials told financial analysts last week that the company's overall aircraft deliveries will remain stable because of increased shipments of regional jets and turboprops for the airlines.
JET AVIATION AG ordered the CTT Systems Zonal Comfort System for installation on a Boeing Business Jet. The moisture management system will regulate humidity levels in the cabin while preventing condensation by distributing dry air from the Zonal Drying System between the cabin and the aircraft skin, said Jet Aviation. The system will be delivered in the first quarter of 2002.
Senate lawmakers meeting last month to discuss how the government can use biometric technology to thwart potential terrorist attacks recognized the need for a national standard.
FIELD AIRCRAFT SPARES completed its reorganization and emerged from bankruptcy, the company announced last week. Under the reorganization plan, the company received $2.35 million in new debt and equity financing from private investors, which received controlling interest in the company. Alan Fields continues as chief executive officer of the company, Brian Aune as chief financial officer and Neil O'Hara as senior vice president. Jeffrey Crevoiserat and Brian Katzen, who own controlling interest, will serve as chairman and vice chairman, respectively.
Garmin acquired Sequoia Instruments, a research and development company in Los Gatos, Calif., for $5 million in cash. Sequoia's main technology is a GPS-aided Air Data and Attitude Heading and Reference System (ADHRS), which provides navigational data for aviation, marine and land applications. Sequoia also has been involved in research and development for NASA's Advanced General Aviation Transport Experiment (AGATE) program.
BOEING signed an agreement with Aerosud to manufacture parts for Boeing aircraft as part of a deal to stimulate and develop South Africa's aviation industry. Using funding from Boeing, Aerosud is building a new manufacturing facility next to the Waterkloof Air Force Base in Pretoria, South Africa. The new plant is due to begin operations by mid-2002.
CHICAGO'S Meigs Field came within moments of winning a 25-year stay of execution last week, but a tentative deal between Chicago Mayor Richard Daley (D) and Illinois Gov. George Ryan (R) unraveled over a dispute about who would pay for the lakefront airport's $4 million annual operating deficit, Chicago newspapers reported Friday.Under the agreement, Daley, who wants to close the airport in February, would agree to keep it open until 2026 and, in return, win the state's blessing for his plans to reconfigure and build new runways at Chicago O'Hare International Airport.
WILLIAM J. MCGRATH was named president at Vector Systems. McGrath, a former Air Force instructor pilot and flight examiner, was most recently vice president of business development for Pan Am International Flight Academy in Miami, Fla. He also has held senior management positions with GE Capital Aviation Training in London, England and Hughes Training, CAE-Link and SimuFlite Training International. McGrath has more than 25 years of aerospace training and simulation experience.
BOMBARDIER AEROSPACE won FAA approval for the operation of the Learjet 35/36 series aircraft in reduced vertical separation minimum (RVSM) airspace. The approval applies to Learjet 35/36s with the Century III Softflite wing configuration equipped with certain STC'd electronics.
