Bombardier Aerospace, attempting to fill a niche in the upper end of its product line, announced the soft launch of the Global 5000 business jet Thursday, a shortened version of the Global Express designed to provide nonstop transportation for up to eight passengers and three crew members over 5,000-nautical-mile stage lengths. The new aircraft, priced at $32.95 million complete, is designed to compete against the Falcon 900 and Gulfstream IV in the "super-large" business jet category.
NEW PIPER AIRCRAFT has restarted production at its plant after a two-week shutdown that began in late September. The company temporarily furloughed all but a skeleton crew of 250 people while it worked through a bottleneck of planes that were grounded at the factory in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks (BA, Sept. 24/139). New Piper worked through the backlog and is manufacturing aircraft at production levels announced in early September, a spokesman said. But the company is closely watching the economy, he added.
Illinois Gov. George Ryan (R) submitted a $6 billion regional aviation plan that calls for building a new airport in Peotone, Ill., and permitting O'Hare operations to grow no more than about 20 percent from current levels. The plan supports most of Chicago Mayor Richard Daley's (D) O'Hare proposal except for a new, eighth runway. Ryan's plan also includes keeping downtown Chicago's Meigs Field open, despite longstanding plans by Daley to close it (BA, Oct. 22/185). Ryan calls his proposal Safe Airports For the Economy (SAFE).
A first production version of Bombardier's CRJ900 made its first flight this month from Mirabel International Airport in Montreal. Pilots flew the 86-seat twinjet airliner to an altitude of 17,000 feet and took it to a speed of 250 knots during the two-hour and three-minute flight on Oct. 20. The successful first flight indicates that "Bombardier CRJ900 will be in airline service at least two years before any competitive product," said Steven A. Ridolfi, president of Bombardier Regional Aircraft.
ROLLS-ROYCE and Philippine Aerospace Development Corporation opened their first aero repair and overhaul facility last month. The joint venture, in which Rolls-Royce has an 80 percent share, is located in Pampanga, Philippines and will serve commercial and military customers in East Asia.
NEWPORT NEWS/WILLIAMSBURG, VA. INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (PHF)was awarded another $7.7 million in Airport Improvement Program funds from FAA to permit expedited completion of aircraft ramps and taxiways for the Aviation World's Fair to be held there in April 2003 and for use in an aviation business park following the fair.
HONEYWELL TPE331-8, -10N, and -12B turboprop engines (Docket No. 2000-NE-39-AD; Amendment 39-12472; AD 2001-21-02) - requires, on engines with certain electronic engine controls installed, revising the Emergency and Normal Procedures section of the applicable Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) until the existing EECs are replaced. This amendment is prompted by a report of an engine experiencing an uncommanded full power increase during an approach while both engine power levers were at the flight idle gate.
BILL WALTHALL was appointed vice president, customer relations at Goodrich in Charlotte, N.C. Walthall, who has been working at Goodrich since 1979, will be responsible for airline and large aerospace customer relations. He was most recently the company's group vice president, engineered products.
GENERAL AVIATION groups are hoping that the House security bill will serve as a vehicle for an economic relief package to help businesses suffering under weeks of post-Sept. 11 airspace restrictions. The House this week is expected to consider its version of a security bill that would step up federal oversight of screeners and impose a per-passenger fee to pay for it.
Government leaders last week opened up more airspace to general aviation and freed up disaster relief loans, providing much-needed relief to scores of pilots and small aviation businesses hammered by ongoing flight restrictions. FAA phased out its ban on visual flight rules (VFR) operations for GA aircraft equipped with transponders in all but three cities - Boston, New York, and Washington, D.C. At the same time, the Small Business Administration expanded its disaster relief loans to all businesses affected by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
BOMBARDIER named George Gonzalez vice president and general manager of Bombardier Business Aviation Services, a newly formed unit that "blends all current customer support functions with the Aviation Services center network to create a turnkey service capability," the company said. Gonzalez, who will report to the president of Bombardier Business Aircraft, will be responsible for the overall operational and financial performance of customer services, technical services, technical publications, maintenance and services, flight and maintenance training and aircraft spares.
FAA, which has been working with general aviation organizations to open the airspace in a secure manner, has found the associations' recommendations "critical" in its airspace management plans. "What they tend to recommend are the things that are practical," said Steve Brown, associate administrator for air traffic services, who said they have given the nation's security chiefs a clear idea of their intent. Brown could not say when more restrictions would be lifted, but told BA they likely would be removed in a phased manner.
GENERAL DYNAMICS officials expect to produce slightly fewer Gulfstream IV and V business jets in the coming year than in 2001, they said last week during a conference call with financial analysts. The current outlook anticipates production of seven or eight fewer airplanes in 2002, with the number of Gulfstream IVs declining while the number of Gulfstream 200s and 100s goes up a bit. The Gulfstream backlog is stronger in 2003 than it is for 2002, they said. See article below.
FOKKER Model F.28 Mark 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 series airplanes (Docket No. 99-NM-220-AD; Amendment 39-12456; AD 2001-20-08) - requires repetitive eddy current inspections to detect cracks in the upper girder of the two main landing gear (MLG) brackets; and repair of a cracked bracket followed by repetitive inspections, or replacement of a cracked MLG bracket with an improved bracket, as applicable. This AD also provides for an optional terminating action for certain requirements of this AD.
NASA ADMINISTRATOR Daniel S. Goldin, the longest serving head of the nation's aeronautics and space agency, announced he will resign effective Nov. 17. Goldin, 61, was appointed NASA Administrator April 1, 1992 by President George H.W. Bush. Despite NASA's ongoing budget problems, Goldin was generally considered to be a strong supporter of the agency's aeronautics programs. Industry officials are anxious to see that Goldin's successor also supports NASA's aeronautics research.
AOPA is claiming success for helping to keep public San Diego's Brown Field Municipal Airport following an 8-0 City Council vote to maintain local control of the airport. The association worked for two years to oppose a privatization plan for the airport, which was scheduled to be leased or sold to a private developer under a congressionally ordered demonstration program, AOPA said.
The National Business Aviation Association dropped its appeal of the U.S. District Court decision upholding a Stage 2 aircraft ban at Naples Municipal Airport in Naples, Fla. The association plans to continue to fight the ban through the Federal Aviation Administration, which earlier this year warned the Naples Airport Authority that the ban could violate its federal grant assurance agreements (BA, Feb.26/99). "We remain opposed to the ban and believe that it is not only unlawful but unwise," said NBAA President Jack Olcott. "However, the events of Sept.
Mesa Air Group will begin training its pilots to carry tasers in the cockpit, the airline announced last week. Mesa is currently developing a training program, subject to Federal Aviation Administration approval, for pilots to use the non-lethal weapon, but a spokeswoman said no timeline has been set for when training programs will start or when pilots will begin carrying tasers. A taser is a stun gun that fires a high voltage shock to immobilize attackers for up to 15 minutes.
Delta Air Lines rebranded its Comair Jet Express corporate aircraft charter and management unit to Delta AirElite Business Jet, tying the Cincinnati-based operation more closely to the parent. Delta AirElite, a 16-year-old business that Delta inherited in its January 2000 acquisition of Comair Holdings, operates a range of Challenger, Learjet, Gulfstream and Cessna aircraft. Delta said the name change expands the operations presence globally and conveys the range of services it can offer customers.
EMBRAER Model EMB-120 series airplanes (Docket No. 2001-NM-298-AD; Amendment 39-12465; AD 2001-20-17) - supersedes an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that currently requires revising the Airplane Flight Manual, installing a placard on the main instrument panel, and removing the "LIGHT-HEAVY" inflation switch of the leading edge deicing boots.
Michael Graff, who headed the highly successful Aerospace unit of Canadian manufacturer Bombardier for nearly three years, left the company last week and was replaced by Pierre Beaudoin, the son of Bombardier's chairman, Laurent Beaudoin. The move surprised most observers, both because of Graff's success in the post and the younger Beaudoin's limited experience on the aerospace side.
Heico Corp., of Hollywood, Fla., has acquired the assets of Avitech Engineering Corp., a maintenance, repair and overhaul provider, as well as Aviation Facilities Inc., an aftermarket commercial parts producer. Terms of the deals, which Heico announced Oct. 16, were not disclosed.
EUROCOPTER France Model SA.315B, SA.316C, SA 3180, SA 318B, SA 318C, SA.319B, SE.3160, and SA.316B helicopters (Docket No. 2001-SW-36-AD; Amendment 39-12467; AD 2001-18-51) - publishes an amendment adopting Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2001-18-51. This AD requires, within 10 hours time-in-service (TIS), inspecting the magnetic drain plug and the main gear box (MGB) filter for a rust-colored deposit, inspecting the MGB to determine the angular displacement on the MGB output flange, and periodically examining oil samples.
JOHN CHRISTOFFERSSON was appointed senior executive, business development at Wilson Logistics Canada in Toronto. He was most recently country manager for Danzas in Canada.
