Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta appointed two "Rapid Response Teams" (RRTs) Sept. 16 and asked them to report back within two weeks with "detailed recommendations for improving security within the national aviation system."
Losses continued to mount for flights schools that remained grounded at least through Friday afternoon, but general aviation pilots who fly under visual flight rules received limited relief as senior Bush Administration officials lifted the VFR ban outside major metropolitan areas. The Federal Aviation Administration allowed Part 91 VFR flights late Wednesday, eight days after the agency issued a nationwide "ground stop" for all civilian aircraft.
HONEYWELL said its RE100 auxiliary power unit is now available for retrofit in Cessna Citation Excel business jets for those operators who did not initially select the APU option. The manufacturer said its RE100 APUs can be installed at Cessna Citation Service Centers via Cessna Service Bulletin (SB 560XL-49-01), adding that Cessna and Honeywell "have assets on hand to complete APU installation with minimal aircraft down time." The APU is covered by a factory warranty covering all parts and labor to the same terms and duration as new Excel aircraft.
EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY's aerospace engineering program was ranked No. 1 by U.S. News and World Report's annual college guide. The magazine slotted Embry-Riddle ahead of institutions such as the U.S. Air Force Academy, California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo and St. Louis University, in the aerospace/aeronautical/astronautical engineering specialty category.
National Business Aviation Association, saying it wants to help the aviation community unite and exchange information in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and subsequent changes in airspace operating rules, has rescheduled its convention for Dec. 12-14 in New Orleans.
FOKKER Model F.28 Mark 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 series airplanes (Docket No. 2001-NM-23-AD; Amendment 39-12428; AD 2001-18-02) - requires a one-time eddy current inspection for cracks of the fuselage butt joint, which is forward of the emergency exits on the left- and right-hand sides of the airplane at the level of Stringers 27/48. This proposal also would require repair of any cracks detected. This amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign airworthiness authority.
FOKKER Model F27 Mark 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, and 700 series airplanes (Docket No. 2001-NM-24-AD; Amendment 39-12429; AD 2001-18-03) - requires a one-time inspection for correct installation of the left- and right-hand fuel differential pressure (FDP) switches and for correct connection of the pressure sensing lines to the switches, and corrective action, if necessary.
NASA named two men to Senior Executive Service posts at the agency's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. Dr. Arun K. Sehra was named director of Glenn's Aeronautics Directorate and Dr. Gary T. Seng was named director of Glenn's Aeropropulsion Research Program Office. Sehra is responsible for leading, planning and advocating the aeronautics program at Glenn, including future propulsion technologies. The directorate plans and manages research activities in cleaner burning engines, quieter engines and improved airport communications.
MARK SPINDLER was appointed vice president, employee services at TAG Aviation. Spindler will oversee the information technology, human resources and administration departments in TAG's San Francisco, Calif. and White Plains, N.Y. locations. He was most recently senior director of corporate services at Gap, Inc. where he worked for 13 years.
Corporate Angel Network, the volunteer organization that arranges transportation on corporate aircraft for cancer patients traveling to and from treatment centers, was attempting to restore normal operations last week in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist hijackings that disrupted air travel nationwide.
Sikorsky Aircraft Co. signed a memorandum of understanding last week under which it will enter negotiations with a Chinese company regarding a possible joint venture to build helicopters in China.
COMPLETIONAIR is teaming with Premier Air Center to expand its services and capabilities to a larger range of aircraft. "By combining our focus on large corporate aircraft...with Premier's emphasis on the smaller and mid-size segments, we now serve the entire corporate and VIP market. Our services in interiors, avionics and maintenance now support everything from turboprops to widebody jets," said Herb Ward, president of CompletionAir.
Airspace and flight restrictions imposed on general and business aviation in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks are having widely different effects on various segments of the aviation community, ranging from a temporary shutdown of one general aviation manufacturer to booming business for charter and fractional aircraft providers. Industry executives say it's too soon to tell how damaging the GA restrictions ultimately will be or what the future holds, but they agree that business will be different.
ALENIA MARCONI SYSTEMS completed the acquisition of Airport Systems International from Elecsys Corp. "The completion of the sale of Airport Systems allows Elecsys to solely focus on electronic contract manufacturing services and the outstanding opportunities for growth in that sector," said Keith S. Cowan, president and chief executive officer. At closing, Cowan said the company had paid Kansas City Equity Partners, a holder of Elecsys subordinated debt, fully paid down revolving and term bank loans and had approximately $2 million in cash.
Aircraft manufacturer Fairchild Dornier signed an agreement with Harbin Aircraft Industrial Group of China to produce components for the 328JET regional airliner. The agreement, announced at the Aviation Expo 2001 in Beijing, calls for Harbin to produce wing fairings for the 328JET, which is assembled in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany.
COST AND AVAILABILITY of aviation insurance is a growing concern throughout the business aviation community in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.Major insurance carriers are cancelling war risk insurance and premiums for all types of aviation coverage, which had been climbing, are expected to go up even faster. The Regional Airline Association warned last week that "aviation underwriters may begin imposing significant surcharges on existing coverages within a week." Increases of 10 to 50 percent in existing liability premiums are possible, RAA warned.
UNITED BIZJET HOLDINGS (UBH) maintained Friday that "our business plan is unchanged" despite the events of the past two weeks and the decision by parent UAL Corp. to sharply reduce airline operations and lay off 20,000 employees. UBH previously announced plans to launch a multi-tiered program of fractional aircraft, aircraft management and charter using a fleet of Gulfstream and Falcon business jets (BA, June 18/281). An announcement on marketing details had been anticipated at last week's NBAA convention, which was postponed until December (see article below).
FRANCIS X. SHEA was named executive vice president of finance at World Fuel Services. Shea was most recently a global corporate finance director at Arthur Andersen in Indonesia. "Frank's corporate finance experience is global in scope and will complement that of our senior management team as we continue to explore strategic growth opportunities for the company worldwide," the company said.
GULFSTREAM is extending a benefits package to buyers of previously owned Gulfstream 100 (Astra) and Gulfstream 200 (Galaxy) business jet aircraft. "The package includes a limited warranty, pilot training for two pilots, maintenance training for one maintenance technician and repainting the aircraft at no cost after delivery" if the aircraft is purchased through Gulfstream's pre-owned aircraft sales division, said Jeff Cole, division vice president.
TRIRIGA INC., Las Vegas, Nev., said Aerospace Concepts, Inc. has deployed the TRIRIGA Intelligent Business System software to support their aircraft interior design oprations in the U.S., Canada and Japan. The IBS system is designed to streamline communications, collaboration and reporting between project teams, vendors and customers, TRIRIGA said.
GOODRICH will provide a potable water system as standard equipment for the Gulfstream GV-SP. The pressurized system uses aircraft ECS bleed air and an air compressor to provide water to various areas in the aircraft. Crew members can control and monitor the water as a part of the cabin management system located in the aircraft galley with all servicing available from one external service panel. The system also has a modular design, which allows size adjustments for specific airplane configurations.
BREEZE-EASTERN won a contract to supply its HS-29900 high-performance, electric personnel rescue hoist system for a Eurocopter Super Puma helicopter that Norsk Helicopters will use for offshore oil operations. Breeze-Eastern expects to deliver the hoist to Eurocopter in France in November.
AMETEK secured a $300 million, five-year revolving credit facility, replacing a $195 million credit line due to expire next year. JPMorganChase helped arrange the credit line for Ametek, a supplier of electronic instruments and electric motors.
THIS MONTH'S terrorist attacks on U.S. aviation will be at the top of the agenda when the International Civil Aviation Organization convenes its General Assembly meeting Tuesday in Montreal. Ed Stimpson, the U.S. ambassador to ICAO, told BA there are "lots of ideas" being discussed, including expanding ICAO safety audits to include security matters. ICAO's General Assembly, whose membership comprises 187 nations, meets every three years. The session beginning this week had been scheduled months before the Sept. 11 attacks.
HONEYWELL received certification approval for its N1 Digital Electronic Engine Control (N1 DEEC) for the Raytheon Hawker XP, Dassault Falcon 900 and Falcon 20 aircraft. More than 2,000 TFE731 engines worldwide now operate with an N1 DEEC, said Ralph Alberto, director of TFE aftermarket engine support. N1 DEEC improves power management and engine temperature limiting, eliminating control trimming, said Alberto. It also has diagnostic capabilities for maintenance and can be installed in place of existing electronic engine control without wiring harness changes.
