Triumph Group, the Wayne, Pa.-based aerospace manufacturer, reported increase revenue and net income for the first quarter of its fiscal year, which ended June 30. The company reported net income of $12.9 million on sales of $153.5 million, compared with earning of $8.2 million on sales of $129 million a year earlier. As a result of a recent equity offering, Triumph said it received proceeds of approximately $122 million, which were utilized to reduce debt. The number of shares used to calculate earnings per share rose from 12.4 million a year ago to 16 million.
Model ATR 42-200, -300, -320, and -500 series airplanes, and Model ATR 72 series airplanes (Docket No. 2000-NM-336-AD; Amendment 39-12332; AD 2001-14-21) - requires temporarily revising the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) to add tests of the engine fire protection system and conducting those tests prior to each flight. This amendment also requires replacement of defective engine fire handles with serviceable fire handles, which terminates the revision of the AFM and the repetitive tests of the engine fire protection system.
GARMIN INTERNATIONAL INC. introduced the GDL 49 Satellite Data Link Transceiver and the GTX 330 Mode-S Transponder to increase safety by providing pilots with weather and traffic conditions. The GDL 49 allows access to satellite weather information by pilots at any altitude and location in the continental United States. With the GTX 330, pilots can see surrounding flight activity, enhancing air traffic control services. The GDL 49 is expected to be available in the fourth quarter of 2001 and cost $3,495.
TRANSCONTINENTAL AVIONICS CORPORATION added Aero Graham Avionics of Ft. Pierce, Fla. to its network of dealers. TCA also agreed to market additional avionics products through its network of repair and installation facilities.
MICHAEL D. WOLF was appointed president of Textron Lycoming. Wolf was most recently executive vice president and general manager of the piston engine manufacturer. "Mike has played a key role in Lycoming's success over the last 18 years. His impressive industry knowledge and market experience will help the company continue to leverage its global leadership in the piston aircraft engine industry and to expand its share of the market," said John Janitz, Textron president.
GENERAL ELECTRIC opened a $30 million new jet engine overhaul and maintenance facility in Xiamen, China. The 80,000-square-foot facility will be a base for repair, maintenance and testing of GE and CFM International jet engines. The facility will be owned and operated by GE Engine Services Company, Ltd.
In an apparent reversal from past policy, the Bush Administration committed to develop a comprehensive policy to managing backcountry airstrips that includes protections of legitimate uses and a public process before any of the landing strips could be altered. Both Interior Secretary Gale Norton and Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman made that promise in separate letters to Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), who was pushing legislation to prevent federal land managers from suddenly closing backcountry airstrips on a whim.
CITATIONSHARES, one year after the company's launch by Cessna and Tag Aviation USA, signed the 100th customer for its business jet fractional ownership program. The customer purchased a one-eighth share of CitationShares' first Citation Excel.
JEFFREY SHANE, who held senior posts at the Transportation and State Departments under former President George Bush, is expected to be named associate deputy secretary or undersecretary of DOT with responsibility for transportation policy and for aviation and international affairs, according to an exclusive report Friday in BA affiliate Aviation Daily. Shane is currently a partner in the Washington, D.C. law firm of Hogan&Hartson.
David L. Blackshear, hired just two years ago by the state of Maryland to oversee a major expansion of Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) and upgrade the state's general aviation airports (BA, Sept. 6/107), abruptly resigned as head of the Maryland Aviation Administration (MAA) last week, saying he was frustrated by the bureaucracy that limited his ability to effectively run the agency.
JOHN HAMMERSCHMIDT'S nomination for another term as a member of the National Transportation Safety Board will be considered Aug. 1 by the Senate Commerce Committee in Room 253 of the Russell Senate Office Building.
CANADIAN SIMULATOR manufacturer CAE and Agusta SpA, an AgustaWestland Company, finalized the formation of RotorSim, a consortium "that will pursue global opportunities in helicopter simulation and training. The new entity, to be based in Cascnia Costa, Italy, will offer state-of-the-art training and simulation solutions for the full range of AgustaWestland helicopters. The new venture, in which each company will hold a 50 percent stake, is the second recent example of collaboration between the Canadian and Italian firms.
Bombardier Aerospace named James Hoblyn, previously vice president of marketing and programs at its business aircraft division, to head FlexJet Europe. As managing director, Hoblyn will oversee Bombardier's European fractional ownership program. "James has been involved with FlexJet Europe dating back to its start-up in 1999. In addition, he brings to the organization a strong knowledge of the European market and proven expertise in business strategy," said Clifford Dickman, president of Bombardier's Business JetSolutions.
NBAA board of directors approved the creation of a new standing committee, the Local Business Aviation Organization Committee, which will be composed of representatives from local business aviation groups across the United States. Richard Schuller, president of the Arizona Business Aviation Association, will be the committee's interim chairman. "This new NBAA Standing Committee will facilitate nationwide interaction and communication among various local business aviation organizations," said Phil Roberts, NBAA chairman.
UNITED AIRLINES' ENTRY into the business jet fractional aircraft arena may inspire other carriers to follow suit, but American Airlines isn't one of them. Asked about UAL's United Biz Jet Holdings, Inc. initiative during a conference call on American's second-quarter financial performance, Chief Financial Officer Tom Horton generally rained on UAL's parade.
JET AVIATION BASEL completed its first Airbus Corporate Jetliner for Qatar Airways. Since the aircraft is certified for public transportation, Jet Aviation had to meet strict fire prevention and smoke emissions guidelines from the European Joint Aviation Authorities. The Airbus has 36 seats, each with an individual personal monitor, six video programs and six audio channels.
BUSINESS AIRCRAFT sales may be off a bit so far this year, but the long-term prospects appear bright as the politicians and the carriers keep thinking of new reasons for passengers to abandon the airlines in favor of business aviation. The latest to inadvertently weigh in with support of private aircraft travel is Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who wants to impose a two-drink maximum on airline passengers. See article below.
BOEING is closing a jet plant in Renton, Wash., and will transfer about 700 electrical jobs from Renton to its Everett, Wash. plant by 2003. Boeing will unite 1,700 electrical wire assembly workers in Everett to cut costs. "The work is being moved to reduce overall overhead costs and improve operational efficiency," said a Boeing statement. "This consolidation will allow the wire shop to become more price competitive and help keep the work in Puget Sound." Boeing will not be cutting any jobs with the move, said John Kvasnosky, Boeing spokesman.
KIM BURSKI was named customer service supervisor for Atlantic Aviation's Philadelphia, Pa., FBO (PHL). Burski was promoted from her position as customer service representative at Atlantic.
Used retail jet and turboprop deliveries inside and outside North America for June 2001 Used Retail Deliveries June 1998 June 1999 June 2000 June 2001 L M H L M H L M H L M H Jet North 65 32 26 71 39 23 66 26 27 54 30 21 America Jet Outside 7 3 1 7 7 7 6 5 1 5 2 1 N.
LATISHA CRUBAUGH was appointed charter sales representative at Atlantic Aviation's Teterboro, N.J. FBO (TEB). Crubaugh will be responsible for charter sales and customer relations at Atlantic's Flight Services Division. Crubaugh most recently worked at Signature Flight Support.
"CLEARLY, ONE OF OUR COMPETITORS seems to think there are some good synergies between the businesses. At this point, I'm not ready to come to the same conclusion," Horton said.
The proposed new Arizona Cardinals football stadium could pose a hazard to aviation if it is built on the Tempe, Ariz., site currently planned for it near Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, the Federal Aviation Administration says. FAA raised its concerns in a study responding to a Notice of Proposed Construction for the stadium submitted by the Arizona Tourism&Sports Authority. The future stadium location is "1.72 miles off the end and immediately on centerline of the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (PHX) Runway 26," said an FAA letter to the sports authority.
UNITED AIRLINES instituted a pilot hiring freeze in response to a second quarter loss of $292 million. United will suspend flight officer hiring and evaluate future hiring on a quarterly basis. "We continue to respond aggressively to the challenging financial situation, working concertedly to reduce the costs we can control. We've instituted a hiring freeze and are replacing only critical positions that come open through attrition," said James E. Goodwin, UAL chairman and CEO.
