FAIRCHILD DORNIER and the State of Virginia made it official last week, announcing that the airframe manufacturer will relocate its U.S. headquarters from San Antonio, Texas to Herndon, Va. in Fairfax County. As previously reported, the manufacturer is moving executive operations, including marketing, customer support and public relations, to Herndon. The new base in Virginia is near Dulles International Airport and the move is designed to bring Fairchild Dornier officials closer to major customers, cut an hour from the time difference between the company's U.S.
THE U.S. COAST GUARD plans to issue a sole-source contract to Gulfstream Aerospace for a C-37A command and control aircraft (Gulfstream V) authorized in the fiscal 2001 Military Construction Appropriations Act. It will be based at Washington National Airport near Coast Guard headquarters.
JEFF DUNN was appointed JT15D/TEF731 Midwest regional engine manager for Dallas Airmotive. Dunn has been with Dallas Airmotive for 12 years as service manager in the St. Louis regional turbine center.
GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY was selected to house the National Transportation Safety Board's new investigation training academy. The new facility will be based at GWU's Virginia campus in Loudoun County next to the Department of Transportation's Crash Analysis Center. The training academy will include classrooms, laboratories, and space for accident reconstructions. The facility is expected to begin operations in 2003.
CYNDY BROWN, executive director of the BE A PILOT program, has resigned that post, effective at the end of the month. Brown, a veteran flight instructor and former insurance executive, has overseen day-to-day operations of the BE A PILOT program since she joined the organization nearly two years ago (BA, Dec. 21, 1998/281). The industry-supported learn-to-fly program is headed by Drew Steketee, the veteran aviation industry public affairs executive, who was named president and chief executive of BE A PILOT earlier this year (BA, Sept. 11/117).
A VOTE IN FLORIDA last week upset the National Business Aviation Association and other business aviation interests hoping to convince the Naples Airport Authority to drop its proposed ban on Stage 2 aircraft at Naples Municipal Airport (APF). The authority approved the ban by a 4-1 vote with the Stage 2 ban taking effect Jan. 1. "We are disturbed that the airport authority has chosen to disregard the procedures" of national airport noise guidance in the Airport Noise and Capacity Act, NBAA President Jack Olcott said, stressing the importance of federal pre-emption.
EUROPEAN JOINT AVIATION AUTHORITIES this week are expected once again to consider JAA's policy for an extended-range twin-engine operations (ETOPS) threshold for commercial business jets. The proposal before the JAA would establish a 120-minute threshold that would be expandable to 180 minutes for operators that follow best industry practices. This proposal, which generally has U.S. industry support, comes as FAA begins to consider an ETOPS threshold for Part 135 operators in the U.S. (BA, Nov. 6/209).
Honeywell won an FAA technical standard order for its new multi-function display (MFD) product line for use in a range of aircraft. FAA approved both the Bendix/King KMD 550, which is tailored for non-radar-equipped piston and light turbine aircraft, and the Bendix/King KMD 850, built for radar-equipped piston and turbine aircraft. "Both of these new MFDs offer pilots fulltime situational awareness, making flying easier and safer," said Dan Barks, director of marketing for Bendix/King.
LEARJET Model 45 series airplanes (Docket No. 2000-NM-132-AD; Amendment 39-11950; AD 2000-22-04) - requires repetitive application of grease to the rotating disk assembly of the nose landing gear squat switch mechanism. Application of grease to the squat switch assembly is necessary to prevent moisture contamination and subsequent formation of ice. Such ice formation could result in bending or damaging the nose landing gear squat switch assembly, which could drive the nose wheel to an uncommanded angle against the force of the steering system.
RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT, which already is more than two years late in winning FAA certification for its Premier I business jet, will miss the latest deadline it set less than two months ago.RAC officials said in September they believed the Premier I would achieve certification before yearend (BA, Sept.
CIT VENTURE CAPITAL invested $15 million in CAMP Systems International, the company's largest equity investment to date, CIT announced. CAMP Systems provides maintenance tracking and aircraft management services for more than 4,500 corporate aircraft.
BELL Model 430 helicopters (Docket No. 2000-SW-1-AD-1; Amendment 39-11959; AD 2000-22-13) - requires calibration of the fuel quantity indicating system. This amendment is prompted by an operator's report of an inaccurate fuel quantity indicating system. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent an inaccurate fuel quantity indicating system reading, engine flameout due to fuel starvation, and a subsequent forced landing. FAA estimates that 50 helicopters on the U.S. Registry will be affected by this AD at a cost of $6,000. The rule is effective Dec. 12.
Bombardier Aerospace is forming a joint venture with ExecuJet Aviation Group to build a new aircraft service facility in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The 28,000-square-foot facility, based at Dubai International Airport, will accommodate up to four aircraft at one time. The center will provide support and maintenance and include a spares depot. The venture is slated to be operational by next summer.
ANTHONY BAUCKHAM was named executive vice president of Evergreen International Airlines. Bauckham, who also serves as senior vice president of sales and marketing for Evergreen, has served with the company for more than eight years. He formerly was vice president of sales and marketing for Europe, Middle East and Africa.
AIRCRAFT TECHNICAL PUBLISHERS released an enhanced version of its Maintenance Director software. The new software, Version 3.0, provides more specific component tracking capabilities, automatic updates and, on the Enterprise versions, maintenance worksheet/checklists. Maintenance Director tracks maintenance and records airworthiness directive and service bulletin compliance into aircraft records.
Raytheon Company agreed to sell its optical systems business to The BFGoodrich Co., a deal that is expected to close by the end of the year. Details of the transaction were not disclosed, but Raytheon said it would use the proceeds to reduce its debt.
Vought Aircraft Industries, Inc. announced appointment of its executive staff this month, slightly more than three months since the Dallas-based company began operations July 24 under new ownership. The company was created when Northrop Grumman Corp. sold its commercial aerostructures business to The Carlyle Group, the Washington, D.C. private equity firm, in a $1.2 billion deal (BA, June 19/285).
GENERAL AVIATION MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION elected Michael Smith, president of Honeywell Aerospace Electronics Systems, to a one-year term as chairman and Ray Siegfried, chairman and chief executive of The NORDAM Group, vice chairman. Smith has served on GAMA's board since 1994 and most recently was vice chairman. Siegfried joined the board in 1994 and formerly headed the association's International Affairs Committee.
AJ WALTER AVIATION, a distributor and repairer of aircraft spare parts, appointed Aero-Craft Hydraulics Inc. to market some of its services in the U.S. AJ Walter said Aero-Craft, a California-based repair and overhaul specialist, will strengthen its presence in the North American market and enhance its global supply network.
TIMOTHY VASTINE joined AirLiance Materials as engine program director. Vastine formerly was with Pratt&Whitney in a number of positions, including program management, and also has served with American Airlines and Boeing.
MIDCOAST AVIATION received a supplemental type certificate for installation of Honeywell's AIS-1000 OneView airborne information system on a Challenger 604. The OneView system, which allows the aircraft to receive Direct Broadcast Satellite programming throughout the U.S., includes Honeywell's MR-400 multi-channel receiver/decoder unit, a vertical stabilizer-mounted DBA-1150 antenna and other hook-up hardware. Midcoast's facility at St. Louis Downtown-Parks Airport is performing the installations, which the company estimated will take about three weeks.
BOTH PILOTS aboard a Cessna Model 425 Conquest turboprop were killed Nov. 10 while conducting a maintenance test flight. The aircraft had departed from the Idaho Falls, Idaho airport shortly after 7 p.m. local time and the crew had reported they were level at 8,000 feet. Radar contact was subsequently lost and the aircraft crashed.
LEGG MASON, the investment banking firm that owns the Atlantic Aviation chain of fixed-base operations, is believed finally to have reached a deal to sell the bases to an investor group headed by CD Ventures of Berwyn, Pa. following months of talks between the parties. A month ago the fixed-base operation and maintenance facility at Wilmington, Del. that served as Atlantic headquarters was sold to Dassault Falcon Jet (BA, Oct. 30/200). Officials of CD Ventures were unavailable for comment Friday and an Atlantic official said he was unable to comment.
KIMBERLY THORNBURG was named manager for Professional Aviation Associates. Thornburg previously was an interior designer with Stevens Aviation and an applications engineer for a major lighting manufacturer.
