BRAZILIAN MANUFACTURER Embraer signed a cooperation agreement with the Russian TsAGI (Tsentralny Aerogidrodynamichesky Institut-Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute). Embraer has been using a TsAGI wind tunnel since June to fine-tune the ERJ 170/190 family of regional jets, along with the research center's computer-based aerodynamic and aeroelastic laboratories. The new agreement "covers the entire scope of all the work we intend to perform alongside TsAGI to fully utilize their enormous technologic capabilities," said Satoshi Yokota, Embraer's industrial vice president.
Gulfstream Aerospace is hoping to capitalize on a potentially growing Asian market by signing a memorandum of understanding with Hong Kong-based Metrojet for charter and other services. Gulfstream is leasing a Gulfstream IV to Metrojet for charter use with service expected to begin early next year. Metrojet will operate the aircraft from its base in Hong Kong and Gulf-stream will support the aircraft. Gulfstream also will use the aircraft as a demonstrator throughout Asia.
JOHN MENARD joined BAE Systems Canada as director of business development - corporate aircraft products. Menard has more than 25 years of technical and sales experience in aviation avionics and completions. He previously was sales manager of the Satcom Division at EMS and also has served as director of aircraft avionics, maintenance and completions for Innotech Aviation.
The pilot of an Aerospatiale AS-350B helicopter was killed late last month when his aircraft crashed with little warning while he was making a routine flight between oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico.
Docket No.: 29197 Section of the FAR Affected: 14 CFR 91.315 Description of Relief Sought/Disposition: To permit Stallion 51 to provide initial and recurrent training, and training under contracts with the U.S. military, in its two North American TF-51 airplanes certificated as limited category civil aircraft. Grant, Sept. 8, 2000, Exemption No. 6811A
The fate of the chairman of the Senate aviation subcommittee remained in limbo as Sen. Slade Gorton (R-Wash.) clung to a narrow lead late last week over contender Maria Cantwell (D) with hundreds of thousands of outstanding ballots remaining to be counted in the state of Washington. Gorton was one of four Senate aviation subcommittee members considered in jeopardy before Tuesday's election two of whom, Sens. Spencer Abraham (R-Mich.) and John Ashcroft (R-Mo.) - lost their bids to return.
Model CN-235, CN-235-100, and CN-235-200 series airplanes (Docket No. 2000-NM-264-AD) - proposes to require replacing the upper brackets in Frames 33, 34, and 35 with improved brackets that are more fatigue resistant and reinforcing Frame 35. This action is necessary to prevent fatigue cracking in the zone of the fittings connecting the fuselage to stiffener rods located in Frames 33, 34, and 35, which could reduce structural integrity of the airplane. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition. Send comments in triplicate by Nov.
WAYNE HUNDSDORFER joined Midcoast Aviation as director of corporate aviation sales. Hundsdorfer, who is based at St. Louis Downtown-Parks Airport, formerly was Midwest marketing manager for Honeywell. He also has served with Gulfstream, McDonnell Douglas Electronic Systems Company and UNC Accessory Services.
BOMBARDIER AEROSPACE delivered a high-speed de Havilland Dash 8 Q400 to Changan Airlines Limited in The People's Republic of China. Changan, which recently merged with Hainan Airlines, ordered three Q400 aircraft in April 1999 to replace its older turboprop equipment. The airline is based in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province. Bombardier also delivered the first of five CRJ200 regional jet aircraft to Shandong Airlines. Deliveries of the CRJ200s are slated to continue in 2001. Shandong is based in Ji'nan, the capital of Shandong Province.
MARK SHUFFLEBOTHAM was appointed president of Bearing Inspection's Atech Turbine Components unit. Shufflebotham has 16 years of aerospace experience and previously held management positions with Altair Avionics Corp. and Weston Aerospace.
SIKORSKY sold two S-70A Firehawk helicopters to Los Angeles County for firefighting and paramedic uses. The agreement was valued at $25 million, including the helicopters, support equipment, training, emergency medical service interiors, mission avionics, water tanks and extended landing gear. The helicopters are slated for delivery by early 2001.
PATRICK CORVAL was appointed senior vice president/purchasing for Jet Aviation in West Palm Beach, Fla. Corval has more than 11 years of aviation industry experience. Most recently he was a senior consultant for Veritec Solutions, where he developed business solutions, inventory management and cost analyses for companies.
The National Transportation Safety Board is examining an oil line and fitting from a Beech BE-76 Duchess aircraft that crashed last month while the flight instructor and pilot on board tried to deal with an inflight fire in the right engine.
Scott Kalister, a veteran of more than two decades with Beech Aircraft and Raytheon Aircraft, is leaving the Wichita manufacturer to become chief operating officer of Kellstrom Industries, Inc., a supplier of components and services for large airline-type aircraft.
Model Galaxy airplanes (Docket No. 2000-NM-201-AD) - proposes to require replacement of certain existing fasteners in the aft pickup fittings of the horizontal stabilizer. This action is necessary to prevent fatigue failure of those fasteners, which could reduce structural integrity of the empennage. FAA estimates that 10 Galaxy airplanes on the U.S. Registry would be affected by this proposed AD at a cost of $12,100, or $1,210 per airplane. Send comments by Nov. 29 to FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, ANM-114, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000-NM-201-AD, 1601 Lind Ave.
SOUTHWEST AVIATION restructured its senior management, naming Jeff Schlueter president and promoting Rich Dawson to executive vice president. Schlueter formerly was vice president of sales and service for the company. Dawson, previously vice president of flight services, will continue as director of operations. "Jeff and Rich have demonstrated the management capabilities to extend Southwest Jet Aviation's business strategy for aviation service growth in the future," said Southwest Jet Aviation Chairman Jim Houtz.
SHOWALTER FLYING SERVICE this month officially opened its new $1.8 million facility at Orlando Executive Airport. The FBO reflects the design of the original terminal and control tower with an 11,000-square-foot V-shaped terminal that looks like a flying-wing bomber from the air. Showalter, a Phillips 66 Aviation Performance Center, has 180 tenant aircraft and pumps between 110,000 to 140,000 gallons of aviation gasoline and jet fuel monthly, depending on the season.
CESSNA AIRCRAFT said it won an order for three new Caravan utility aircraft from Shandong Airlines in the Peoples Republic of China - plus an option for an additional 37 aircraft. Shandong will be the first company to commercially operate Caravans in China. Deliveries of one Grand Caravan and two Caravan 675s on amphibious floats are scheduled for the first quarter of 2001.
General Dynamics, the parent company of Gulfstream Aerospace, signed a definitive agreement to acquire Primex Technologies, a St. Petersburg, Fla. defense contractor.
SKIP FEHER was promoted to vice president of marketing and business development for Airshow. Feher is a 25-year veteran of the aviation communication services fields. Feher joined Airshow in 1996 as manager of airline sales and most recently he was general manager of the Communications Services unit. He also has served with Global Systems and Sundstrand Data Control.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION created a flap for the scheduled airlines last week, announcing plans for a slot lottery at New York's LaGuardia Airport beginning in January. FAA said the lottery system is designed to limit overall operations at the airport to 75 per hour between 0700 and 2200 daily. The airlines in recent months have filed requests for more than 600 new flights each day at LGA. Scheduled operations, which now total more than 1,350 per day at LGA, would be cut to 1,200, meaning some carriers would have to drop some flights.
Model BAe ATP airplanes (Docket No. 99-NM-249-AD) - proposes to require revising the airworthiness limitations section of the instructions for continued airworthiness to incorporate life limits for certain items and inspections for fatigue cracking in certain structures. This proposal is prompted by issuance of a revision to the airworthiness limitations of the British Aerospace ATP Aircraft Maintenance Manual, which specifies new inspections and compliance times for inspection and replacement action.
Shawn Vick, a 16-year veteran of the corporate aviation business who had been vice president of North American sales for Gulfstream Aerospace for the past several years, has joined Bombardier Aerospace, Business Aircraft as senior vice president of international sales. The Canadian manufacturer said Vick, who will be based in Montreal, "will be responsible for all international sales activities involving Bombardier's growing family of business jet aircraft, led by the flagship Global Express," which competes directly against the Gulfstream V.
TAG AVIATION opened an aircraft acquisition and sales office in Seattle, Wash. Gene Clow, who joined the company as regional vice president, aircraft acquisition, will manage the Seattle office, providing acquisition and sales services for both managed and outside clients.
