BOMBARDIER handed over the 100th Challenger 605 jet produced. The successor to the Challenger 604, the 605 has been in service since January 2007. The 605 is equipped with the Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics suite with the option for the Bombardier Enhanced Vision System. More than 800 of the Challenger 600 series have been built, and the fleet has accumulated more than 4 million flight hours.
The severe winter weather that paralyzed the East Coast beginning Feb. 5 took a heavy toll on the Dulles Jet Center (DJC) at Washington Dulles International Airport, with three of four of the DJC hangars – each filled with high-end business jets – crumpling under the weight of nearly two feet of snow. As a result, all three hangars were destroyed, and up to 14 aircraft experienced varying levels of damage. The fourth hangar, which apparently housed four aircraft in the General Dynamics fleet, was damaged slightly, but survived the storm.
PIAGGIO P-180 airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-1116; Directorate Identifier 2009-CE-061-AD; Amendment 39-16193; AD 2010-03-09] – Conduct a dye-penetrant inspection of the “0” pressure bulkhead for cracks, per the instructions of Piaggio Mandatory Service Bulletin N.: SB-80-0267 Rev.0 (dated May 19, 2009) or N.: SB-80-0267, Rev.1 (dated June 16, 2009). Whether or not cracks were found, install doublers on the “0” pressure bulkhead following the inspection. Within 30 days of doing the inspection, report all inspection results to Piaggio.
JO KREMSREITER was named Western region sales director for International Communications Group’s (ICG) line of general aviation aeronautical communications product lines. Kremsreiter joins ICG from Iridium, where he was U.S. sales manager of products for special use applications. He also has managed green completion and refurbishment projects and has served as an avionics department manager. In his new role, he will work between ICG’s offices in St. Louis and Denver and represent the company in the Midwest and Western states.
INDONESIAN OPERATOR SUSI AIR has ordered two more Piaggio Avanti IIs and has taken an option on another one of the twin turboprops. The scheduled and charter airline, which is based in Pangandaran, West Java, has been flying its first Piaggio 180 since last July. The new aircraft are to be delivered by the end of the first quarter.
THE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION is planning to hold the first gathering of a general aviation security working group March 9-10 to discuss a range of pressing issues. The meeting is part of TSA’s ongoing effort to increase its collaboration with GA leaders. TSA general aviation manager Brian Delauter emphasized that collaboration in a recent interview with National Public Radio (NPR), saying, “We’re going to be 10 times more successful in partnership than ...
While sales only dropped $300 million in 2009, Hawker Beechcraft posted a $712 million operating loss last year, a significant downturn from the operating income of $140.3 million in 2008. Sales were $3.2 billion in 2009, compared with the $3.5 billion reported a year earlier. Hawker Beechcraft attributed the loss in large part to the $726.4 million in charges and a non-cash impairments that the company reported in the third quarter (BA, Nov. 9/215).
Although new business jet demand will recover slowly, the used market continued to improve in January, showing further evidence of the gradual recovery that has been under way for the past few months, according to JP Morgan’s February Business Jet Monthly report.
CONSTANT AVIATION LLC has been awarded European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) repair station certification, allowing its Cleveland-based facility to perform maintenance on European-registered aircraft. “We started to see an increased number of maintenance requests coming from European-based aircraft to complete their maintenance tasks while they were traveling through the U.S.,” Constant President Stephen Maiden said. Constant Aviation, which holds FAA Class 3 and 4 ratings, next plans to seek EASA approval for its facility in Birmingham, Ala.
DAHER-SOCATA won a contract from the French Ministry of Defense to upgrade a fleet of 26 TBM 700s operated by the French armed forces. The contract covers 14 French Air Force TBM 700As and two TBM 700As at the CEV Flight Test Center. The contract also includes seven TBM 700As and three TBM 700Bs operated by the French Army. The upgrade will include the installation of a full Garmin 1000 avionics suite and a GFC 700 digital autopilot. The work will upgrade the TBMs to the configuration that is standard on the current-production TBM 850.
JETSELECT AVIATION in Columbus, Ohio was added to the Air Charter Safety Foundation’s Industry Audit Standards (IAS) Registry. JetSelect is among the first six operators to successfully complete all the requirements for the registry. Other operators on the registry are Executive Fliteways, Million Air Dallas, Sun Air Jets, Jet Solutions and Bombardier Flexjet. The Air Charter Safety Foundation created the IAS to provide a comprehensive, uniform audit standard for Part 135 and 91K operators.
NORTH STAR CHARTER has partnered with security specialist P.S. Group LTD to offer security services to clientele on or off their executive flights. The partnership will provide additional security services to executives, athletes, celebrities and foreign dignitaries worldwide. Based in New York, North Star Charter has provided charter consulting services since 2005. P.S. Group, which has offices in both New York and Los Angeles, specializes in executive protection and high-profile special events, as well as commercial and residential site security services.
CARL ESPOSITO has assumed the new role of vice president, marketing and product management for Honeywell Aerospace. In this capacity, Esposito is responsible for strategic planning, product marketing, product management, mergers, acquisitions and marketing communications. He joined the company in 1990 and has held marketing, business and global leadership, engineering, customer support, program management and sales roles. He most recently was vice president of avionics marketing and product management for Avionics and Flight Control Systems.
LOS ANGELES WORLD AIRPORTS (LAWA) tapped Jess Romo, airport manager at LA/Ontario International Airport, to also manage Van Nuys Airport. He replaces Selena Birk, who has been chosen to lead the Regulatory Compliance and Standards Division at Los Angeles International Airport. This group is responsible for ground transportation, permits, landside administration, regulatory compliance and emergency management sections for LAWA.
Wichita plane-maker Hawker Beechcraft rounded out the management changes to its sales team with the appointments of Keith Nadolski as president – the Americas turboprop and piston sales; Sean McGeough as president – Europe, Middle East and Africa sales; and Tariq (Ted) Farid as senior vice president – international sales.
Greenwich, Conn.-based CitationAir by Cessna has signed a deal to become the exclusive private aviation sponsor of the “Imus in the Morning” nationally syndicated morning radio talk show, the company announced last week. The show also is simulcast on the Fox Business cable/satellite network. “We were interested because we felt he had a good audience of very loyal listeners, along with a passion for his sponsors and as a user of private aviation. It seems like a good fit for us,” said Renee Levine, vice president of marketing.
CESSNA has drawn a mixed reaction from analysts for its near-term outlook. Analysts worry that its mix of aircraft deliveries this year – with a number of lower-margin Citation Mustangs and new CJ4s – could dampen earnings. Analyst Stifel Nicolaus noted that Textron officials estimate that Cessna should bring in $3 billion in 2010. But, the analyst said, “It would take a substantial number of higher-priced Citation Sovereign and Citation X aircraft in the mix to get there in the back half of the year.” The analyst projects revenues of $150 million below guidance.
CESSNA this month rolled out the 300th Citation Mustang at its assembly facility in Wichita, Kan. The rollout comes within three years of the delivery of the first Mustang in April 1997. The aircraft was unveiled during the 2002 National Business Aviation Association convention and completed its first flight in April 2005. The 300th Mustang will be delivered later this year to a customer in Australia.
Canada’s Field Aviation has been tapped by Brussels-based Avitrade to design and install custom VIP interiors for two Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 aircraft. According to Field, these will be the first Q400s outfitted with executive interiors.
GARY HODAK was appointed director of technical services for King Aerospace Commercial Corporation. Hodak will be based at King Aerospace’s corporate offices at Addison Airport in Texas and oversee aircraft refurbishment programs, including work at the modification facility in Ardmore, Okla. He previously was director of avionics at Associated Air Center.
Cessna Aircraft’s moves to consolidate its facilities and work with its supply chain vendors will help put the manufacturer on a stronger economic footing and position the company for the economic recovery, the manufacturer said (BA, Feb. 1/47).
PILATUS set a record with PC-12 deliveries in 2009, a notable feat considering recent economic conditions. Pilatus delivered 100 PC-12 NGs last year, surpassing delivery totals for any production year since the PC-12 program began. The company delivered 90, 92, and 97 PC-12s in 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively.
Cessna Aircraft, calling Asia one of the most resilient markets in the turbulent economy, is expanding its presence in the region with new parts distribution and services agreements. Cessna will use the Singapore-based parts distribution facility of its sister Textron company Bell Helicopter to enhance parts distribution to Citation operators in Asia and the Pacific Rim.
EMBRAER EMB-135BJ, -135ER, -135KE, -135KL, -135LR, -145, -145ER, -145MR, -145LR, -145XR, -145MP and -145EP airplanes [Docket No. FAA-2009-0659; Directorate Identifier 2009-NM-060-AD; Amendment 39-16191; AD 2010-03-07] – Inspect the main landing gear trailing arm pin for cracks, and, if necessary, replacing the pin with a serviceable one. Also, modify the main landing gear auxiliary door mounting support.
