JetCorp--a full-service FBO and aircraft charter operator at Spirit of St. Louis Airport--has a new chief operating officer, recently obtained a series of Falcon 900 STCs and is planning a major expansion of its facilities in Chesterfield, Mo. David Roy, a former AlliedSignal and Garrett Aviation executive, has been named COO of JetCorp. Roy is strategically positioning the company for future growth, as well as overseeing all its daily operations.
Kellstrom Industries of Sunrise, Fla., has completed the purchase of Solair Inc. from Banner Aerospace of Dulles, Va. Solair, which is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, distributes a variety of aircraft rotables, including flight data recorders, radars, navigation systems, and other electrical and mechanical equipment. Kellstrom Industries specializes in purchasing, overhauling (through subcontractors), reselling and leasing aircraft, avionics, aircraft rotables, and engines and engine parts.
New for the helicopter pilot is the AC-U-KWIK Heliport/FBO Directory 1999. The over-1,400-page volume provides preflight planning data, such as: public, private and military heliport information; airports with helipads; lat/long of heliports/airports; fuel availability; preferred landing area if not helipad-equipped; known obstacles in landing area; and more. Price: $29.95 Primedia Intertec Publication P.O. Box 12901 Overland Park, Kan. 66282 Phone: (913) 967-1719; Fax: (913) 967-1901
SimuFlite Training International (Dallas)--Four executives at the organization's DFW Airport headquarters received promotions: Allison K. Blankenship to managing director of project management, James E. Jetton to director of sales, Melinda J. McGinty to director of client management and William H. Wilhelmi to director of marketing and business development. In the training area, three staff changes were announced: William Campbell has been promoted to director of standards, and Robert Munro and Don Roney both have been named directors of training services.
Langhorne Bond, who served as FAA administrator from 1977 to 1981, has been chosen by the Air Traffic Control Association to receive its 1999 Glen A. Gilbert Memorial Award. The award salutes the lifelong achievements of an individual in the field of aviation, with special emphasis on ATC. The award's namesake is one of the recognized ``Fathers of Air Traffic Control.'' The trophy, inscribed with recipients' names, will be presented to Bond on September 30 at the Glen A. Gilbert Memorial Award Banquet in San Diego.
Archangel Avionics' Cockpit Display System, certificated for all aircraft, offers Stormscope lightning data superimposed on GPS-drive Jeppesen NavData moving maps, flight planning and flight information. (Standard flight-following mode is shown.) The CDS' 10.4-inch LCD is sunlight-readable with a touch-screen user interface. The CDS will interface to most panel-mount GPS receivers. Pre-stamped panels are available for several piston aircraft. Price: $10,990 Archangel Avionics 1500 Pumphrey Ave., Auburn, Ala. 36832
AOPA (Frederick, Md.)--Bob Dickens is the association's new representative for Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin. He succeeds Karl Kerscher.
Effective this month, GPWSes must be installed in European-registered corporate jets used for air taxi flights or other commercial operations (JAR-OPS 1). Specifically, the rule applies to aircraft with an MTOW of more than 12,566 pounds or more than nine passenger seats.
Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) has contracted with Denver-based Aviation Resource Group to perform a comprehensive study of existing real estate and facility leasing and management policies at California's Van Nuys Airport, the busiest general aviation airport in the nation. A report, to include recommendations for new policies and a ``best practices'' model for property management, is due to be submitted to LAWA by the end of May.
The FAA's and ICAO's strict adherence to an age 60 flying limit for airline pilots has sparked discussion and heated arguments about age discrimination. In fact, some countries have left the pack and set the age ceiling at 63 and over. In the United States, the rule prohibiting airmen over age 60 to pilot aircraft operated under FAR Part 121 took effect on March 15, 1960. To date, the federal courts have consistently upheld the FAA's denial of exemptions from the rule.
FAA (Washington, D.C.)--The agency brought three new high-level appointees aboard: William S. Davis, formerly a transport pilot for Federal Express, as deputy associate administrator for civil aviation security; L. Nick Lacey, previously president of Lacey, Limited Liability Co. (an aviation consulting firm) as director of the Flight Standards Service; and Elizabeth Erickson, the former acting director, as director of the Aircraft Certification Service.
Pride Aviation is significantly expanding its aircraft painting capabilities at Mississippi's Greenville Mid Delta Regional Airport. The company has leased three large ex-Boeing painting facilities capable of housing aircraft as large as Boeing 757s. All three facilities will be fully operational by the second quarter. Pride also is constructing a widebody painting hangar in New Iberia, La. The firm paints aircraft in Portland, Ore., as well.
So favored is Aspen as a business jet destination of late that Aspen Base Operation now is requesting aircraft operators to sign a hold-harmless agreement because of the heavy ramp traffic. The agreement releases the FBO from loss of use and diminution of value insurance claims in case the aircraft is damaged during towing. ``We would, of course, pay for physical damage to the aircraft,'' said Sharon Barnes, the facility's general manager. Operators who don't sign the release have to pay $100 to $500 per night for parking, depending on the type and size of aircraft.
This hangar at California's Van Nuys Airport was recently acquired by Total Aircraft Services as part of the six-year-old company's expansion into business aircraft maintenance, interior refurb, and modifications and avionics upgrades. Total Aircraft Services, established in 1992 in Chatsworth, Calif., previously has been noted for its engineering, STC and PMA services to outfitting centers and OEMs. Among the firm's specialty work has been obtaining certification for the installation of side facing seats and divans.
Early this month, the NBAA is expected to finish drafting (subject to member review and input) its safety standards for fractional aircraft program providers and owners before submitting them to the FAA for consideration. The FAA is trying to determine what regulatory direction to go in regarding fractionals. The association intimated that adhering to such standards would be a condition for membership by fractional aircraft operators.
AT&T Wireless Services' Claircom System Interface Unit provides handset capability and switching between Honeywell or Rockwell Collins digital satcom systems and AT&T's Claircom inflight telephone systems. This under-five-pound SIU offers on-board conferencing, call hold, transfer and remote pickup features. Claircom will support up to 32 handsets. Price: $12,500 when purchased with Claircom 208/496 equipment; $20,000 without AT&T telephone systems. AT&T Wireless Services, 700 Fifth Ave., Ste. 2100, Seattle, Wash. 98104.
Sen. McCain will continue to be one of aviation's biggest challenges in the new Congress. When the 106th Congress convenes in Washington this month, most of the headlines will focus on the new House leadership--how will the legislative agenda change with Rep. Bob Livingston (R-La.) as Speaker of the House instead of Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.). On the Senate side, at least for those having business before the Senate Commerce Committee, the prevailing question will remain the same: Where is Sen. John McCain coming from this session?
Many great scientists--from Leonardo Da Vinci to Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell--have dabbled in aviation. But few inventors have invested as many years in improving the state of the aviation art as Emile Berliner.
International business aircraft arrivals now can clear U.S. Customs at the Million Air FBO on Tulsa International Airport. Customs clearances are available by prior arrangement on a 24-hour basis. Contact Million Air Tulsa at (918) 836-6592; fax: (918) 836-4835.
Mercury Air Group added its 15th FBO with the recent acquisition of the former Jackson Air Center at Jackson International Airport. Steve Wharton remains manager of the full-service facility: a terminal/lounge building, a 48,000-square-foot hangar and 200,000 square feet of ramp space. Phone: (601) 939-9366.
British Airways has acquired its original regional franchisee for $124.7 million. London Gatwick-based CityFlyer Express will continue to operate independently with its own operating certificate, fleet of aircraft, directors and management.
Right on the tail of Bombardier's putting the finishing touches on a 123,000-square-foot expansion to its Tucson facility that will be dedicated to Challenger service and completions, the firm Bombardier disclosed plans to add another 193,000 square feet in Tucson to handle Global Express completions. This latest expansion is scheduled to open in the second quarter.
Professional Aviation Maintenance Association issued a Call for Papers to be presented at the 28th annual PAMA symposium on April 20-22 in Phoenix. Presentation of selected papers are intended to complement a program of technical seminars and regulatory topics designed for IA renewals. Proposed papers, which should deal with broader issues facing the maintenance industry, must be submitted by February 1. For more information, contact PAMA in Washington, D.C. Phone (202) 216-9220 or fax (202) 216-9224.
If the demand for career pilots with professional skills does ultimately exceed the supply of available candidates, airline and corporate flight departments won't need to look far for schools with experience in ab initio flight training. B/CA surveyed some of the major players offering commercial flight training in the United States. Here's what we learned:
