Classic Learjet 31, 35 and 36 series airplanes have unmistakable ramp appeal, excellent operating economics and rock-solid reliability. In the minds of many business aircraft aficionados, the Learjet 30 family epitomizes the light jet. Even in the chocks, its sleek lines, low stance and sharply raked windshield brashly bespeak style and promise high performance. Little wonder that almost 900 Learjet 30 series airplanes were built between 1973, when the Model 35 first went into production, and 2002, when the last Learjet 31A rolled off the line in Wichita.
Medford Air Service, in Medford, Ore., is the latest Avfuel dealer. A full-service FBO, Medford Air offers fueling, tiedown space, repair services and climate-controlled hangars. In 2003, the facility was remodeled to offer larger hangar space and a refurnished lobby featuring a 1940s-style entrance. On-site amenities include catered meals, rental cars and hotel accommodations.
EagleMed has leased hangar space vacated by Raytheon Aircraft at Salina Municipal Airport in Salina, Kan. EagleMed will use the hangar as a helicopter base for medical transport flights. EagleMed, a unit of Ballard Aviation, provides critical care transport in Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri.
Even though two FAA employees destroyed taped statements from controllers, the agency did not intentionally withhold any information from the 9/11 commission, a DOT Office of Inspector General's (OIG) investigation concluded. The probe was launched at the request of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) following complaints from the 9/11 Commission that the FAA had not provided requested evidence quickly enough. The OIG report said five controllers, who talked with two of the hijacked aircraft on Sept. 11, 2001, made a taped account of their actions.
An Australian bank says it will buy Executive Air Support and its network of 10 Atlantic Aviation FBOs for $238 million (U.S.). The buyer, Macquarie Bank, is headquartered in Sydney. The deal is subject to various regulatory requirements, including approval by the airports on which the FBOs are located. Lou Pepper formed Executive in November 1999 and serves as chief executive. Macquarie said in a statement that the deal is expected to close in three to six months. Atlantic operates FBOs in Bridgeport, Conn. (BDR); Chicago Midway (MDW); Hartford, Conn.
WHEN DEALING WITH the application of the federal excise taxes to any aviation activity, you need to consider not only how the FAA defines the activity, but also how the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) views it. The majority of the confusion about how the taxes apply stems from how the FAA and the IRS look at identical situations and/or operations. The FAA wants to know who has operational control while the IRS is more interested in who has possession, command and control. The distinction is no mere matter of semantics.
The past year has been a busy one for Kenneth Kuhrt, chief pilot for United Technologies Corp.'s flight department (UTFlight). First, he had his own job to handle, but then he also took on the responsibilities of his boss, Paul Anderson, vice president and general manager of flight operations.
Million Air Salt Lake City added a new Gulfstream G200 and a Cessna Citation Ultra to its charter operation. The additions will bring the total number of charter aircraft to nine, including turbine-powered aircraft from Pilatus, Learjet, Raytheon, Cessna and Gulfstream. The Gulfstream G200 was delivered new from the manufacturer with a nine-passenger interior. The late model Citation Ultra seats seven passengers. Both aircraft are available for charter through Million Air SLC by contacting Gary Mansell at (801) 359-2085.
Piaggio America won a major contract to deliver 29 Avanti P.180 turboprops to Avantair, in a deal valued at about $200 million, over the next few years. Piaggio said the deal ``is the largest single order ever for either company.'' Avantair is headquartered at Essex County Airport (CDW) in Caldwell, N.J., and currently operates a fleet of 10 of the Italian-built pusher-props for its customers. ``Our customers love it,'' said Steven Santo, Avantair's CEO.
As of April 29, 2005, the EU will require mandatory insurance for all air carriers and aircraft operators flying to, from, or over the territory of any of its members. All air carriers and aircraft operators need to be covered under a legal liability insurance policy. The insured risks need to include acts of war, terrorism, hijacking, acts of sabotage, unlawful seizure of aircraft and civil commotion. The insurance is mandatory but the regulation does not introduce strict liability.
Precise Flight's Pulselite System is participating in a demonstration of the use of pulsed external aircraft lighting for improved conspicuity on the airport surface. A video of the demonstration is online at www.pulselite.com. Pulselite allows the flight crew to pulse any combination of an aircraft's existing external lights in patterns to create an illusion of exaggerated motion, which Precise Flight claims makes an aircraft visible for miles, even in fog or smog.
The A700 AdamJet, Eclipse 500 and Safire, among other very light, personal-sized jets, will feature three-screen, flat-panel fully integrated avionics systems supplied by Avidyne. The Entegra II, in contrast to current Entegra systems, will have fully integrated radios, digital flight guidance systems and weather detection equipment.
In 1929, four airlines wanted to install radios in their aircraft, knowing that a voice link would improve safety. However, to satisfy the Federal Radio Commission -- the keeper of the airwaves before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) came into being -- the airlines had to create their own company to manage the required frequency spectrum.
Garrett Aviation has selected Rockwell Collins to provide elements of its Pro Line 21 family of avionics as part of a retrofit program aimed at upgrading Cessna Citation 501s.
Messier-Dowty's Business and Regional Aircraft business unit delivered the 1,000th landing gear shipset to Bombardier Aerospace for the Bombardier CRJ100/200 program. Delivery of the gear took place in late March.
AOPA President Phil Boyer praised the TSA's decision to suspend enforcement of regulations that would allow the agency to revoke certificates of pilots deemed security threats. ``This little bit of common sense has been a long time coming,'' said Boyer. ``The TSA has to have the tools to protect our national security, but at the same time, pilots' constitutional rights to due process must be guaranteed.'' The FAA and TSA released coordinated rules in January 2003 establishing procedures for certificate revocations of believed security threats.
Signature Flight Support has acquired the assets of AirKaman at Cecil Field (VQQ). Located some 15 miles west of downtown Jacksonville, VQQ serves as a reliever airport for the Jacksonville International Airport (JAX). ``This is a unique opportunity for Signature. We are honored to serve existing based tenants, which include Boeing, U.S. Customs, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy and the Dutch Air Force,'' said Beth Haskins, Signature's President and CEO. ``It is a strategic choice due to our existing facility at Jacksonville International Airport.
``They knowingly broke the rules and they knew the consequences,'' said Maytag Aircraft Corp. of two former employees fired for photographing and working to publish photos of caskets of military personnel in Kuwait. DOD policy expressly prohibits photography of fallen U.S. military members in transit without prior consent. Additionally, Kuwait City International Airport regulations and local U.S. Air Force Operating Instructions prohibit photography of flight line operations.
With the planned implementation of domestic reduced vertical separation minimum (DRVSM) operations in the United States just six months away, the FAA and NBAA are offering new help to U.S. aircraft operators that have not yet modified their aircraft to meet the more-stringent navigational requirements of the new regulation, which decreases the vertical separation between aircraft from 2,000 feet to 1,000 feet on heavily traveled airways.
Sikorsky Aircraft (Stratford, Conn.) -- Dean C. Borgman, who has been chairman of the helicopter manufacturer since 2003, plans to retire on July 1, bringing to a close a career that began in the 1960s. Before becoming chairman, Borgman served as president of Sikorsky for nearly five years and previously led the Arizona-based helicopter operations of Boeing and McDonnell Douglas.
BE A PILOT, the nationwide program designed to introduce prospective students to flying, is kicking off a nearly $1 million television advertising campaign offering a free introductory flight certificate and a $49 first flying lesson that is valid at more than 2,000 participating flight schools in the United States and Canada. The advertising campaign will emphasize flying testimonials and target the baby boomer generation.
XCOR Aerospace has received a Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) mission license from the FAA's Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST). The license, which is the first for a ground-launched RLV, will be used to test technologies for suborbital passenger missions. The launch license is for a technology test vehicle, not for passenger operations, though it does allow for revenue payload flights after initial tests are completed.
Air Tractor's AT-802 single engine air tanker (SEAT) is the only aircraft in America specifically designed for fighting and controlling wildfires the company says. The AT-802F with its 800-gallon capacity to carry fire retardant, foam or water has gained popularity in the United States in recent years because it is well suited to attack and control fires in increasingly populated ``urban interface'' areas, and in high altitudes and mountainous terrains.
Garmin received the first aircraft-level certification for its G1000 integrated avionics system on May 13. The G1000 has been certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in the Diamond DA42 Twin Star. The type certificate was presented to Diamond Aircraft Industries during a special ceremony at the Berlin Air Show (ILA), commemorating the first new aircraft certification granted by EASA. The G1000 system aboard the DA42 includes two 10.4-inch, XGA resolution (1,024 by 768-pixel) LCDs.
Pratt & Whitney Canada's new PW600 engine family reached another milestone with the May 4 first run of the PW610F destined for the Eclipse 500. After five hours, the engine reached its rated takeoff thrust of 900 pounds. The run completed ``key performance and characteristic testing,'' the engine maker added. ``We have a great partner in Pratt & Whitney Canada and are extremely pleased by the results of the PW610F development program to date,'' said Eclipse President and CEO Vern Raburn.
