Cessna's Model 680 Citation Sovereign won its provisional type certificate on Dec. 24, 2003. The company says it anticipates full FAA type certification on the all-new model in the first quarter of this year. Cessna also released some flight-test performance numbers. The Sovereign has a top speed of 0.80 Mach, a maximum nonstop range of 3,040 nm, and what Cessna claims is the shortest takeoff capabilities in its class, 3,694 feet.
LAST MONTH'S B/CA interview with John Goglia was a poignant reminder of how much he will be missed when he steps down from his seat on the NTSB (``Plane Speaking Man,'' January, page 76). Goglia, the former USAir mechanic, brought a unique perspective to the NTSB that included decades as a wrench turner. But as valuable as his background and experience was his willingness to speak up when he felt a safety issue was not being properly addressed.
The FAA is conducting a public-private competition for providing Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS) services in accordance with OMB circular A-76, which covers outsourcing. The FAA is conducting the acquisition using the best value method, meaning that price is not the sole criterion. Interested parties were to notify the FAA by Jan. 15. The FAA is looking for prime service providers that have recent knowledge, capability and experience of operations in an A-76 environment, similar to the geographically dispersed AFSS operations.
Hartzell Propeller has introduced a new three-blade propeller for Beech Bonanzas and Debonairs. The hybrid prop is designed to maintain high levels of structural integrity, while incorporating improvements like those found on newer blended airfoils. The 82-inch-diameter propeller increases takeoff and climb performance and comes with a 2,400-hour/ six-year TBO and a three-year/1,000-hour warranty. Price: $8,995 Hartzell Propeller One Propeller Pl. Piqua, OH 45356 Phone: (937) 778-4200 Fax: (937) 778-4321 www.hartzellprop.com
There's no end in sight to the squeeze on propylene glycol-based deice fluids. Dow Chemical Co. raised the price of industrial and USP-grade propylene glycol by four cents per pound on Jan. 1. The company also announced that it will extend its current order control (rationing) program for the two products through March 31, due to the continued tight supply situation.
Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) will take over DaimlerChrysler's MTU Aero Engines for E1.4 billion (US$1.6 billion), according to industry sources, but neither side would confirm the price. DaimlerChrysler decided to sell MTU because the company no longer considers it part of its core business. However, DaimlerChrysler's supervisory board as well as antitrust and financial regulators must approve the KKR transaction.
Operators praise the ease of operation with the Premier I's DEEC-equipped Williams FJ44-2 turbofans. But they said the aircraft needs more thrust, especially for hot-and-high takeoffs and when the bleed air anti-ice system is in operation. A software change is in the works to minimize the thrust loss while using anti-ice, but no thrust increase has been announced. Some folks also said that oil contamination chip lights have illuminated, requiring 25-hour oil analysis cycles and much increased maintenance.
Jack Pelton is the new president and CEO of Cessna Aircraft. Pelton, 45, an aerospace engineer who spent 20 years at McDonnell Douglas and Boeing, was appointed just three years after he joined the company as senior vice president of product engineering. He was acting president while former president Charlie Johnson was on medical leave before deciding to retire for health reasons. Industry sources say that Pelton's appointment may resolve the ongoing search for a successor to Russ Meyer, Cessna's longtime chairman.
This comedy of errors is reminiscent of Abbott & Costello's ``Who's on First?'' routine and is claimed to be true. But even if it's fudged, it's illustrative of how a simple assumption can snowball into a chain of errors. Our tale involves a flight department dispatcher, two helicopter charter companies and two unrelated parties of French nationals with similar names. You can probably see where this is going.
AFTER YEARS OF RHETORIC about turning the FAA into a ``performance-based organization,'' most of the agency is now in the process of attempting to accomplish that transformation. Russell Chew, a former American Airlines operations executive and line pilot for the carrier, took over on Aug. 1, 2003, as chief operating officer of the FAA's newly named Air Traffic Organization (ATO). The job puts him in immediate charge of 38,000 of the FAA's approximately 48,000 employees.
The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) announced in December 2003 that it is providing a $69 million loan guarantee to support a $75-plus million sale by Gulfstream Aerospace of three Gulfstream G300 aircraft to National Air Services (NAS), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This transaction is Ex-Im Bank's first financing to support the sale of U.S.-manufactured aircraft for use by a company providing executive jet services to third parties.
Austrian Airlines has ordered two additional Bombardier Q400 turboprop airliners to expand its 70-seat fleet. The transaction was valued at an estimated $42.2 million. Deliveries are scheduled for first and second quarter 2005. The carrier retains options on two Q400s. The aircraft will fly under the new Austrian arrows banner operated by Tyrolean Airways, a wholly owned unit of Austrian Airlines Group. The arrows fleet currently includes eight Q400s, 12 50-seat Q300s, 13 50-seat CRJ 200s, and six Fokker 70 jets.
Alternative Avionics, located at the Oakland/Pontiac Airport (PTK) in Waterford, Mich., has received an RVSM STC for Falcon 20Fs. For more information, call Dave Boehne at (248) 666-3310 or e-mail [email protected].
Alteon Training, a Boeing subsidiary, will offer FAA- and JAA-approved BBJ flight training at its Palma Training Center in Spain beginning in the first quarter of this year. The BBJ training will use the JAA Level ``D'' approved Boeing 737-700/800 full-flight simulator with head-up display (HUD) to conduct initial, recurrent, refresher and progressive checks. Boeing says the program will serve the growing flight training needs of the BBJ operators in the region.
CHC Helicopters will acquire Schreiner Aviation Group of Hoofddorp, the Netherlands, for a cash payment of E83 million (US$100.3 million). ``This is a perfect fit for CHC,'' said Canadian Helicopter Co. Chairman and CEO Craig L. Dobbin, asserting that the acquisition will make CHC ``the undisputed world leader in offshore oil and gas helicopter support services'' and increase the international diversity of operations.
Don Baldwin remains NBAA chairman. There was some uncertainty about his status after he announced his Dec. 30, 2003, resignation as flight department manager at the Coca-Cola Co. in Atlanta, but he subsequently accepted a position on the board of the Whitewind Co., which is an NBAA member company. So, in accordance with the association's bylaws, Baldwin retained his chairmanship with no interruption in the association's leadership.
Comments are due by March 1 on the new, more-stringent FAA Stage 4 noise standards for new jet airplanes applying for type certification starting in 2006. The new noise limits are intended to be consistent with ICAO rules. The FAA says that adopting the Stage 4 standards ``is not intended to signal the start of any rulemaking or other proceeding aimed at phasing out the production or operation of current aircraft models.''
AvQuotes.com, Greer, S.C., an online aviation maintenance and refurbishment quote system, has appointed Christa Rice to the position of director of sales and marketing.
Three major aviation regulating authorities -- ICAO, the FAA and the United Kingdom's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) -- have differing criteria for wake vortex separation distances. The United States' criteria was modified in 1994 after a series of upset incidents involving aircraft trailing Boeing 757s. The CAA established a voluntary reporting system in 1972, shortly after the introduction of widebody air carrier aircraft.
Safire Aircraft announced that Kollsman, Inc. has been selected to supply the cabin pressurization system for the new Safire Jet. The Kollsman Autoschedule Cabin Pressurization Control System (KAPS II) eliminates numerous pneumatic components used in previous systems, reducing weight and minimizing installation and maintenance costs. Autoscheduling algorithms are used to determine optimal cabin altitude and minimum descent/ ascent rates. The pilot sets the landing field altitude prior to takeoff or any time during cruise.
The parent company of Canadian aircraft manufacturer OMF Aircraft filed for bankruptcy in Germany, but officials of OMF Aircraft of Three Rivers, Quebec, say they hope to secure necessary financing and resume aircraft production by May. OMF GmbH of Trollenhagen, Germany, had developed the two-place, single-engine Symphony 160 and was shipping the components to the Quebec facility for final assembly. In addition to seeking new financing, OMF Aircraft also must build up a North American supply chain to provide the components it needs to continue building the 160.
The FAA and Transport Canada have approved technical and pilot training courses for the Bombardier Challenger 300. With the certifications, both pilot and technical training have commenced at the Bombardier Aerospace Training Center at Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport, Texas.
Alteon Training, the Boeing training subsidiary, is offering a cabin safety and service training program for business jet flight attendants. The five-day course includes training in evacuation, firefighting, first aid, ditching, and aviation operations subjects such as security, hazardous materials and crew resource management. Flight attendants also receive training in food handling and services. The course is FAR Part 142 approved. For more information, contact [email protected]. The Web site is www.alteontraining.com.
Cessna awarded Aerosonic Corp. a multiyear contract to design and manufacture electronic standby instruments for the Citation Mustang. The instruments will incorporate a microprocessor-based design to meet Cessna's accuracy and reliability requirements.
Elliott Aviation, Moline, Ill., has increased its outside sales staff by two: Douglas Leis and Scott Cheairs have been hired as regional sales managers. Leis will cover the Midwest, and Cheairs will manage the Southwest region.
