Raytheon Aircraft Services, Wichita, has named two new executives. Harold (Skip) Madsen is vice president and general manager of RAS, and Chuck Curry is general manager of RAS San Antonio. Madsen assumes all responsibility for the company's 12 FBOs, and Curry will be responsible for management and growing RAS San Antonio's service and modification business.
Cessna Aircraft Co. is now offering a new Web-based Citation maintenance service called CESCOM Online. The site will allow customers to monitor their maintenance records anywhere, 24 hours a day. Current CESCOM subscribers can convert to the new system, eliminating printed material and mail delays. To take a demo tour of the site, go to http://support.cessna.com. Price: Free to customers Cessna Aircraft Co. P.O. Box 7706 Wichita, KS 67277 Phone: (316) 517-6291; Fax: (316) 517-7812 http://support.cessna.com
Jay Mesinger CEO, J. Mesinger Corporate Jet Sales, Inc., Boulder, Colo. Vice Chairman, National Aircraft Resale Association, Washington, D.C. Upon completing university studies, Mesinger grabbed a job in the suds business offered by his godfather, Frank Horlock, the Miller Beer baron of Houston. When a Piper Navajo caught his interest, Horlock sought the advice of his godson, a pilot since his teens. Horlock ended up buying the dealership and put Mesinger in charge of Houston Piper. By 1975, Mesinger owned the place, then Piper's largest dealer.
TAG Aviation, San Francisco, has named Robert Tyler vice president of flight operations and standards. Tyler has more than 30 years of experience in global flight operations, management and consulting in military, airline and corporate environments.
Clay Lacy Aviation has an agreement with Los Angeles-based V-Log, Inc., developer of a digital document imaging, storage and retrieval system for private aircraft aviation records and documentation. Under the terms of the agreement, Clay Lacy Aviation will serve as the first certified V-Log Imaging Center and will work to implement the system for up to 35 business aircraft in the next few months.
Bombardier delivered the 600th Challenger on Oct 8. S/n 5557 was turned over to Clearwater Fine Foods of Bedford, Nova Scotia, at the NBAA convention in Orlando. The Challenger 604 is the fifth iteration of the design. As of July 31, the fleet had accumulated more than 2.45 million hours.
AOPA President Phil Boyer chastised U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta for failing to include any general aviation representatives among the latest nominees for the FAA Management Advisory Council (MAC). ``Ninety-five percent of the U.S. civilian fleet, more than three-quarters of all flights in the United States, and two-thirds of all U.S. pilots are general aviation,'' said Boyer.
Enstrom Helicopter Corp., Menominee, Mich., appointed Mike Terrien as chief financial officer. Terrien brings 15 years of experience in financial management to the position. In addition, Enstrom president Peter Parsinen was appointed to the Helicopter Association International board of directors as airframe representative.
Piaggio also announced DRVSM approval for the Avanti. Beginning with s.n. 1063, delivered in May of this year, all U.S.-delivered Avantis will be DRVSM compliant. Piaggio and Stevens Aviation have developed a retrofit DRVSM kit based on an IS&S encoding altimeter and a Collins air data computer, plus installation hardware for aircraft already in the field. ``To earn DRVSM approval this far ahead of the deadline provides security for our customers and prospects,'' said Jim Holcombe, Piaggio America chief operating officer and executive vice president.
Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc. relocated to Jet Aviation's facility at Teterboro Airport (TEB) in New Jersey from Westchester County Airport (HPN) in New York, effective Oct. 20. The new office houses Universal's current New York weather operations and sales staff, and will offer a customer service desk to accommodate walk-in operators requesting weather briefings, access to Jet Aviation's pilot lounge and lobby area for Universal clients, and more space for additional weather equipment.
FlightSafety International will build an Avanti simulator and develop a complete training package for Piaggio pilots, conducting the training programs at its West Palm Beach, Fla. (PBI) learning center. Officials say the training program is scheduled to commence within 18 months, with the simulator to receive FAA certification in 2005.
A Falcon 900EX equipped with dual Collins HST-900 transceivers, tied to a Collins SAT-906 satcom system, becomes the first business aircraft to operate simultaneous dual high-speed data (HSD) channels and Aero channels. The system has received FAA STC, according to Rockwell Collins.
The NBAA has scheduled the next several sessions of its Business Aviation Regional Forums, which feature exhibits, static displays and informational sessions. The one-day events typically have attracted some 60 exhibitors, 40 aircraft and 1,000 attendees. The next sessions are scheduled for Nov. 13 in Scottsdale, Ariz.; March 10, 2004, in West Palm Beach, Fla.; May 2004 in London; June 24, 2004, in Chicago; July 2004 in China; Aug. 26, 2004, in Seattle; and Nov. 18, 2004, in Dallas/Fort Worth.
Aviation South, Saint Simon's Island, Ga., has been inaugurated by Mike Pickett, who recently retired from Wachovia Bank, where he headed the aircraft finance division for 17 years. Aviation South will offer various services to the business aviation community, such as aircraft brokerage, finance, scheduling, management and pilot services.
Jet Aviation West Palm Beach now has Group Approval to outfit Falcon 10s with RVSM, TCAS and Class B TAWS systems. Avionics Manager Brian Wilson said that Jet is currently working on the fifth Falcon 10 covered under the Group STC.
Piaggio, following through on its previous statements (Intelligence, October, page 14), is using the proceeds of the n20 million ($22.4 million) investment by the Italian government to strengthen its position in the U.S. market. Piaggio America is moving its headquarters from Greenville, S.C. (GYH) to Florida's Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) in first quarter 2004 to gain the advantages of being in a larger business aviation community.
The first product developed under the FAA/Industry Training Standards (FITS) Program is expected to be a transition training syllabus for the Cirrus SR-22 as a basis for generic programs for similar new aircraft. The University of North Dakota (UND) aerospace program is incorporating the SR-22 syllabus into its training curriculum. Eclipse, meanwhile, is working on a FITS program for turbine aircraft, including its Eclipse 500. Adam Aircraft, Diamond Aircraft and Lancair are also participating.
The new hands-free Blue Box Communicator from ER-Link for remote medical assistance communication is smaller and lighter than any of the company's previous units. The Blue Box weighs 1.75 pounds and measures 6 inches by 6 inches by 2.5 inches tall. It allows simultaneous transmission of voice and vital signs data to selected parties such as the University of Texas Medical Branch, your corporate doctor or a designated specialist.
Bombardier's Skyjet business jet charter booking service announced a new incentive program for flight departments that use charter for supplemental lift. Under the program, flight departments can earn cash credits toward Bombardier Business Aviation Services (BBAS) maintenance and modifications, or pilot and technician training at a BBAS factory-owned service or training center. The program is available to customers of the Skyjet Premier Fleet jet membership program.
The Indian government signed a contract for five Embraer Legacy aircraft in executive configuration. Four of the jets will replace the venerable Avros operated by the Palam-based Air HQ Communication Squadron of the Indian Air Force, which carries the president, vice president and prime minister, among other dignitaries. The fifth Legacy will be operated by the Border Security Force, under the Home Ministry.
Jetnet reports that Aerostar Airlines of Kiev, Ukraine, is the first to use its Evolution Web-based sales information system in the Confederation of Independent States (CIS) region. Evolution provides Web access to Jetnet's Owner/Operator/Fractional Owner database, its Aircraft Transaction database and Aircraft Wanted-to-Purchase Database. Aerostar Airlines provides charter and aircraft management services in the CIS region. You can find out more at www.jetnet.com.
The NBAA board elected Donald E. Baldwin of the Coca-Cola Co. to the position of chairman of the board and Kenneth E. Emerick of GM Worldwide Travel Services as vice chairman. Jeffrey W. Lee of IBM Corp., who had been elected by the board in April as treasurer-elect, assumed his term as treasurer. George A. Saling of Altria Corporate Services, Inc. will serve on the board's executive committee in the position of immediate past chairman. The election took place Oct. 9 at the NBAA board of directors meeting during the association's convention in Orlando.
Executive Jet Management (EJM), the aircraft charter and management services unit of NetJets, has earned a coveted ISO 9001:2000 certification. The certification registrar was EAQA USA, which specializes in aviation. The ISO 9000 series of standards represents an international consensus on quality management practices with the objective of ensuring that an organization can consistently achieve customer and regulatory quality requirements.
