After a long takeoff run, the economy has taken flight, but its climb-out is modest at best. It will be a while before it reaches a comfortable cruise altitude. Last year's growth of 2.9 percent (Q4/Q4) slowed to 1.6 percent in fourth quarter 2002 and 1.9 percent in the first quarter of this year, as war clouds gathered. Acceleration is likely over the next few quarters, largely because of the new tax bill, to near 5 percent real growth. However, growth is likely to revert to near trend of 3 percent to 3.5 percent once the initial stimulus wears off.
Embraer recently obtained a US$200 million syndicated seven-year term loan, which was disbursed on July 1. The proceeds are designated for the purchase of components, parts and equipment for the production of the Embraer 170/190 family of aircraft. The syndicate was led by Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. (SMBC), with ABN Amro Bank, Credit Lyonnais and Societe Generale joining as co-arrangers. Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI), the Japanese government's export credit agency, is the commercial and political risk insurer.
The FAA officially turned on the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) at 12:01 a.m. EDT on July 10. The GPS-based system enables horizontal and vertical navigation with unprecedented precision. As envisioned, WAAS will enable precision approaches to thousands of general aviation runways and airports.
Wherever on the compass rose American operators point the noses of their business jets today, security should be uppermost on the minds of flight crews and passengers alike. Since the war in Iraq, U.S. approval abroad has rarely been lower, according to international surveys publicized this spring. The post-9/11 environment has conferred on operators a new aviation security vocabulary, Air Security International Vice President Charlie LeBlanc claims: Risk assessment: Doing your homework before you go.
What's the real benefit of winglets on a Boeing 737? According to Aviation Partners Boeing, blended winglets can deliver fuel savings of up to 4.5 percent. For a B737-300 flying 2,900 hours per year with 1.5-hour stage lengths, APBoeing's Mike Marino says the savings would amount to more than 65,000 gallons of Jet-A annually.
Shelley A. Longmuir took office as the NBAA's president on July 7. She was appointed to the position by the NBAA Board of Directors on June 24. In a farewell message, retiring President Jack Olcott said, ``Please join me in wishing Shelley well. She is a highly respected aviation professional with an outstanding education and valuable experience on Capitol Hill. You will be well served. I see great opportunities ahead for our community. The value of business aviation as a necessary form of transportation has never been higher.
Thunder Aviation, Chesterfield, Mo., has appointed Louis Churchville Jr. to vice president of sales and marketing. Churchville has more than 29 years of experience in various sales and marketing capacities regarding FBOs, avionics, charter sales, ground support and maintenance.
At press time, GAMA, responded to B/CA's request for the organization's position on EASA's assumption next month of aviation product certification and maintenance oversight in the European Union. Below are excerpts from an e-mail written by GAMA's Walter Desrosier, director, maintenance and engineering. (Earlier this year, GAMA expanded its membership to include manufacturers from outside the United States, making it for the first time in its history an international organization.) ``EASA has the potential to be a very positive development for U.S.
Mooney Aerospace Group says it has brought all of its required filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission current, including its Form 10Q for the quarter ending March 31, 2003. J. Nelson Happy, Mooney Aerospace president, stated: ``We are now current and we plan to stay that way.
Rockwell Collins will provide its Airshow 21 integrated cabin electronics system for the Bombardier Global 5000. The first system will be installed later this summer, the company said. Collins' Airshow 21 cabin electronics system features an advanced systems architecture that supports a complete line of cabin electronics configured for an operator's specific requirements as well as simplifying the installation of system upgrades.
The TSA in July began hiring 1,300 part-time employees to conduct screening at 30 airports. The agency says adding part-timers is part of its ``right-sizing plan,'' and will give it the flexibility needed to match its work force to peak passenger times. Part-time salaries will range from $11.30 to $16.96 an hour, with adjustments for different economic areas. Thus, New York screeners will earn as much as $19.82 an hour. Candidates must complete 44 hours of classroom training and 60 hours of on-the-job training.
Flight Safety Technologies, Inc. will test its Socrates Wake Vortex Detection and Tracking technology at the Denver International Airport (DEN) from August 18 through mid-September. Lockheed Martin Corp. is the principal subcontractor and team partner with FST on the project. Other participants in the test will include NASA, the DOT Volpe National Transportation Systems Center and the German Aerospace Center (Deutches Zentrum fur Luft-und Raumfahrt), commonly called DLR.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla., has hired James Hill as its new vice president of development. Most recently, Hill was employed at Northern Arizona University.
Airliner missile defense is now a political issue. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) is a cosponsor of a bill with Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) to equip airline aircraft with anti-missile defense systems. Boxer said she has met with Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, who is ``very interested in moving this forward. He agrees it's a priority.'' She said Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, wants to work with her on the bill. Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) introduced a companion bill in the House in February.
Delta Air Lines seems serious about its business aviation business. Its Delta AirElite Business Jets subsidiary has added its 17th business jet to its charter certificate -- its fourth Gulfstream IV-SP. The aircraft, based in Portsmouth, N.H., joins the Delta AirElite fleet through a charter management agreement. ``The Gulfstream IV-SP has become a favorite choice for our customers who travel to international and other long-distance destinations,'' said Michael B. Green, president and CEO, Delta AirElite Business Jets.
Some of the futuristic-but-forsaken Beech Starships might escape incineration and be displayed in museums. Raytheon Aircraft spokesman Tim Travis said the company plans to donate a few Starships to museums or to A&P schools. Also, it seems a couple of Starship operators really, really like their machines and might be dragging their feet at selling or trading them back to Raytheon, but that may be just a bargaining ploy. The question arises as to the feasibility of operating such a sophisticated aircraft without a factory or fleet support system.
Families traveling to the United States this autumn could find themselves stranded at the airport if they have not followed new U.S. passport rules, British Airways has warned. The airline wants to raise awareness of the new legislation that calls for all children, including babies, to have their own passports. In addition, the U.S. State Department now wants citizens of 27 mostly western European countries, who normally do not need a visa to travel to the United States, to have updated ``machine readable'' passports. The new rules, effective from Oct.
Competition between CAE SimuFlite, FlightSafety International (FSI) and SimCom, among others, will provide business aircraft operators with more choices in initial and recurrent training courses during the upcoming year. In addition, simulator-based training firms have added much-needed capacity for popular courses, making it easier for operators to get training slots and reducing the number of ``zero-dark-thirty'' training sessions.
FlightSafety International, Flushing, N.Y., has named Mike Croitoru manager of its Cessna Learning Center at Wichita. He was formerly center manager at the Wichita Learjet Learning Center. In addition, Jerry Mobley has been promoted to manager of the company's Lakeland, Fla., Learning Center. Before his most recent position as director of training, Mobley was program manager for the King Air. He joined FlightSafety as an instructor in 2000. Also promoted is Craig Newell to the position of assistant manager of the company's Learjet Learning Center in Wichita.
System access and security remain irrevocably linked two years after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. ``The only precedent we had prior to 9/11 was having to hold for 10 minutes while Air Force One took off and landed,'' NBAA Vice President of Operations Robert Blouin observed.
Duncan Aviation, Lincoln, Neb., acquired an APU test stand to make it easier for technicians to perform work on Honeywell and Sundstrand APUs used in business jets. Because APUs are typically tightly positioned in the tail of business jets where access is difficult, Duncan said the ability to remove the units and work on them on a test stand helps technicians perform troubleshooting and maintenance without tight space limitations. It also permits workers to thoroughly test the APUs before reinstallation in the aircraft, the company said.
Savannah Air Services has obtained an STC for a satcom voice and data installation for Gulfstream Vs. The installation package is based on L3 satcom hardware and will operate through ARINC Satellite Services SKYlink (see above item).
T-Bird Aviation, a Chicago area charter operator, moved into new facilities this month at DuPage County Airport (DPA) in West Chicago, Ill. Telephone numbers, fax numbers and e-mail addresses remain the same, but all correspondence should now be addressed to: T-Bird Aviation, 2722 International Dr., DuPage Airport, West Chicago, IL 60185. The new facility includes 48,000 square feet of hangar space and consolidates all aircraft and personnel under one roof with a state-of-the-art security system.
The House version of the FAA reauthorization legislation prohibits privatizing any air traffic control function. The FAA has repeatedly said there is no intention to privatize ATC but has nonetheless classified it as a ``not inherently governmental'' function. The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has warned that retaining the House language would generate a veto recommendation to President Bush. Republican Sen.
June 25 -- A Robinson R-22B helicopter was destroyed during post-impact fire following an inflight collision with wires and terrain near Dexter, Mo. The pilot was killed. The ag flight, operated by Supersonic Aviation Inc., was not operating on a flight plan. June 22 -- An Air France-owned Bombardier CRJ-100 operated by Brit Air crashed about 800 meters short of a runway while attempting to land at Brest-Guipavas Airport (BES) in western France.
