In November 1998, a group of investors representing the Buitoni, DiMase and Ferrari family trusts and led by Piero Ferrari, bought the assets of long troubled Rinaldo Piaggio S.p.A., with the aim of rejuvenating the P180 Avanti program and the firm's other aviation enterprises.
A mock-up of Embraer's proposed 100-passenger ERJ 190 is currently on tour to 12 U.S. cities. The aircraft is visiting potential airline customers, starting with an early-June stop in St. Louis. The Brazilian manufacturer is heralding the ERJ 170 and 190 as an entirely new aircraft, rather than ``scaled down version of a large airliner . . . or a stretched tube . . .' Unlike Embraer's smaller regional jets, which have tail-mounted engines, the ERJ170/190 engines are wing-mounted.
The European Commission approved a plan to privatize the United Kingdom's air traffic control system. Under the agreement, a group of seven airlines -- Britannia Airways, British Airways, British Midland, EasyJet, Monarch Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and Airtours International -- will jointly manage the National Air Traffic Control Services (NATS) with the British government.
Addison Express is expanding its facility at Addison Airport (ADS) in North Dallas. The new facility will give the FBO an additional 18,500 square feet of hangar floor space and 4,000 square feet of office space. Ed Morales, spokesman for the FBO, said the construction, coupled with a 100,000-square-foot ramp area, makes Addison Express the largest facility of its kind on the field and it is readily accessible by the largest corporate aircraft.
When I broke into business aviation in the early 1970s, it was rare for someone from the outside to be hired to manage an established flight department. Those were the days when the flight departments were far removed from most of the inhabitants at corporate headquarters. Back then, aviation managers and chief pilots were kind of mini-monarchs who pretty much governed their domains as they saw fit.
The International Bureau of Aviation (IBA), a U.K.-based aviation consultancy, has created a new mediation service for the aviation industry. With an average duration of two days, IBA and partner Satelles Ltd. say the mediation process is used successfully in other industries and saves time and money over traditional arbitration or legal avenues.
Cessna says that demand remains high for its Citation line and that no layoffs are planned. Citing softening demand, the manufacturer in early June laid off about 250 workers -- or one-quarter of the workforce at its Independence, Kan., piston aircraft factory. Most aviation experts agree that the low end of the market -- in this case, Cessna's light singles -- are the first to suffer during times of economic uncertainty.
In an effort to recruit new pilots, Trans States Airlines says it will work with flight training organizations Aeroservice, Inc. and Regional Airline Academy to offer qualified students first officer positions at the regional carrier. The two schools have established the Multi-Crew Jet Transition Course, a sort of finishing school for copilots not meeting airlines' minimum hiring criteria.
By Paul Richfield, in Paris New Raytheon Aircraft Chief Cuts Production
James E. Schuster, who recently replaced Hansel Tookes as chairman and CEO of Raytheon Aircraft Co. (RAC), began making changes -- both symbolic and tactical -- almost immediately after taking office. Schuster's arrival from Raytheon's Aircraft Integration Systems comes at a challenging time for RAC, which is facing a declining market for some of its aircraft types, fresh employee layoffs and ongoing speculation regarding the possible sale of the company.
Bombardier Aerospace is nearing completion of four Continental business jets. All four have the wings and landing gear attached, while two of those also have the Honeywell AS900 engines installed. Taxi tests are expected to begin shortly in Wichita, where the new aircraft will be built. Engine-maker Honeywell insists that a delay in the certification date for the AS907 engine will not slow the certification schedule for the Continental. (See page 15 for further information about the Honeywell delay.)
RTCA, Washington, D.C., has named William Stine II, NBAA director of international operations, as a special award recipient in recognition of his work on the minimum operating performance specification (MOPS) committee.
A new battle over air tours above national parks is coming to a head in Jackson, Wyo. Almost two years after announcing plans to conduct helicopter tours near Grand Teton National Park, Vortex Aviation Services was set to begin flying the tours in mid-June. Vortex General Manager Gary Kauffman says he is undaunted by continuing opposition from environmentalists and officials at Jackson Hole Airport to prevent his operation from getting off the ground.
Sikorsky honored four members of the Health Care District of Palm Beach County (Fla.) Aeromedical Program for their role in the rescue of an unconscious surfer in the Atlantic Ocean. Chief pilot Brian T. Parker, instructor pilot Gerald M. Pagano, and paramedics Capt. Glenn D. Jordan and Jeff G. Meeler were dispatched in the program's Sikorsky S-76C+ helicopter to locate the surfer, who had been spotted three miles east of the Jupiter (Fla.) Inlet. Sikorsky presented the crewmembers with its Winged-S Rescue Award for their efforts.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and local police are jointly investigating an apparent tampering incident involving an Executive Jet Aviation (EJA) Gulfstream IVSP parked at Westchester County Airport (HPN) near White Plains, N.Y. Detective William Rehm, a spokesman for the Westchester County Police, said the incident occurred on November 17, 2000 between 14:30 and 19:00 EST. At the time, the aircraft was parked on the ramp at Signature Flight Support.
The technology needed to support Boeing's ``Sonic Cruiser'' concept is already available; it is just a question of bringing it together into a cohesive whole, according to Pratt&Whitney President Louis Chenevert.
Florida Air, the Venice-based regional start-up, says it expects to resume scheduled service within 30 days of receiving its FAR Part 121 operating certificate from the DOT. The carrier had operated for a short time in May using Harbor Air Cessna Caravans but discontinued the service, citing operational difficulties with the carrier. Service will, instead, be operated by six Nevada-based Sunrise Aviation British Aerospace Jetstream 31s. Florida Air's planned route structure includes Naples, Sarasota, Orlando, Miami, Marathon, Fort Myers, Tallahassee and Jacksonville.
These three graphs are designed to be used together to provide a broad view of the Avanti's performance. Do not use these data for flight planning. For a complete operational analysis, use the Approved Aircraft Flight Manual, Operational Planning Manual and other flight planning data supplied by Piaggio Aero Industries and Piaggio America.
Adam Aircraft Industries says its has orders for the first 20 of its proposed M-309 centerline-thrust piston twins. These initial aircraft were priced at $695,000, but that figure increases to $725,000 for the next 10 aircraft. Adam requires a $25,000 deposit to secure delivery positions. With plans for certification and first deliveries in 2003, the Englewood, Colo.-based manufacturer is now recruiting engineers, shop personnel and composite technicians to help bring the privately funded project to fruition.
Northwest Airlines' tender for up to 75 new regional jets has re-ignited the long-simmering dispute between Brazil and Canada over the use of government-backed loans to sell aircraft. Bombardier has asked Canada for a $1 billion subsidy package designed to provide a ``level playing field'' with rival Embraer and ProEx (PromoteExports), a subsidy mechanism Brazil has used to entice buyers of its exports, principally Embraer aircraft.
Innotech-Execaire, Montreal, Canada, has named Mirko Zgela as its vice president of engineering. Jet Aviation, West Palm Beach, Fla., has appointed Stephen Joiner as vice president and general manager of its Dallas facility. Joiner will be responsible for all lines of business at the FBO and will report to Michael Gregory, senior vice president of U.S. FBO services. Long Island Jet Center, Farmingdale, N.Y., has named Leonel Rivera as general manager of its Republic Airport operations.
The Czech Republic's largest airline has ordered eight Fairchild Dornier 728JETs to open new routes and replace ATR-42 turboprops. The eight-aircraft deal is valued at $230 million, though four will be under operating leases from GE Capital Aviation Services, which in 2000 ordered 50 firm 728JETs with options for 100 more. The manufacturer will provide the remaining four aircraft. Deliveries of the first three aircraft are planned for 2003, then three in 2004, one in 2005 and the last in 2006.
One of Jane Garvey's greatest legacies as FAA administrator will be her success in fostering a strong government-industry program to proactively drive down the number of aviation accidents.
U.S. Sen. Jim Jeffords' (Ind.-Vt.) decision to leave the Republican Party, and thereby shift control of the Senate to the Democrats, will wrest the helm of the Commerce Committee from Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and return it to Sen. Ernest Hollings (D-S.C.). McCain has been controversial within general aviation circles for his strong advocacy of user fees and criticism of the business aviation community.
Thales has acquired Orbital Sciences' Magellan and NavSol units for an estimated $70 million. Paris-based Thales says the acquisition will help expand its presence in the growing GPS market, which is expected to see a 20-percent annual growth rate. Another benefit of the deal, according to Thales executives, is the ability to apply research and development findings to a larger product line and among civilian and military customers.
