Rifton Aviation has taken delivery of a Citation X and a second Citation Excel to support its growing charter fleet. Based at Stewart International Airport (SWF) near Newburgh, N.Y., Rifton also operates a Gulfstream IV and expects to take delivery of a Dassault Falcon 2000 in June. Company spokesman Johann Huleatt said last year's plan to create a ``transatlantic shuttle'' with Boeing Business Jets is on hold for now, though the company expects to launch a new shared ownership program in the coming months.
Competitive pressures have led Eastern Caribbean Express (EC Xpress) to suspend operations after just 11 months of service. Launched and backed by Air Jamaica, the St. Lucia-based carrier flew three leased Bombardier de Havilland Dash 8-100s; these aircraft will now join Air Jamaica Express. EC Xpress officials say aggressive fare-cutting by BWIA subsidiary Bwee Express and LIAT led to the carrier's demise. In December 2000, Air Caribbean of Trinidad and Tobago filed for bankruptcy protection.
The FAA is considering a local request to ban older jets incapable of meeting the current Stage III noise standards at Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) in Wyoming. According to Airport Manager George Larson, the airport board and U.S. Sen. Craig Thomas (R-Wyo.) are pushing to ban Stage II aircraft in a bid to make the airport -- a popular charter destination -- ``a quieter place.''
Air Wisconsin has placed orders for up to 150 new Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft, valued at $1.68 billion. The new aircraft will operate United Express service from Air Wisconsin's Chicago and Denver bases and supplement the carrier's existing fleet of CRJ200s, BAe 146s and Fairchild Dornier 328 turboprops. Deliveries of the new aircraft are slated to begin in September and will be configured in 40-, 44- and 50-seat variants. The contract includes 75 firm orders and options for 75 additional aircraft.
Midwest Express Airlines has ordered 20 new ERJ-140 regional jets for its Skyway Airlines subsidiary. Skyway currently operates a mixed fleet of 15 Raytheon Beech 1900D aircraft and seven Fairchild Dornier 328JETs. According to the airline, the new 40-seat jets will replace some of the 19-seat turboprops as well as open new routes. Midwest Express has options for 20 additional ERJs.
This directory is a selective listing of specialized products and services not included elsewhere in the 2001 Purchase Planning Handbook. In many cases, the products or services are not available directly from the manufacturer, but from authorized distributors. Operators should contact the manufacturers shown in the address listing to obtain purchasing information. The listing of a product or service in this directory is not an endorsement or recommendation by B/CA. CATEGORY INDEX
The FAA, Washington, D.C., has named Dan Kasowski, director of maintenance at the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, N.D., an airworthiness aviation safety counselor (ASC). As an ASC, Kasowski voluntarily serves for one year as an assistant to the FAA safety program manager in performing accident prevention functions in their community.
The FAA's Aircraft and Airmen Registry in Oklahoma City, Okla., is now making data available on its Web site, www.registry.faa.gov. The site has been operating for about a year, but officials keep making more information accessible, recently adding the full airmen and aircraft databases. As of April 4, users could send an interactive query to the aircraft database to locate aircraft by type, serial number or N number.
Boeing Business Jets has designated the DeCrane Aircraft Systems Integration Group (PATS) in Georgetown, Del., as an authorized warranty repair facility and factory authorized service center. The service center also will provide other maintenance, repair and overhaul services as required. The facility had already been supplying green BBJs with auxiliary fuel tanks necessary for the BBJ to fly missions in excess of 6,000 nm and also installs winglets on the BBJ to further increase the range of the aircraft.
The Bush Administration will ask Congress for $15 million to fund the next stage of NASA's Small Aircraft Trans- portation System (SATS), an effort to develop the next generation of light civil aircraft. In NASA's fiscal 2001 budget, Congress awarded the space agency $9 million in ``seed money'' for the program, and directed it to seek more funding in the coming years. NASA expects SATS to cost around $69 million over the next five years.
The Boeing Co. plans to relocate its corporate headquarters to the Chicago, Dallas or Denver area later this year as part of a strategic plan to spur growth in the company's non-core businesses and more centrally locate the company's top executives. Boeing Chairman and CEO Phil Condit told reporters he had been thinking about the move for about a year and gained board of directors approval to proceed early this year. The move will affect about one-half of the roughly 1,000 people who now constitute Boeing's corporate headquarters staff in Seattle.
Pentar Avionics, Bothell, Wash., is expanding its test equipment business with the opening of its Shawnee, Kan., office. The office will provide customer support for Pentar's test system business, formerly known as Pentar Avionics Systems Group, and will feature program management, systems and software engineering, production, sales and repair. Mike Reed, vice president and general manager, will head the new Shawnee facility, and John Fortino, director of engineering, will assist Reed.
Gulfstream sold two G-VSP aircraft to Gulfstream GATX Leasing (GGLC), a joint venture between the manufacturer and GATX Capital. GGLC now has firm orders for 10 Gulfstreams of various types; three have been delivered.
Enforcement of the Stage 2 ban at Naples, Fla., Municipal Airport has been deferred until July 21. The Naples Airport Authority action follows an earlier agreement to delay enforcement of the ban that took effect January 1, pending the outcome of an FAR Part 161 study that the FAA called on the authority to complete. The agency also has told Naples officials that even with a successful Part 161 environmental review, the Stage 2 ban likely violates the authority's grant assurances to provide reasonable access to the airport.
Galaxy Aerospace is offering free maintenance to new purchasers of Galaxy business jets for five years or 2,500 flight hours, whichever comes first. The Galaxy No Charge Maintenance Program will apply to new aircraft orders received for a limited time. The program covers all maintenance, as well as the cost of parts, including typical high-wear items such as tires and brakes, as well as routine inspections and scheduled maintenance.
Gulfstream finally has found a ``clear path'' for European certification of its Gulfstream V business jet and hopes to win Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) approval by early 2002, company President and Chief Operating Officer Bill Boisture said. If accomplished on that schedule, the European approval would come five years after the FAA certified the G-V.
The new Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos) at Spata, Greece finally opened for business on March 28, but 46 flights were cancelled and dozens more delayed on the facility's first day of operations. Baggage claim delays played a part, officials said, as did the airport staff's apparent lack of familiarity with the airport's computer systems. With the new airport online, the old Athens/Hellenikon airport ceases commercial operations and becomes a general aviation airport.
AHS International, Alexandria, Va., has announced the recipients of its 2001 awards. Bell Helicopter Textron Chairman and CEO Terry Stinson has received an AHS Fellow Award. The Sikorsky/ Honeywell S-76 EGPWS Team is the recipient of the society's Howard Hughes Award, the Bell/Agusta 609 Wing Torque Box Integrated Product Team is the recipient of the Robert L. Pinckney Award and the Purdy Corp. has received the AHS Supplier Excellence Award.
Landing fees for foreign-registered aircraft in Uganda's National Parks range from $25 for private aircraft with four seats to $150 for commercial aircraft with 12 seats or more.
Manufacturer and Model This block includes the manufacturer's name and the aircraft's model name and technical designation. For more information on manufacturers, see the full company name and address in the ``Airframe Suppliers Directory,'' on page 132. B/CA Equipped Price This is the current price of the aircraft with the equipment stipulated in the ``B/CA Helicopter Minimum Equipment List,'' and is shown for comparison purposes only. In most cases, the price is provided by the manufacturer; exceptions are so noted.
