British Regional Airlines Group is said to be in talks with an unidentified bidder. A British Airways code-share partner, British Regional Airlines also operates as Manx Airlines. Rob Hearn, the carrier's chief operating officer, says BRAL anticipates delivery of four additional Embraer ERJ-145 regional jets this year, to be used on new routes and as a replacement for turboprops. Sir Michael Bishop is BRAL's chairman as well as its largest individual shareholder; Bishop also is the chairman and major shareholder of British Midland Airways.
RFD is offering a four-person Aerolite 4F life raft for fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft. The multi-seat raft holds FAA TSO C70 and UK CAA approval, and meets the -22F to +150F requirements. The raft also incorporates an inflatable boarding ramp that is required by the U.S. Coast Guard for marine life rafts under the SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) international treaty. Fitted with a special furlable canopy, the Aerolite 4F provides not only a snag-free area for boarding, but also better access for airborne or surface personnel in the final stages of rescue.
Banyan Air Service, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., has named Paul Baran as service manager of its maintenance team and Mike Schooley as its avionics installation manager.
French electronics manufacturer Thomson-CSF has renamed itself Thales with Thomson-CSF Sextant becoming Thales Avionics and the Thomson-CSF Sextant In-Flight Systems division now Thales Avionics In-Flight Systems. The manufacturer also cited copyright issues involving the Thomson name, brand confusion, the perception of the company as conservative and the desire to be thought of as more than ``simply a French defense company'' as reasons contributing to the change.
Europe's Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) have agreed to allow business jet-size aircraft with two engines to operate within 120 minutes of an alternate airport, plus an additional hour if common-sense ``best practices'' are followed. For now, the change affects only commercial charter operators based in European Union member states, but could eventually lead to the creation of Extended Twin-engine Operations (ETOPS) restrictions for U.S.-based on-demand charter operators.
The FAA has awarded an STC and TSO to Garrett Aviation's Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) package for Gulfstream II aircraft. The retrofit includes dual BA-250 altimeters, an AL-861 altitude alerter and Dual AZ-960 Digital Air Data Computers. Garrett says that five aircraft have been equipped with the package and that it has orders for additional installations, which can be completed at any of the company's heavy maintenance facilities and at Electrosonics facilities in Columbus, Ohio, and McKinney, Texas.
The World Trade Organization (WTO) has voted to allow Canada to block $2 billion in Brazilian imports over seven years -- the latest broadside in the two nations' ongoing conflict over subsidized regional aircraft sales. Should Canada choose to impose such sanctions, they are likely to take the form of punitive tariffs on a long list of Brazilian imports including steel, tobacco, sugar and textiles. The Brazilian response, observers say, would be to restrict Canada's exports to Brazil.
Continental Express and Continental Airlines pilots have agreed in principle to representation by one union, the Independent Association of Continental Pilots (IACP), as part of a ``unity resolution'' with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA). All 6,700 pilots at the two carriers would become ALPA members under the agreement, which will be subject to a ratification vote this spring. Already the largest airline pilot union, ALPA has long sought to represent all unionized pilots in the United States and Canada.
Alpine Air of Provo, Utah, has purchased four ``formerly operated'' Beech C99 Airliners from Raytheon Aircraft, for use in the FAR Part 135 operator's regional freight network. Owned by Mallette Family LLC, Alpine's fleet includes 13 Beech 99s, four Piper PA-31s, two PA-42s and one PA-28R.
GE Aircraft Engines, CFM International and computer giant IBM have become Founder's Council sponsors of aerospace Web portal AviationNow.com. The companies join Aerospan.com, MyAircraft.com, Lockheed Martin, Dassault Falcon Jet and Pratt&Whitney Canada on the site, which features real-time news, professional information and e-business targeted at more than a million aviation professionals and enthusiasts. AviationNow.com and B/CA are divisions of McGraw-Hill's Aviation Week.
``I feel enormous relief,'' Gary Burrell, co-founder and co-chairman of Garmin International, told B/CA last month shortly after an Initial Public Offering raised $147 million for the avionics firm. The December 8, 2000 IPO involved 10.5 million shares, all purchased by institutional investors at $14 per share. The company shares trade on the Nasdaq stock market (symbol: GRMN).
Raytheon Aircraft says FAA certification of its new Premier I business jet has been pushed back to March or April. The latest problems delaying FAA approval of the $4.8 million jet involve its rudder centering mechanism, behavior in the event of full rudder deflection and the apparent vulnerability of wing hardware and fuel plumbing to a tire burst. ``Based on the number of flight conditions or test items to be accomplished, we're 96-percent complete,'' says Kevin O'Hara, a Raytheon spokesman. ``The certification program specifies 6,251
Twin Commander, Arlington, Wash., has announced that Vice President and General Manager Bill Hurley is retiring after more than 30 years of service with the company.
Raytheon has designated Stevens Aviation's Lexington, Ky., facility an authorized Raytheon/Beechcraft Service Facility, enabling it to provide factory authorized service on all Beech piston aircraft models
General Electric will take a $4 billion charge to help close its $54 billion acquisition of Honeywell International. GE Chairman Jack Welch says the deal also will lead to approximately $2.5 billion in annual cost savings, a $1 billion increase over earlier estimates. Welch told investors the combined company will continue its annual double-digit earnings growth, even in the event of what he called a possible ``mild recession'' that could reduce next year's growth projection from 20 percent to 15 percent.
The FAA has awarded UND Aerospace employees Ron DePue, Alan Palmer and Dana Siewert the FAA Good Friend Award for their efforts in furthering the agency's mission.
The first conforming prototype Sino Swearingen SJ30-2 business jet flew for the first time on November 30, 2000, marking the beginning of the aircraft's estimated one-year FAA certification flight-test program. Test pilot Carroll Beeler and flight engineer Mitch Soth departed San Antonio International Airport and flew for approximately 45 minutes. ``The aircraft performed beautifully, and met or exceeded every parameter we had established for the first flight,'' Beeler said.
FAR Part 135 operator RSVP Jet has been acquired by its director of operations, Power Johnson, and Stephen Connor, director of maintenance. The two are 11-year employees of the operator
CHC Helicopter Corp. has been awarded a three-year contract to establish a new helicopter base in U-tapao, Thailand for Chevron Offshore. Under the terms of the agreement, CHC subsidiary Thai Aviation Services will operate a Sikorsky S-76 helicopter from the facility.
The People's Republic of China has ordered two Sikorsky S-76C+ helicopterS for use in search and rescue missions. The Chinese government has been an S-76 operator since 1984
Corporate Express Airlines, a Calgary, Canada, operator, has taken delivery of a Saab 340A from the manufacturer's aircraft leasing division. The aircraft joins four 19-seat Jetstream 31s
