Women in Aviation, International (WAI) awarded almost $461,570 in aviation scholarships at its recent convention in Memphis. The value of the scholarships for flight training, maintenance, aviation management and continuing education represented an 18-percent increase over the 1999 awards. Sponsors included Bombardier, Cessna, FlightSafety International, SimuFlite, and other commercial and professional aviation organizations.
The U.S. Coast Guard has selected Agusta Helicopters to provide up to eight A109 helicopters for its Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron TEN marine smuggling program. The armed A109 Powers will be equipped with Forward Looking Infrared Radar (FLIR), a mission equipment package, and Fully Automated Digital Electronic Controlled (FADEC) Pratt&Whitney Canada 206C engines. The contract includes two firm orders this year and options for six more in 2001. This is the first U.S. government contract awarded to Agusta in support of aviation missions.
With certification of the new Hawker Horizon still two years away, Raytheon plans to deliver more than 60 Hawker 800XPs this year and is considering boosting production even further. ``When your backlog gets over 12 months, you're not that competitive in the marketplace,'' said Raytheon's Ted Farid, vice president-worldwide jet sales. The company already has significantly boosted production since acquiring the Hawker line, which was building 36 aircraft per year under British Aerospace.
Air Nostrum of Spain has signed a letter of intent to purchase nearly $1 billion worth of new Bombardier regional aircraft. The contract includes firm orders for 29 Dash 8-Q300 turboprops and 15 CRJ200 (LR) regional jets, and options for 40 additional aircraft of undetermined type. Valencia-based Air Nostrum ordered five firm and five optional CRJ200s in March 1998 and since has taken delivery of the first five and converted one option to a firm order. The four outstanding options were exercised with the latest order.
Wenatchee, Wash.-based Pacific Aerospace and Electronics is developing the 428JET Center Fuselage Production System under the terms of a $4.4 million contract with Israel Aircraft Industries.
Executive Aircraft Corp. has sold all its assets to EAC Acquisition Corp., an investment group headed by Ben E. Ames, Jr. of Columbia, Mo. Robert Taylor will continue as EAC president, and the new owners say they plan to retain all employees of the company. EAC founder Stan Roth and his brother died in a July 1998 airplane crash. ``The continued success of the business that Stan developed over 25 years is important to me, as well as maintaining a quality work environment for employees in Wichita and Newton,'' said Jan Roth, EAC's owner and chairman.
Petroleum Helicopters, Inc.'s (PHI) pilots voted for representation by the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU). The election, conducted by the National Mediation Board in Washington, D.C., was the third in four years. Of 540 pilots eligible to participate, 293 (54 percent) voted in favor of the union. ``We are obviously disappointed, but will move forward assessing all our options. PHI will work with its pilots and all our other employees to continue providing our customers with safe, efficient services,'' said Carroll W.
Four of the largest aerospace and defense contractors have teamed to create a secure electronic marketplace for their respective goods and services plus those of their suppliers. Participants in the venture include Boeing, Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems and Raytheon, which collectively do business with nearly 40,000 suppliers, airlines, governments and other entities each year.
The average size of regional airliners continues to increase. So also is the airlines' ability to carrier more cargo. More and more regional airlines are actively marketing their freight-carrying capabilities, often in conjunction with the cargo and small-package services of their senior partners, and it is paying off, according to carrier officials. Airlines have gone to great lengths to fill empty airplane seats. Yield management has enabled carriers to ``anticipate'' the number of empty seats on any particular flight and offer those seats at a discounted rate.
Westchester County Airport (HPN) in White Plains, N.Y., has begun using flight-tracking software to identify violators of local noise regulations. Many operators already had privacy concerns about the software, arguing that it could pose a security threat. The software is part of a new noise-monitoring system that has been in place at the noise-sensitive airport since November 1999. For some time, citizens who call HPN's noise-abatement office have been able to obtain the name of the aircraft operator that caused the disturbance, if it can be confirmed.
Jet Aviation has added six business aircraft to its U.S. management fleet, raising the total to 76 aircraft. Included are the company's first Dassault Falcon 2000, two Falcon 50s, a Falcon 900EX, a Falcon 900B and one Gulfstream IVSP. Jamie Barrett, general manager of Jet Aviation's U.S. charter division, says ``all of these new additions, except one Falcon 50 and the Falcon 900B, will be available for charter through Jet Aviation's certificate partner New World Jet.''
Receivers have placed Britten-Norman, Ltd. up for sale after company directors failed to solve cash flow problems. ``This is a very regrettable situation for a company with a good order book and requisite approvals from the Civil Aviation Authority and the Ministry of Defense,'' said Chris Laughton, of administrative receivers Levy Gee. The manufacturer has cut 112 jobs, leaving behind a skeleton staff of 21 as caretakers at Bembridge Airport, Isle of Wight.
Edited by Paul RichfieldBy Fred George Spey Hush Kit Flunks Noise Test
In early March, Dallas Airmotive flew the final FAR Part 36 noise test on a Gulf-stream II fitted with Stage III Technolo-gies' Rolls-Royce Spey hush kits -- with disappointing results. While the system enabled the G-II to meet Part 36 takeoff noise standards, ap-proach noise was 1.5 dB above the limit and sideline noise was a full five dB over Part 36 standards, according to a letter sent to customers by Ken Seeley of Dallas Airmotive, the firm that markets the kits.
Flightserv.com has inaugurated public charter service utilizing business jets between Atlanta's Dekalb-Peachtree Airport and Teterboro Airport in New Jersey. After a two-week introductory period with tickets priced at $499 each way, including ground transportation, flights between the two cities will cost about 10 percent more than the scheduled airlines' unrestricted first-class fare. The service will be flown by FAR Part 135 operators using light to midsize jets.
Cessna Aircraft (Wichita) -- Craig Estep has been promoted to vice president of aircraft completion and Cynthia Halsey is now vice president for interior design and engineering.
Midway Airlines is terminating the leases on four Fokker F100s in early 2001, about two and one-half years ahead of schedule. The carrier has begun taking deliveries of 17 new Boeing 737-700s.
Edited by Paul RichfieldBy Paul Richfield Grand Canyon Rules Irk Operators
The Clinton administration has moved forward the implementation timetable for new rules designed to limit the impact of aircraft noise on the Grand Canyon National Park. Public knowledge for the past two years, the restrictions alter the current air tour route structure, cap the total number of air tour flights, and increase the size of areas where aircraft are prohibited.
Dassault Falcon Jet (Teterboro) -- Jon H. Lax has been promoted to director of customer administration, replacing Gerald A. Goguen, who was promoted to senior vice president. Donald J. Pointer succeeds Lax as director of service engineering.
Turbomeca/Microturbo (Grand Prairie, Texas) -- Geneva Whalen rejoins the engine manufacturer as director of finance. James Loftin has been promoted to director of operations.
Photograph: Cessna Citation Sovereign Cessna Ayres Emerging Aircraft Existing manufacturers add new designs while many new manufacturers struggle to overcome funding, certification obstacles. Although none of the aircraft on 1999's emerging aircraft list have ``graduated'' yet to the performance charts, neither have any been dropped due to lack of funding, interest or certification problems.
Edited by Paul RichfieldBy Perry Bradley, in Brussels, Belgium
A Dubai-based operator has signed a deal for two Airbus A319CJs that will be used for VIP charter service. SAPO Inter-national will take delivery of the first aircraft in November, followed by a second in June 2001. The aircraft are expected to enter service in mid and late 2001, respectively.
Nav Canada says it will invest more than $100 million in capital improvements to Canada's air traffic control system this year. The money will be invested in updating aging ATC radar displays, opening new towers and weather briefing stations, and further implementation of the Extended Computer Display System, which automates the exchange of flight information between controller positions. The firm also will begin rolling out its new Converging Runway Display Aid -- designed to make runway and airspace usage more efficient.
Vail Valley Jet Center (Vail, Colo.) -- Bryan M. Burns joins as president of the FBO. He was formerly general manager of Signature Flight Support's Reagan Washington National Airport FBO.
