RAYTHEON'S first Premier I aircraft was conducting runway tests last week and a spokesman told BA the first flight "really will be any day now" and "absolutely" will happen before Christmas. Raytheon originally anticipated the first Premier would fly in September (BA, Aug. 24/83), but the spokesman told BA Thursday "we were probably too optimistic when we made our original prediction."
CLEVELAND, OHIO Burke Lakefront Airport recently completed installation of an instrument landing system on Runway 24R. The ILS will provide pilots with a precision approach. "Next year, the City of Cleveland plans to do a strong marketing campaign to corporate travelers to consider using Burke Lakefront Airport to meet their business travel needs," said Mayor Michael White.
Mercury Air Group, Inc., named Joseph A. Czyzyk president and chief executive officer, effective immediately. The company also said it had "been approached by a company concerning the possible acquisition of Mercury Air Group, Inc. Mercury and the company are in the early stage of discussions to determination [sic] if an agreement can be reached." Mercury did not disclose the identity of the other company and cautioned that it "cannot give any assurance that the discussions will lead to a definitive agreement."
CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS are trying to determine whether to renew the Airport Improvement Program, due to expire at the end of March, in a multi-year comprehensive aviation reauthorization package or pass another simple six-month reauthorization bill and then work on a longer term reauthorization bill that would cover a host of aviation issues. One source said "there is less than a 50-50 chance" that Congress will reauthorize AIP before it expires. A couple of contentious issues could delay reauthorization, including Sen.
SIMUFLITE TRAINING INTERNATIONAL upgraded its Falcon 50 Level C simulator to include a Collins EFIS-86C(14) system. The new avionics package includes Honeywell dual Laseref inertial navigation systems, a Collins attitude heading reference system and new radio controls. Also installed was an operational AlliedSignal dual Global GNS-XLS flight management system and an updated autopilot system.
ATR hopes to launch a family of regional jets of between 60 and 95 seats and is talking with possible partners in the program, including Fairchild Dornier, CASA of Spain and Embraer of Brazil, according to BA affiliate Aviation Daily. Under the plan that could be announced by the end of this year or early next year, ATR - itself a partnership consisting of Aerospatiale of France and Alenia of Italy - would hold 50 percent of any RJ partnership and the other half would consist of one, or possibly two, of the other prospective partners.
CESSNA AIRCRAFT recently delivered 10 Model 172 Skyhawks to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU), giving the school a total of 61 Skyhawks, the largest fleet of the newly manufactured aircraft operating today. Cessna and ERAU signed an agreement in mid-1997 that covers acquisition of nearly 300 Cessna single-engine aircraft over a 12-year period.
NATIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION developed a comprehensive draft of "membership standards for fractional ownership program providers" for associate members of the organization. The proposed standards were discussed during a meeting Tuesday at NBAA headquarters in Washington,D.C. that included representatives of various parties interested in how FAA will regulate fractional aircraft ownership programs.
AEROSTAR PA-60-600 and PA-60-700 series airplanes (Docket No. 97-CE-139-AD; Amdt. 39-10916; AD 98-24-29) - requires repetitively inspecting the forward face of each wing's 55-percent upper spar cap for cracks above the main landing gear fitting in the top of the wheel well and replacing or repairing any cracked upper spar cap. Reports of spanwise cracks in the area above the main landing gear attachment on two of the affected airplanes prompted the AD.
FLIGHT SERVICES GROUP, which provides a variety of corporate aviation services, is touting a new Aircraft Acquisition and Budget Center on the company's web site - www.FSG-Inc.com. FSG claims proposed aircraft buyers can get an estimated operating budget by answering a few simple questions, including the number of people that usually travel, locations visited and an approximate number of trips per year. The program will make recommendations regarding suitable aircraft, based on experience and the operating specifications for 46 different types of aircraft.
BFGOODRICH AVIONICS Skywatch SKY497 installations with a TOP-mounted antenna (Docket No. 98-CE-107-AD; Amdt. 39-10924; AD 98-25-02) - requires incorporating information into the airplane flight manual that specifies verifying the correct antenna configuration each time an aircraft equipped with a SKY497 with a TOP-mounted antenna is powered up. The AD also requires removing from service any SKY497 installations with an incorrect antenna configuration.
ALLISON 250-B and 250-C series turboshaft and turboprop engines (Docket No. 98-ANE-23-AD; Amdt. 39-10915; AD 98-24-28) - requires replacing existing beryllium copper main fuel control (MFC) bellows assemblies with Inconel 718 stainless steel welded MFC bellows assemblies. This amendment is prompted by reports of leaking MFC bellows assemblies resulting in an uncommanded minimum fuel flow condition, loss of engine fuel flow control and subsequent forced landing.
GALAXY AEROSPACE also is nearing a program milestone for its Galaxy business jet. Test pilots have logged more than 757 hours in 247 flights with three aircraft and officials say they are "very close" to receiving type certification from the CAA of Israel (where the aircraft is built) and FAA. Sustained flight in natural icing is the last major objective to be accomplished in the air and test crews are based in Prestwick, Scotland seeking the right weather conditions.
MERCURY AIR GROUP opened its 15th fixed-based operation at Charleston, S.C. International Airport. The FBO is the first completely new facility Mercury has built. The facility, a Phillips 66 Aviation Performance Center, includes a 9,500-square-foot terminal building and a 35,000-square-foot hangar. Dan Maddox, who previously spent 10 years with the Mercury Air Center at Peachtree-DeKalb Airport in Atlanta, Ga., will manage the new Charleston facility.
THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION is expected to take a "modest approach" to aviation user fees in the upcoming year, according to sources, who cite two primary reasons for backing off the user fee push.FAA still has not been able to collect the one user fee it has congressional approval to assess - the international overflight fee. A second reason is FAA is "way behind schedule" on developing a cost accounting system necessary to implement fees.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION issued an advisory circular that gives guidance on an acceptable means for complying with ice protection requirements of Part 23 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. FAA said the AC does not provide the only means of compliance with Part 23 icing requirements and said it will consider other methods. To obtain a copy of AC 23.1419-2A, Certification of Part 23 Airplanes for Flight in Icing Conditions, contact the U.S.
GARMIN INTERNATIONAL was named exclusive avionics provider for Cirrus Design Corporation's SR20. Garmin will supply its GNS 430 system, which integrates GPS/Comm with VOR, LOC, glideslope and a color moving map. Garmin also is providing a GMA 340 audio panel, GTX 320 transponder, GNC 250XL and GI 106 course deviation indicator as standard equipment.
NEW PIPER Models PA-31, PA-31-300, PA-31-325, PA-31-350 and PA-31P-350 airplanes (Docket No. 97-CE-32-AD) - proposes to require drilling access holes for the inspection of the elevator spar, inspecting the elevator ice protection boots for looseness and reinstalling or replacing the elevator ice protection boots if found loose. The proposed AD also requires repetitively inspecting the elevator spars for cracks and replacing the elevators or elevator spar assemblies with improved parts either within a certain time period or when cracks are found, whichever occurs first.
Used Retail Deliveries NOV. '95 NOV. '96 NOV. '97 NOV. '98 L M H L M H L M H L M H Jet North 41 32 13 49 26 16 45 31 10 63 35 12 America Jet Outside 6 8 0 3 0 1 6 2 3 6 3 5 N. America Prop North 0 69 3 1 80 1 1 90 1 3 124 5 America
AIR TRACTOR AT-300, AT-400 and AT-500 series airplanes (Docket No. 98-CE-62-AD; Amdt. 39-10922; AD 98-25-01) - supersedes AD 96-23-19, which requires installing a new flap actuator over-travel stop and a roll pin through the overtravel stop and jack screw. This AD requires replacing the existing flap actuator overtravel stop with a new, improved one. This AD is the result of reports of the jack screw breaking through the roll pin hole on three of the affected airplanes that were already in compliance with AD 96-23-19.
CESSNA AIRCRAFT named Jennifer Whitlow to the newly created position of public relations manager. Whitlow, formerly marketing communications manager for Cessna's single-engine line, reports to Jan McIntire, director of corporate communications. Whitlow, an Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University graduate, joined Cessna in June 1996 after working for the National Air Transportation Association.
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE President Bill Boisture says the company has enjoyed strong Gulfstream V sales overall this year, but when asked whether there has been any improvement in the Far East, he responded, "No one's buying in that region right now." He said the company had an airplane in China last month and officials remain convinced about the potential for that market. "We're going to be glad we invested the time and effort there," Boisture said.
Gulfstream Aerospace Chairman Ted Forstmann, who has held that post since 1993, named himself chief executive officer and announced the formation of a new top management structure for the Savannah, Ga. manufacturer.
Hartzell Propeller, a participant in the Advanced General Aviation Transport Experiments (AGATE) and General Aviation Propulsion (GAP) programs, completed its initial performance and acoustical testing of a propeller concept for the programs. The propeller system, which comprises aluminum blades with 25-degree tip sweep and high-lift airfoils, was tested on a Piper Saratoga testbed simulating a GAP program engine.
