ATC GROUP installed a new Beech King Air simulator at its facility in Alliance Airport in Fort Worth, Texas. The device, manufactured by Frasca International, includes a King Air cockpit, Beech hardware and navigation using the Jeppesen database. ATC Group provides simulator-based training in the Cessna Citation and all King Air models.
BART LALLA joined Jet Aviation's West Palm Beach, Fla. facility as director of technical services. Lalla will be responsible for development of systems and procedures, overseeing daily operations of aircraft maintenance and modifications and acting as primary liaison for Jet Aviation to Dassault Falcon Jet. He formerly was director of aircraft services for Atlantic Aviation.
BOMBARDIER Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 and 200) airplanes (Docket No. 97-NM-116-AD; Amdt. 39-10702; AD 98-16-25) - supersedes an existing AD that requires repetitive inspections to detect discrepancies of the shock strut end caps and attachment pins of the main landing gear and replacement of discrepant parts with new parts. It also requires a check for and replacement of certain pins that may be installed on some airplanes.
There was growing concern in Washington last week that the current congressional focus on possible impeachment of President Clinton will sidetrack important aviation legislation in the waning days of the current legislative session. Of particular interest is the fate of FAA reauthorization legislation and the Transportation Department appropriations bill, which includes fiscal 1999 funding for FAA. Congress must pass 13 separate appropriations bills to fund all government activities for the fiscal year that begins Oct.
CERTAIN AVIATION EXCISE TAXES are due to change Sept. 30, the National Air Transportation Association reminded members last week. The ticket tax, which dropped from 10 percent to nine percent after implementation of the Taxpayer Relief Act, is scheduled to drop again to eight percent. Meanwhile, the domestic segment fee - a fee charged for each domestic flight leg - will increase from $1 to $2. Other aviation excise taxes will remain unchanged.
AEROSTAR PA-60-600 and PA-60-700 series airplanes (Docket No. 97-CE-139-AD) - proposes to require repetitive inspection of 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 replacement or repair of any cracked upper spar cap. The proposed AD stems from reports of spanwise cracks in the area above the main landing gear attachment on two of the affected airplanes.
Air freight carrier Kitty Hawk, Inc. terminated its discussions with Southern Air Transport last week concerning the possible acquisition of SAT. The two companies announced in August they had signed a non-binding letter of intent under which Kitty Hawk would have acquired the charter freight carrier that operates a mix of aircraft ranging from 15 C-130 Hercules to DC-8s and 747s. "Although we're disappointed that we couldn't reach a definitive agreement, it has no impact on our long-term growth plans," said M. Tom Christopher, Kitty Hawk's chairman and chief executive.
GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE, which had seen the price of its common stock exceed $50 per share earlier this year - only to watch it drop back into the $30 per share range as the stock market declined in recent weeks - said last week "continuing strength in its business is expected to produce earnings above consensus analyst estimates for the current quarter, full year 1998 and 1999." The company said it expects to report diluted earnings of at least 80 cents per share for third quarter ended Sept. 30 and full-year per share earnings of $2.95.
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION is requesting comments on proposed revisions to advisory circulars covering Part 23 aircraft systems and electronic display installations. Proposed revisions to AC 23.1309-1C, Equipment, Systems and Installations in Part 23 Airplanes, provide for four certification classes of Part 23 aircraft.
Charles Carson, a veteran of the air freight industry who spent the past six years running SimuFlite Training International, resigned from the Dallas-based simulator training company this month to become president of American International Airways (AIA).
JET AVIATION added a sixth Gulfstream V business jet to its managed aircraft fleet, which the company said "represents 25 percent of the Gulfstream V flying fleet worldwide." Three of the Jet Aviation managed G-Vs are in the U.S., and three are in Europe. Worldwide, Jet Aviation manages and operates a total of 40 Gulfstream aircraft.
GERT SCHYBORGER, who had been president of Saab Aircraft AB, was named general manager of commercial aircraft within the Saab Group. His new responsibilities include collaborative programs, customer support and Saab Aircraft leasing.
PILATUS Models PC-12 and PC-12/45 airplanes (Docket No. 98-CE-69-AD) - proposes to require for airplanes with a "corporate commuter cabin layout" modification of the passenger seats and seat rail covers. The proposal stems from mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the airworthiness authority for Switzerland. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent passenger injuries because the passenger seat configuration was found to not fully meet current head injury criteria regulations.
BOMBARDIER, Cessna, Dassault, Gulfstream and Raytheon account for more than 95 percent of this year's business jet deliveries, according to the Teal Group, which predicted in its 1998-2007 forecast that the market dominance will continue. "The other players will either remain niche players, or be absorbed by Bombardier, Cessna or Raytheon. Which probably, is what they want," the Teal Group said in its forecast. See article to follow.
FRENCH ENGINE MANUFACTURER Snecma created a new division, Snecma Systems, to design, inte-grate and manufacture control systems for Snecma engines. The new division is based at the company's Villaroche site near Paris. Snecma Systems incorporates the company's Equipment and Control Division and Elecma, the Electronics Division. Jacques Bouhelier will head the new unit. He most recently had been chairman and chief executive of Messier-Dowty SAS and before that held several senior management posts with Snecma.
AMERICAN AIRCARRIERS SUPPORT, Fort Mill, S.C., a supplier of aircraft spare parts, signed a letter of intent to purchase substantially all of the operating assets of Global Turbine Services and Turbine Inspections Inc., of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Closing is expected within 30 days.
CHARLES HILDEBRAND was appointed sales and marketing manager for the Eastern U.S. for Holometrix-Micromet. Hildebrand, most recently regional business manager for Furan, has held sales and engineering positions at Vickers and General Electric.
Donald Koranda, a 20-year veteran of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, was appointed president and chief executive of the National Aeronautic Association. Koranda succeeds Steven Brown, another AOPA alumnus who joined FAA this summer as deputy associate administrator for Air Traffic Services (BA, July 6/7). Koranda, who joined AOPA in 1978 after graduating from Florida Tech, served in a number of key roles with the organization, including vice president of the membership services division and vice president of training for the AOPA Air Safety Foundation.
AAR COOPER AVIATION was named a distributor for Fastech Corporation, a Gilberts, Ill.-based manufacturer of air respirator systems and associated products. Fastech produces the Hobbyair line of respirators with half-face mask, full-face mask or air-supplied sandblast hood.
Atlantic Aviation, the long-time fixed-base operator at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), was selected by the Philadelphia Division of Aviation "to negotiate a new, long-term FBO lease" at both PHL and Northeast Philadelphia (PNE) airports. The decision to proceed with Atlantic apparently ends a lengthy and contentious period during which the city wrestled with what kind of FBO service it wanted at the two airports.
GA TEAM 2000 organizers said responses to its "Be A Pilot" campaign have increased by 53 percent over last year. Through August 1998, 25,000 individuals had responded to GA Team 2000's television commercial series, which recently finished a 20-week run. Organizers attributed the increase in responses to "a more targeted advertising campaign" as well as inclusion of an airplane in the television commercial in place of last year's commercial of sky and clouds. "There's no doubt that this has been a successful year for GA Team 2000," said Chairman Ed Stimpson.
AL KRUSZ was appointed manager-maintenance training plans for FlightSafety International. He previously was director of maintenance training for FSI's Gulfstream center in Savannah, Ga. He joined the company six years ago.
BRISTOL AEROSPACE will supply its wire strike protection system (WSPS) for 15 Cormorant (a version of the EH101) helicopters purchased by Canada for search and rescue (BA, April 20/175). The three-engine heli-copters are being supplied by Team Cormorant, comprised of founding partners Agusta and GKN Westland and a consortium of Canadian aerospace companies including Bombardier, Bristol and Canadian Helicopters.
LEARJET, rumored to be involved in a new mid-size business jet development program, also apparently is looking at a new light jet that would be powered by a 3,000-pound-thrust HFX turbofan from Honda, according to the Teal Group's 1998-2007 business jet forecast released last week. The aerospace and defense market analyst said other possible new light jets under study include a Premier One competitor by Fuji and a New Piper single-jet aircraft using the Williams 700-pound-thrust FJX.
