GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE CORP. said the U.S. Air Force will take delivery of its first outfitted Gulfstream V business jet by the end of September. Assigned to the 89th Airlift Wing at Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington, D.C., the G-V (designated the C-37A) will be used to provide worldwide transport for members of the President's Cabinet, members of Congress and other top government officials. The G-V is one of three purchased by the Air Force under the VC-X program to replace its aging fleet of Boeing 707s.
Executive Jet, Inc., the first and largest fractional ownership business jet provider, announced orders for 32 additional business jets last week at the Farnborough Air Show. EJI signed a purchase agreement for an additional 12 Dassault Falcon 2000s that will be used in the company's European NetJets program. Combined with 26 Falcon 2000s ordered at the end of last year (BA, Dec. 22/265), EJI said it now has 38 Falcon 2000s valued at $820 million on order for its U.S. and European NetJets operations. EJI will accept delivery of its first Falcon 2000 in 2000.
CLAUDIO NIGHTENGALE was named director of line operations for AMR Combs at Denver International Airport in Denver, Colo. Nightengale has more than 29 years of aviation industry experience, beginning with a position as a technician in the engine shop of what was then Combs Gates in 1969. Most recently, he was with Bombardier Aviation Services.
EXECUTIVE JET, the world's largest fractional aircraft ownership provider, which was acquired by Berkshire Hathaway this summer (BA, July 27/35), continues to be a dominating player in the business jet market.After announcing orders for another 32 business jets last week at the Farnborough Air Show, EJI described itself as "the single largest nonmilitary customer of four of the five leading corporate jet manufacturers," having purchased $3.8 billion in aircraft in the last three years.
Gulfstream Aerospace and Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works (LMSW) joined forces "to study the technical feasibility, environmental, regulatory and certification issues for a supersonic business jet (SBJ)" the companies announced last week at the Farnborough Air Show.
FAA gave Lockheed Martin's C-130J its long awaited type certificate Wednesday, clearing the way for delivery of the new military transport to the U.S. and Australian governments. The manufacturer said it used nine aircraft - C130Js and the stretched C-130J-30 - during a test program that included more than 30,000 "test points" and more than 4,100 flight hours.
ATLANTIC COAST AIRLINES exercised options for 10 Canadair Regional Jets. The carrier expects the first of those aircraft to begin entering service in the first quarter of 2000, with deliveries continuing through the second quarter of 2001. Upon delivery of those 10 aircraft, ACA will have 33 jets operating under the United Express banner and it will have options for an additional 27 CRJs. ACA also said it is "exploring alternatives to accelerate the retirement of its fleet of 28 leased" 19-seat Jetstream 32 aircraft.
RICK MILLER was promoted to aircraft maintenance manager for Downtown Airpark. Miller has served with Downtown Airpark for 22 years, beginning in the paint shop.
Iridium LLC has decided to delay the start of commercial service for its worldwide "Big LEO" low-Earth orbit satellite communications network from Sept. 23 until Nov. 1 to allow more time for testing before paying customers start making calls. Edward F. Staiano, Iridium vice chairman and chief executive, told reporters Wednesday that while the system is essentially complete, with all operational software loaded and the hand-held satellite telephones working adequately, he wants more time to work out remaining kinks.
Regional jet manufacturers continued to grow already healthy backlogs with Embraer last week revealing orders for 100 regional jets and rival Bombardier announcing its second order in the past several days for 10 regional jets. American Eagle placed a firm order for 75 of Embraer's new 37-seat ERJ-135s with options for 75 more in a deal valued at $2 billion. The aircraft will be delivered from July 1999 through 2004. That announcement was followed by a 25-aircraft deal with Continental Express for 50-seat Embraer ERJ-145s.
CESSNA 180, 182 and 185 series airplanes (Docket NO. 97-CE-14-AD; Amdt. 39-10679; AD 98-16-04) - adopts a new AD that applies to Cessna 180, 182 and 185 airplanes with wing extension Supplemental Type Certificate SA00276NY or Supplemental Type Approval SA93-136 incorporated. The AD requires inspection between Wing Station 90 and 110 for an angle stiffener at the lower wing spar splice. If the angle stiffener is not installed, this AD requires installing a reinforcing strap.
KAMAN AEROSPACE CORP. said one of its K-Max helicopters, being operated by Helog of Switzerland, was involved in an accident that claimed the life of the pilot Sept. 4 about 12 miles south of Kempten, Germany. The aircraft, which was delivered to Helog in May 1995, was engaged in a logging operation at the time of the accident. A team of Kaman officials was dispatched to the site to aid Swiss and German authorities in the ongoing investigation.
BOMBARDIER selected Marshall Aerospace of Cambridge, England as an authorized service facility in Europe for the Global Express. Marshall, which has been in the aviation business since 1929, has performed corporate and regional aircraft maintenance for more than 30 years.
Raytheon Systems Company Waco, Texas, said it received contracts valued at $125 million to design, engineer and install executive VIP interiors in 11 Boeing Business Jets and one Boeing 777, the first such modification for the 777. In addition, the Raytheon unit that used to be part of E-Systems said "numerous other BBJ contracts are pending for heads-of-state and international governments." Raytheon Systems is one of five modification centers working with Boeing on BBJ completions (BA, Sept. 29/139).
NATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION scheduled its next series of Line Service Supervisor Training Seminars Nov. 9-10 in Washington, D.C.; Jan. 11-12 in Long Beach, Calif.; and, April 19-20 in Phoenix, Ariz. The two-day sessions cost $195 for NATA members and $250 for non-members. For more information, contact NATA at (703) 845-9000; fax: (703) 845-8176.
ATR received a purchase agreement from Oman Air for two ATR 42-500 aircraft with options for four more in a contract valued at up to $90 million. Deliveries of the aircraft are slated to begin in December. Oman Air currently operates three A320s and four Fokker 27s, and will take delivery of an A310-300 in first quarter 1999.
BOMBARDIER-ROTAX 912F series reciprocating engines (Docket No. 98-ANE-26-AD; Amdt. 39-10667; AD 98-15-16) - requires installation of an improved fuel pump and fuel supply tube. This amendment is prompted by reports of fuel leaks at the outlet port of the fuel pump. The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent fuel leaks from the fuel pump, which could result in undetected loss of fuel in flight or an engine fire.
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS Model 369HE, 369HM, 369HS, 500N, 600N and OH-6A helicopters (Docket No. 98-SW-22-AD; Amdt. 39-10675; AD 98-15-26) - supersedes an existing priority letter AD that requires an inspection for main rotor blade cracks and for missing or cracked adhesive or paint. This amendment requires the same inspections required by the existing priority letter AD but deletes Model 369 (Army YOH-6A), specifies recording torque events and establishes a shorter retirement life for certain blades.
AL ARCHULETA was named general manager of Atlantic Aviation's Houston Hobby fixed-base operation. Archuleta previously was general manager of Mercury Air Center's facility in Dallas.
Boeing Business Jets, which conducted initial tests of winglets on a 737-800 in June (BA, June 8/250), confirmed last week that production versions of the BBJ will be equipped with winglets developed by Aviation Partners, Inc. (API).
CIMBER AIR signed a contract to buy two new ATR 72-500 aircraft and placed options for two more as part of its fleet renewal program. The aircraft will be delivered in February. Cimber Air previously purchased three ATR 42-500s in 1996.
CIRRUS DESIGN had completed 95 percent of the work for FAR Part 23 type certification of the SR20 by the end of August, the company said, adding that dynamic seat testing and drop testing of the fuselage are the principal items remaining. Cirrus said FAA's Aircraft Certification Office in the Chicago area has completed its review of SR20 Subpart B flight tests. The company anticipates receiving FAA certification by the end of the year. Cirrus said it has orders for 200 Model SR20s.
SOCATA Models TB9 and TB10 airplanes (Docket No. 95-CE-72-AD; Amdt. 39-10677; AD 98-16-03) - requires repetitive inspection of the wing front attachment on the wing and fuselage sides for cracks and repetitively incorporating a certain modification kit. This AD is the result of mandatory continuing airworthiness information issued by the French airworthiness authority.
Bell Helicopter and Agusta of Italy signed an agree-ment at the Farnborough Air Show to form a joint venture to manage the Bell BA609 civil tiltrotor program and the Agusta AB139, a new 12- to 15-passenger helicopter. The deal is subject to approval by the boards of parent companies Textron and Finmeccanica. The agreement was announced by Bell Chairman and CEO Terry Stinson and Agusta President and CEO Amedeo Caporaletti on the first day of the show.
EMBRAER Model EMB-120 series airplanes (Docket No. 98-NM-33-AD; Amdt. 39-10673; AD 98-15-22) - requires a one-time inspection for delamination, erosion and condition of fillet sealant and conductive edge sealer of the wing and empennage leading edge area behind the de-ice boots and follow-on corrective actions. This amendment is prompted by issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information by a foreign civil airworthiness authority.
