Accuweather.com — launches two free weather ‘gadgets’ developed for users of the Windows® Vista™ operating system — AccuWeather.com Forecast Gadget™ for Windows Vista Users and Forecast Radar Gadget™ for Windows Vista Users.
Adam Aircraft — the Englewood, CO-based very light jet manufacturer, names Duncan B. Koerbel as its new president, replacing Joe Walker.
The Air Group — adds a Gulf-stream G550 and Legacy 600 aircraft to its charter fleet, to be based at Van Nuys, CA, and a Falcon 50, to be based at Reno.
American Eagle — the regional affiliate of American Airlines announces nonstop service between Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (XNA) and Miami Int’l, beginning April 10, operating a 44-seat Embraer ERJ-140.
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol — is selected by The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) to host its Air Cargo Forum and Exposition in 2010; www.tiaca.org.
Avcard — of Hunt Valley, MD, a provider of aviation fuel and credit card services, creates a co-branded fuel card with The Air Group, Inc. The Air Group, with over 40 aircraft, offers charter and jet management. AVCARD will provide discount fuel for The Air Group’s Smart Fuel program at over 7,200 locations worldwide.
Averitt Air — Nashville is named an authorized Mooney Airplane Service Center.
Avfab — of Clinton, MO is awarded a Supplemental Type Certificate for exclusive 1- and 2-place divan for the Citation 560 Encore from the European Aviation Safety Agency.
Bluegrass Air Charter — of Lexington, KY adds a Citation II to its charter certificate, in addition to its three King Airs.
Boeing Business Jets — and Rockwell Collins introduce an Enhanced Vision System (EVS) for BBJ operators. Certification for the system is expected by early 2008.
• Boeing Business Jets delivers its 100th “green” airplane to the government of India.
Camp Systems — and Raytheon Aircraft Company announce that CAMP has acquired the FACTS maintenance tracking business from Raytheon. As part of the agreement, RAC has designated CAMP as the exclusive factory-endorsed provider of maintenance tracking services for all Hawker® and Beechcraft® aircraft.
Canada and Japan — conclude air service negotiation which will expand air services rights for flights operating between the two countries.
Chartermatrix LLC — offers a line of web-based aviation Internet tools to help communication between pilots/flight departments and FBOs: Chartermatrix.com (empty leg air charter website); Flycontract.com (contract pilot & flight attendant website); and, Flightops1.com (flight department management website).
Commercial Air Tours — and sightseeing operations in the U.S. come under increased regulatory scrutiny with FAA’s release of a final rule, 17 years in the making, that divides the industry into three segments.; www.faa.gov. Final rule is expected to be put into effect in late March.
Cutter Flight Management — of Phoenix adds a Gulfstream IISP to its fleet of charter aircraft; aircraft will be based at PHX.
Dassault Aviation — reports record orders for its Falcon business jets, with 158 firm orders in 2006.
Detroit Metropolitan Airport — unveils its wish list of concessions and stores for the $418 million North Terminal scheduled to open in late summer 2008. The 18 restaurant and beverage concessions target national chains and themed bars; a Lifestyle Center, which could include a spa, massage area, and salon; and 140 potential vendors. When completed, the North Terminal will stretch a half-mile and house 26 gates. Some 4.4 million passengers are expected to pass through in 2009.
DHS — Dept. of Homeland Security releases FY07 Homeland Security Grant Program guidance and application kits for five grant programs that will total roughly $1.7 billion in funding for state and local counterterrorism efforts. Application period is open until April 5.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University — partners with Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona in Spain to jointly develop a master’s degree in aeronautical management to address the expanding aerospace industry in Europe.
Environmental Tectonics Corp. — of Southampton, PA announces open grant opportunities to assist emergency response organizations in obtaining the Advanced Disaster Management Simulator, either by purchase or through ADMS Training Services. ADMS is an interactive virtual reality-based team training system for emergency responders.
Executive Jet Management — of Cincinnati adds a Falcon 2000 based at Palm Beach Int’l Airport to its charter fleet, and a Falcon 50 based at Northeast Philadelphia Airport.
Expressjet, Inc. — a new regional airline, will begin non-stop service from San Diego to nine cities in the U.S. — a 20 percent increase in destinations served from San Diego Int’l Airport by non-stop flights.
FAA — seeks new regulations to increase the mandatory retirement age for commercial airline pilots from 60 to 65.
Frontier Airlines — will begin service from DFW Int’l to Mazatlán, Mexico on June 7, flying three days a week with rates as low as $178 using an A319 aircraft.
GAMA — General Aviation Manufacturers Assn. reports that manufacturers billed a record $18.8 billion worth of new aircraft in 2006, a 24 percent increase over 2005, delivering 4,042 units — a 12.9 percent increase. Piston units delivered were up 11.6 percent, at 2,750 units; turboprops were up 11.5 percent, at 407 units; and, turbine-powered aircraft were 18 percent higher, at 885 units.
General Dynamics — names Joseph Lombardo to replace Bryan Moss as president of Gulfstream Aerospace.
Griffin Aviation — of Geneva leases 1.5 acres at Orlando Sanford Int’l Airport to build a 10,000-sq. ft. hangar.
ITT Radar Systems-Gilfillan — introduces two new air traffic control systems — Expeditionary Airfield Ground Landing Equipment (EAGLE), a fully integrated, field-proven tactical air traffic control system featuring an Airport Surveillance Radar and a Precision Approach Radar subsystem and operations subsystem; and, a Radar Assisted Instrument Landing System (RAILS): developed to enhance its Precision Approach, Ground Controlled Approach, MPN-14K, and MPN-25/26 radars, allowing these systems to be upgraded with an ICAO-compliant Category 1 Instrument Landing System (ILS) capability; www.itt.com.
Jacksonville (FL) Aviation Authority — pursues development of an aircraft coating facility at Cecil Field in partnership with the Florida Community College of Jacksonville. JAA will put up $10 million toward the construction of the new facility and FCCJ will apply to the state of Florida for $10 million in matching funds. If FCCJ is unable to secure the $10 million from the state, the JAA gets its $10 million back. JAA will lease eight acres to FCCJ for 40 years at no cost. FCCJ will build the facility; JAA will manage and operate it.
• JAA board also approves a general ground lease of 2.2 acres at Jacksonville International Airport to Jax Lodging Inc. to build and operate a 78-room Microtel Hotel Inn and Suite.
Jetdirect Aviation LLC — acquires Presidential Aviation, a charter/management and maintenance firm with bases in Ft. Lauderdale, New York, and Los Angeles.
Little Rock (AR) National Airport-Adams Field — contracts with Mead & Hunt of Madison, WI to help expand commercial air service.
Mercury Air Group, Inc. — announces an agreement with Kuwait’s United Projects Company to manage a new world-class private terminal fixed base operation at Kuwait Int’l Airport. The agreement is a letter of intent (LOI) between Mercury and United Projects Company, a member of Kuwait Projects Group, an investment firm. Terminal opens in the last quarter of 2007.
Onesky Jets — of Manchester, NH, acquires Charter Jet Broker, LLC of Ft. Lauderdale.
Orlando Sanford Int’l Airport — will open its first airport hotel in 2008 — a five-story Best Western.
• Orlando Sanford Int’l also starts construction of an expansion of the existing international terminal apron; and, leases 22,000 square feet of hangar space to Aeronautical Restoration and Maintenance Facility, LLC.
Ottawa (ONT.) Int’l Airport — adds :10 Minute Manicure, a chain of express nail salons for airports offering services ranging from a $4 nail repair to a $50 manicure/pedicure.
Piper Aircraft — of Vero Beach, FL reports it has orders for some 180 of its new single-engine PiperJet aircraft, introduced at last fall’s NBAA convention.
Port Authority of Ny & NJ — Board of Commissioners authorizes $35 million to provide quieter classrooms in ten schools in New York and New Jersey as part of a continuing program to soundproof all schools affected by aircraft noise near the Port Authority’s aviation facilities.
Raytheon Aircraft Co. — announces that National Air Services of Saudi Arabia is the international launch customer for the new Hawker 750 light-mid jet, ordering as many as 20 aircraft with an estimated value in excess of US$250 million. NAS is expected to take delivery of the first aircraft in late 2007.
Sabreliner Corp. — undertakes the remanufacture of flight control components of the U.S. Air Force’s fleet of KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft, used for aerial refueling. Company is serving as the primary subcontractor to The Boeing Company for the work, which is being performed at Sabreliner’s St. Genevieve, MO operation.
Saflink Corp. — of Kirkland, WA and a provider of solutions for secure access, identity assurance, and productivity, receives notification from TSA that Saflink has met the TSA’s minimum participation requirements to offer Registered Traveler (RT) services.
Shadin Avionics — of St. Louis Park, MN begins renovating its 22,000-sq. ft. headquarters/manufacturing facility; project is set for completion in early 2007.
Ship It AOG — of Addison, TX, an international aircraft parts distributor, announces the purchase of a national inventory of spares for Raytheon Hawker 800 aircraft from a major oil company. Inventory encompasses a range of more than 500 different line items of parts for Hawker 800 aircraft.
U.S. Dot — publishes a final rule in the Federal Register that requires compressed oxygen cylinders and chemical oxygen generators to be packed in outer packaging that meets new flame penetration and thermal resistance requirements. The new packaging standard will prevent compressed oxygen cylinders and oxygen generators from rupturing and venting its contents and potentially causing a fire. Additional information is available at the DOT Docket Management System at http://dms.dot.gov/ under Docket No. RSPA-04-17664 (HM-224B).
