Latest from Gordon Gilbert
Bankruptcy court approves sale of Mooney to AASI
As expected, a U.S.
FBOs
Negotiations continue for sale of AvCenter FBOs
Associated British Ports of the UK is in its sixth month of negotiations with possible buyers of its American Port Services’ U.S.
Charter & Fractional
Competing charter ops occupy new Geneva FBO
A new business aviation terminal was officially opened at Switzerland’s Geneva International Airport last month.
FBOs
New FBO at London City includes expanded ramp
London City Airport will hold the official opening of its new business aviation center on May 31.
Accidents
All survive King Air crash into roof of Reno building
The airplane was destroyed, but the pilot and five passengers escaped serious injury March 13 (no, it wasn’t a Friday) when their King Air E90 crashed into
Avionics
Collins Pro Line 21 certified in Challenger 601
Rockwell Collins received certification for a retrofit of its Pro Line 21 avionics suite in the Challenger 601.
Avionics
Jepp chart/moving-map display STC'd in GIV/IV-SP
Gulfstream Aerospace received an STC for the installation of the Northstar Technologies Flight Deck Organizer in the GIV and GIV-SP.
Maintenance and Modifications
Jet Aviation Singapore to do Learjet RVSM mods
Learjet 30-series jets operating in the Pacific Rim can have RVSM mods performed by Jet Aviation Singapore.
Accidents
Incident started with wrong word, not wrong squawk
According to the AOL Time Warner flight department, it wasn’t a hijack code that was mistakenly squawked (AIN, December 2001, page 10<
Petitions cast doubt on Czech OEM merger
A bankruptcy court judge in the Czech Republic last month granted bankruptcy petitions filed by several creditors against Moravan Airplanes and Libor Soska
Accidents
King Air gear collapse kills Texas mechanic
Don Judy, a mechanic for Addison (Texas) Airport-based DFW Aero Mechanix, was killed last month when the landing gear of a King Air 200 apparently collapse
FBOs
Delayed Opening for Conroe, Texas FBO
Construction of Wing Aviation, which started last September at Montgomery County Airport in Conroe, Texas, is now slated to finish in the fall instead of t
Charter & Fractional
Buffett gives highs and lows of his bizav units
Insight into the competitive performances of FlightSafety International and Executive Jet can be found in a candid and personal letter by Berkshire Hathawa
Aircraft
Sovereign prototype well into flight testing
The Citation Sovereign, Cessna’s newest aircraft, had completed 15 test flights at press time since its first flight on February 27.
Charter & Fractional
Sky obscured over financing of Nimbus/Eclipse 500 mega-deal
In early February the Nimbus Group of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., announced it had received a “commitment” for $1.2 billion to finance its previously disclosed
Accidents
Helo air-tour crash was fourth fatal for Papillon
The fatal crash of an Aerospatiale AS 350 at the Grand Canyon on August 10 was the fourth fatal accident of a Papillon Helicopters tour flight since Septem
Regulations and Government
STC for Sabreliner 65 non-OEM RVSM package
Avmats of Chesterfield, Mo., has received RVSM STC group approval for Sabreliner 65s.
Regulations and Government
Avanti earns RVSM in Canada, FAA to follow
Transport Canada has approved the Piaggio Avanti to operate in reduced vertical separation minimum (RVSM) airspace in Canada.
Engines
Another Gulfstream hush kit close to STC
Miami-based Quiet Technologies said the FAA now has all the test data, and the company expects to receive an STC for its Gulfstream II/III Stage 3 hush kit
Charter & Fractional
Brazilian frax helicopter operator adding jets
HeliSolutions, the fractional helicopter provider in São Paulo, Brazil, has started a fractional jet company called JetSolutions, according to HeliSolution
Maintenance and Modifications
Raytheon offering up to 90 percent off some parts
Through the end of the month, Raytheon Aircraft Parts Inventory and Distribution Co.
Safety
Obstacle avoidance system STC'd on Bell 212
Laval, Ontario-based Amphitech International received a limited STC for its Oasys helicopter obstacle avoidance radar as installed aboard the Bell 212.
Aircraft
With no. 500, GIV and siblings get new names
Following a special ceremony planned for December 3 marking the end of production of the Gulfstream IV series at the 500th aircraft, the popular business j
Accidents
Caravan crashes after uncontrolled descent
The instrument-rated commercial pilot and his three passengers were killed November 8 when their 2002 Cessna 208 flying under Part 91 from Las Vegas to Mid
Accidents
'Mayday' call preceded fatal Westwind crash
Less than 30 sec before a Westwind 1124A crashed while on the VOR/DME-B approach to Taos (N.M.) Municipal Airport on November 8, controllers heard “mayday”
Cabin Interior and Electronics
First Zonal Comfort System to be installed in U.S.
Associated Air Center has ordered a CTT Systems Zonal Comfort System for a Boeing 767, for which the Dallas-based facility is installing a VIP interior.
FBOs
Wisonsin Aviation to open new terminal
On December 2, Wisconsin Aviation is expected to open its new $2.5 million general aviation terminal on the east side of Dane County Regional Airport in Ma
Airports
Can't see the runway for the trees?
The FAA has said it might raise decision heights on instrument approaches at Hanscom Field, Boston’s primary general aviation reliever airport in Bedford,
Aircraft
Falcon 7X to fly with Rockwell Collins HUD
Dassault has settled on a new, smaller version of the Rockwell Collins Flight Dynamics HGS 4000 head-up display as an option for its 5,700-nm Falcon 7X tri
