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Maintenance and Modifications

RAS to provide flight options maintenance

Flight Options, the second-largest fractional operator behind NetJets, and Raytheon Aircraft Services (RAS) reached an agreement in which RAS will provide
Airports

AOPA: Use $41M in AIP funds to buy Meigs

AOPA has proposed that the city of Chicago apply for $41 million in federal Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funding to buy Meigs Field from its current o
ATC

EU bickering threatens European Satnav

Galileo, Europe’s $4.2 billion rival to GPS, is in jeopardy of cancellation following clashes between EU nations over project budgeting, officials said.
Regulations and Government

Tax Act increases depreciation for aircraft

President Bush planned to sign legislation that will increase from 30 percent to 50 percent the first-year depreciation allowance for capital goods, includ
Aircraft

Raytheon’s Beechjet Morphs into Hawker 400XP

In a continuing realignment of its Beechcraft and Hawker product lines, Raytheon Aircraft announced at the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibi
Aircraft

717 Business Express may find market in all-biz-class service

At the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition last month, Boeing introduced a corporate shuttle version of its Boeing 717 regional airliner,
ATC

ATC Fees in Canada To Increase Nearly 7 Percent

Faced with a growing financial deficit due to the continuing downturn in air traffic activity and “significant bad debt expenses,” Nav Canada revealed that
Maintenance and Modifications

Modifications Required for Premier I

A new airworthiness directive (AD 2003-09-10) requires operators of the Premier I to modify the aft power-distribution box and aft ram-air duct.
Maintenance and Modifications

Citation Service Center Construction Begins

Construction started last month on Cessna’s new Citation Service Center at Wichita Mid-Continent Airport.
Regulations and Government

Australia To Revamp Civil Aviation Authority

The structure of the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is undergoing a major overhaul as the government responds to constant pressure from
Maintenance and Modifications

Citation 500 RVSM Package Delayed

Honeywell projects it will receive certification of an RVSM-compliance package for early Cessna Citation 500s by the end of October, a delay of about four
Maintenance and Modifications

Falcon 50 Hydraulic Lines Must Be Inspected

Four separate reports of interference and consequent chafing of hydraulic lines in the No.
Airports

FAA Considers Anti-noise Program for Rockford, Ill.

The FAA is reviewing a proposed noise-compatibility program for Greater Rockford Airport in Illinois.
ATC

Next-generation GPS III Constellation Moves Ahead

Concerned about attempts by adversaries to jam global positioning satellite system signals–as occurred with only limited success during the recent Iraq con
FBOs

Stockholm welcomes first FBO

Stockholm City Airport is set to get its first purpose-built FBO when Grafair Jet Center opens early next month.
Maintenance and Modifications

Jet Aviation Designated GII/GIII Hush-kit Installer

Jet Aviation facilities in Geneva, Singapore, Teterboro, N.J., and West Palm Beach, Fla., have been appointed as authorized installation centers for Quiet
Maintenance and Modifications

Learjet 30 Series RVSM Flight Tests Completed

West Star Aviation of Grand Junction, Colo., has completed flight testing that will lead toward RVSM group approval next month for Learjet 35/36s equipped
ATC

Transforming the National Air Transportation System

Previously this column has addressed efforts within the federal government to transform our nation’s air transportation system.
Charter & Fractional

AMI Jet Appeals Emergency Suspension to NTSB

Last night, AMI Jet Charter submitted a petition for review to the NTSB’s law
Rotorcraft

NYPD Buys Bell…Again

Displaying the sort of brand loyalty most manufacturers only wish for, the New York City Police Department aviation unit has taken delivery of yet another
Rotorcraft

Chinese To Build EC 120

According to a high-ranking official with the Hafei Aviation Industry Co., of Harbin, China, that nation expects to manufacture Eurocopter EC 120 helicopte
Accidents

Bell Helicopter Goes To Court over Crash Deaths of Paramedics

Bell Helicopter must face trial over the deaths of three paramedics killed in a 1998 helicopter crash in Los Angeles, after the California Supreme Court de
Rotorcraft

Air Methods Pilots and Employees OK Union

A marginally sufficient 55 percent of the 540-strong force of eligible employees at aeromed operator Air Methods recently voted to approve representation b
Aircraft

Comanche Production Begins… Cautiously

At a time when the progress of big-ticket military helicopter programs is measured in decades, it is worth noting that the first Boeing Sikorsky RAH-66 Com
Rotorcraft

Bell CEO cuts staff, moves production to save money

Proving perhaps that nothing sweeps cleaner than a new broom, Bell Helicopter CEO Mike Redenbaugh, in the job since late May, has announced plans to move B
Rotorcraft

Do as you say, insists helo op

They say that turnabout is fair play, and that’s evidently what a proactive North Carolina tobacco grower thought he was doing when he sued a local high sc
Rotorcraft

A Russian Surprise

Making its surprise debut at last month’s MAKS airshow just outside Moscow, Kazan Helicopters’ Aktai is a roomy three-seat trainer with an aft cargo cabin
Security

9/11 helo aftermath: ‘normal’ but not quite

It has been just over two years since four hijacked jetliners stopped the world in its tracks on what was for residents of the New York City and Washington
Charter & Fractional

Survey reveals optimism, more competition in Euro charter

The European executive charter market is becoming more and more competitive, and the majority of operators and brokers expect demand to increase over the n
FBOs

Touching Bases: Million Air adds Oxnard, Oakland

The former Oxnard Aircraft and Jet Center celebrated its addition to the Million Air chain at a grand-opening party on September 17.