Sabreliner to Make Rudders

Sabreliner Corp. has been awarded a contract by The Boeing Company to build replacement rudders for the U.S. Air Force fleet of KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft used primarily for aerial refueling. Sabreliner will draw upon the resources of its three southeast Missouri manufacturing, machining and assembly operations to undertake the work. The contract is valued at more than $15 million and will utilize Sabreliner’s expanded aviation manufacturing capabilities. The manufacturing will take place at Sabreliner’s Ste. Genevieve, Mo. operation.

AircraftLogs Receives Award

AircraftLogs was named Outstanding Start-up Business in the 2007 TopCAT (Top Contributors to the Advancement of Technology) Innovation Awards competition. The annual event is sponsored by TechColumbus, an organization of top technology leaders in central Ohio.

Jet Source Authorized

Jet Source, headquartered at the McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad, Calif., has expanded its aircraft maintenance services by becoming the first Pratt & Whitney Authorized Service Center in San Diego. To earn its "authorized" status, Jet Source’s maintenance team received special education and training for Pratt & Whitney products.

R-R and Turbomeca Extend

Rolls-Royce and Turbomeca (SAFRAN Group) have extended Europe’s longest-running aerospace joint venture by renewing their collaboration on the Adour engine for a further 30 years. Co-operation between Rolls-Royce and Turbomeca began in May 1965, with the agreement between the British and French governments to build the Jaguar fighter/trainer aircraft. Then the partnership was selected to develop and supply the Adour engine for the Jaguar.

Mobile Service Team Grows

Landmark Aviation/Standard Aero has implemented a national toll-free number for its Mobile Service Team (MST) network, a national network of MRO field-service engineers who offer on-site consultation, line and on-wing troubleshooting and repair services for business aircraft operators. The number is 1-877-GO-MST-99 (1-877-466-7899). "With our MST network we are able to offer real-time, on-site service for customers in urgent need of engine and aircraft repairs," said Greg Haywood, director of field service programs for Landmark Aviation/Standard Aero. Landmark Aviation/Standard Aero MST teams are based in Phoenix, West Palm Beach, Chicago, Houston, Denver, Van Nuys and Islip (Long Island) N.Y.

EMTEQ Granted Certificate

EMTEQ was granted its Air Agency Certificate E3TR548Y by the FAA in November 2007. As a certified repair station, the company is authorized to issue return to service tags and FAA Forms 8130-3 as well as 337s for EMTEQ designed and manufactured ARINC 404/600 trays, coax cable assemblies, LED dome, reading, wash and strip lighting. EMTEQ’s repair station status allows repairs in-house with a limited airframe rating to repair in the field. EMTEQ plans to expand their capabilities list and is expecting EASA approval soon.

Cessna Details New Citation

Cessna Aircraft Company has revealed details of the recently announced large cabin, intercontinental aircraft, the Model 850 Citation Columbus. Cessna was given the go-ahead for the program by the Textron board of directors on Jan. 23, 2008. The Citation Columbus is designed for intercontinental travel with a target range of 4,000 nautical miles (7,408 kilometers) at Mach.80 carrying eight passengers. Joining Cessna on the program are Pratt & Whitney Canada with its new PW810 engine and Rockwell Collins supplying its Pro Line Fusion avionics system. Cessna has reached an agreement in principle with Spirit AeroSystems to produce the fuselage and empennage. The all-new aircraft is Cessna’s largest business jet to date and follows the design philosophy of other Citations by using an aluminum airframe.

All-Composite Learjet 85

Bombardier Aerospace announced the selection of Grob Aerospace to develop the all-composite structure of the new Learjet 85 aircraft. Grob will also build the first three prototype aircraft for the program. Launched on October 30, 2007, the new Learjet 85 aircraft will be the first Bombardier Aerospace jet to feature an all-composite structure and will be the first all-composite structure business jet designed for type certification under FAR Part 25.

New Terminal at Oxford Airport

Oxford Airport, slightly more than an hour’s drive away from the west end of London, has started work on a brand new business aviation terminal to cater to private jet crew and passengers. Scheduled for completion in June 2008, the new facility will triple the space of the existing general aviation terminal. The new terminal represents the first phase of a major investment by Oxford Airport’s new owners, the Reuben Brothers, who purchased it last summer from BBA Aviation. It also reflects the fact that business aviation at the airport has doubled during the past three years.

Midcoast Selected by Stork

Stork Fokker and Midcoast Aviation recently signed an agreement for Midcoast to become the exclusive repair center in North and South America for the Falcon 7X aircraft. Under this agreement, Midcoast Aviation is authorized to perform warranty and non-warranty repairs for the Stork Fokker-manufactured structures. Stork Fokker designs and builds the wing movables for the Falcon 7X under contract to Dassault Aviation. The wing movables include the aileron, flap, spoiler and related fairings which are comprised of both metallic and composite structures.

Pro Line 21 Equipped King Air

Hawker Beechcraft Corporation announces the certification of the new Beechcraft King Air C90GTi by the FAA, the latest evolution of the twin-turbine Beechcraft King Air 90 series aircraft. The upgraded Beechcraft King Air C90GTi features an Collins Pro Line 21TM avionics suite, the same system found in the King Air B200GT, King Air 350, Premier 1A, Hawker 750 and Hawker 900XP. The King Air C90GTi will replace the current King Air C90GT. Hawker Beechcraft delivered 10 King Air C90GTi aircraft in December 2007 and certification has been achieved for Brazil. Pursuits of other international certifications are to follow in Europe, Mexico, Canada, Venezuela and Guatemala.

Online Human Factors Program

An online Human Factors in Aeronautics master’s degree will be available through the Florida Tech College of Aeronautics, and meets or exceeds the academic and research standards established for the university’s resident Aviation Human Factors master’s degree. Class sizes are limited to 15 students. To apply, visit http://www.fit.edu/admission/graduate/index.html. Applications will be accepted until the goal of 15 students is reached. For more information, contact N.E. Villaire, professor of aeronautics and graduate program chairman, at 321-674-8120 or at villaire@fit.edu.

spn Ready for Flight Tests

Grob Aerospace spn test aircraft No. 3 (D-CSPJ) departed Tussenhausen-Mattsies, Germany for Granada, Spain January 28 where it will undergo several weeks of extensive flight testing, including aircraft configuration identification (ACID) tests. The facilities in Granada are managed by the INTA Department of Spain’s Ministry of Defence.

DART Gets FAA Approval

DART Helicopter Services announced that their affiliated partner, DART Aerospace Ltd., has received FAA approval of their Cargo Cabin Floor Protectors for Bell 205A/205A-1/205B/210/212/412/412EP model aircraft.