Intelligence: Briefs

Cessna Outsources SkyCatcher

The company signed China-based Shenyang Aircraft Corp. to build the light sport SkyCatcher. The decision to outsource raised a lot of complaints from current and future Cessna owners, but Cessna claims it has more than 900 orders for the Cessna 162 SkyCatcher, which will run with the Continental O-200D instead of the Rotax engine in the proof-of-concept aircraft.

Gulfstream Earns Top Rating

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has awarded its highest supply chain security rating to Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. The business-jet manufacturer’s efforts to ensure its supply chain is safe and secure achieved "Tier Three" status. As a result, Gulfstream is eligible to receive the highest level of benefits available to members of the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT). "It is our duty as an American company to ensure the safety of our supply chain, and thereby the safety of the American public," said Joseph T. Lombardo, president, Gulfstream. "We work closely with all of our suppliers, both here and abroad, to identify any potential weaknesses in the procurement process — including purchasing, receiving, transporting and invoicing."

Clifford Appoints Central

Clifford Development announced the appointment of Central Flying Service as a service center for the company’s Citation II and Citation SII re-engining programs utilizing Williams International FJ44-3A engines. Central Flying Service, headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, is a family owned aircraft maintenance, aircraft sales and charter company. Founded in 1939, Central Flying Service employs 250 people and operates from a comprehensive 500,000+-square-foot facility.

Build A Plane Seeks Donations

Build A Plane (BAP), the non-profit organization that helps kids learn science, technology, engineering and mathematics by building real airplanes, is completing its fourth year and is looking for donations. BAP works to place donated aircraft across the country into schools that want to add aviation into their curriculum or groups who are willing to use aviation to enhance other educational objectives. BAP’s goal is to raise $50,000 to meet its operating expenses for 2008. Currently it has more than 70 projects across the United States, plus others in India, the United Kingdom and Nigeria. For more information go to www.buildaplane.org.

Goodrich Completes Divestiture

Goodrich Corp. completed the sale of its airframe heavy maintenance business, Goodrich Aviation Technical Services, Inc. (ATSI), to a subsidiary of Macquarie Group Limited in November 2007. ATSI has more than 1,200 employees at its 950,000-square-foot facility in Everett, Washington. ATSI provides maintenance, repair and overhaul services to airlines, cargo fleet operators and aircraft owners. Macquarie Group Limited is a diversified global financial services company headquartered in Sydney, Australia.

Spain Orders Two Firefighters

Bombardier Aerospace announced that the government of Spain has placed a firm order for two Bombardier 415 amphibious aircraft. Based on the list price, the contract is valued at approximately $60 million and includes technical support, training, one Flight Training Device and additional equipment for the current fleet. With this firm order, the Spanish government will increase its fleet to twenty-two Bombardier amphibious aircraft. It currently operates one Bombardier 415, 14 CL-215T and five CL-215 aircraft. Delivery of the aircraft will begin this year.

Record Orders for BLR

BLR Aerospace announced two record-breaking sales of its King Air Winglet Systems. Elliott Aviation and Cutter Aviation placed 90 ship set orders apiece — effectively BLR’s entire 2008/2009 U.S. production capacity — of King Air winglets. "The BLR Winglet system greatly enhances the capabilities and performance of King Airs, and when combined with our RVSM offering, enables these aircraft to climb faster, fly higher and safer," said Wynn Elliott, chairman and chief executive officer, Elliott Aviation. "Winglet demand is growing and will continue to grow as more and more operators benefit from improved performance and increased ROI," said Will Cutter, president of Cutter Aviation.

SME Has Composites Book

The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) has released the "Fundamentals of Composites Manufacturing: Materials, Methods, and Applications," second edition. Building upon the foundation of the first edition, this revised and expanded book describes recent advances, adding key information, case studies and examples that will broaden knowledge of composites materials and manufacturing methods.

Vulcan Flex Acquires XRI-1

Vulcan Flex Circuit Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Vulcan Electric Company, has acquired and put into service an XRI-1 Real-Time X-Ray Inspection system. The XRI-1 will allow Vulcan to view, measure and verify, in real time, the inner layer registration of multilayered rigid-flex circuit boards. Additionally, the equipment will be used to inspect assembly solder joints through connector shells and potting compounds.

ANAC Receives Supplier Award

In a formal presentation to ANAC (Akzo Nobel Aerospace Coatings) employees at its Waukegan, Illinois, manufacturing site, a representative of Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems division presented the company with a Platinum Supplier Award. "We are now in the fourth decade of our relationship with Northrop Grumman," said Michael Chapman, Global Program & Product director for ANAC.

GKN Aerospace Makes Tailcone

GKN Aerospace, teamed with Sikorsky Aircraft and the U.S. Army’s ManTech Program Office, has completed the design, development and manufacture of the UH-60 Common Composite Tailcone test units for Black Hawk helicopters. The new all-composite tailcone has met critical goals in reduced weight, parts count, tooling and manufacturing costs. The program has employed an improved manufacturing approach through the use of a Reduced Tooling Concept which has cut the number of tools by more than 70 percent over traditional methods while producing a highly repeatable, close tolerance structure.

AAR Acquires Summa

AAR has completed the acquisition of Summa Technology, Inc., a provider of high-end sub-systems and precision machining, fabrication, welding and engineering services. "We are excited about this strategic combination, which further strengthens AAR’s competitive position in the market for aerospace and defense products and services," said David P. Storch, chairman and chief executive officer of AAR.

Dart Gets Door Approval

DART Helicopter Services has announced that its subsidiary, Apical Industries Inc., has received FAA approval of its Nose Landing Gear Door Kit for AB139/AW139 model helicopters. Transport Canada and EASA approvals are pending. The Apical Nose Landing Gear Door Kit provides a complete bolt-on solution that reduces drag and cabin noise associated with an open front wheelhouse.

Mooney Hosts Workshop

Mooney Airplane Co. recently conducted a one-day workshop featuring technical seminars on Teledyne Continental engines, avionics, maintenance and aircraft modifications. On Saturday, December 1, 2007, Mooney representatives were at Lake Aero Styling & Repair (LASAR) on the Lampson Field Airport in Lakeport, California. Lee Uecker, Mooney team representative for California, also provided demonstration flights in a new Mooney Acclaim.

TrueNorth Adds Service

TrueNorth Avionics, Inc. has successfully completed integration testing with Chelton Inc., to offer an Inmarsat high-speed data global airborne broadband communications solution for business aviation operators using TrueNorth’s executive-class Simphone (pronounced "symphony") airborne telecommunications system. Simphone’s open architecture was designed to enable connectivity with a variety of networks and equipment.

Jouve Acquires InfoTrust

Jouve Data Management, Inc., also known as Jouve Aviation Solutions, announced that it completed the acquisition of InfoTrust Corp., creating an organization that will provide an array of product and service offerings for technical document and content management solutions within the aerospace industry and beyond. The combined company name is InfoTrust Group and is headquartered in Irvine, California.

P&W Canada Adds 200 Jobs

Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) has added 200 new production workers in Quebec and is establishing a new helicopter engine assembly line at its Saint-Hubert, Quebec, facility to meet growing demand for its engines. "We continue to ramp up production as we grow in all our market segments, including business and regional aircraft, and helicopters," said Benoit Brossoit, senior vice president, Service Centers and Operations, P&WC. Since June 2007, nearly 200 new production workers have been hired to increase manufacturing capacity.

PAS and RR Sign Agreement

PAS Technologies Inc. announced that the energy business of Rolls-Royce has revalidated and extended its authorization certificate for PAS Technologies Ireland Ltd. The scope of the authorization includes Rolls-Royce Avon, Olympus, RB211 and Spey industrial engine types. The repair and overhaul of various components, including blades and vanes, will be performed at the PAS Technologies Ireland facility located at Carrigtwohill.

Army Selects AAR Cargo Systems

AAR Corp. has been selected by the U.S. Army to provide 75 cargo handling systems for CH-47 (Chinook) helicopters. The systems will be manufactured by AAR’s Cargo Systems division in Goldsboro, North Carolina. Delivery is scheduled to begin in October 2008 and be completed by April 2010. The contract includes two option years, during which the Army can order 75 additional cargo handling systems each year.

Dallas Airmotive to Open PIT

BBA Aviation Engine Repair and Overhaul company, Dallas Airmotive, is slated to open a Regional Turbine Center (RTC) in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area by the end of this month. The RTC will be situated at Washington County Airport (AFJ) almost 20 miles south of Pittsburgh International Airport. The 5,300-square-foot facility will initially provide hot section inspection services for Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A and JT15D engines, fan repairs on JT15D and power section repair on PT6A.

Standard Aero’s PT6A Engine

The completion of a $1.6-million facility transformation will, according to the company, improve the work flow that in turn will improve turn times at its P&WC PT6A engine MRO facility in Winnipeg, Canada. Standard Aero anticipates a 30 percent increase in PT6A engine overhaul capacity without additional equipment or floor space. The work flow design methodology will also be implemented by Standard Aero at several U.S. Department of Defense MRO depots.

NetJets May Bring Jobs to N.C.

As many as 2,000 jobs and a new jet aircraft facility could come to Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU). NetJets is considering whether to relocate its operational headquarters to RDU. The current 850,000-square-foot facility is based in Columbus, Ohio. NetJets plans to make an announcement regarding its decision in March.

HF Blamed for Aircraft Mishaps

According to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the recent flood of aircraft accidents was largely a result of human error and negligence. The CAA will try a two-pronged approach to increase GA safety adherence that includes a long-term strategy where basic regulations are enforced and in the short-term, the CAA wants to revoke pilot licenses of those that disregard regulation.