Bombardier

Austria's Styrian Spirit has ordered a Bombardier [BBD] CRJ 900. The airline decided to order a CRJ 900 instead of a second CRJ 700 because of the larger capacity that it needs on some routes and the better fuel efficiency. The plane will be configured with 88 seats.

PRISMA Aviation

Dart Aviation, of St. Malo, France, recently purchased an ATR 42-300 to be dismantled for parts. Dart purchased the aircraft from Avvocato Umberto L'Astorina. The plane had been parked since the Italian airline Air Industria went into liquidation in 2003. PRISMA Aviation Services, based in the United Kingdom, marketed the aircraft.

IBA Group

As part of a new consultancy contract with Club 328, London Gatwick-based IBA Group recently completed the E3 registration transfer of an Austrian-registered Dornier 328Jet to the UK register for Club 328. IBA is now handling the transfer of the carrier's recently acquired Dornier 328 turboprop, which should be completed later this month.

Pratt & Whitney

Seattle-based Isilon Systems has been selected by Pratt & Whitney to supply a cluster storage system for its gas turbine engine test facilities. The unified storage system enables Pratt & Whitney to improve the efficiency and speed of the engine tests at a lower cost.

Embraer

BMW Group DesignworksUSA has been retained by Embraer [ERJ] to design the interior of the new Very Light Jet and Light Jet. In the design, Designworks integrates the flight deck with the cabin. The cabin will include a private lavatory, a refreshment center and an executive table. Full-scale mock-ups of the new interiors will be on display at the Nov. 9 National Business Aviation Association convention.

Goodrich

GoJet Airlines has retained Goodrich [GR] to provide maintenance services for its growing fleet of CRJ 700s. The new United Express carrier, a unit of Trans States Holdings, had 10 CRJ 700s on order and options for 40 more. Goodrich was awarded a long-term contract to service and overhaul its technology on the planes. Goodrich has similar contract that covers Trans States' ERJ 145 fleet.

UATP

Independence Air [FLYI] has joined the UATP merchant program to reduce credit card processing costs. Effective this month, the carrier will accept all UATP credit cards issued by 14 other airlines. It will also use the UATP settlement services program to obtain a weekly reconciliation of tickets and payments.

ARINC

Mesa Airlines [MESA] has selected ARINC to install its data link technology on 30 CRJs and 10 Dash 8s. Mesa is the first regional carrier to use the VDL Mode 2 technology, which enables the automated date reporting of preventive maintenance, flight support and weather information.

Trans States has extended until 2008 a contract with ARINC for communication services including a new data link and hosted messaging service. Trans States first signed a contract with ARINC in 2003.

CIT Group

CIT Group has appointed Patrick Henry Dowling as the managing director and general manager of CIT Aerospace and Defense Finance. He comes to CIT from GE Commercial and Industrial Finance.