Industry News

Briefings ...

GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE CORP. — renames the Gulfstream G250 business jet the G280, prompted by the company’s sensitivity to the varied cultures of its international customer base.                                                                

     • Gulfstream also receives Type Certificate Validation from Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency for the G150 in the country.

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS — decides to shut down its Institute of Aviation, a more than 50-year-old program. The Urbana-Champaign program has fewer students than any other program on campus.

VECTOR AEROSPACE CORP. — of Toronto announces a service agreement between Vector Aerospace Engine Services-Atlantic, Inc (Vector) and John Hopkinson & Associates Ltd., based in Calgary. Three-year agreement requires Vector to provide comprehensive fixed-wing engine repair and overhaul support for the P&WC JT15D and PT6A series engines.

PACIFIC STATES AVIATION — an FBO at Buchanan Field in Concord, CA, is under new ownership.

AMERICAN AIRLINES — plans to split an order for 460 jets between longtime supplier Boeing and Airbus, ordering 200 737-class jets from Boeing, and 260 A320 aircraft from Airbus. In five years it will provide AA the youngest domestic airline fleet.

ALASKAN AIRLINES — is expanding service between San Diego and Hawaii with a daily nonstop flight to Honolulu, beginning Nov. 17.

VOLARIS — adds two international flights at San Diego Int’l Airport with nonstop service between both Mexico City and Guadalajara and San Diego.

SCHUBACH AVIATION — relocates to a new 40,000-sq. ft. hangar and 5,000-sq. ft. corporate offices at Palomar Airport, in Carlsbad, CA — 100 yards west of its previous location.

BANYAN AIR SERVICE — expands at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, acquiring hangars 65 and 66 with an additional 33,000 square feet of space.

HAWKER BEECHCRAFT — forms an alliance with AOPA’s Insurance Agency as the preferred insurance broker for its Beechcraft Baron and Bonanza aircraft.

     • Hawker Beechcraft Global Customer Support finalizes agreements with the Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA) and the Delaware Economic Development Office to open a Hawker Beechcraft Services (HBS) aircraft maintenance facility at New Castle Airport in Wilmington.

CESSNA AIRCRAFT CO. — in partnership with King Schools, develops a new instrument pilot course as the next element of its Cessna Flight Training System. The Web-based course will be available through Cessna Pilot Centers this summer. Also, Cessna adds five companies as Cessna Pilot Center: Indy Flight Training, Indianapolis; Light Sport Aviation, Riverside, CA; Freedom Aviation, Lynchburg, VA; Air Orlando Aviation, Orlando; and ProFlight Aviation Services, San Marcos, TX.

MARKETPLACE DEVELOPMENT — developer and manager of the Food & Shops at LaGuardia Airport’s Central Terminal, offers its “Summer Sales Incentive” program, offering general store managers a chance to win $10,000. Managers whose store sales increase by the largest percentage over a specified period will be awarded a $5,000 cash prize.

NBAA — National Business Aviation Assn. releases a new edition of the NBAA Aircraft Charter Consumer Guide, a tool for those seeking advice on choosing a Part 135 air charter operator or aircraft charter broker; www.nbaa.org.

AKRON-CANTON (OH) AIRPORT — records its business travel month in June, with 151,115 passengers traveling to/from CAK, the most in 64 years. monthly

VOLUSIA COUNTY (FL) — and the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program formally open a 8,000-sq. ft. business incubation facility at the international terminal at the Daytona Beach Int’l Airport. It will house ultimately up to 20 start-up companies in a supportive environment designed to accelerate growth and create local employment opportunities.

ECLIPSE AEROSPACE, INC. — reports approval by FAA for all Eclipse Jets to return to a maximum certified service ceiling of 41,000 feet.