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Aviation History
2001
2001 - 1019.PDF
Boeing optimistic as BBJ completion delays continue GRAHAM WARWICK/WASHINGTON DC WITH ITS FIRST two stretched BBJ2sheadingfor completion centres, Boeing admits it is "not out of the woods yet" with delays in outfitting its 737-based business jet. So far, 28 BBJs have entered ser vice, while a further 25 are under going completion and aircraft are arriving from Boeing at a rate of 18 a year. Five of the seven companies responsible for completing aircraft "are either performing to plan or close to it", says Dayton Robinson, Boeing Business Jets' completion centre oversight manager. Associated Air Center, Jet Aviation Basle, Lufthansa Technik and Ozark Aircraft Services are all "operating well", says Robinson. Dallas, Texas-based Associated has completed three BBJs and has two more on site. Switzerland's Jet Aviation and Hamburg, Germany- based Lufthansa Technik have each completed four and are working on two more. Rogers, Kansas-based Ozarkhas recovered from problems with its first BBJ completion, Robinson says, and has four more aircraft on site. A fifth centre, Seattle-based Greenpoint, also had major prob lems with its first aircraft and has decided to limit itself to less com plex completions. The company has completed two airliner-style corporate shuttle BBJs for Ford and one for the US Air Force. A fourth aircraft is on site. Two completion centres "con tinue to struggle", says Robinson, Santa Barbara, California-based Jet Center and Raytheon Aircraft Services in Waco, Texas. Jet Center has completed three BBJs and has two more in work, while Raytheon has completed 10, but has another 12 on site. "The two problem centres are not taking new aircraftin,"hesays. While Raytheon is "improving", according to Robinson, its contract to complete BBJs for the Netjets fractional ownership programme has been reduced from nine aircraft to five and the work transferred to Lufthansa Technik. "The quality seems good," he says of the BBJs so far completed by Raytheon. Robinson says several factors have caused the delays: inadequate programme management; satura tion of the supplier base supporting the centres; and the US Federal Aviation Administration's decision to require more stringent supple mental type certification of completions, previously approved as minor modifications. • Fractional links up to speed pilot training RAPIDLY GROWING frac tional ownership company Executive Jet (EJI) is to partner Ohio State University to create an accelerated flight training pro gramme to meet future pilot requirements. Talks on a similar scheme are under way with Embry- Riddle Aeronautical University. Columbus, Ohio-based EJI hired 450 pilots last year, and will recruit another 5 5 0 this year for its expanding Netjet? fractional own ership programme. The company, which received over 8,000 applica tions last year, says it is preparing for the future with its plan to "fast track" potential Netjets pilots through graduate training. Students at Ohio State will be able to enroll in a course that pre pares them for entry on graduation into an accelerated pilot training programme designed by EJI. The programme will also be available to experienced pilots seeking advanced training. Q< Sino Swearingen transfers SJ30-2 to San Antonio for structural testing Sino Swearingen has transferred the second of five SJ30-2 static test units to its structural test facility in San Antonio, Texas, in prepara tion for certification testing. The first SJ30-2 made its inaugural flight last November, and a further two flying aircraft and a ground test article will join the programme soon. Sino Swearingen has chalked up 175 orders for the seven-seat SJ3 0-2, which is lined up for certification and first deliveries next year. NEWS IN BRIEF • TRAVELLING LIGHT DeCrane Aircraft has developed a lightweight pas senger seat for the Bomb ardier Challenger business jet. Designed by Florida- based DeCrane subsidiary Dettmers Industries, the Lightweight Challenger weighs 54kg (1201b) and fea tures up to 76mm (3in) more legroom per seating position than previous seats. • EXECUTIVE BLACK HAWK Jet Aviation's West Palm Beach, Florida, centre has installed VIP interiors in two Sikorsky S-70ABlackHawks for an unidentified customer. • P&W ACQUISITION Pratt & Whitney Canada has acquired San Diego-based small gas turbine component repair specialist Turbotech Repairs, part of Sabreliner's Premier Turbines group. • TRAINING CENTRED Bombardier is to inaugurate its Dallas/Fort Worth train ing centre on 11 April. The Canadian company, the only business aircraft manufac turer to provide pilot and maintenance training direct ly to its operators, will run the centre in alliance with Simu- Flite Training International. • BROKER RECORD Europe's second largest air craft charter brokerage, Hunt and Palmer Inter national, recorded a £33 mil lion ($47 million) turnover in 2000. The 3 3 % increase over the previous year is due, says Hunt and Palmer, to "a very buoyant [charter] market". Further growth is expected this year, says the company. • ROBINSON CRUISES Robinson Helicopters has delivered its 1,000th R44 piston single helicopter, to a private Canadian customer, eight years after the first four-seat machine was handed over. FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 27 March - 2 April 2001
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