September 27, 2007

Standard Aero expands with TSS Aviation buy

In a bid to expand its capabilities to service larger turbine engines, Standard Aero has purchased turbine engine component overhauler TSS Aviation of Cincinnati, Ohio, for $65 million. Standard Aero and Landmark Aviation were purchased by Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) from private-equity firm Carlyle Group last month for $1.9 billion.

The TSS Aviation acquisition plays a key role i more

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Frasca Updates TruVision

An enhanced version of TruVision, called TruVision Global, has been introduced by Frasca International (Booth No. 4420). The Urbana, Ill. company’s visual system allows pilots worldwide to view representative terrain and airports. The latest version covers more than 10,000 runways, plus coastlines, rivers, roads and more. New features include variable time of day, sun/moon/star models, improved ur more

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Nagoya seeking bizav

Delegates from Nagoya Airport are here at the NBAA Convention to promote the airport as Japan’s business aviation gateway. The field has seen a 32-percent increase in business aviation traffic, climbing from 90 movements in 2005 to 119 last year. This might not seem like much, but Japan has not generally been a hospitable environment for business aircraft operators since it holds pilots to airline more

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Security Comments Sought

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is developing rules governing inbound international flights of business jets. At a forum at NBAA’07 yesterday, Rob Rottman, deputy director, transportation and infrastructure in the DHS Office of Policy Development, briefed attendees on the agency’s advance passenger information system (APIS) proposal and requested NBAA members provide comment. The notice more

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Townsend lands exclusive deal with 3M

By Charles Alcock

Townsend Leather (Booth No. 8351) recently announced an exclusive agreement to offer 3M Scotchgard Protector treatment for its range of aircraft interior leathers. The Protector treatment prevents soiling and staining, extending the life of the leather while keeping it soft and supple.

The Scotchgard product will be applied at Townsend’s 110,000- sq-ft factory in Johnstown, N.Y. The dea more

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Greener skies the goal of voluntary emissions plan

By Jennifer Harrington

Blue skies over the Atlantic may look a little greener over the next few years as the U.S. and European Union member states work together to reduce aviation’s environmental impact. FAA Administrator Marion Blakey and European Commission for Transportation president Jacques Barrot announced in June the launch of the Atlantic Interoperability Initiative to Reduce Emissions (AIRE), a voluntary progra more

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Flight tests continue as second Bell 429 joins certification fleet

By Mark Huber

The second Bell 429 took to the skies on August 31, five months after the first test ship flew last winter. It is one of five that will eventually complete a test program that is expected to amass 1,500 hours in the air before the helicopter’s planned certification and initial customer deliveries next year.

Bell currently holds orders for more than 200 of the 7,000-pound-mtow, $4.86 mil more

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Rosen gets PMA OK for 25 cabin items

By Jennifer Harrington

Rosen Aviation said it has received FAA approval for 25 cabin entertainment system components. Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) was obtained for products relating to display systems, the RosenView LX moving map, a single-disc DVD player, various connector kits, arm mounts and harnesses.

The Eugene, Ore. company was given a “letter of assist” in July by Stevens Aviation granting permiss more

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‘Smart’ av directory available online

By Harry Weisberger

PartsBase.com has introduced a Web-based aircraft parts and services listing and locating program called AeroPages that the Boca Raton, Fla. company describes as the industry’s first “smart” aviation directory. Listing formats are on display at the PartsBase booth (No. 4626).

Aerospace product and service companies can select from four levels of Internet display complexity at annual sub more

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Industry Perspective: Hawker Beechcraft

By Stephen Pope

Bill Brown, president of global customer support for Hawker Beechcraft, arrived at the NBAA Convention with a renewed sense of enthusiasm following the sale of the company by defense contractor Raytheon to investors Goldman Sachs and Onex Capital Partners. That type of transaction isn’t always a reason for optimism, but in case of the Wichita manufacturer, the future is looking bright.

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