B/CA Show News - NBAA 2007 Day 1 - (Page 16) d1p16 Intell final 9/24/07 3:54 PM Page 1 N BA A 2007 Piaggio Jet News—Is No News! NetJets Can Thank Union for Strong Results, Says Olsen, Who Adds that NetJets Does “NetJets has never performed better. It’s at the top of its game.” “They are now in a position to dominate the market.” That’s not Warren Buffett talking but rather Bill Olsen, president of Teamsters Local 1008 in Columbus, Ohio, and former NetJets adversary. “They have lived and learned,” Olsen says. “Things have never been better.” The Teamsters won significant concessions Bill Olsen. for NetJets pilots last year and NetJets profits gains have continued into 2007, Olsen says, pointing to NetJets earnings gains reported by Berkshire Hathaway. “A well-treated and well-compensated employee group is a very productive employee group,” he says. “The relationship has transformed into a beneficial business relationship. We all share the same interests and the same goals.” “We’re here to espouse elevated professional standards throughout the profession,” Olsen says. He’s busy too, he told Show News, working with NetJets chief Richard Santulli on a new contract to be presented to the pilots on October 1. “To Richard Santulli’s credit, he has embraced it and that’s why we’re looking at the contract and offering more improvements,” Olsen says. He also takes pains to credit NetJets president Jim Christiansen and NetJets director and operations veteran Dan Rosenthal. And the other, non-union operators? “Nothing would make me happier than to see those companies stand up,” Olsen says. They “would be doing a lot better if they knew how to work with the union rather than work against the union.” —Rich Piellisch News on Piaggio Aero’s secret business jet project is sparse; it could even have been put on the back burner. “We are continuing our studies and exploring a variety of different opportunities,” Piaggio America president and CEO Eric Hinson told Show News, but I can’t say anything beyond that.” He did say, however, that the number of new business jet models emerging from the well-known OEMs and newer smaller niche players is continually changing the scene and further muddying the water. “The tricky part is building another unique product like the Avanti,” Hinson said. $100 Million for MKC’s T-Town Kansas City Aviation Department will break ground this fall on a 20-acre development at Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport (MKC) to keep pace with demand for services from business aviators seeking easy access to Kansas City’s rapidly growing downtown residential and business district. The new development, known as T-Town, will include 102 new hangars, 10 box hangars, 16 tie-down positions, as well as a self-serve fueling station, an outdoor aircraft washing area, and an 18,000 square-foot terminal building that will have offices, a pilots’ lounge, meeting rooms, and a weather center. Parker Aerospace Wins CJ4 Business The Control Systems Division of Parker Aerospace (Booth 6841) has been selected by Cessna to supply actuators for the Citation CJ4’s flap, spoiler and speedbrake systems. Parker will provide two hydromechanical actuators for the flap system, and six speedbrake actuators. “These are exciting wins for the Control Systems team and reflect the confidence Cessna has in Parker’s capabilities,” noted Mike Walsh, Parker’s business unit manager for business jet flight controls. Hawker 900XP Earns Type Certification Hawker Beechcraft achieved FAA certification of the newest aircraft in the family—the Hawker 900XP—on August 24. Powered by Honeywell’s new TFE731-50R engines, the aircraft is the latest evolution of the mid-size Hawker 800-series and is part of a sequence of upgrades for the Hawker fleet. “The Hawker 900XP is the perfect combination of new engine power and efficiency with a leading class airframe,” said Jim Schuster, chairman and CEO. “Significant improvements in fuel efficiency, range, hot and high altitude takeoff performance and reduced cost of operations will ensure that it remains the world’s best-selling mid-size jet.” Stevens to Support Embraer’s Phenoms Stevens Aviation (Booth 2901 and static ) has been chosen to provide factory-approved maintenance and product support for Embraer Phenom 100 very light and Phenom 300 light jet customers. “Stevens Aviation is proud to be associated with the brand new Phenom 100 and 300 aircraft,” said president and COO Glenn Brown. “We believe the long-standing tradition of quality engineering and technical leadership that Embraer has mastered will continue into the Phenom jets.” “We are fortunate to have Stevens Aviation as part of Embraer’s service center network,” said Maurício Aveiro, Embraer vp customer support for executive jets. “We are certain that our customers will be very well served by their highly-qualified team.” NASCAR’S Rusty Wallace Goes Even Faster Famed NASCAR driver Rusty Wallace has installed Raisbeck’s ZR LITE drag reduction system on his Learjet 31-038. “It seems I was born to go fast — fast cars and fast airplanes,” he says. “Raisbeck’s performance package has added climb, cruise and high-altitude performance simply not available on my airplane by any other means. We now have the fastest Lear 31/35 of all the NASCAR teams flying them and it’s great to be out in front again!” Raisbeck CEO James Raisbeck added, “Rusty and I have collaborated together on the subject of speed for many years. We worked to add a bit of speed to his Daytona racecar in 1992. I count Rusty as one of our breed; same goals and ideals.” Raisbeck is at Booth 2606. 16 September 25, 2007 www.aviationweek.com/shownews http://www.aviationweek.com/shownews
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