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Aggravating the bad feelings between management and the workforce, Raytheon officials also announced the tentative decision to outsource a limited number of machined parts and precision assemblies. The company claims it plans to outsource all of the company’s parts manufacturing work by 2006 but final assembly would be kept in house. If that outsourcing proceeds, […]

After months of tension and uncertainty in response to Raytheons ongoing struggle to remain afloat, the Machinists union said the decision to outsource leaves a bad taste in their mouths. It is sad that companies are thinking of only one thing — how cheap can they get their work done,” Machinists District 70 spokesman Steve […]

Wiring Jobs Head South… The growing trend to outsource American jobs is also gaining popularity in the aerospace market. On Nov. 7, 350 Raytheon Aircraft Co workers in Wichita learned their jobs were heading south of the border to Mexico. Officials at Raytheon’s wire harness division in east Wichita announced it would transfer the wiring […]

This amendment adopts a new Airworthiness Directive (AD) for the specified Eurocopter France model helicopters that requires operators to either temporarily or permanently secure the electrical bonding braid that is installed on the left cyclic pitch control stick base within 10 hours time-in-service (TIS) and, if temporarily secured, installing a permanent attachment system for the […]

The FAA is proposing the adoption of a new Airworthiness Directive (AD) that is applicable to certain Raytheon Model Beech 400A and 400T series airplanes. This rule would require an inspection to determine the part number of the A194 roll trim printed circuit board (PCB), and replacement of certain PCBs with improved parts. The FAA […]

On Oct. 21, NBAA filed papers in a federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., asking the court to allow it to participate in the appeal involving the Stage 2 ban at Naples Municipal Airport. The organization claims, as a recipient of federal funding, the Naples Airport Authority “is required under federal law and a contractual […]

The folks at Extra Aircraft claim NBAA was a success but they also found themselves with a scary scenario on the way to the annual event. The prototype of the company’s entry to the high-performance touring/business market very nearly became a tragic NTSB statistic, taking the celebrated founder of the company, Walter Extra, with it. […]

As of this moment, some seven manufacturers promising a new generation of light jets sit on a collective order roster tallying well more than 2,000 aircraft. But who is going to fly them? The light jets promise certification for single-pilot operations from nearly all GA airports. Some offer acquisition costs below that of a brand-new […]

The Little Rock Business Aviation Association has taken flight as a new trade group. The nonprofit organization says it represents the interests of business aviation at Adams Field in Little Rock. The group is composed of representatives from several prominent companies that operate aircraft at Adams Field. The new association’s officers are Jerry Cook of […]

In late October, the FAA issued its long-anticipated Final Rule on Domestic Reduced Vertical Separation Minimums (DRVSM) decreeing that on Jan. 20, 2005, the required vertical separation between aircraft from 29,000 to 41,000 feet over the U.S. will be reduced from 2,000 feet to 1,000 feet. That means more available routes, which the FAA says […]