20 Aviation International News • www.ainonline.com January 2004 Goodrich (now L-3 Avionics Sys- tems) and ACSS, a joint-venture company owned by L-3 and Thales. Honeywell settled its dispute with Goodrich, although the terms were not disclosed. Honeywell and ACSS, meanwhile, entered non- binding arbitration to settle their dispute, but the sides have yet to announce the outcome of that NEWSMAKERS2003process, which is thought to have ended last summer. –S.P. he year 2003–the centennial of manned, powered flight–was a lawsuit against Honeywell alleg- produces a complete line of FMS supposed to be the one where aviation shone brightly. Instead, ing anti-competitive activities in vi- equipment, satcom systems, cabin the entire aviation industry was a bit under the weather, riding olation of antitrust laws. equipment and flat-panel displays. Gordon Pratt, T out a turbulent market marred by a sour economy and the long- Naimer, a Swiss-born engineer Also, in development for the past Chelton Flight Systems lastingT after-effects of 9/11. As if a 30-percent-plus drop in business jet whose company introduced its first few years has been a synthetic-vi- Perhaps fittingly, the story of deliveries wasn’t bad enough last year, Chicago mayor Richard Daley FMS, the UNS-1, at the 1982 sion flight display system, called Vi- how an aviation enthusiast and self- betrayed the National Airspace System’s overseer and end-users when he NBAA Convention, is recognized by sion 1, intended primarily for the taught computer programmer suc- ordered bulldozers to destroy the sole runway at Meigs Field, setting a many as a pioneer in the vanguard of retrofit market. ceeded in creating what some dangerous precedent that could possibly be repeated at other threatened the avionics industry. Today, the pri- Honeywell originally sued not consider one of the most significant airports in the U.S. Last year also saw its share of management changes vately held company he founded only Universal and Sandel but also technological advances in aviation at several business aviation companies, some due to retirement while others were precipitated by sagging fiscal performance. Sadly, several business aviation industry heavyweights–including marketing guru Jim Taylor, famed writer “Torch” Lewis and data-meister John Zimmerman–are now gone, but certainly not out of mind. Concorde made NEWSMAKER OF THE YEAR its final flight last year, and the Beech Starship was targeted for termination by its creator, Raytheon Aircraft. Perhaps in 2004 aviation Chicago mayor Richard Daley tial acts of terrorism using light aircraft, he later ad- can shine more brightly. mitted his action was motivated by politics. A com- Chicago mayor Richard Daley grabs the brass plex deal struck with the governor of Illinois ring as this year’s top newsmaker. The dubious dis- involving expansion of O’Hare International and Hubert Naimer, Universal Avionics, case to the circuit court of appeals tinction likely rolls off his back as readily as the del- construction of a new airport in Peotone, Ill., was and Gerry Block, Sandel in Washington, D.C. uge of censure he has already endured from supposed to ensure the long-term survival of Meigs. Universal Avionics’ Hubert Next up for consideration is pro-aviation groups–and others–since ordering city But the non-binding agreement fell apart, and with- Naimer and Sandel’s Gerry Block whether Honeywell owes damages backhoes to destroy Meigs Field’s only runway on out the weight of law behind it, Daley carried made news last year by successfully to Universal for what the Tucson, the night of March 30/31. through with his long-stated wish to close the airport defending their respective compa- Ariz. company claims was a bogus Though not one of the nation’s most critical busi- and earmark the site for a lakeside park. In prepara- nies’ terrain-alerting products lawsuit allegedly aimed at stalling ness aviation icons (3,900-foot run- tion for the surprise midnight de- against a patent-infringement lawsuit competitors’ penetration into a mar- way, GPS and VOR/DME struction of the runway, Daley had approaches), Merrill C. Meigs Air- arranged to have the federal air- port (CGS) was well known for port improvement program fund- being a short cab ride away from ing paid back, allowing him to Chicago’s downtown Loop. Built close the airport without violating on the site of the 1933 Chicago federal law. World’s Fair just after the closing His only legal blockade was of festivities, Meigs was often cited FAR Part 157, requiring 30 days’ as the ideal general aviation airport notice before closing a public- for access to a major city (ironi- use airport. But the FAA had cally, Ronald Reagan Washington minimal enforcement power be- National Airport is another–and it hind the regulation–amounting to has also been shut off to general little more than the proverbial aviation). slap on Daley’s politically mus- Meigs saw enough traffic to cle-bound wrists. warrant a control tower, and Sig- Aviation advocacy groups nature Flight Support had invested such as the Aircraft Owners and Hubert Naimer Gerry Block Richard Daley significantly in upgrading its ter- Pilots Association (AOPA), Na- brought by Honeywell in May 2002. ket dominated by Honeywell. Uni- minal as the airport’s sole FBO, tional Air Transportation Associa- In the lawsuit, Honeywell sought versal is reportedly seeking $33 an investment the company will never be able to re- tion (NATA) and the NBAA responded by pressing to bar Universal and Sandel from sell- million in damages plus attorneys’ coup. Neither Signature nor the FAA–even the air for additional enforcement power behind Part 157. ing their terrain awareness and warn- fees. That portion of the case should traffic controllers who would have been responsible They got it in the latest FAA reauthorization bill, ing systems (TAWS), asserting that be decided by this March, according for flights into Meigs that night–were forewarned of which calls for fines of up to $10,000 per day for the products infringed patents filed by to an attorney for Universal. the mayor’s plans. airport operating authorities if they violate the 30- Honeywell for its enhanced ground Block, meanwhile, said his “We’ve experienced shock and awe on our own day-notice rule. proximity warning system (EGPWS), company might now file a lawsuit turf,” Signature v-p of sales and marketing David The sobering lesson behind the entire episode is developed in 1996. The FAA is re- of its own against Honeywell. In Vaughan told AIN the day after Daley’s midnight that few airports, if any, are safe from the reach of a quiring TAWS in most turbine-pow- addition to TAWS, Sandel, a small raid. By his actions, Daley had put a bustling Signa- local politician bent on closure. Even a general pop- ered airplanes by March next year. firm based in Vista, Calif., pro- ture base out of business. Vaughan’s sentiments were ulation, like that of Chicago, that sees the injustice Honeywell was dealt a setback duces a line of cockpit multifunc- shared, no doubt, by the owners of the 16 aircraft of closing a general aviation airport will not exert when a U.S. district court judge in tion displays. Block said stranded on the ramp when the work crews carved X- much energy to save it. There are those among them late October granted motions for Honeywell’s lawsuit nearly put his shaped ditches in the runway. Their voices were soon who feel strongly that airports are worth fighting for. summary judgment to Universal company, founded in 1996, out of joined by those of every aviation advocacy group and But they represent a tiny sliver of the nonflying-pop- and Sandel, effectively dismissing business. He added that he feels countless aircraft operators to whom Meigs was the ulation pie chart. The destruction of Meigs Field il- the lawsuit without a trial. A Hon- “vindicated” by the district court ideal gateway to the Windy City. lustrates their impotence when confronted with the eywell spokesman said his com- judge’s decision. “This was ab- Though Daley initially cited concern over poten- likes of Daley. –M.P. pany intends to appeal the judge’s solutely a huge win,” he said. decision, which would send the Block added that Sandel might file TIMELINE OF 2003 EVENTS JANUARY FEBRUARY Feb. 24 – S-92 team wins Collier Trophy March 25 – Falcon 2000EX receives FAA Jan. 7 – Honeywell acquires Baker Electronics Feb. – Extra Flugzeugbau enters insolvency, de- Feb. 25 – Ae270 conforming prototype flies certification Jan. 8 – Air Midwest Beech 1900D crashes laying development of Extra EA-500 March 26 – Avcraft closes deal to buy Fairchild into hangar at Charlotte Douglas turboprop MARCH Dornier 328 production International Airport, killing 19 Feb. 3 – Dassault Falcon 2000EX EASy first flight March 7 – Bell/Agusta Aerospace BA609 tiltrotor March 30 – Meigs Field destroyed by Chicago passengers and two crewmembers Feb. 5 – Farnborough Airport comes under first flight; Global 5000 first flight mayor Richard Daley Jan. 9 – Spirit Wing Learjet 25 flies with control of TAG Aviation March 11 – Collins HST-900 data satcom gets FJ44 engines Feb. 19 – Embraer 170 first flight STC approval for installation in Fal- APRIL Jan. 31 – VisionAire closes due to bankruptcy Feb. 19 – P&WC PW610F chosen to power con 50, 900 and 900EX April 17 – Cessna Citation CJ3 completes first Eclipse 500 March 13 – Max-Viz certified in Challenger 601 two flights January 2004 Aviation International News • www.ainonline.com 21 databases. 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