Hawker Beechcraft Corp. sold its fuel and line operations, including one at Van Nuys Airport, to one of the world’s largest fixed-base operators. BBA Aviation was chosen as the buyer for Hawker’s seven domestic operations because it would build on Hawker’s successful track record in the fuel and line business and because it has a strong reputation in the aviation industry, said Hawker Chairman and CEO Jim Schuster. The sale allows the company to build on investing in and growing its factory-owned service center network, Schuster said. BBA Aviation provides flight support services for corporate and commercial aviation customers, as well as maintenance, repair, overhaul, and spare parts for aircraft engines. The sale is expected to close in May.

Amplifier manufacturer AML Communications Inc. acquired the remaining 49 percent in shares of its subsidiary Mica-Tech Inc. Camarillo-based AML purchased a majority share in the company in April. Mica-Tech designs and manufacturers satellite communications systems for the electric power grid. AML bought out the remaining Mica-Tech shares in preparation for entering the demand response market, a program in which businesses reduce power use during peak periods. The buy out was an opportunity for AML shareholders and steps are being taken to bolster Mica-Tech’s financial and management structure.

Toys and games based on characters from children’s entertainment company Kabillion will be offered at restaurant chain uWink Inc. this spring. The cross promotion between the two companies begins at the inaugural uWink restaurant in Woodland Hills and expands later into restaurants in Hollywood and Mountain View. Woodland Hills-based Kabillion programming includes “I Got a Rocket,” “Bobby’s World,” and “Pet Alien.” uWink allows customers to order food, drinks, games and other digital media at their table through touch screen terminals. Partnering with uWink is a great way for Kabillion to expose its brand to its targeted demographic, particularly as new restaurants open across the U.S., said CEO Bill Schultz.

The 14-week strike by television and film writers officially ended with membership of the Writers Guild of America voting to approve a new three-year contract with the major Hollywood studios. The pact gives writers new rights and protections for their work written exclusively for and distributed through online streaming and downloads and on mobile devices, the Guild said in a release. Guild President Patric Verrone called the contract a new beginning for writers in the digital age. “It ensures that Guild members will be fairly compensated for the content they create for the Internet, and it also covers the reuse on new media platforms of the work they have done in film since 1971 and in TV since 1977,” Verrone said. “That’s a huge body of work that will continue to generate revenue for our members for many years to come as it is distributed electronically.” The new contract expires May 1, 2011. The writers began their walkout Nov. 5 after failing to come to terms on a new contact with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The strike idled not only thousands of writers, who staged pickets outside the major studios, but also others whose jobs and careers relied on television and film production. After the Sherman Oaks-based Alliance and the Directors Guild of America reached a new contract in January, the Alliance resumed talks with the Guild to iron out their differences on compensation for writers whose work is distributed through new media. A tentative agreement was announced Feb. 11 and writers returned to work two days later.

The Simi Valley Hospital Foundation announced today that Jill Haney, vice president of Santa Barbara Bank & Trust, will be its new board chair. Haney is also a board director for the Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Simi Sunset Rotary. Five new directors will join Haney on the board. They include Dee Dee Cavanaugh, vice president, First California Bank; Alex Gandel, executive, Troop Real Estate; Roy Jones, captain, Simi Valley Police Department; Jarrod Degonia, district director for Assemblyman Cameron Smyth; and Richard Sanders, vice president, Janzen, Johnston & Rockwell Emergency Management Medicine Services Inc.

Electronic Sensor Technology received orders for its chemical vapor analyzers from two universities for use in plant biology research projects. One university will use the zNose analyzers to develop new antibiotics, anti-cancer drugs, and bio-friendly pesticide by studying the chemical and biochemical processes in the area surrounding plant roots in the Peruvian rain forest. The second university will use the equipment to measure chemicals produced by plants to monitor their health and minimize crop damage. The equipment made by Newbury Park-based EST was selected because of its sensitivity, speed and portability, said Frank Zuhde, director of marketing and sales.

Americas United Bank was named Business of the Year by the Glendale Latino Association, which will bestow the award on Feb. 29 at the La Ca & #324;ada Country Club. “It’s extremely gratifying for us to have AUB recognized with this prestigious honor,” AUB President and CEO Gil Dalmau said. Dalmau was noted as one of the Business Journal’s Top 25 Bankers last year. When the bank opened November, 2006, it was the first Latino-owned bank to open in California in more than 30 years.

Health Net Inc. was ordered to pay more than $9 million for canceling coverage for breast cancer patient Pasty Bates, the Los Angeles Times reported. Arbitrator Judge Sam Cianchetti found that Health Net broke several state laws when it canceled Bates’ policy, according to the Los Angeles Times. This is the first time an arbitration judge has ordered such an award to be paid, the paper stated. Cianchetti also criticized the company for giving employees bonuses based on the number of policies they canceled and, thus, saving money. In light of Cianchetti’s findings, Woodland Hills-based Health Net has pledged not to cancel future policies “without first seeking approval from a binding external third-party review process,” the Los Angeles Times reported.

Burt Automotive Network is the latest mega-dealer to partner with Westlake Village-based Market Scan. Market Scan Information Systems Inc. develops software by fusing information technology with leasing showroom science. The Burt group, which is the country’s largest Hispanic business, according to Hispanic Business Magazine, selected Market Scan to be its desking software solution for all franchises. “We selected Market Scan over other competitors for having the world’s largest Automotive Desking Data Base and for its lightning fast calculations, allowing us to desk multiple deals simultaneously,” Burt President and CEO L.G. Chavez Jr. said. “These features, combined with Market Scan’s ease of use and their new menu selling training process made our decision for us.”

QPC Lasers Inc. received a patent that prevents a poor quality laser beam at high power, the company announced. The Sylmar-based developer and manufacturer now holds seven patents and has another nine pending. The new patent expands the protection of the company’s intellectual property portfolio to cover new technologies, said President and CEO Jeff Ungar. “Building out our patent portfolio helps to preserve our position of technology leadership in the high power laser diode arena and to defend the competitive advantage of our products,” Ungar said. “This generates added value for our shareholders and increases our overall value proposition as a company.”