Atlantic Aviation expanded its charter fleet operation with the addition of a Hawker 800A based in New Hampshire. The company's flight services division in Teterboro manages and operates 22 turbine-powered aircraft, said Frank Milian, senior vice president. The aircraft is configured with six leather captain's chairs, Airshow and a MagnaStar C-200 flight phone.
AEBA, Spain's air traffic service provider, has tapped ARINC to assess air safety in the Europe/South America Corridor. The assessment is a step toward introduction of reduced vertical separation minimums (RVSM) in the area in 2002. ARINC's Ed Lutz says the assessment is designed to show the level of risk in ``changing from the current air traffic structure'' to reduced levels of lateral and vertical separation. Most air traffic between Europe and South America already is subject to RVSM requirements in European airspace.
BAE Systems Regional Aircraft in Prestwick, Scotland hopes a gross weight increase and an optional freight conversion will make its veteran ATP turboprop attractive to regional operators. The company says the 64- to 72-seat ATP fits a ``natural capacity gap'' between smaller turboprop freighters such as the Fokker F27, BAe 748 and Convair 580, and narrowbody jet freighters in the DC-9/727 class. The first cargo-configured ATPs will be ready in around 18 months.
BFGoodrich is funding a research project with Dartmouth College to create a new aircraft deicing system. Based on patented technology by Dr. Victor Petrenko, a Dartmouth engineering professor, the system utilizes electrodes to break down ice and water on aircraft surfaces, shedding accumulated ice. BFGoodrich has acquired exclusive rights to the process for all aerospace applications. The company is funding the research through its BFGoodrich Breakthrough Innovation Thrust for Excellence (BRITE) program created to develop and bring to market new technologies.
Lawrence H. Brinker joins as vice president and general counsel. Brinker formerly was vice president of administration and general counsel at AirTran Airways. Jorge L. Mont joins as vice president of marketing and sales from AAR Engine Sales and Leasing.
Operators who face ``emergency'' revocation of their pilot and/or operating certificates may have the right to appeal to the NTSB if an interim rule is written into law. The change is an offshoot of the recently passed AIR-21 legislation, which redefines some aspects of the FAA/NTSB relationship. In the past, ``revocees'' retained the right to appeal for NTSB review of their cases, but not in instances of emergency revocation. The NTSB will accept comments on the issue until August 10.
A Brazilian Court has ordered Northrop Grumman (NG) to pay $1.1 million to the families of 45 people killed in the October 1996 crash of a TAM Airlines Fokker 100. Brazilian investigators attributed the accident to inadvertent deployment of one of the aircraft's NG-manufactured thrust reversers shortly after takeoff, on a flight between Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. A total of 96 people died in the crash, including three on the ground.
Roger Rose, president of International Pilot Services and an NBAA International Operations Committee region leader, advises pilots engaged in international operations to closely monitor the following global hot spots:
The American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) and Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) have created a joint legislative affairs department to lobby Congress. Todd Hauplti will lead the effort, which is intended to help the groups ``amplify the airport presence on Capitol Hill,'' says AAAE President Charles Barclay.
Charles Weeks is named regional manager for Asia; Jean-Luc Couderc is now regional manager for Europe and Jeffrey Winters joins as turboshaft operator account manager for North America.
Atlantic Coast Airlines' new Delta Connection unit -- expects to start service this month, around five months later than planned. Details associated with FAA certification of the airline are blamed for the delays. ACJet recently took delivery of its first Fairchild Dornier 328JET, and has 24 more of the type on order. The Dulles, Va.-based carrier also has 20 Bombardier Canadair Regional Jets on order.
Airline reservations system giant Worldspan has entered into a ``strategic alliance'' with Flightserv.com, operator of Private Seats, a public charter service using corporate aircraft. Under the terms of the arrangement, Worldspan will provide marketing and distribution services to Flightserv.com and also will acquire an equity stake in the company. Private Seats operates between Teterboro Airport and Atlanta's Dekalb Peachtree Airport, using Cessna Citations. Worldspan is jointly owned by subsidiaries of Delta Air Lines, TWA and Northwest Airlines.
Two labor groups representing Belgium's pilots and flight engineers -- the BFCA and the ABPNL -- have merged to form the Belgian Cockpit Association (BeCA). Student pilots and job seekers are invited to join the association, though most members are flight crews working for Sabena, Dat, Sobelair, Eat-DHL, Virgin Express, City Bird, Air Belgium and Constellation. Consult the group's Web site at www.beca.be for more information.
The FAA has rescinded an Airworthiness Directive requiring placement of fuel tank warning placards on numerous Beech piston-engine aircraft. Originally intended to prevent fuel starvation incidents caused by improper positioning of the fuel tank selector, the agency concluded that the issue was an operational one and not an unsafe condition as outlined in the FARs. The AOPA had vigorously opposed the AD, claiming that the overuse of placards to solve operational problems diminishes the value of placards used for actual unsafe conditions.
The overall forecast for the global economy remains robust for 2001 with growth continuing in most major economic regions and inflation remaining under control. That said, the near-term forecast does include higher risk than did last year's outlook, in part because of early signs of inflation in the super-charged U.S. economy, which is in the longest period of sustained economic growth ever recorded.
Perhaps Fletcher Aldredge, the Shawnee Mission, Kan., publisher of the VREF Market Leader newsletter, best summarized the feelings of most of those involved in buying and selling previously owned business airplanes: ``The used aircraft market is poised at a crossroads.''
American Eagle has moved all of its Miami-based Saab 340 aircraft to other bases in a bid to standardize each hub on one aircraft type. Effective July 5, all Eagle flights originating in Miami use ATR-42 and -72 aircraft, mirroring the company's San Juan, Puerto Rico, operation. Eagle now operates Saabs exclusively at its Los Angeles hub, while Chicago O'Hare will be all-regional jet as of November 2, the airline says.
