The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) is hosting its ``Communication for Safety'' conference in Atlanta on September 15 and 16. Topics will include runway safety, deactivation of long-range primary radar, automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B), controller pilot data link communications (CPDLC) and open forum discussions. Panels and group interaction will work on presenting ideas for solving some of the issues faced by pilots and ATC. For more information visit NATCA's Web site at www.natca.org.
The National Air Transportation Association has taken exception to the FAA's final rule entitled ``Type Certification Procedures for Changed Products.'' ``With this new rule, the FAA has ignored the reality of the aircraft and the industry the agency oversees,'' said Jim Coyne, president of NATA. The new rule requires all major type design changes (STCs) for aircraft modifications, upgrades and safety improvements to either comply with the latest version of the certificate standards or provide supporting data to justify an exception.
Agilent Technologies, a recent Hewlett Packard spinoff, is providing $1 million in equipment and technical support to The Flying Hospital, operator of a Lockheed L-1011-50 equipped with surgical suites, recovery rooms and classrooms. The aircraft, its largely volunteer crew and medical staff provide medical care and education in developing countries.
Australia's airlines are experiencing heightened government oversight in the wake of a fatal air taxi crash and a safety audit by ICAO. Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) plans to hire 12 new inspectors, including four who will focus on foreign airlines serving Australia.
Where would you turn for emergency cockpit lighting? Obviously flashlights are great -- as long as the light doesn't burn out and you remembered to change the batteries recently. Flite Lite is a small, inexpensive and reliable source of emergency lighting. Chemically activated, this compact, adhesive-backed light is bright enough to read charts and view instruments by, while keeping your hands free. Flite Lite is non-flammable and non-toxic and provides up to two hours of illumination.
James C. Walizer is now a member of the aircraft manufacturer's field service representative team. Walizer has extensive experience maintaining Falcon jets for the U.S. Coast Guard.
Ronson Aviation, Inc., located at Trenton-Mercer Airport in Trenton, N.J., has appointed Carl A. Barrows as service operations manager. The maintenance, parts and avionics departments are under his direct supervision. Ronson is an FBO offering aircraft sales, charters, hangar facilities, avionics and refueling.
Worldwide Flight Services has begun providing ground service at Vancouver International Airport. First customer for the service provider is WestJet Airlines.
The newly privatized Stewart International Airport (SWF) near Newburgh, N.Y., is on a growth spurt, and one of the early beneficiaries is the well-known College of Aeronautics. Long established near New York's La Guardia Airport, the College is offering a four-year bachelor of science degree in airport management at its SWF extension, which opened in September 1999. The program includes courses in airport operations, airfield safety, aviation law and emergency planning.
Airis Corp. has named Al Shively as senior vice president located in Atlanta. Airis is a private developer of aviation facilities and designs, builds, owns and operates facilities for aviation.
As the saying goes, safety is no accident, so the new line of ICAO safety posters should be a welcome addition to any flight department, FBO, regional airline or other aviation-related business. Sporty's is now selling a series of 16 safety posters covering such diverse topics as turbulence, VASI systems, taxiing guidance, wind shear and volcanic activity. All of the posters have vivid graphics and text and will help new and veteran aviators remember the ``rules of the road.'' Price: $11.95 each Sporty's Pilot Shop
American Eagle flights will carry TWA code-share passengers between Los Angeles and seven California cities. The move is designed to beef up TWA's West Coast presence as it mounts a 70-percent service expansion in Los Angeles. According to Marc Siegel, TWA's managing director for regional alliances, the code-share applies only to through service between other TWA destinations and Bakersfield, Fresno, Monterey, Palm Springs, San Diego, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara.
Silverhawk Aviation at Lincoln (Neb.) Airport (LNK), joins Air BP's dealer network through Valley Oil Co. Silverhawk said it was the area's newest full-service FBO and charter operator. The FBO offers light jet, turboprop and piston aircraft maintenance as well as avionics sales and services.
David E. Newell received the Verne Lowe Award for outstanding contributions to aviation safety and product development. Newell is director of corporate aviation and travel for VF Corp. of Greensboro, N.C.
You're going to learn a lot more about runway incursions over the next 12 months than you really want to know, but the lessons won't be optional. The FAA, with plenty of support from Capitol Hill and the NTSB, is undertaking a major effort to reduce the potential for catastrophic runway incursions, and that effort will involve you in a number of ways.
No, B/CA is not turning into an office supply catalog, but the MONO Dry Highlighter is a welcome, inexpensive cockpit tool. What distinguishes this highlighter from most others is that it, as the names implies, applies dry and is easily erasable. So if you need to temporarily highlight charts, maps, clearances or other items -- and don't want the mess that comes with other products -- the MONO Dry Highlighter may be your solution. It's available at many stationery stores and major office supply stores such as Office Depot, Office Max and Staples.
CommutAir, a Plattsburgh, N.Y.-based regional carrier, has ordered 26 new Raytheon Beech 1900Ds with options for an additional 26 aircraft. The order, valued at more than $125 million, is the largest for the 19-passenger turboprop since 1995. The new aircraft replace 26 older 1900Ds in the airline's existing fleet of 31 aircraft. Raytheon has delivered 11 aircraft, with the remaining 15 scheduled for delivery by the end of the year. With these deliveries, Raytheon will mark the 400th 1900D manufactured.
A year ago, the focus in Washington aviation circles was the effort to win support for FAA reauthorization legislation, a process that included more plot twists than a long-running soap opera. Finally, however, Congress completed work on the Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR-21) in March and the measure was signed into law in April.
First, I am in recovery from Tiger Woods' clinical and surgical dissection of Pebble Beach, and, by the time you read this, he will have spread his talents over the British Open, heavily favored. During the same time spread, NBC's Hannah Storm interviewed Tracy Stewart, Payne Stewart's widow, with snippets of their happy family life together and spotlighting Payne's considerable golfing talents, including his victory at the 1999 U.S. Open. Then it got tacky as Ms.
Although it said most evacuations were carried out without difficulty or injuries, the NTSB has recommended further study of aircraft evacuations. The board wants the FAA to require ``one level of safety'' that applies to larger commercial aircraft and those seating fewer than 44 passengers, which currently do not require evacuation demonstrations. The NTSB also wants the FAA to study optimum escape hatch dimensions, methods of communicating emergency procedures to passengers and the high failure rate of evacuation slides.
