The FAA will require all U.S.-registered turbine aircraft with six passenger seats or more to be equipped with an upgraded Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS) within five years. The controversial ruling affects more than 15,000 aircraft operating under FAR Parts 91, 135 and 121, at a cumulative cost to operators that is expected to climb well into the hundreds of millions of dollars.
The results are in. Air Security International (ASI) has identified 10 of what it calls ``the most dangerous locations for foreign travelers and businessmen throughout the year.'' Houston-based ASI excluded those locations where the primary threat is from medium- to high-intensity armed conflicts. In alphabetical order, the 10 most-dangerous places for 1999 were:
Edited by Paul RichfieldBy David Esler, in New Orleans International Operators Face Challenges
Lack of consistency in local regulations -- especially among European nations -- and changing technology requirements top the list of concerns among business aircraft users engaged in international operations. Issues faced by international operators run the gamut from Byzantine customs, overflight and visitation rules to significant financial expenditures for avionics upgrades and approvals mandated by airspace restructuring.
After three months of unsuccessful contract negotiations, the Canadian Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services has approved Bearskin Airlines pilots' request for mediation. ``We believe that a neutral third party can be a catalyst for our negotiations,'' said Dan Parnham, head of the Air Line Pilots Association, International's Bearskin unit. The pilots claim they requested mediation to ensure that an agreement is reached before the peak summer season. Bearskin operates a mixed fleet including Fairchild Metroliners, Beech 99s, King Airs and Pilatus PC-12s.
The FAA issued an advisory circular suggesting standards and procedures for the acquisition, use and storage of flares intended for use in aircraft emergencies. The advisory circular was issued because many operators had been using devices such as ``railroad or highway'' flares in aircraft, the agency said. FAR Parts 91, 121, 125 and 135 require the carriage of at least one flare for each life raft during extended overwater flights. Only U.S. Coast Guard approval number 160 series flares are authorized for use. For more information regarding flares, consult the U.S.
Airsys ATM will produce as many as 105 Category I ILS systems for the FAA under the terms of a new $22 million contract. The first five systems are scheduled for installation at McCarren International (LAS) and North Las Vegas (VGT) in Nevada; Zanesville (ZZV), Ohio; Stennis International (HSA) in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi; and Burlington Alamance (BUY) in North Carolina. The new systems will be the first ILSes at all but McCarren. The FAA will purchase up to 15 systems in the first year and as many as 45 in each of two option years.
Photograph: Eurocopter EC 120 Colibri Paul Brou Helicopters Manufacturers continue to hold the line on price and add new utility, offering operators a better value proposition; but operating challenges remain. The helicopter market continues to face significant challenges like erosion of infrastructure and limitations on access due to noise. At the same time, however, the industry continues to display remarkable resilience and tenacity.
Manufacturer, Model and Type Designation In some cases, the airplane manufacturer's name is abbreviated, but the company's full name and address can be found in the ``Airframe Suppliers Directory'' in the Handbook. The model name and the type designation also are included in this group. B/CA Equipped Price
Aircraft emissions represent a growing threat to the environment and are a major source of ``greenhouse gases'' that produce global warming, according to a recent report from the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO). While the emission issue is the subject of much talk in Europe -- as evidenced by the ongoing debate over the importation of aging aircraft -- the GAO's interest could be a harbinger of fresh U.S. emphasis that could lead to new standards and restrictions.
Protec has launched a new Web site with information about protecting mothballed aircraft from corrosion. The new site can be viewed at www.protec-inc.com.
The European Business Aviation Association in 2001 will host its annual convention in association with the NBAA. The new show, dubbed European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition, or EBACE, is slated for April 18-20, 2001, in Geneva, Switzerland. The show includes an expanded exhibit area, an aircraft static display and a conference program. The EBAA's sixth annual convention was held in April outside Brussels, Belgium. (See story on page 34.)
Edited by Paul RichfieldBy David Esler, in New Orleans Customs Check
Customs may not be the most glamorous or interesting aspect of international operations, but it behooves flight crews to be conversant with customs regulations not only of the countries to which they're flying but those of the United States, as well. Your handling service, if you use one, or the embassies or consulates of the countries you fly to can provide guidelines on local customs and immigration regulations. For U.S. Customs policy, you'll want to consult two publications available to corporate and general aviation operators:
Photograph: BAE Systems' Avro RJ 85 soon may give way to the derivative RJX, launched in March. BAE Systems Regional Airliners Turboprops fight for survival as the regional jet onslaught grows. Political, economic and operational issues associated with regional jet proliferation are expected to dominate regional airline thinking over the coming year, as use of the type gathers momentum around the world. The evidence is plain -- just watch the action at any hub airport.
TGA Aviation, a Van Nuys, Calif., charter operation, has filed suit against the Stevens Aviation FBO chain and its chairman, alleging they violated an agreement pertaining to the interior refurbishment of a Gulfstream II. Though limited in scope, the case is a good example of why it is critical for operators to pay attention to detail when negotiating repair or modification contracts.
FlightSafety International (Flushing, N.Y.) -- Jim Lair has been promoted to center manager for the training company's new DFW/Dallas Airport training center.
U.S. regional airlines carried more than 78 million passengers in 1999, a 10-percent increase over the previous year, according to statistics released by the Regional Airline Association (RAA). The top five airlines in terms of passengers carried were American Eagle with more than 11 million passengers, Comair with seven million, followed by Continental Express, SkyWest and Mesaba.
Edited by Paul RichfieldBy Mike Vines, in Amsterdam
Air France's answer to standardizing flight crew procedures is Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA), a flight-deck data feedback system it launched in 1974. Now operational on the airline's entire 210-aircraft fleet, the FOQA equipment collects and processes more than 500 optical disks per week. In 1998, 220,348 flight legs were analyzed.
A new association serving business aviation interests in Central Iowa has been formed. The Central Iowa Business Aviation Association (CIBAA) claims 92 members from 45 companies throughout the state. The CIBAA joins several other state aviation groups, including the Iowa Business Aviation Association, Aerospace Education Council of Iowa, Iowa Public Airports Association and the Iowa Aviation Promotion Group. Further information is available from Bob Dickson at (515) 256-5517.
As this issue went to press, members of the Fractional Ownership Advisory Rulemaking Committee and the FAA were scheduled to hold a two-day meeting to review the committee's recommendation that fractional ownership be placed under a new FAR Part 91K. The agency has raised several questions about the recommendation, but the most serious sticking point appears to be the reluctance of some FAA rulemakers to consider changes to the runway margin requirements for Part 135 operators.
FBI agents raided the Orlando headquarters of SunJet Aviation, operator of the Learjet 35 that crashed in October 1999, killing golfer Payne Stewart, three business associates and two crewmembers. Accompanied by FAA personnel and representatives of the DOT's Inspector General, the agents scoured offices and airplanes, seeking evidence of ``criminal wrongdoing,'' including falsified maintenance records or regulatory violations. FBI spokesman Brian Kensel said the records seized are now in the hands of the U.S.
