Development plans for Southern California International Airport (the former George Air Force Base) in Victorville, Calif. are under way, since the Southern California Airport Authority signed a contract with Stirling, a land-development company in Laguna Hills
MD Helicopters Holding, a subsidiary of The Netherlands' RDM Holding, will continue to build the entire line of McDonnell Douglas helicopters it purchased recently from Boeing. Details of the sale, which is subject to U.S. Federal Trade Commission approval, were not disclosed. Production of the single-engine MD 500E/F, MD 520N and MD 600N, as well as the twin-engine MD Explorer series, is to continue. Boeing will retain ownership of its NOTAR technology, but will license it to MD Helicopters. Boeing plans to continue manufacturing military helicopters.
This Aviation First Aid Kit from Sporty's Pilot Shop equips you to tend to minor medical emergencies. Kit contents includes assorted bandages, adhesive tape, cloth wrap, eyewash, first-aid cream, instant cold compress, a first-aid handbook and scissors. The case, with carrying handle, weighs 1.5 pounds and measures 10.1-by-7.0-by-3.0 inches. It can be mounted with Velcro or screws. Price: $29.95 Sporty's Pilot Shop Clermont County Airport Batavia, Ohio 45103 Phone: (513) 735-9000; Fax: (513) 735-9200
Sennheiser Electronic Corp. has appointed Avionics International Supply of Denton, Texas, and EDMO Distributors of Spokane, Wash., as its exclusive aviation distributors
Pilots who layover in underdeveloped countries have increased risk of contracting infectious diseases, according to a recent study performed by Dr. Stanley R. Mohler of Wright State University's School of Medicine. Mohler's report was published recently by the Flight Safety Foundation. The study found that crewmembers flying to regions where such diseases are prevalent, especially Africa and South America, can protect themselves from infection through vaccination or medications, even over-the-counter remedies.
Softair Charter Manager 2.2 for Windows 95 is the latest release from Softair Software (www.softair.net). In addition to quoting, scheduling and dispatching flights, it allows users to manage their businesses with integrated databases and reporting modules. Softair Charter Manager tracks aircraft and customer usage, and provides break-even and cost analyses, an airport locator and airport/FBO search modules. The company's Softair Maintenance Module provides users with a new way to track schedule maintenance and inspections automatically.
Newly compiled by the AOPA is the AOPA's Airport Directory -- 1999, listing more than 7,000 landing facilities, 4,826 FBOs and about 34,000 on-airport and near-airport services. Every airport entry contains essential information such as runway length, width, surface, lighting and alignment. There are over 2,600 runway diagrams for airports with instrument approaches. Safety notes on obstructions, flight training and non-standard traffic patterns are included. Bold icons identify key services. Price: $24.95 for additional copies for AOPA members;
Edited By Robert A. SearlesRobert A. Searles Will the Air Traffic System Be Ready for the 21st Century?
The FAA has good news to report about many of its ATC modernization projects: In January, Transportation Secretary Rodney E. Slater and FAA Administrator Jane F. Garvey dedicated the first Display System Replacement (DSR) equipment at the Seattle ARTCC. The new control room, which features upgraded color displays and new computer hardware and software for controllers, is to be in use at all 20 centers in the continental United States by the summer of 2000.
AeroKnowledge, Inc. of Trenton, N.J., a producer of aviation safety CD-ROMs, has launched the NTSB Accident Database, a searchable archive of accidents and incidents since 1984
-- Bombardier Aerospace www.aero.bombardier.com -- Bombardier Aero-space has developed a new Web site for aircraft operators. The site includes several new features like maps and hotlinks to all Challenger and Learjet field service representatives, as well as links to key customer support contacts. Newsletters, aircraft manual order forms and a prototype parts ordering system also can be found at the site. -- CSSinfo
By the time you read this, flightcrews of aircraft flying over the Pacific oceanic region will be able to communicate with air traffic control facilities via datalink. This means clearances and all routine communication between aircraft and oceanic ATC authorities bordering the Pacific Rim can be exchanged through text messages with HF radio as a backup.
Garrett Aviation Services has officially opened a new, 60,000-square-foot paint facility at its Capital Airport operation in Springfield, Ill. Featuring state-of-the-art air-, contaminant- and waste-handling systems, the new building comprises three large hangar bays, related mechanical and storage areas, and offices. According to Wayne Etling, modification manager for the operation and project manager of the new shops, the main hangar can hold as many as five DC-9-size airplanes, or up to eight smaller aircraft.
SimCom International executives are exploring facility options in the Orlando area to accommodate two new motion-based Level C simulators -- a Learjet 35 and a Citation II. The training platforms are moving to SimCom from Pan Am International Flight Academy, a third-party, Miami-based training company that acquired SimCom in February. Pan Am itself had been bought in July 1998 by the investment company J. W. Childs&Associates. SimCom President Walter David said SimCom will continue to offer training programs priced below those of FlightSafety and SimuFlite.
AlliedSignal Aerospace predicts that 2,350 new civil turbine helicopters will be delivered between 1999 and 2003, sustaining a three-percent annual growth rate. Continued economic growth and the availability of new rotorcraft will drive the market, although replacement of older rotorcraft is becoming the dominant reason for new purchases, said AlliedSignal. On the other hand, Rolls-Royce, which recently published a 10-year market forecast, believes civil rotorcraft deliveries may be peaking.
During the unpleasantness of the '40s I spent many hours behind a Hamilton Standard propeller being twisted around by a Pratt&Whitney R-2800 round engine that delivered 2,000 horsepressure at takeoff power, 63 inches mp x 2,700 rpm. Lots of folks using these engines -- in the F4U, P-47, F6F and C-46 (aka R5C), for example -- often employed takeoff power under moments of stress, such as being pursued by, or in the pursuit of, other aircraft whose occupants had evil designs on their bewtocks.
This year's compilation of the pilot's essential reference AIM/FAR 1999, published by McGraw Hill, claims ``more FAR Parts than any other reference.'' This paperback edition features a bonus directory that contains phone numbers for the FAA, NTSB, Senate and House, along with addresses and phone numbers for Flight Standards District Offices. The 784-page book also includes an expanded number of aviation Web site addresses and extensive indexing and cross-referencing. Price: $15.95 McGraw-Hill Customer Service P.O. Box 545
Mercury Air Group has relocated its FBO at Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport (BUR) to 10750 Sherman Way, which is on the north side of the field. The new facility features a 500,000-square-foot ramp. Phone: (818) 841-2966.
Northwest Airlines has selected FlightSafety International's (www.flightsafety.com) Principles of Troubleshooting software program for use at the carrier's Minneapolis and Detroit bases. Some 2,000 line maintenance personnel and shop technicians will use the program that is presented on PCs for individual interaction within an instructor-led classroom environment. The software is used by a number of other major and regional carriers
Edited By Robert A. SearlesArnold Lewis Small Jets to Top Airliner Sales
Small jets of under 90 seats will account for 34.4 percent of all airliner sales from 2000 through 2005, predicts The Boyd Group/ASRC. At its recent ``Forecast '99'' session in Arlington, Va., the Evergreen, Colo., firm said small jets would account for 881 units during the five-year period. That compares to 759, or 29.6 percent, for airliners with more than 125 seats and 796, or 31.1 percent, for airplanes in the 90- to 125-seat class. Turboprops will account for 124 units, or only 4.8 percent, the group said.
