Tom Sponsler, 53, former director of operations for Business Jet Solutions (previously known as AMR Worldwide Flight Operations), died October 24 in Tucson of an apparent heart attack. His business aviation affiliation began at Jet Fleet Corp., where he was a Learjet and Citation instructor. This was followed by a stint at Frontier Airlines before working for 10 years at SimuFlite Training International in FAR Part 135 training compliance.
Bombardier Aircraft and GE Capital Services, the new parent firm of SimuFlite Training International, signed an agreement under which SimuFlite will assist the manufacturer in providing factory-authorized Learjet training. Four full-flight simulators (two Learjet 45s, a 31A and a 60) are scheduled to be operating by May 2000 and will be located in SimuFlite's planned building expansion at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport (November, page 16). Separately, Bombardier has set up a contract pilot program for operators of the Challenger and Global Express.
Gulfstream Aerospace has launched a three-phase program aimed at enhancing the performance, avionics and systems of the G-IVSP. Proposed aerodynamic enhancements, such as winglets adapted from the G-V, redesigned intake scoops and exhaust outlets, and minor aerodynamic fixes, should boost the eight-passenger range by at least 200 nm. Current eight-passenger range is 4,100 nm. In addition, the improved version will get the G-V's SPZ-8500 avionics package and some of its airframe systems. Primus Epic CDS flat-panel displays may be part of the new avionics package.
An operational error resulting in an ``inadequate altitude margin'' has the NTSB concerned that the FAA is not properly reviewing charts used by ATC to ensure that they comply with FAR Part 91.177 minimum instrument altitude requirements (1,000 feet over non-mountainous terrain and 2,000 feet over mountainous terrain). The Safety Board also says the FAA isn't requiring ``explicit agreements'' between the agency's Flight Standards and ATC services for the approval of charted MIAs that do not comply with Part 91.177.
A new general aviation airport in Davidson County, N.C., located about halfway between Charlotte and Greensboro, is poring over FBO proposals in hopes of finding the right company to provide the usual services and also to manage the county's leased and public facilities. A 5,000-foot runway is slated to open for operations this month, and the bulk of the construction project is expected to wrap up in April 1999. Other construction on the airfield includes a corporate aircraft area and a terminal building.
HeliFlite Shares, a new Dallas-based firm, has ordered two Bell 430 twin-turbine helicopters for delivery in the first half of February 1999 and optioned up to eight more for the company's start-up helicopter fractional ownership program. The aircraft initially will serve their owners on a regional basis in Texas and California, typically within a 250-nm radius, say HeliFlite officials.
With the bulk of certification flight testing completed and with the expectation of receiving Israeli and FAA certification later this month, Galaxy Aerospace has finalized its projected performance numbers for the IAI Galaxy business jet. At press time, the prototype fleet had completed more than 200 flights and 650 test hours toward a certification target of 850 hours.
Your designated safety officer will be better accepted by flight department colleagues, and more effective, if he or she is trained and knowledgeable. Fortunately, thorough training courses are available that will prepare members of flight departments who are being assigned full- or part-time responsibility for safety, and will help them build ``from scratch'' programs. They will learn the techniques and language of risk management and accident prevention. Three aviation education programs are specifically tailored for the task:
VFR certification of the twin-turbine Eurocopter EC-155, essentially a stretched Dauphin, is on schedule for late in the fourth quarter. An American Eurocopter spokesperson in Grand Prairie, Texas, told B/CA that Category A and two-pilot IFR approval are slated for first quarter 1999. One-pilot IFR and four-axis autopilot certification is targeted for fourth quarter 1999.
In preparation for the implementation of RVSM in the Pacific, the FAA has set up the Pacific Approvals Registry and Monitoring Organization (PARMO) to collect altitude excursion incident reports from operators. PARMO is requesting that operators report deviations of 300 feet or more, including those caused by TCAS alerts, turbulence and contingency events. Reports may be submitted by fax to PARMO at the FAA's Technical Center in Atlantic City, N.J., at (609) 485-5117. For more information, visit www.faa.gov/ats/ato/rvsm1.htm.
Carefully scrutinizing the level of safety in your flight department, to smoke out the good and the faulty, will yield positive results--the correction of safety problems and renewed dedication to risk management.
A larger Mercury Air Center at Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport is under construction. Focal point of the FBO will be an art deco style terminal building to ``reflect the area's strong ties to the motion picture and television industries.'' The terminal will have a ``state-of-the-art'' conference room and business center. For flightcrews, a pilot's lounge, game room with pool table, snooze room and showers will be available. Included in the construction are three hangars capable of accommodating aircraft up to Global Express/Gulfstream V size.
ACR Electronics has designed its compact, easy-to-grip Satellite 406 MHz Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon in an automatically deployable, Category I unit ($1,899.95) or manually deployable, Category II unit ($1,449.95). Dimensions of the Satellite 406 are 9.0 by 4.8 by 3.5 inches, and it weighs 2.2 pounds. Both units are available in a special Class 1 low-temperature range (-40C/-40F) version. The EPIRB's lithium battery has a five-year replacement life. ACR Electronics, Inc., 5757 Ravenswood Rd., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 33312.
Available now to flight departments is Mechtronix' Ascent Full-Flight Trainer for advanced recurrent training in generic or type-specific turboprops and jets. Features include complete cockpit configuration with audio system, dual pilot and copilot instrumentation, autopilot and flight director, with options for EFIS and an NMS. This FTD has a visual system displayed on a 150-degree wraparound screen, and an active force feel for primary flight controls. Price: approximately $300,000, depending on configuration and customer's training needs.
Raisbeck Commercial Air Group has sent a letter to all known DC-9 operators to assess their interest in retrofitting a $1 million kit that will bring their aircraft into compliance with FAR Part 36, Stage 3. Seattle-based Raisbeck says it has completed the preliminary design of a non-engine hush kit--similar to the company's hush kits for Boeing 727s--which will have no adverse performance changes and no increase in empty operating weight.
A $7.2 million facility for Stead Aviation at Manchester Airport is scheduled to be completed before year-end. The facility includes 65,000 square feet of storage hangar space, 50,000 square feet of avionics maintenance hangar space and an executive terminal. Phone: (603) 669-8708.
IMP Group International acquired Air 500 Ltd., a charter operator based at Canada's Pearson Airport. IMP is also the parent company of Innotech Aviation, Pacific Avionics&Instruments, and Execaire .
Duncan Aviation (Lincoln, Neb.)--This aircraft service provider made the following management changes: Skip Madsen to executive vice president and CEO of Kal-Aero, the company's facility in Battle Creek, Mich.; Rich Baeder as vice president of aircraft and customer service at Duncan in Lincoln, Neb.; Matt Nelson to manager of its Denver avionics facility; Dave Molsberry as manager of its Santa Ana location; and Tim Annis as installations manager at its Van Nuys avionics facility.
Despite some occasional Wall Street zigs and zags, your company's business is booming. Still, your annual utilization isn't anywhere near what it could be, and the pressure's on to cut costs. ``Hey, let's charter!'' someone helpfully suggests.
Edited By Gordon A. GilbertEdited By Gordon A. Gilbert
FAA is seeking comments on a proposed technical standard order (TSO C151) for terrain awareness and warning systems (TAWS). The TSO follows the agency's proposal to prohibit operation of turbine airplanes certificated for six or more passenger seats unless they have a TAWS (November, page 78). Since comments on the TSO will be added to the docket of the TAWS rule making, operators who comment on the TSO also may comment on the basic TAWS proposal, even though the official comment period ended November 24.
