Rifton Aviation Services plans to open one of the largest business aviation facilities in the Northeast by late 1999. The complex, to be built at the intersection of the two main runways at Newburgh, N.Y. 's Stewart International Airport, will include an immense, 200,000-square-foot "dual hangar," each capable of housing six Boeing Business Jets or Airbus 31 9CJs simultaneously, according to Rifton's Kim Bolter.
In celebration of B/CA's 40th anniversary, each month throughout 1998 we will present excerpts from the top features published 40 years ago. We hope you find them interesting and fun. From the November 1958 issue:
The OAG Business Travel Planner is an amalgamation of information on more than 29,000 hotels in over 14,700 destinations throughout North America, with over 1,000 entries for Latin America. Listings are alphabetical by city, with detailed descriptions of the hotels' services. In addition, the Planner provides the scoop on ground transportation, climate, city attractions and special events at each destination. City Center maps and Metro Area maps showing important highways, hotel locations, major corporations and landmarks are included.
AlliedSignal has come up with a unique way for operators to pay for the -3D upgrade for the TFE73 1-3 engine. Instead of paying for the upgrade kit at the time of installation, operators may elect to factor in the price of the kit into their hourly Maintenance Service Plan (MSP) operating rate. If an operator chooses to include the kit price in its MSP, a new five-year contract will be issued with an hourly baseline rate of $159.67.
Audio International Inc., maker of inflight entertainment and cabin management systems for business aircraft, was awarded FAA certification of its A/V-9665 cabin audio/video controller to TSO-C50c specifications.
Now that The Servicenter, Inc., of Bethany, Okla., is a privately owned and operated enterprise, the facility's hangar space will increase, but no other changes are planned by the new owners: Charles Howard and Dave Hobza, general manager since 1987. The Servicenter retains its status as a maintenance and modification outlet center for numerous business aircraft models.
FAA Order 8400.13 specifies the procedures that operators need to follow to earn approval for flying the standard Cat I and Cat II approaches at Type I airports. Landing facilities are designated as Type I, II or III, depending upon their qualifications to support Cat I, II or III flight operations.
The August 13th rollout and preflight celebration for the Piper Meridian single-engine turboprop had all the hallmarks of a big turbine business aircraft debut-lasers, lights, smoke and huge video monitors. It was nothing like the more utilitarian model introductions Piper has been accustomed to. However, the change was deliberate. The company has cast the $1.35-million Meridian as the highest value in single-engine turboprop aircraft, and Piper President and CEO Chuck Suma says there will be more high-value turbine aircraft to follow.
Nearly 60 percent of NATA members favor some sort of regulatory change with respect to fractional ownership, but the group is split on what course the FAA should take. Some 32 percent said in a membership survey that they believe fractional ownership should be governed by FAR Part 135, even if managed aircraft also end up under Part 135.
FAA delayed implementation of its controversial order that essentially voids early STCs covering the conversion of business jets to cargo configuration (July, page 15). Under the revised schedule, cargo operators have until January 1, 2000 to comply with new STCs (yet to be determined) in order to continue flying. The original compliance date was August 1, 1999. While the delay has not changed industry's opposition to this action, it does give the industry more time to develop an acceptable solution.
Sennheiser's latest products are two, lightweight, closed-cup active noise cancellation headsets: the HMEC200 III ($867) for use in fixed-wing aircraft and the HMEC222 III ($934) for helicopter communications. Both models have a new TSO-certificated electret condenser mike with a gain adjustment to compensate for differences in aircraft audio systems. The mounting assembly is higher on the ear cup for easy boom rotation. A flexible, coiled cable is included with the helicopter model to give the pilot greater freedom of movement.
New from II Morrow is the Apollo GX65, an IFR and VFR en route and terminal certificated GPS receiver with moving map display. The panel-mount unit can perform the same functions as the GX60, except it is not certificated for GPS approaches. Features of the GX65 include a sunlight readable display; continuous satellite tracking for 24-hour, around-the-world navigation; and a communications transceiver with eight watts of transmit power. Smart Keys allow the pilot to customize maps (to add and delete waypoints) while viewing them. Price: $3,995. II Morrow, P.O.
Construction is under way at Elliott Aviation's Moline, Ill. facility to boost the FBO's square footage from 54,000 to 91,000. The expansion project, slated to wrap up in January 1999, will include a new aircraft interior refurbishment center, a new manufacturing facility for the company's cabin noise reduction system, a new hangar (large enough to house G-V or Global Express-size business jets) and a complete redesign of the executive terminal.
The AOPA, the Air Transport Association and the FAA selected Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory of Laurel, Md. to conduct an independent risk assessment study of GPS-based sole-means navigation operations.
Duncan Aviation's paint and interior completions design group has captured top awards in the American Society of Interior Designers' interior design contest.
Panel-mount GPS boxes that use PCMCIA and Garmin data cartridges will be the first applications for an online database update service being developed by Jeppesen. A Testmetrix data card writer will transfer the update to the data card or cartridge from PC-compatible computers. While Jeppesen will start taking orders for the service in late 1998, the company was mum on the retail price, the time schedule for implementation, and other applications such as business aircraft FMS database updates.
NTSB is seeking the cause of the crash of a Sabreliner 80 on July 18 near Florence, Kan. The accident killed the two pilots (the only people on board): Stan Roth, president of Executive Aircraft Corp. in Wichita, and his brother Jim.
A new program from Sabreliner Corp. is designed to reduce inspection intervals, maintenance downtime and operating costs, as well as provide a five-year warranty against structural corrosion. The "Sabre 2000" program also adds 5,000 hours of service to aircraft currently with a 10,000-hour life limit. Entry into the program requires a baseline inspection of an operator's aircraft and a sign-in fee ranging from $127,000 to $250,000.
The Universal Lift from Air Technical Industries can be converted to eight units from one, ranging from a forklift to an extended gooseneck boom crane. Six other attachments can convert the unit into a crane, platform lift, cable lift shovel bucket, personnel maintenance lift, and coil reel and roll lifter. Pricing depends upon the customer's choice of lifting attachments, power methods and wheel options. Example: A battery-operated, self-propelled unit with one attachment sells for $3,600; an all-up lift, $17,000.
(www. duncanaviation.com/compnts/components)-Now online is Duncan's frequently requested Capabilities Guide, which lists all of the company's avionics, instrument, accessory and propeller overhaul and repair capabilities, as well as Duncan's non- destructive testing and calibration services.
Meriam Instrument has developed a pitot-static tester that simulates altitude, climb and airspeed. The Model 370PSK can perform leak-test functions with one keystroke. Airspeed accuracy reads at +/-0.05 percent of full scale; altitude accuracy is plus/minus seven feet at sea level and +/-26 feet at 36,000 feet. Displays are backlit to improve readability. Kit price: $5,995. Meriam Instrument, 10920 Madison Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44102. (216) 281-1100; fax: (216) 281-0228.
Raytheon Aircraft Services, serving the general aviation fleet with 15 locations, is the recipient of the 1998 Phillips 66 Aviation "Wings of Excellence" statuette for its contributions and commitment to the industry. AlliedSignal delivered to Eurocopter the first prototype of the company's new, combined solid-state flight data and cockpit voice recorder. It will be available in the new EC 155 medium-lift helicopter.
All but one of the dozen King Air C90Bs produced under a joint marketing venture between Raytheon Aircraft and Jaguar Cars have been sold, and Raytheon hopes to sell the last at the Farnborough Air Show this month. And while the year-long agreement between the companies won't be extended, many of the enhancements to the C90 will be added to the production line for 1999 (February, page 43). Among the features being carried forward is a new seat design with additional padding and special leather upholstery, enhanced sidewalls and thicker carpets.
(www.hammondscos.com)-This fuel additive and fluid additive injector equipment company's new site includes fuel quality and handling tips, product information and ordering data and technical support.
