In 1999, business aircraft buyers will be able to take delivery of a $13 million turbofan aircraft that offers cabin volume and features found now only in $30 million heavy-iron airplanes. It's called the Envoy 3, which is Fairchild Aerospace's name for the corporate version of its 32-passenger, 328JET regional airliner. Viewed from the outside, the Envoy 3 would never be mistaken for a G-IVSP, Falcon 900EX or Challenger 604. But, when 12 or so passengers nestle into their seats, they may be hard-pressed to tell the difference in interior comfort.
The shelves of bookstores are filled with titles that promise to disclose the latest, most-effective way to succeed in business. But no matter what concepts the current generation of management gurus espouse, the bottom line is that successful people have always been the ones who have a vision and pursue it with dedication and enthusiasm.
Stung by the U.S. Supreme Court's refusal to hear its case this spring, the Professional Pilots Federation has petitioned the court for a rehearing on the FAA's age-60 rule. The organization and two former airline pilots, acting jointly in the legal process, are contending that the rule violates a federal law forbidding age discrimination. Federation members argue that highly experienced pilots are safer pilots and favor an abilities test for airmen older than 60 rather than an age cutoff.
The number of air traffic controllers cannot exceed 15,000 through the year 2001, according to the new five-year labor agreement between the FAA and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. After 2001, the agreement permits increases of two percent annually in the fourth and fifth years of the contract. There are currently about 14,850 controllers.
-- The 1998 International Conference on Aviation Fire Protection, to be held September 21-24 in College Park, Md., will include presentations on aircraft hangar fire detection, aviation fuels and fueling operations. Speakers recognized globally for their experience in the design, operation and maintenance of aircraft hangar fire suppression and detection systems will be featured on the program. Exhibitors will display products used in the aviation fire protection field. Register before August 21, and the fee is $400. As of August 21, the regular/on-site fee will be $450.
Edited by Gordon A. GilbertLinda L. Martin in St. Paul
A persistent light drizzle on opening day did not douse the interest of the attendees who browsed the exhibits and boarded business aircraft for a better look during the Minnesota Business Aircraft Association's second annual Corporate Aviation Trade Show and Static Display. The event, held June 9-10 at St. Paul Downtown Airport in St. Paul, Minn., featured 53 exhibitors and 16 aircraft on static display. The total topped the MBAA's inaugural show in 1997 that featured approximately 40 exhibitors and 10 displayed aircraft.
A huge fight is underway in Italy over the government's decision to move all airline operations, except flag carrier Alitalia's Milan-Rome flights, from close-in Linate airport to far-out Malpensa. The move, which has angered most European air carriers, could be a boon to corporate operators. With the exception of the Alitalia Milan-Rome flights, Linate would become a general-aviation facility-"another Paris Le Bourget," according to Fernand Francois, CEO of the European Business Aviation Association.
A healthy, yet not overly hot, economy and relatively stable interest rates have continued what can be termed a buyer's market for aircraft finance. The ready availability of money to lend in the past couple of years continues.
A provision allowing federal law enforcement officers to order the landing of aircraft they suspect of drug smuggling has died in the Senate. The measure was tacked on to the now-withdrawn National Tobacco Policy and Youth Smoking Reduction Act legislation (July, page 15). In the House, meanwhile, Representative Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) introduced a similar order-to-land measure as a free-standing bill-H.R. 3858. No action has been taken on it to date.
Mesa Air Group will move the bulk of its operations out of Farmington, N.M. by September, B/CA is told by new CEO Jonathan Ornstein. The carrier is looking at four locations-Phoenix, Kansas City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.- all of which are major operational points for the airline.
Malaysia's new Kuala Lumpur Sepang International Airport also had its opening problems for commercial operations. Press reports said up to 13 tons of food went bad at the airport (no explanation why) and had to be hauled away. Corporate aviation has remained, however, at the old Subang airport, where the general-aviation terminal is to be upgraded. Although Sepang has a better road than Subang, the time to city center is about the same.
Midwest Express, the Milwaukee-based signature airline that offers first-class seats and service at coach fares, will be the U.S. launch customer for the Fairchild Dornier 328JET with a hard order for five plus 10 options. The aircraft will be operated by Midwest Express regional unit Skyways, which currently operates a fleet of 19-seat Beech 1900D turboprops.
The French contribution to the executive jet market began with Dassault Aviation developing the Falcon 20 (originally the Mystere 20), a light twin-jet executive transport with accommodation for eight to 10 passengers and a crew of two. The prototype first flew on May 4, 1963 and originally was powered by two Pratt&Whitney JT12A-8 engines. The prototype aircraft was later reengined with General Electric CF700 turbofans, which became the standard powerplant for production aircraft.
FAA is accepting comments through September 23 on a proposal to increase the weight limit for normal category helicopters from 6,000 pounds to 7,000 pounds. The proposal also would establish a max seating capacity of nine for FAR Part 27 helicopters. Currently, there is no stipulation on seating. The agency said boosting the weight limit will make it easier to meet increasing safety requirements and responds to the market trend toward new light twins.
Did you know that the average age of the U.S. business turboprop and jet fleet is 17 years and 16 years, respectively? Or that the 1,569 new aircraft delivered in 1997 were the most delivered since 1985? These and hundreds of other stats on U.S. general aviation are contained in GAMA's 1998 GA Statistical Databook. Copies are available for $10 each from GAMA, 1400 K St., NW, Ste. 801, Washington, D.C. 20005.
We were intrigued when we learned of a pair of new concepts that aim to provide alternatives to satcom. One idea is to loft a fleet of high-tech, remotely piloted blimps into the stratosphere to provide wireless Internet capacity. There, the blimps are held in geostationary positions in the stratosphere over a major metropolitan area utilizing proprietary technologies.
Dassault Falcon Jet is claiming a world speed record for a 4,574-nm flight of the 900EX demonstrator from Sao Paulo, Brazil to Teterboro, N.J. completed in 11+7 hours
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 August 1958 issue:
FBOs will not have to pay a 24.4-cent highway tax on aviation grade kerosene, essentially a double-dip surcharge (December 1997, page 24). The Internal Revenue Service, responding to pressure from the National Air Transportation Association, has issued a clarification of an onerous provision of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 that would have required jet fuel to be taxed as highway fuel. To avoid the additional tax levy, the purchaser of the fuel-FBOs, wholesalers and airlines-must certify that the kerosene "will be used as fuel in an aircraft."
Four daily GA slots are now open at Tokyo's Haneda International Airport, but obstacles persist. At least one crewmember must take a written, one-hour test-in Tokyo-on such things as knowledge of approaches, frequencies, STARs and SIDs. In addition, aircraft have to stop at another international airport to clear customs both coming in and going out before using Haneda, and generally the landing slots likely will be in the middle of the night. Meanwhile, Air Routing International in Houston says that parking is available at Haneda, contrary to earlier reports.
The first production Bell 427 light twin turbine helicopter made its initial flight in late June, and has joined two prototypes in the test program at the firm's Mirabel, Quebec facility. Bell now has three 427s in its flight test program and is on target to receive certification late this year. To date, the aircraft have flown as fast as 154 knots at sea level and as high as 17,500 feet. The order book stands at about 70 aircraft.
FAA withdrew a 1993 proposed rule to upgrade the flammability resistance of seat and restraint systems on airplanes certificated to the commuter category of FAR Part 23-19 or fewer passenger seats and an MTOW of 19,000 pounds or less (January 1995, page 20). The FAA says the proposal no longer meets the agency's cost/benefit criteria because the aircraft it was addressing-Part 135 scheduled operations-are now being operated under Part 121.
Edited by Gordon A. GilbertPerry Bradley in Washington, D.C.
Users are more concerned about the FAA's ability to implement policies and procedures that will allow operators to take full advantage of the burgeoning GPS infrastructure than they are with the agency's ability to manage GPS technology itself, according to the consensus of opinion at a recent symposium.
