Garrett Aviation continues to research the viability of replacing Gulfstream II and III Rolls-Royce Spey engines with FAR Part 36, Stage 3-approved GE CF34-8C turbofans. This spring GE completed a detailed computational fluid-dynamics analysis of the proposed retrofit. "The data is key to further quantify the expected performance improvements" of the engine change. While Garrett has not disclosed a projected cost for the reengining, in private it has told Gulfstream operators the engine swap would fall in the $11 million range.
Anyone who uses the Internet can now find information on the entire range of FAA's human factors research as a result of the agency's new interactive website. The site includes a "suggestion box" that is intended to let the FAA's staff, research organizations and the aviation community suggest human factors research topics. The "agency is committed to ensuring that critical human factors issues are addressed in the acquisition and integration of all new and modified aviation systems," said Maureen Pettitt, the FAA's chief scientist.
An 11th-hour amendment offered by Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.) will restore $243.6 million in cuts from the fiscal 1998 Airport Improvement Program. "That will leave a $30-million shortfall in the AIP budget, but that's certainly not as disastrous as a 16-percent rescission in airport funds," said Henry Ogrodzinski, president of the National Association of State Aviation Officials. In March, the House Appropriations Committee voted to cut $275 million from the AIP's $1.7-billion budget to help fund disaster relief to Bosnia.
It was the 25th anniversary of the NBAA International Operations Conference, in San Antonio in March. At the first IOC, at NBAA headquarters in Washington, D.C., back in 1973, you could have crowded the participants into a single hotel room. San Antonio attracted a record 578 attendees, of which nearly 50 percent raised their hands when asked if it were their first IOC experience.
After a three-month slippage in the schedule, MidAmerica Airport, located east of St. Louis, is expected to open this month. But, until an FBO is built, Airport Terminal Services will provide GA line services, including jet fuel and avgas, inflight catering, starter units and lavatory services. MidAmerica is designed to be a joint-use facility with Scott Air Force Base near Mascoutah, Ill. (January, page 33).
In August, the FAA is scheduled to approve or disapprove proposed noise abatement plans for Hulman Regional Airport in Terre Haute, Ind. and New Hampshire's Manchester Airport. The programs were submitted under FAR Part 150 and the public can comment. For more information, phone (847) 294-7538 or (781) 238-7600.
Photograph: Fairchild Dornier 328 in PB Air livery of Asian Aerospace '98 It is transition time for the regional airline industry and its airframe suppliers. Yes, the transition to regional jets continues in earnest. A number of turboprops have been taken out of production or will be by the end of the century. And sharing affiliations have been won and lost during the past year. There is one more regional jet on the drawing board since this time a year ago and two in the wings, while one has been withdrawn from contention.
Photograph: IAI Galaxy The business aircraft industry soared through its fourth consecutive year of growth in 1997. The General Aviation Manufacturers Association reported that industry sales of U.S.-manufactured airplanes alone reached $4.7 billion, a whopping 51-percent increase compared to 1996. Just as impressively, shipments of U.S.-made general aviation airplanes reached 1,569 units, which is the highest number of deliveries since 1985.
Crossair, the independently managed subsidiary of Swissair, has posted a 1997 net profit after employee profit-sharing of $29 million, up 88 percent over the previous year's $15.5 million. Employees took home an additional $10.1 million in profit sharing.
Congress approved an amendment to a highway bill that will postpone a tax increase on the sale of certain kerosenes, including jet fuel, to at least July 1, 2000. The current deadline was July 1 of this year. A provision in a 1997 tax law would subject currently tax-exempt kerosenes to the 24.4 cents per gallon highway fuel tax (December 1997, page 24). The two-year delay gives the aviation industry the opportunity to continue to fight for repeal of the tax entirely.
After an extensive period of development, including months of consultation and debate between the FAA and industry, the agency is about to release a new advisory circular on "Detecting and Reporting Suspected Unapproved Parts." B/CA has obtained an advance copy from the FAA, and it should be officially released soon. Advisory Circular 21-29B will replace AC 21-29A of the same title.
FAA will start evaluating wake vortex characteristics as part of the type certification process of new transport aircraft designs, according to a recent agency policy notice. The move is an attempt to more accurately define an aircraft's weight classification when it comes to specifying minimum aircraft separation standards. The NTSB has expressed concern that the current breakdown of weight classifications may be inappropriate.
The integrated avionics suites found in modern business aircraft come in a variety of sizes-mostly industry-standard boxes. Deciding which to choose depends on the aircraft and the complexity of the avionics installed. The large-format display tubes found in the integrated cockpit systems of high-end aircraft are replacing many electromechanical instruments. Standard-size cutouts for Collins Pro Line 4 display tubes are 7.0 by 6.0 inches or 7.25 by 7.25 inches.
Two years after the international satellite operation known as Inmarsat revealed plans to reorganize from a quasi-government operation to a private company, the organization says it hopes to culminate the process early in 1999 (May 1997, page 20). One major goal of the restructuring is to eliminate perceived intergovernmental organization privileges not available to competing companies.
Atlantic Southeast Airlines will offer Canadair Regional Jet service to four additional cities this summer. The aircraft will operate from Atlanta to Newburgh, N.Y.; Louisville, Ky.; Charleston, W.Va.; and Fayetteville, N.C. In addition, the Delta Connection carrier will expand existing jet service from Atlanta to Asheville, N.C.; Roanoke, Va.; and Gainesville and Panama City, Fla., during the summer.
At its annual meeting in Kansas City, Mo. in April, the National Air Transportation Association bestowed the following awards for outstanding service to the aviation community in 1997: -- Excellence in Pilot Training to Phil Poyner of Nassau Flyers; -- William A. Ong Memorial Award to Paul E. Sanderson of Jeppesen Sanderson; -- Aviation Journalism to Inside FAA, an independent, non-government newsletter; -- General Aviation Service Technician to Jim Carr of Midcoast Aviation;
Czech Republic-based manufacturer LET is seeking corporate buyers as well as commuter airlines for its LET-420, now that it has received FAR Part 23 certification. The LET-420 is an updated version of the 19-passenger, twin-turboprop circa 1970s LET-410. Powered by Walter M601 engines and equipped with U.S. avionics, the LET-420 has been in development for seven years, and originally was scheduled to receive certification in 1995 (December 1995, page 22). Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based AeroTec USA is the sales and service source for North American customers.
The Saab 1072 was probably a bit ahead of its time when it appeared on the Linkoping drawing boards in 1969. But the irony is that the Swedish manufacturer did not keep the concept of the 38- to 40-seat regional jet alive and today is phasing its turboprops out of production with nothing on the boards to follow.
National Airmotive Corp. is reducing the work force at its Oakland facility and relocating its Allison 250 repair work to the company's facility in Long Beach, Calif. The Long Beach operation also works on P&WC PT6 engines. A slowdown in Allison T-56 work prompted the downsizing at Oakland, according to First Aviation Services, National Airmotive Corporation's parent firm.
Northern Executive Aviation at England's Manchester Airport will be moving to another site on the airport in July to make way for the construction of a runway. The FBO will be based in a new building providing storage for the firm's four Learjet 35s, as well as meeting rooms and rest facilities for passengers and crew. According to Northern Executive's Managing Director David Antrobus, the new site offers direct ramp access for cars meeting aircraft and quick routing to freeways.
B/CA editors compiled and published the prototype Purchase Planning Handbook in 1960-a generation and a half ago. In those days you could buy a top-line Bonanza for $25,300. Today, a modestly equipped Bonanza will ring the bell at $505,646. The biggest "business" airplanes listed in 1960 were members of Douglas Aircraft Co.'s DC-8 series, ranging in price from $5 million to $6 million. Honors in 1998 go to Boeing's 757-200 priced at $67 million.
