The Safety Board said in its final report of the March 15, 1997 midair between a Bonanza and a Basler turboprop DC-3 that the pilot of the Bonanza failed to "maintain clearance" between aircraft while positioning to photograph the DC-3. The collision killed four persons, including Warren L. Basler, founder and CEO of Basler Turbo Conversions (B/CA, May 1997, page 10).
Schedulers and dispatchers from corporate flight operations in several western states have established an association to deal with issues affecting their work. The Pacific Rim Schedulers and Dispatchers Association will draw its members from Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, Utah, Washington and Northern California. The group plans to meet quarterly at different locations, with the next meeting scheduled for May 21 in Seattle. Co-chairpersons are Kim Ruth of Galvin Flying Service and Dion Patterson of PacifiCorp Trans, Inc.
-- Bombardier (Montreal)-Jim Clough has been named manager, styling and design, at this airframer's completion center in Tucson. Robert Gillespie was appointed president of the Regional Aircraft division. And Dennis Keith has been promoted to president of Business JetSolutions, Bombardier's fractional ownership program.
A few years ago, the leaders of two of the most highly respected U.S. aviation departments addressed a large group of their peers on diversity in the workplace. It could no longer be ignored, they cautioned, because corporations were embracing the concept of providing opportunity to all without considering gender or race. It would be a revolutionary development for flight departments and prove a painful transition to old-line managers who could not adjust.
AC-Advisory Circular. ACARS-Airline Communications and Reporting System. ADC-Air Data Computer. ADF-Automatic Direction Finder. ADI-Attitude Direction Indicator. ADS-Automatic Dependent Surveillance. AES-Aircraft Earth Station. AFCS-Automatic Flight Control System. AFD-Adaptive Flight Displays. AFDS-Autopilot Flight Director System. AFIS-Automated Flight Information System (AlliedSignal).
Executive JetPort was scheduled to start providing fueling (Exxon) and other FBO services at New Jersey's Trenton Airport early this month from renovated, former U.S. Navy facilities on the southeast side of the airport (October 1997, page 26). Officials of Executive JetPort said the FBO will operate 24 hours a day and open with full crew and passenger services. Over the next several months the firm plans to obtain an FAR Part 145 repair station certificate, add hangars and have on-site customs clearances, officials said.
Here's a development to watch: Tiny V-shaped protrusions scattered at random on aircraft skin can reduce drag by as much as 12 percent, according to preliminary findings of researchers at Brown University in Providence, R.I. The researchers, led by Lawrence Sirovich, need to do more testing before they talk to business aircraft manufacturers. The research was sponsored by a scientific firm based in Israel.
This directory is a selective listing of specialized products and services not included elsewhere in the 1998 purchase Planning Handbook. In many cases, the products of services are not available directly from the manufacturer, but from authorized distributors. Operators should contact the manufacturers shown in the address listing to obtain purchasing information. The listing of a product or service in this directory is not an endorsement or recommendation by BC/A. Category Index AC, AD, FAR, Maintenance, SB, Service
-- VisionAire Corp. (Chesterfield, Mo.)-Angelo V. Fiataruolo is the new executive vice president for this manufacturer of the Vantage all-composite business jet.
Gulfstream Aerospace launched a referral service to match Gulfstream charter operators with customers wanting to charter Gulfstream aircraft. Gulfstream Charter Services will assess "a small fee" on each transaction, based on the amount of each trip arranged. The company says the operators of the more than 100 Gulfstream aircraft throughout North America and Europe that are on charter certificates are eligible to participate in the service.
A realignment of Signature Flight Support saw Charles Bobbitt moved from vice president of operations for the western division to senior vice president of operations for the FBO chain. The move essentially gives Bobbitt oversight of the entire Signature network, according to Bruce Van Allen, Signature executive vice president and COO. A number of regional general managers were also promoted.
FAA Field Approval of IFR GPS installations went into a holding pattern in some regions shortly after Flight Standard Information Bulletin for Airworthiness (FSAW) 98-03 was issued early this year. The intent of the bulletin is to ensure that all mechanical or electrical equipment that is installed during a major alteration is properly maintained during its service life.
The Michigan Business Aviation Association has been established to address the needs of aircraft operators and airports throughout the state. Founding members include Amway Corp., Chrysler Pentastar, Ford Motor Co., General Motors, Hubert Distributors and Volkswagen of America. The association has contracted with a lobbying firm to represent its viewpoint before the state legislature.
Aircraft may now receive customs clearances at Florida's Opa-Locka Airport within an additional five-hour period--from 0900 to 2200 daily. Advance notice is required after 1700 hours, however. Between 0900 and 1700, phone (305) 526-2534; after 1700, phone (305) 526-7472 or 526-2890. The customs office is adjacent to Miami Aviation Corp.
-- FlightSafety International (Flushing, N.Y.)-This training organization has announced two staff changes: Marsha Bell was promoted to the newly created position of product marketing director. Rick Bedard joined the company as assistant manager of the West Palm Beach, Fla. Learning Center.
Miami-based seat and cabinetry manufacturer Aircraft Modular Products will form the core of a new general aviation business unit of B/E Aerospace, which announced plans to buy AMP in mid April. Previously, B/E was focused on airliner cabins, with four main product lines: galleys, seats, inflight entertainment, and a service unit that is headquartered in Orange, Calif. Building around the AMP core, Wellington, Fla.-based B/E Aerospace hopes to extend its existing business lines into general aviation aircraft.
A group of investors agreed to purchase 12 Gulfstream IVSPs to begin a Gulfstream Shares fractional ownership program in the Middle East. The Middle East investors, in conjunction with Executive Jet Aviation, will manage the program. The first G-IVSP is scheduled to enter service in early 1999. In addition, Gulfstream will provide two core fleet aircraft. Now in its third year, Gulfstream Shares operates 15 aircraft. Gulfstream announced its Middle East Shares program at the Dubai Air Show in November 1997.
-- Alpha Flying/PlaneSense (Norwood, Mass.)-This company, which offers a fractional ownership program for small to midsize businesses, hired Richard L. Rice as aircraft manager.
Increased cargo traffic and more domestic as well as international passenger traffic are key goals for the new lessor of New York's Stewart International Airport when it begins managing a major portion of the facility in the fall. National Express Group, based in Winchester, England, was selected in April to be the lessor of the airport, the first facility to participate in the FAA's pilot privatization program (January, page 28). National Express said it also aims to reduce fees associated with using the airport.
A new curfew has been imposed at Le Bourget Airport in Paris that has caught a number of U.S. corporate operators by surprise. The curfew runs from 2215 local until 0600 and prohibits all but FAR Part 36, Stage 3 aircraft operations. Stage 3 aircraft may land during the period but may not take off again until after 0600. In addition, the use of thrust reversers is prohibited. Aircraft may use Charles de Gaulle or Orly for fuel stops only, during which passengers must remain with the aircraft.
A high-level U.S. Coast Guard report concludes that GPS interference poses a "serious threat" to aviation safety and underscores the need for "long-term continuation of Loran." According to the report, 16 aircraft experienced a "total loss of GPS signals during a 10-day period earlier this year. The cause was eventually determined to be a "spurious signal unintentionally transmitted" from Griffiss AFB in Rome, N.Y.
-- FAA (Washington, D.C.)-Monte Belger has been appointed acting deputy administrator for the agency, and Ron Morgan moved into the slot of acting associate administrator for air traffic services.
While the FAA believes a strong economy and new, more efficient aircraft will enable business aviation to lead the growth of general aviation for the next decade, industry groups warn there are significant governmental barriers that could stymie that expansion.
