Having problems staying within the 35 R/X's forward c.g. limit? Even when empty, Raisbeck's $79,850, 12-cubic-foot capacity, aft fuselage baggage locker helps move the c.g. aft. When loaded to the 300-pound limit, the locker's contents can shift the c.g. aft by 2.5 percent MAC, or more, depending upon MTOW. That moves the 35 R/X into the heart of the weight and balance envelope, thereby reducing trim drag and making it easier to balance the fuel load. The kit also is available for the 36 R/X.
Tom Tirey, president of Baseops International of Houston, was bullish about the international handling agent's new directions when he told B/CA that a Baseops World Fuel Card will be introduced during the NBAA's International Operators Conference in San Antonio on March 16-19. After World Fuel Services Corp.'s purchase of Baseops earlier this year (January, page 22) Tirey is still in charge The company is now operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Miami Springs, Fla.-based firm and sitting on its own fuel supply.
This year started with two fatal accidents in January involving FAR Part 91 turbine airplane operations, NTSB records show. On January 13, a Learjet 25B (N627WS) on the Runway 26 ILS at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport clipped trees before crashing about two nm short of the runway. The accident killed the two pilots. On January 21, a Commander 695A (N269M) crashed following a "rapid loss of altitude" about five minutes after takeoff from Boca Raton, Fla.
Flight department managers have progressed far beyond the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" state of mind and set of aircraft maintenance practices. Highly complex, sophisticated systems, soaring costs, new practices, minimum equipment lists and other regulatory changes, and a variety of other influences-led by an increase in professionalism and in basic management training and skills in flight departments-have led to fundamental changes in the task of managing aircraft support.
Global Navigation Services is offering a GPS training program at customers' locations. The day-long ground training session includes optional inflight training on the customer's aircraft. While the program is applicable to any GPS receiver, II Morrow is the first manufacturer to authorize GNS to conduct training. Cost varies: for example, $325 per pilot (up to four pilots) per ground session, plus expenses. Inflight training is another $325 per pilot. For details, contact GNS in Eugene, Ore. at (541) 607-5791.
Safe Flight Instrument Corp. of White Plains N.Y. is developing a stick shaker for helicopters to enable pilots to avoid over-torque or over-temp conditions without needing to look at cockpit instruments. The shaker is a variation of one the company provides on a variety of corporate jets. Initial applications are on Bell 427s and 430s.
Serious clear-air turbulence encounters by corporate aircraft average less than one a year, according to NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System. An ASRS database search revealed only eight reports from January 1, 1988 to the present. Aircraft involved ranged from one that was less than 5,000 pounds MTOW, two small transports (5,001 to 14,500 pounds), four light transports (14,501 to 30,000 pounds) and one medium transport (30,000 to 60,000 pounds). Initial CAT occurrence altitude varied, with the high reported at 41,000 feet and the low at 1,000 feet.
An STCed floorboard warming system for 20/30 Series Learjets is available now from Duncan Aviation. This foot warmer, weighing less than 15 pounds, operates on 28-volt DC. The pilot and copilot each have their own individual controls and can chose from three different temperature settings. Kit price: $5,250 uninstalled; $6,620 in-stalled. Duncan Aviation, Lincoln Airport, P.O. Box 81887, Lincoln, Neb. 68501. (402) 475-2611; fax: (402) 475-5541; (800) 228-4277.
Intertec Publishing has released its updated line of Ac-U-Kwik flight-plan- ning and scheduling products for 1998. The Airport/FBO Directory (shown, $31.95) helps pilots to locate U.S. and Canadian public airports and FBOs. The Jet FBOs Directory ($11.95) is a pocket-size reference listing U.S. and Canadian public airports that sell jet fuel and that have hard-surfaced runways at least 3,500-feet long.
The European Business Aviation Association's 1998 Convention, slated for April 7-9 in Brussels, Belgium, is billed "as the primary conference where operators and aviation authorities meet, while supported by a small show," said Fernand Francois, chief executive officer of the EBAA.
GA Team 2000 is hoping that the message in its first annual report will encourage more funding by member organizations and additional support from other industry sources. The report details what GA Team 2000 believes was its contribution to an increase of eight percent in student pilot starts from November 1996 through November 1997 (August 1997, page 24). The NBAA sent its members the report along with a letter asking them to support the general aviation revitalization effort with a contribution of $450 from corporate members and $1,000 from associate members.
EMERGING AIRCRAFT TARGET DATES The following are target dates for emerging aircraft. These dates, supplied by the airframe manufacturers, are subject to change-and frequently do-as a result of design revisions, funding, testing delays or extensions, and/or the resolution of unforeseen problems. Each month, this table will endeavor to show the most-current schedule. Manufacturer Model Milestone AASI Jetcruzer 500 Turboprop Certification
The Iowa DOT is stepping up efforts to identify the state's unregistered aircraft. "Most owners have been extremely cooperative registering their aircraft, which provides badly needed funds to operate state aviation programs," according to an article in the DOT's Iowa Aviation Bulletin. Iowa law requires that all aircraft based or operated in the state for more than 30 consecutive days be registered. Registration must occur within 30 days of the date the aircraft was purchased or brought into the state.
When it comes to maintenance, attention to detail can pay big dividends. Consider the amount you spend per flight hour on the task-chances are it's no less than 20 percent of your DOC, and it could represent half of your hourly cost or more. Given the importance of maintenance to a flight department, is there any right answer to how much or how little an operator should try to do in house? To find out, we talked with various flight departments as well as consultants that specialize in helping operators maximize their efficiency.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and FlightSafety International are again sponsoring "PROP," a series of free safety seminars for MU-2 operators. Topics (similar to those in the series conducted in 1994 and 1996) include: accident recaps, FAR and avionics updates, common problems and engine rigging. Of special interest will be details about the new MU-2 support program. (See item above.) Places and dates are: Atlanta-April 17-18; Houston-April 23-24; Windsor Locks, Conn.-May 1-2; Troy, Mich.-May 15-16; and Las Vegas-May 21-22.
George Donohue, the FAA's outspoken and sometimes embattled head of research and acquisitions, withdrew his nomination to be named associate administrator of the agency and said he will leave government service by year-end. Donohue was instrumental in helping then-FAA Administrator David Hinson recast ATC modernization programs. Donohue was lauded for his grasp of complex technology.
The National Air Transportation Association has published Aviation UST (underground storage tank) Management Manual to fully inform its membership about the Environmental Protection Agency's UST rule, which will show its teeth on December 22. The rule will require many USTs to be replaced or upgraded in order to comply with spill, overfill and corrosion rules. A recent NATA survey showed 40 percent of the industry was undecided on how to tackle the tank issue despite 10 years of lead time (see item above).
Nearly 20,000 KT 76A transponders will have to be upgraded, if the FAA adopts a proposed AD in response to a 1996 request by AlliedSignal. Serial number 93,000 through 109,999 KT 76A transponders were built with a defect that can cause erroneous altitude reporting. There's a fix, but only 300 units have been modified to date. If the proposed AD is adopted, AlliedSignal will supply the parts at no charge and will pay for up to 2.5 hours of labor time. AlliedSignal claims it has adequate parts inventories to handle the demand for kits.
Photograph: A Sabreliner 65 trails a cone device needed to verify an altitude correction module required for RVSM approval Here's a status report on Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM) airframe manufacturer group certification programs for small and midsize business jets: -- Cessna Aircraft. According to Cessna spokesperson Jan McIntire, Cessna "has a plan" for the Citation III and VI airframes "which are the most likely to be affected" by RVSM.
Flight Tech has made an inroad into the passenger entertainment/information field with its "one box" IntelliFlight Model 4000, which combines a worldwide moving map, flight atlas, CD audio changer and digital video playback. The 12-pound unit, controlled by a single wireless remote, plays interactive CD digital movies, a format in which hundreds of titles have been produced. By using an on-screen menu, passengers can view six hours of audio/video programming. Price: $17,995. Flight Tech Inc., 2010 N.E. 25th Ave., Hillsboro, Ore. 97124.
Modern cockpit automation can be full of surprises. A case in point is an upset incident currently under NTSB scrutiny involving an American Airlines Airbus A300.
