In a description of Avtec Fiber Optic Lighting's cabin lighting system in B/CA's 1997 completions report ("Interiors of the Future, Today," December 1997), we incorrectly identified the lamp at the heart of Avtec's fiber-optic lighting system as halogen. Although the Avtec lamp provides a similar intense white light, it is actually a "xenon metal halide lamp." The lamp's manufacturer rates the bulb's life at 4,000 hours; however, after its own extensive testing of the light source, Avtec re-rates it to 7,000 hours.
BFGoodrich completed the acquisition of Rohr, Inc. and will operate the new unit as the Aerostructures Group (December 1997, page 30). Robert H. Rau, previously president and CEO of Rohr, was appointed president of the group. The facility will remain in Chula Vista, Calif., where it makes engine nacelle components and Stage 3 noise reduction systems.
The East 60th Street Heliport in New York City is still operating, despite the New York City Economic Development Corp.'s plan to close its doors by December 31, 1997. An EDC spokesperson told B/CA that the shutdown has now been delayed until the end of this month, due to the need to settle various legal issues. Meanwhile, fuel is not available at the 34th Street Heliport because the facility's new tenant, American Port Services, could not assume liability for the underground fuel tanks at the site.
Less than one-half of one percent of aviation employees tested positive for alcohol over the last two years, according to the FAA. Because of the low violation rate, the agency has lowered the random rate for testing from 25 percent to 10 percent for this year. However, another year of random testing is required before the agency can consider lowering the drug-testing rate below the current 25 percent. Under the rules, the FAA can reduce the testing rates to 10 percent if data received indicate a violation rate of less than one-half percent for two consecutive years.
In a major commitment to increase crewmembers' ability to respond to medical emergencies, Delta Air Lines announced plans to equip all its 560 aircraft with defibrillators by 2000. Whether corporate operators will follow Delta's lead remains to be seen. But the equipment Delta is acquiring, the Heartstream ForeRunner, is one of several defib models suitable for use on corporate aircraft. This equipment and others are described in a recent B/CA feature about defibrillators and training programs for corporate flight departments (June 1997, page 72).
Flight testing of Israel Aircraft Industries' $14.5-million Galaxy midsize business jet will continue throughout the year, leading to FAA certification in the fourth quarter and initial deliveries in early 1999. The aircraft made its first flights on December 25 and 31, 1997 (see photo on page 34). IAI's U.S. affiliate, Galaxy Aerospace Corp. at Fort Worth's Alliance Airport, expects to have firm orders amounting to two years worth of production-from 36 to 48 aircraft-by the time of certification.
Colombia Aircraft Sales in Groton, Conn. has been designated by Sino Swearingen as a distributor for the SJ30-2, scheduled to be available in late 1999
With the Bell-Boeing 609 collecting orders (nearly 50 at last count), Eurocopter says it is once again considering its options for developing a small civil tilt-rotor. The French/German company has been conducting wind-tunnel tests to evaluate configurations for a six- to eight-place tilt-rotor and has had talks with both Agusta and Westland. Eurocopter says it is considering plans to develop a demonstrator that would fly sometime around 2000, but has not yet made a decision to proceed.
March 2 (or within 50 hours time in service from January 2) is the AD compliance date for operators of General Electric CF700 and CJ610 turbofan engines to replace certain serial-numbered turbine torque rings and compressor drive shafts. Other serial numbered rings and shafts must be replaced by January 2, 1999 (or within 300 hours time in service from January 2, 1998). An AD was issued because of the possibility that these parts were manufactured from contaminated materials, said the FAA.
The sales of new business-turbine aircraft were comfortably ahead of 1996, according to a preliminary report by Aviation Data Services. New jet sales gained overall, with those gains running stronger in the international arena than in the U.S. market. Conversely, new turboprop sales in 1997 trailed 1996's only slightly, not enough to offset the strength of new-jet sales and within easy striking distance to match or best the prior year.
According to the North Atlantic Implementation Management Group, the latest take on the expansion of reduced vertical separation minimum (RVSM) airspace is that the increase in the upper limit to FL 390 and the lowering of the floor to FL 310 will be implemented simultaneously on October 8. Previously, the downward expansion was scheduled for an April 23 effective date (January, page 17). Group members represent Canada, Iceland, Ireland, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Ed Stimpson, vice president of GAMA and chairman of General Aviation Team 2000, is one of six recipients of the National Aeronautic Elder Statesman of Aviation Award. The presentation was made at a luncheon hosted by the Aero Club of Washington. The award goes to Americans who have made significant contributions to aerospace.
NASA is now posting selected incident reports on its Aviation Safety Reporting System Web site: http://olias.arc.nasa.gov/asrs. Reports are grouped according to frequently requested search topics and offer 50 recent ASRS database reports on each topic. Each report group will be updated quarterly. New topics will be added, and outdated topics will be removed. Among the report groups are: jet upsets, wake turbulence, CRM-related incidents, runway incursions, land and hold-short procedures, icing and CFIT.
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 Target Date AASI Jetcruzer 500 Turboprop Certification 3rd Quarter 1998
Installation of Tracor Flight System hush kits on GE-powered Learjet 20s is now available from Flight International, Inc. The Newport News, Va.-company says the kits decrease sideline noise of CJ610-powered Learjets to 95 dB, allowing these aircraft to meet FAR Part 36, Stage 3. The STCed kit, consisting of a daisy-type sound suppressor in place of the reversers, carries an installed price of $115,000 per shipset.
The registration process for the approximately 4,800 aircraft based in Wisconsin has been transferred from the Bureau of Aeronautics to the Division of Motor Vehicles. The (608) 266-1861 telephone number for aircraft registration remains unchanged, but the mailing address will change. Problems and questions should be addressed to the state's DOT. Phone: (608) 267-9592. The DOT said the process was modified as a cost-savings measure.
If someone comes up with a formula for bottling common sense, I want the franchise for the Washington, D.C. area because that's such a rare commodity in these parts.
The former Ashtech, Inc. of Sunnyvale, Calif. was recently merged with Magellan Systems Corp. of San Dimas, Calif. The new organization will operate under the Magellan name out of Sunnyvale. Magellan was a pioneer in the introduction of hand-held GPS units in 1989.
On a bright, clear afternoon, a DC-10 flightcrew operating as AAL Flight 191 out of Chicago O'Hare had a perfectly functioning left engine fall from the wing just after liftoff. The flightcrew assumed that the mandated V2 climb speed to obstacle-clearance altitude would protect the passengers, the crew and the aircraft from catastrophe. They were wrong.
Privately held Fairchild Aerospace posted a net income of $70.2 million on sales of $507.3 million for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1997. That is a net profit margin of 13.8 percent. The company was formed in 1996 with the acquisition by San Antonio-based Fairchild of German manufacturer Dornier Luftfahrt from Daimler-Benz Aerospace. Fairchild Dornier, Dornier Luftfahrt and Fairchild Aircraft all are units of Fairchild Aerospace.
At Johnson County Executive Airport in Olathe, Kan., Kansas City Aviation Center has added a 3,600-square foot painting booth. The addition of the paint booth complements the recent expansion of the company's other aircraft refurbishing and completions capabilities, according to Terry Mire, a marketing representative for the firm. The booth can accommodate one medium-size business jet.
In observance of B/CA's 40th anniversary, each month throughout 1998 we will present unedited excerpts from the top feature stories published 40 years ago to the month. We hope you find them interesting, amusing and thought provoking. -- Cover Story: A business flying terminal, modern and plush as any airline terminal in the country, has just been opened by Southwest Airmotive at Dallas Love Field. The new terminal will be open around the clock to business aviation's pilots and executives.
