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.
AMR Eagle in May will begin consolidating its four airline subsidiaries into a single carrier under one certificate. The carrier will be known as American Eagle Airlines Inc.
U.K. interiors manufacturer Mitchell Aviation has acquired two allied companies, Surrey-based Aviation Furnishings International and Bannamhart, in Essex. Aviation Furnishings designs and builds interiors for corporate and airline aircraft. Bannamhart is a specialist metal component contractor. Managing Director Stanley Holloway says the firm will now be more competitive when bidding for large aircraft contracts.
The aircraft was on a night ILS approach to a runway that had been drenched with rain from a heavy downpour. There was a 15-knot crosswind from the right and the glideslope was maintained down to 250 feet. At DH, the runway lights were in sight and the captain began to slowly remove the yaw angle. The aircraft crossed the runway threshold slightly to the right of the centerline with a slight drift to the left. Touchdown was soft and slightly long at about 25 feet to the left of centerline. Spoiler deployment was normal.
National Driver Registry published the procedures for air carriers to obtain information on driver's license suspensions, revocations or traffic-related violations for potential new pilots, as required by the Pilot Record Improvement Act of 1996 (November 1997, page 20). Under procedures effective January 1, 1998, requests for NDR information must come from state motor vehicle offices. Carriers may not initiate a request. The person seeking employment as a pilot must do so.
The attorney for Westchester County, N.Y. has been asked by a local legislator to determine whether a mandatory midnight to 0700 curfew at Westchester County Airport (HPN) would stand up in court. A voluntary curfew is currently in effect from midnight to 0630. A previous mandatory curfew was invalidated by a federal court in 1983, partly because the county did not have sufficient evidence that violations created a noise problem.
Do you regularly check your aircraft's electrical wiring to ensure it's not chafing against a source of arcing? The NTSB wants the manufacturers to check it out. In fact, the Safety Board has asked the FAA to review airframe builders' design, manufacturing and inspection procedures to ensure that adequate clearance is specified around electrical wiring. Several instances of inflight electrical fires prompted the NTSB's concern, including one involving a Cessna Citation III (July 1997, page 88).
A modification to Houston's Class B Airspace went into effect February 26. Subarea A has been reconfigured around William P. Hobby Airport, Subarea D has been expanded and new Subarea E (with a floor of 2,500 feet msl and a ceiling of 10,000 feet msl) was established southwest of Hobby Airport.
Delta has reached a tentative code-sharing agreement with Trans States Airlines at New York Kennedy. The alliance is designed to improve Delta's passenger feed at JFK with multiple frequencies to additional points in the Northeast. Delta is launching new JFK nonstops in March to Stockholm, Stuttgart, Warsaw and Barcelona. The carrier also is adding domestic service to Cincinnati, San Francisco and Washington National.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University will initiate an "Executive MBA" program beginning in June. The school says the program combines the "advanced business concepts of an MBA curriculum and extensive use of case studies from the aviation/aerospace industry." The program is conducted in a series of six, two-week residency sessions, one session per calendar quarter, at ERAU in Daytona Beach. The university still conducts an independent study program to obtain a master's in aeronautical science.
The Flight Safety Foundation has coined the theme "Safety Outside the Box" for its Corporate Aviation Safety Seminar (CASS), the annual hands-on safety event for business aviation, coming to Hartford, Conn. on May 5-7. Program plans are not yet firm, but some of the topics in the works are: developing and implementing the safety program envisioned by the CEO, flight attendants and cabin safety issues, crew fatigue management and an FSF international ap-proach and landing accident reduc- tion initiative status presentation.
By popular request, according to David Plant, the exhibition's new manager, the European Business Air Show '98 will be held in Paris at Le Bourget Airport on April 23-25. By staying open on Saturday, organizers hope to minimize their visitors' out-of-cockpit and out-of-office time.
