Until practical airborne detectors for clear air turbulence are developed (are potential developers listening?), the FAA urges operators to use these "Rules of Thumb" included in a new advisory circular on CAT. If jet stream turbulence is encountered with direct tailwinds or headwinds, consider changing altitude or course since these turbulent areas are elongated with the wind and are shallow and narrow.
Banyan Air Services in Fort Lauderdale received FAA certification to perform hot-section inspections, gearbox overhauls and other maintenance on AlliedSignal TPE331 turbine engines.
Oxaero (Oxford Airport, United Kingdom)-Alex Durand is the new managing director of this air charter and air broker specialist, succeeding Jeremy Cookewho continues as a director of the company.
First Heli-Network (www.first-heli-etwork.co.uk)-This site features information on this U.K. company's shared helicopter ownership program that's been in the formative stages for more than a year. At press time, FHN had placed "conditional" orders for two Bell JetRangers but had not completed signing up customers for the two-aircraft deal.
Canadian Marconi's CMA-2200 Aero-I satcom antenna system is available for operators using Inmarsat's Aero-I satcom service for business jets and regional airlines. Approved by Inmarsat, this new top-mounted antenna is based on the same proprietary technology and architecture as the widely used Aero-H CMA-2102. Price: Approximately $25,000. Canadian Marconi, 415 Legget Dr., Kanata, Ontario K2K 2B2 Canada. (613) 592-7403; fax: (613) 592-7417.
The French government's proposal to merge Aerospatiale with Falcon Jet manufacturer Dassault Aviation is "increasingly unlikely," according to a spokesperson for Dassault (February 1997, page 14). Serge Dassault, leader of the company that bears his name, has long been against such an arrangement and has made a decision, for the time being, to remain independent and "appears to be able to remain so," said the spokesperson.
If aviation's contribution to the global level of greenhouse gasses was gathered and measured together as if it were the entire output of a nation, aviation would rank about seventh or eighth on the list of the world's largest sources, according to Sandy Webb, ARINC's director of aviation environmental programs. Aviation contributes about 2.5 to 3.0 percent of the world's carbon dioxide emission.
Pilots can save their mission preferences on disk and can load their flight plans directly into business aircraft equipped with advanced Collins avionics, thanks to new software from Delta Technology International of Eau Claire, Wis. Destination Direct Windows-based flight-planning software allows operators to store weather information, automatic routing, fuel burn/performance statistics, weight/balance calculations and more on a personal or laptop computer. The software, priced at $399, is available by calling (715) 832-7799.
Galaxy Aerospace Corp., the sales and support arm for Israel Aircraft Industries business jets, has named Sabreliner Corp.'s Midcoast Aviation an authorized service center for Astras and Westwinds. Midcoast's facilities are in St. Louis and Little Rock, Ark.
NBAA is studying security and privacy issues associated with public access to information from the FAA's aircraft situation display data. The data are provided by several commercial vendors to clients via satellite data feeds, pagers and on the Internet. ASD data show the location of virtually any aircraft on an IFR flight within the U.S. ATC system (July 1997, page 90). One vendor, Flyte Comm of Florida, said that, if requested, it will block access to any operator's aircraft tail number. Phone: (954) 730-7086.
Business alliances are booming in many industries as companies seek new strategies for the future. They come in all sizes and shapes, many ill-conceived as managers on both sides often have differing agendas.
Wingspan, the Air and Space Channel, is scheduled to go on the air in April. The 24-hour cable station will feature aviation-related news and historical, educational and entertainment programs, including a weekly half-hour news show on business aviation. In addition, GA and business aviation topics will be featured in the Monday and Tuesday lineups. Wingspan is a product of the largest producer of aviation-related TV programming, the same people who created the "Wings" series for The Discovery Channel.
The newly-constructed Monterey Jet Center at California's Monterey Peninsular Airport is now open. The facility, a Phillips Aviation Performance Center, consists of 60,000 square feet of hangar floor space (with bays large enough to accommodate a DC-9), six acres of ramp space and an executive terminal. In the terminal, crews will find a lounge and a flight-planning room, as well as an observation deck overlooking Monterey Bay.
This month, Lynton Group is expected to complete the acquisition of Magec Aviation from GE Co. plc. Lynton is a charter, management and ground services company with operations in Denham, England and Morristown, N.J. Magec has FBOs at London's Luton and London City airports.
On September 8, 1994, USAir Flight 427, a Boeing 737-300, crashed on approach to Pittsburgh International Airport, killing all 132 aboard. The NTSB's effort to determine the probable cause is just now being completed, making this accident the longest and, to date, one of the most baffling investigations in the Safety Board's 30-year history.
After being pummeled for seven years by the U.S. Air Force, the FAA and the Justice Department, fortunes have begun to turn for TPI International Airways. That is the small Brunswick, Ga. cargo carrier that was shut down by the FAA in August 1990 following a sequence of events that the carrier alleges began with repeated acts of sabotage to its Lockheed Electra aircraft based at Tinker AFB, Okla.The case has attracted the interest of Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.), who is on the armed forces and rules committees.
Women in Aviation International (West Alexandria, Ohio)-Carolyn Williamson joined the staff as vice president and is serving, variously, as managing editor of the group's magazine and coordinator of the organization's chapter development, while assisting with the annual conference.
Cutter Aviation recently opened its fifth FBO-a renovated facility formerly operated by Thunderbird Aviation at Deer Valley Airport in Phoenix. Normal hours of operation are 0630 to 2100 local daily. The facility includes 24-hour fueling via a self-service overwing and center-point service island. Phone: (602) 581-1444; fax: (602) 581-1555.
The air traffic control tower at Charlie Brown Field in Fulton County, Ga. is now open 24 hours, rendering moot a bill introduced in the last congressional session to prohibit non-emergency takeoffs and landings at the airport when the tower was closed. Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) introduced H.R. 2659 in response to airport neighbors' alleged concerns about the risk of runway incursions when the tower was not operating.
SAT Group (nee Southern Air Transport) will sell Dallas-based SimuFlite Training International to General Electric Capital Services Corp., and the connection could prove to be interesting. GE Capital's parent company General Electric is a partner in the Boeing Business Jet program, and Boeing has a joint venture with FlightSafety International to provide airline training. SimuFlite, which has 17 simulators, began operation in 1984.
The operational RVSM trial is proceeding smoothly, although a few cases of wake turbulence have been reported, according to the findings from a recently held FAA/Eurocontrol Separation Safety Conference. Aircraft flying 20 nm behind and 1,000 feet below another aircraft sometimes have experienced severe turbulence, conferees said. Apparently, pilots are getting around this problem by deliberately offsetting their tracks slightly (a procedure authorities strictly frown upon), but, at present, they are not ticketing transgressors.
