FAA is now accepting applications for up to five airports to participate in a pilot program to convert their ownership from government to private industry. Private companies generally have access to more funding sources than government, but federal rules have restricted the ability of governments to sell or lease their airports. This program is intended to determine if such restrictions should be withdrawn. Congress has authorized the DOT to exempt the selected airports from meeting certain statutes regarding the receipt of federal funding (October, page 26).
(http://aee.hq.faa.gov)-Advisory Circular 36-1G, noise levels for U.S. and foreign aircraft, is available at this site. Future updates of this AC will only be published on the Internet. For each aircraft model, the following data are shown: MTOW, MLW, en-gine model, number of engines, noise levels in EPNdB, FAR Part 36, stage category and notes, such as flap configuration.
Barry Valentine will leave his job this month as acting deputy administrator of the FAA, a role he's occupied since Jane Garvey was confirmed as administrator in August. Previously, Valentine served as acting administrator. His departure and the long period in which the deputy position has been only temporarily filled has spurred general aviation interests to press Congress for a quick confirmation of George Donohue as the next deputy administrator. Donohue, who was nominated in June, is currently associate administrator for research and acquisition.
Dallas-Under new ownership, Business Jet Center at Love Field is building a new, three-story FBO terminal and replacing its front asphalt with a concrete ramp in order to handle heavier business aircraft. With these upgrades, scheduled to be completed in mid 1998, the company will be named a Phillip 66 Aviation Performance Center. (214) 353-8777.
Tronair has developed a multi-head towbar for business aircraft with gross weights up to 125,000 pounds. Attachment heads can accommodate Gulfstream G-V and Canadair Global Express aircraft, and were designed for a quick change and to save storage space. The towbar is constructed of aluminum, with welded heads. Price: $1,559 for the towbar; attachment heads are $2,075 for the Global Express and $2,094 for the G-V. Tronair, S. 1720 Eber Rd., Holland, Ohio 43528. (419) 866-6301; fax:(419) 867-0634.
A new member of Avionica's line of flight data recorder readout systems is the hand-held Ruggedized Service Unit (RSU). This miniaturized computer plugs into the FDR and can read more than 180 hours of data fed through it in real time while aircraft systems are functioning. Then, the RSU downloads the stored data from the FDR. Price: $15,000 to $18,000 for the RSU and software that enables the user to interpret the data; $10,000 to $13,000 for the RSU alone. Avionica, Inc., 14380 S.W. 139th Ct., Miami, Fla. 33186. (305) 559-9194; fax: (305) 254-5900.
Next time you're flying VFR in the vicinity of Cherry Point, N.C., be aware of six new Restricted Areas. The areas, associated with Camp Lejune, cover various altitude ranges, but the highest tops out at 18,000 feet msl. Cherry Point Approach Control can advise when the areas are hot.
Kansas City, Mo.-Executive Beechcraft recently completed building a hangar at its Kansas City Downtown Airport FBO. The company also plans to add an on-site restaurant and full-service inflight catering in March 1998. (816) 842-8484.
By the end of this month, NASA plans to offer free of charge a slide presentation on "Alertness Management in Flight Operations." The presentation includes 54 35-mm slides and a script that flight departments can use for education and training of pilots, managers, schedulers, dispatchers and flight attendants. The script can be used as is or as a jumping off point for specific policies on fatigue countermeasures for an individual operation. To order, phone (415) 604-6647 or fax (415) 604-2177.
HBAcorp's FACTS of Olympia, Wash. and SimuFlite Training International have teamed to offer quarterly programs in aircrew emergency training at SimuFlite's D/FW Airport facility.
AirCell is doggedly determined to get FCC approval to use its planned airborne cellular communications system. Currently, the FCC bans the use of cellular phones in flight. The Boulder, Colo. company has been trying to obtain the approval since 1992 (January 1993, page 22) and says tests of its system under an experimental FCC license show no interference with ground-based cellular systems or other essential electronics.
Ron Frederick has been named president of Garrett Aviation Services following Dave Clemons' decision to leave the Phoenix-based firm after its recent acquisition by General Electric. Clemons in 1994 led a management buyout of the Garrett hangars from AlliedSignal (December 1994, page 26). Two years later, the facilities were purchased by UNC (June 1996, page 20). Frederick began his career with GE Aircraft Engines and served with the company for 22 years before leaving in 1987.
After years of traveling coach and toughing out airline gates and waits, Microsoft Corp.'s chairman and CEO, Bill Gates, has purchased an aircraft-a Challenger 604. A Microsoft spokesperson said Gates bought the aircraft himself rather than having the company foot the bill. She said he plans to use the jet for business and personal trips.
Aircraft Security and Alert Systems has introduced a lock kit fit for a king-all Raytheon King Air series aircraft, that is. The kit includes a non-removable door handle with lock and key, flush or surface locks for the two avionics panels, a lock for the aft compartment and an emergency exit safety removal streamer attached to the inside latch. The locks are from Medeco, and offer a pick-proof key and tumbler system. One key unlocks them all.
Air Luxor, with FBOs in Lisbon and Paris, plans to begin serving business aircraft at the new international airport on the island state of Macau in February 1998 (July, page 20). Operating initially from the main airline passenger terminal, Air Luxor expects to complete the construction of a dedicated business aviation facility in July.
A provision in the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 (October, page 15) could substantially increase the tax on jet fuel. Effective July 1, 1998, jet fuel will be considered as kerosene and be hit with the 24.4-cents-per-gallon highway tax. In the case of most FBOs, that tax will be tacked on to the price of fuel at the pump because only the retail customer can claim a refund from the IRS. The National Air Transportation Association is working with the IRS to have jet fuel removed from the definition of kerosene.
Jet Aviation recently completed expansions at several of its facilities. At Teterboro, the company completed a seventh hangar, a state-of-the-art tenant facility able to accommodate G-V/Global Express size aircraft. Jet Aviation at West Palm Beach acquired Palm Beach Aircraft Painting and ap- pointed its former owner as paint shop manager. In Las Vegas, the company has grown by three hangars and added more business aircraft tenant office space. And Jet Aviation Basel erected a hangar dedicated to aircraft painting.
Digital TV broadcasting towers, many taller than 1,000 feet agl, could start springing up around the country, if the FCC enacts a proposal that would allow the agency to preempt state and local zoning laws governing land usage. (These are the only laws that can prevent construction of obstacles near airports.) The FAA has no authority over land usage, but the agency has worked with municipalities for years to protect the airspace from obstacles.
BFGoodrich will acquire Rohr, Inc. in a $1.3-billion merger deal that could close by the end of January 1998. Rohr, based in Chula Vista, Calif., makes engine nacelles and FAR Part 36, Stage 3 systems. Robert H. Rau, who is expected to continue as president of Rohr, also will be one of three new members the BFGoodrich board will add from Rohr.
Burbank, Calif.-Mercury Air Group will build a "1930s Hollywood style" art deco FBO at Burbank Glendale Pasadena Airport to replace the company's current facility. Focal point of the new FBO will be tenant and transient hangars, 10 acres of ramp space and a terminal building featuring a crew lounge, self-serve cafe, game room with a pool table, exercise room, private sleeping quarters and showers, plus a flight planning room and "business center." Outside the terminal will be a "championship quality putting green." (818) 841-2966.
Photograph: Gulfstream's proposed supersonic business jet featured this twin-engine design. It's too soon to know if Dassault's proposed Falcon SST will bear any resemblance. Two years after Gulfstream Aerospace gave up the idea for a supersonic business jet as impractical, Dassault Aviation has picked up the ball and is running with it. The company says it is making a "serious" study of developing a Falcon SST.
