Mercury Air Centers has started offering free access to the Internet on its Gateway 2000 G5-200 computer systems located at each of the company's 13 FBOs (14 when Mercury opens at Charleston International Airport in spring 1998).
Visitors to this site can subscribe to WorldWatch, ``continuously updated'' security information for over 150 countries. In addition, WorldWatch offers general information on each country, such as cultural and political profiles, medical services, significant dates and law enforcement capabilities, as well as general travel tips.
Several new products from AlliedSignal are scheduled to be available by mid 1998: a smaller, lighter series of CVRs and FDRs; an AP for single-pilot IFR Bell 430s; a -10 upgrade for TPE331-5s and -6s; GPS receivers meeting European B-RNAV requirements; and an enhanced GPWS for aircraft with analog systems. The firm also has developed a 75-pound APU for the Learjet 45, the Citation Excel and other light aircraft.
By Fred George Special-use Category I Local Area Differential GPS paves the way for public-use Local Area Augmentation System GPS precision approaches.
Local Area Differential GPS development reached a milestone on August 7, when Honeywell and Pelorus received FAA Type Certification of their SLS-2000 satellite landing system equipment. This marked the first time that a precision GPS landing system (GLS) was certificated for civil use. The FAA is expected to grant operational approval by year-end, thereby allowing Continental Airlines and Northwest Airlines pilots to use the system to fly precision GLS approaches at Minneapolis.
Of the 14 accidents involving U.S.-registered business jets during the first six months of 1997, one was fatal and involved a privately owned and operated IAI 1121, according to Robert E. Breiling Associates of Boca Raton, Fla. Non-U.S. operators of business jets were involved in five accidents, all of which were fatal, resulting in 18 deaths. Breiling reports 21 U.S.-registered turboprop accidents in the first half of the year, including five fatals and 11 fatalities. Non-U.S. turboprops experienced nine accidents, with only one fatality.
Collins soon will offer five-inch ATI flat-panel LCDs for Gulfstream IIs and IIIs. The screens, featuring a 4.2-by-4.2-inch viewing area, will be available in early 1998. A four-screen retrofit will cost about $250,000. Adding a fifth screen as a multi-function display provides TCAS display capability, real-time video, enhanced GPWS, datalink text and ground weather, if the display is linked to other equipment aboard the aircraft. The fifth display boosts the cost by about $75,000 to $85,000.
Dassault Falcon Jet is conducting a design study aimed at bringing out a corporate SST sometime after 2007. The company envisions that the Falcon SST would have a Falcon 50EX cabin size, weigh less than 60,000 pounds, be powered by three non-afterburning turbofans and cruise about 2.0 Mach.
Fairchild Dornier claims a 55-percent boost in range with 10 passengers and a 25-knot increase in maximum cruise speed over the original specs for the firm's 328JET, which is scheduled to make its first flight in early 1998. Extra fuel tanks boost range to 2,000 nm with a 2,000-pound payload. When configured for corporate service, the 328JET can accommodate up to 19 passengers. The aircraft will be powered by two Pratt&Whitney Canada PW306B turbofans, flat-rated at 6,050 pounds of thrust for takeoff up to ISA+20C.
Flight Dynamics of Portland, Ore. received a contract to assist NASA in the development of a head-up system for GPS-based rollout, runway turn-off and taxi guidance
AlliedSignal has extended Duncan Aviation's authorized engine work to cover line services for the TFE731 series fanjets that power the Dassault Falcon 900EX, the Falcon 50EX, the Astra SPX and the Learjet 45. Separately, Duncan recently developed three Audio International entertainment systems installations for midsize business jets.
The fiscal 1998 transportation appropriations bill, recently approved by the U.S. Congress, provides $9.08 billion for FAA operations and facilities, and requires the FAA to ensure it is processing requests for pilot records within 30 days. The bill no longer contains a provision allowing the closing of Richards-Gebaur Airport in Kansas City, Mo. and Bader Field in Atlantic City, N.J. The bill also prohibits implementing the Ha-Laska Free Flight demonstration in fiscal 1998 (May, page 20), but the Wide Area Augmentation System was fully funded.
Teledyne Controls has signed an agreement with Dassault Electronique under which the Los Angeles firm will assist in the marketing and customer support of a Ground Collision Avoidance System (GCAS). Dassault Electronique, which is developing the product, says GCAS is an improvement over conventional GPWS because its look-ahead capability tells pilots how much time they have to avoid an obstacle, not just the time to impact. GCAS is scheduled to be available in 1998 (July, page 16)
Associated Aviation Underwriters of Short Hills, N.J. launched an insurance product it calls ManagAir for fractional ownership and managed aircraft operators. Raytheon Travel Air, which just announced its entry into fractional ownership, is the launch customer.
What with a whole new generation of fuel-efficient long-range jets coming on line, it's getting harder to make a buck on fuel sales. Or so most FBOs would have you believe. . . . In addition to the newer jets burning less Jet A, their larger fuel capacities and better economy just about encourage the practice of tankering, or carrying more fuel than you need to fly a particular leg of a trip.
The National Driver Register in Washington, D.C. changed its mind and decided to continue--until December 31--to remain the contact point for prospective employers requesting air carrier pilot-applicant driving records. On January 1, 1998, operators must start sending the requests to the applicants' home state motor vehicle offices, rather than to the NDR. The shift was originally to take place last October 1.
Raytheon King Air C90/100 series training is now being offered by QuickTurn, a new division of SimuFlite Training International in Dallas. The five-day program includes ground school and instruction in a King Air C90 flight training device. A two- or three-day C90/100 recurrent training course also is available.
United Kingdom's Hunting Aviation continues to sell businesses that are not seen as core. The latest is Hunting Corporate Completions at Biggin Hill, which has been sold to Los Angeles-based Trace Worldwide, an aerospace marketing organization. Two other companies, Hunting Airport Systems and Hunting Avionics, were divested in July.
Raytheon is offering an Executive Ownership Program to buyers who take delivery of a new King Air B200 before December 31: free maintenance for four years or 1,000 hours (whichever comes first), 6.5-percent interest for two years, 12-year amortization and 10 percent down.
Flight Dynamics will certificate its Head-Up Guidance system for the Challenger 604. The system, a derivative of the HUD option for the Canadair Regional Jet, is scheduled to be certificated by mid 1999.
Two developments from Honeywell should be welcome news to international operators. The company said its Aero-I satcom system, a collaboration with Racal, is scheduled to be available in mid- to late-March 1998, corresponding with the Aero-I capabilities of the Inmarsat ground earth stations. Secondly, Honeywell said it has made the necessary modifications to its Primus II digital radios to meet the 8.33 kHz communication frequency spacing required for European flight operations beginning January 1, 1999.
Basic information about airports and their based FBOs can be quickly found at this site. Additional-ly, the site links to weather reports, and recreational areas and other services.
Certification of the Sino Swearingen SJ30-2 has been delayed another nine to 12 months, until the second half of 1999, with deliveries starting in late 1999. According to Sino Swearingen CEO Jack Braly, ``Our research shows that our customers want to be able to fly the SJ30-2's basic long-range mission--2,500 nm with up to three passengers and a pilot--and they want to do it in well-optioned airplanes, as well as have the flexibility to carry such necessities as survival equipment for overwater flights.''
