Frank W. Wisekal, vice chairman, retired after 17 years of service at this U.S. subsidiary of the French aircraft manufacturer. Wisekal was president and CEO of Falcon Jet from 1983 through 1994.
Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funds are now available for the first time for the routine maintenance of runways, taxiways and aprons. Eligible expenses include sealing cracks and cleaning. The program is aimed at helping to extend the life of pavement at smaller airports where routine maintenance, normally a local requirement, may be delayed due to the costs involved.
General Electric Co. of Evendale, Ohio completed its previously announced acquisition of aircraft engine maintenance firm Greenwich Air Services of Miami and was cleared by U.S. federal agencies to complete the acquisition of UNC, Inc., the Annapolis, Md. engine maintenance company that is the parent firm of Garrett Aviation Services headquartered in Phoenix and Airwork of Millville, N.J. Both transactions closed in September.
The good news: You got the job. The bad news: The guy who said you could have the job thinks you're woefully unqualified for the position and in way over your head. And he'll be watching your every move. That's Jane Garvey's perspective as she begins her five-year term as the new FAA administrator. One month after her confirmation hearing, Garvey's nomination was unanimously approved by the Senate Commerce Committee, but that doesn't mean she's a popular choice.
Hannay Reels has introduced the HGR Series spring-rewind reels in four different models (HGR 100 is shown) to handle 20 to 100 feet of static grounding cable during aircraft re-fueling. The spring motors need a minimum cable pull to release the lock. Reels will ground aircraft or other equipment during refueling or other dangerous operations, Suggested list price: $200 to $300, depending on size of reel, accessories and length of cable. Hannay Reels, 553 State Rte. 143, Westerlo, N.Y. 12193. (518) 797-3791; fax: (518) 733-5464.
Midway Island has been transferred from the U.S. Navy to the Department of the Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service. In a July article (page 68), it was reported that Midway was transferred to the U.S. National Park Service. In the same article, the operator of ground services on Midway is Midway Phoenix Corp., not Mercury Phoenix Group
The U.S. Coast Guard's Omega VLF long-range navigation system passed into history on September 30, the victim of more modern and precise navigation techniques. Omega, one of the first reliable global navigation networks for international aircraft flights, had been managed by the United States and six other nations.
When the word came from on high in late 1996 that Scandinavian Airlines System would launch a new SAS Commuter operation out of Stockholm's Arlanda Airport, there was much skepticism among the airline's management. Arlanda had always been a jet market for SAS, with its Fokker 50 commuter operations limited to Copenhagen and Oslo.
The details of individual leases can differ widely, but what is included in the basic structure of a lease, and the reasons leasing might or might not be attractive, is pretty standard. Under a ``true lease,'' also known as a tax lease, the lessor owns the airplane and gets to depreciate it. The operator, however, gets to expense the payments--at least the portion of the payments that goes to business flying.
Rockwell International President and COO Don H. Davis, Jr. has taken over as CEO of the company. He succeeds Donald R. Beall, who is retiring. Davis is slated to succeed Beall as chairman in February 1998.
A new feature of the latest edition of the NBAA's annual Airport Noise Summary is a listing of business jets and their noise output in dBA and EPNdB. The list also includes each aircraft model's stage category under FAR Part 36. The main part of the 43-page publication is a summary of the noise abatement procedures and advisories of 655 U.S. airports. Copies of the new edition of the summary are available from the NBAA at (202) 783-9253 or at its Web site at www.nbaa.org.
International Federation of Helicopter Associations is ``strongly opposed'' to the proposed type certification basis developed by Garlick Helicopters for military surplus Huey helicopters (August, page 16).
The Minimum Safe Altitude Warning system is not being implemented widely enough, says the Flight Safety Foundation. ``Any airport with approach radar that fails to include MSAW capability is missing a golden opportunity to make flying safer,'' says the FSF's Robert Vandel. The FSF pointed out that only the United States and Israel use MSAW extensively. Safety investigators are looking at a malfunctioning MSAW as a possible factor in the August 6 crash of a Korean Air Boeing 747 on Guam.
Changes in type certification rules and procedures proposed by the FAA likely would paralyze the STC market, say aviation interest groups. The AOPA, GAMA and the National Air Transportation Association are responding to the FAA's proposal to require that design changes for current aircraft and components comply with the latest amendments to airworthiness rules (July, page 25). Presently, aircraft and their systems are ``grandfathered'' under the regulations in force at the time a design received its original type certificate.
Pratt&Whitney Canada obtained Transport Canada certification for its 1,002-shp PT6B-37, the turboshaft engine in Agusta's new single-engine A119 Koala. The seven-passenger helicopter is scheduled to receive FAA certification shortly (March 1996, page 24).
Midway Island is again available as a convenient fuel stop, but at least one corporate operator will not be using the facility again because of its encounter with birds. According to a report in a recent issue of the NBAA's International Operations Bulletin, an operator's Gulfstream IV hit two birds when on approach to Midway Island causing ``minor damage.'' The operator said flocks of albatross hover over the arrival and departure ends of the runways and ``will not move for anything.''
Cold weather is just ahead for many locations in the Northern Hemisphere, bringing with it winter storms, blowing snow, overcast skies and degraded visibility. Even if visibility is good, certain sky and ground conditions can blur the distinction between IMC and VMC. Pilots who depart from or arrive at certain airports may find themselves in a whiteout--a meteorological milk bowl containing smooth, unbroken snow-covered ground, a uniform overcast sky and light reflections that make ground and sky visually inseparable.
Financially beleaguered Mahalo Air was forced to shut down scheduled operations in early September when it was unable to pay an insurance premium. President Mike Yocum was looking for outside investors to help get the carrier airborne again, albeit on a reduced schedule.
The second annual Regional&Corporate Aviation Industry Suppliers Conference is being sponsored on October 26-28 in Rancho Mirage, Calif. by Speednews, a market-intelligence newsletter for the aviation industry. Business aircraft manufacturers and engine makers will give product line updates. Other topics on the agenda include aircraft market forecasts from major OEMs and industry analysts, supplier and maintenance issues, and industry trends in the corporate and regional aviation market. The registration fee is $885. Phone (310) 203-9603 to register.
The first new airport in England in 10 years recently opened to general aviation eight miles from Sheffield in Northern England. Scheduled services at Sheffield City Airport are expected to begin before year-end. The airfield's single, 4,000-foot runway is ILS-equipped. For more information, phone Sheffield at +44 1142 452221, or fax +44 1142 402653.
FAA corrected errors in the original versions of two newly adopted rules. The effective date of the rule to allow IFR commercial passenger flights in single-engine aircraft is May 4, 1998, not May 3 (September, page 28). And the correct phone number for FAA information on new flight data recorder requirements is (202) 267-8166 (August, page 9).
Larger corporate aircraft and airliners flying in Canada will benefit from a revised proposal from Nav Canada that defers new ATC user fees for at least four months beyond the originally proposed deadline.
