General aviation activity worldwide (excluding China and the C.I.S.) during 1996 remained at the same level as in 1995, according to ICAO, when 38-million hours were flown. Of this total, an estimated 20-million hours (52 percent) were flown for business and personal purposes. There were approximately 337,910 active GA aircraft worldwide in 1996.
Some Washington policy makers seem willing to acknowledge civil aviation's vital role in the pursuit of our national economic and social goals, but turning that understanding into an enlightened funding plan seems as elusive as ever. Consider the preliminary report of the National Civil Aviation Review Commission (NCARC), delivered late last month to the DOT.
Dassault has started installing Flight Dynamics HGS-2850 head-up displays on U.S.-registered Falcon 2000s. The displays are currently certificated for Cat I manual approaches and Cat II autopilot approaches. FAA approval to use the HUD for Cat III approaches is expected by year-end (August, page 14). JAA approval for the displays on European-registered Falcon 2000s was received in September 1996 (February, page 13).
FAA plans to replace the systems by which FSSes provide information to pilots. OASIS (Operational and Supportability Implementation System) consists of new software and hardware to enable FSSes to provide for even more weather data. Current systems are not only unable to accommodate growth, but their capabilities are often compromised by a lack of spare parts. The OASIS contract was awarded to Harris Corp. of Melbourne, Fla.
For less than $1 million, you can buy a business jet that can operate out of a 4,000-foot strip, then soar into the mid forties in less than 20 minutes and cruise at more than four times its stalling speed. What makes this possible? Primarily, the aircraft's prodigious thrust and slippery aerodynamics. As a result, you can blow through the limits of a jet's operating envelope as easily as a parking valet converts tire tread into rubber smoke.
Dan O'Neal is the new director of operations for this air charter, aircraft management and maintenance company based at New York's Elmira-Corning Regional Airport. O'Neal was previously chief pilot for ARCO.
Bell is operating the XV-15 both in support of its 609 civil tiltrotor program and as a basic tiltrotor research vehicle. To that end, the company has embarked on a three-year exploration of GPS precision approaches in conjunction with NASA Ames research laboratory.
Safety Net Resources of Miami has launched Emergency Medical Link (EML) to provide inflight emergency medical support on a worldwide basis. EML's basic service cost of $1,295 includes responses for up to three incidents. Each additional incident response costs $200. For more information, contact Safety Net Resources at (800) 383-0477. In August, a similar service was introduced by AirCare of Olympia, Wash. Phoenix-based MedAire pioneered this type of service in 1985 with its MedLink program.
Chemtronics has developed two new electronics dusters--the most powerful in the company line--to rid sensitive instruments of particulates. Both the Ultrajet Duster and Ultrajet All-Way Duster (capable of cleaning at any angle) are made of ultra-pure refrigerant HFC-134a and are nonflammable and ozone safe. Suggested retail prices: Ultrajet Duster--$5.50 for 5 ounces; $8.95 for 8 ounces. Chemtronics, 8125 Cobb Center Dr., Kennesaw, Ga. 30152. (770) 424-4888; fax: (770) 424-4267.
American Eagle in early September took delivery of the 500th ATR from Aero International (Regional), 12 years after the first ATR 42 was delivered to Command Airways of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., now merged into American Eagle's Flagship Airlines. The ATR 72-210A was the third of a most recent Eagle order of 12 -210A aircraft, with deliveries continuing through May 1988.
National Air Transportation Association urged its members to write to the FAA to oppose its proposal to upgrade fire suppression and detection standards for Class D cargo areas (August, page 18). NATA says the safety issues the FAA is using to justify its proposal do not apply to the relatively small Class D compartments in FAR Part 135 aircraft.
Fie on me! 'Twas I who endorsed, and possibly suggested, that the tenure of the FAA administrator be extended to five years. When I espoused this proposal, it clearly contemplated that the nominee be possessed of both the knowledge and experience befitting this vital position. Likewise the position of head honcho of the Department of Transportation, to whom the FAA administrator is subservient.
Brazilian manufacturer Embraer says it will go ahead with the EMB-135, a 37-seat version of the 50-seat EMB-145 regional jet. Certification is scheduled for the second quarter of 1999. The EMB-135 will use the same systems and engines as the 145, but it will be 11.6 feet shorter.
The company has appointed two managers in the Collins General Aviation Division: B.G. Thigpen, to manager of field sales and B.R. Vester, manager of OEM sales.
Let's face it, the people who operate business aircraft often speak a different language than the people who keep track of the money involved. If you run up to your company's CFO and breathlessly describe the urgency of new RVSM requirements, the move toward free-flight, or the great vertical navigation function in your new fully integrated flight management system, chances are he just won't get it.
A combination of existing management and Close Investment Management Ltd. of London recently purchased Oxford, England-based CSE Group from its Swedish owners. The new company chairman is Paul Lever, and Mick Daw has been appointed CEO. The CSE Group includes the Oxford Air Training School and Oxford Airport, and it sells Cessna and Schweizer aircraft.
Stead Aviation, a 30-year-old FBO in Manchester, N.H., was recently acquired by Wiggins Airways, an FBO and cargo carrier based in Norwood, Mass. Founder Ed Stead retains a seat on the Wiggins board, and Paul Taylor remains general manager at the Stead facility.
``Redundancy'' and the history of aircraft powerplant reliability were the keys that unlocked the regulatory door to the long-awaited rule permitting single-engine aircraft to carry passengers for hire under IFR (September, page28). Although the new rule carries an official effective date of May 4, 1998, aircraft and operators that meet the prescribed provisions may begin to operate sooner. Here are the four provisions (under SFAR 81 in FAR Part 135) that operators must meet:
Prospective employers of air carrier pilots now must send requests for pilot candidate driver records to the applicants' home state motor vehicle offices, rather than to the National Driver Register in Washington, D.C. But air taxi operators worry that the state offices will not be prepared to assume the new responsibility in a timely manner.
