Buyers of new Dassault Falcon Jets can now opt for Garrett Aviation's Total Aircraft Service Plan that covers parts and labor for scheduled and unscheduled maintenance for six years. At press time, Garrett was considering retroactive coverage for operators that purchased a new Falcon within the six months prior to September. Separately, Garrett's Long Island, N.Y. facility was appointed a Falcon Jet authorized service center.
Deliveries of The New Piper Aircraft's turbocharged Saratoga II TC are under way. The standard IFR-equipped aircraft, priced at $398,200 and powered by a 300-hp Lycoming TIO-540-AH1A, received its FAA certification on July 21. Specifications include a maximum speed of 192 knots, cruising range of 822 nm at 15,000 feet, a useful load of 1,151 pounds and operations at altitudes in excess of 20,000 feet. Also released is the 1998 Saratoga II HP, priced at $378,900 and powered by a normally aspirated 300-hp Lycoming IO-540-KIG5.
A King Air C90B powered by a pair of 600-hp Orenda OE-600 V-8 engines made its first flight on July 11 from Spokane, Wash., where Orenda is developing an STC for the installation.
A new program developed by Worldspan, a major airline computer reservation service, enables flight departments to privately list their business aircraft flights alongside airline flights. This allows a corporation's travel agency to book approved passengers onto company aircraft, a management tool that could yield higher load factors and improved utilization.
Jack Thompson joined this international aviation safety organization as deputy director of technical programs. Previously, he was director of corporate marketing for FlightCom of Florida.
Now available from SoftComm Products is the Model C-40-10 Red Baron headset with fully cushioned, adjustable headband and noise-canceling Electret microphone. The 14.8-ounce Red Baron features 40-mm speakers that have a full-fidelity range and are controlled by a positive-set volume control. Standard accessories include cloth earseal covers, large liquid-filled ear seals and a foam mike covering. Price: $89. SoftComm Products, Inc., 2310 S. Airport Blvd., Chandler, Ariz. 85249. (602) 917-2328; fax: (602) 917-3557.
The National Air Transportation Association says the FAA's Advisory Circular 21.29 on unapproved parts ``leaves too much room for interpretation that may result in more parts than ever being considered suspect.'' The AC outlines procedures for detecting and reporting suspected unapproved parts (March 1996, page 28 and January 1996, page 26).
Search of the crash site where a Singapore Airlines Learjet 31A hit the 3,900-foot level of a 4,000-foot mountain ridge in southern Thailand on July 21 has uncovered the wreckage and at least one recorder. Meanwhile, a Learjet 35A was still missing in August after an attempted landing at New Hampshire's Lebanon Airport on December 24, 1996 (February, page 13).
Sales of new business jets in 1999 should number 270 units--an increase of 16.4 percent from the 232 units in 1996, according to a forecast by The CIT Group's business aircraft finance division in Fort Lauderdale. But a decrease in projected sales for new turboprops of 65 units in 1999, compared to 78 in 1996, will mean the combined sales of new turbine aircraft by 2000 will increase only 8.1 percent.
Frank Jensen, president of the Helicopter Association International, told B/CA he ``doubts the national parks overflights bill (S.628) will pass in its present form.'' The bill, sponsored by Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.), would authorize the Interior Department to develop recommendations for overflight restrictions, while the FAA would implement the policy.
Edited By GORDON A. GILBERTPerry Bradley CENTURY TWEAKS DESIGN
Albuqueque-based Century Aerospace continues to refine its proposed Century Jet single-engine turbofan business aircraft, which it hopes to certificate in 2000. The design now includes a larger wing yielding 300 pounds of additional fuel capacity, a five-inch fuselage stretch and a new circular fuselage providing six more inches of cabin width, an additional external baggage compartment, and a lengthened nose that provides additional space for avionics. Max takeoff weight has been bumped to 6,000 pounds to accommodate the additional fuel.
By Dan Manningham Why do good pilots forget stable approach techniques? Yeah, why do they?
The stabilized approach has been a major element of the flight safety catechism for at least three decades. It is taught, emphasized, discussed, checked and reviewed. It is the best that aviation art and science can construct for landing safety. So, why is it that approach accidents happen so often?
Here's a postscript of sorts. If you're one of the many people who used Flight Data, Inc.'s DUAT/Plus software to gather DUAT briefings, you may be aware that Flight Data is out of the DUAT business. DUAT/Plus was originally a DOS product that allowed non-computer-literate pilots a fast, easy and efficient method of checking the weather and filing flight plans.
Before the summer congressional recess, the House Appropriations Committee axed funding from the fiscal 1998 transportation appropriations budget intended for the FAA's Ha-laska project (now known as Flight 2000) to demonstrate free flight technologies (May, page 20). The committee says it ``is convinced that FAA is not yet ready to begin such an ambitious and expensive demonstration.''
The Mid South Aviation Forum, slated for October 3-4, will be hosted by AMR Combs at Memphis International Airport. The featured speaker will be Bill O'Brien, the FAA's airworthiness program manager. Rod Machado, professional aviation humorist and safety speaker from California, will give the keynote address on handling inflight emergencies. Topics for the breakout sessions include special use airspace, GPS, METARs, FAR Part 91/135, aviation insurance and FAA legal interpretations. A donation of $10 is the entry fee.
Nearly three years after the American Eagle ATR 72 accident at Roselawn, Ind., the dangers of supercooled large drizzle droplets (SLD) are now fairly well-understood. Less clear, however, is what can be done to effectively combat insidious icing conditions well outside FAR Part 25 Appendix C's icing envelope.
General aviation interests, including the AOPA, are fighting the shutdown of Bader Field in Atlantic City and Richards-Gebaur Memorial Airport in Kansas City. Senators Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and Christopher Bond (R-Mo.) tacked on an amendment to the DOT's 1998 appropriations bill, authorizing the airports' closing. AOPA President Phil Boyer questioned the provision since it would ignore grant agreements with the FAA to keep the airports open.
Challenger 604 operators can expect to save an estimated $50 to $90 per hour DOCs on European missions due to a new, lower optional MTOW of 38,000 pounds, according to Bombardier. Cost savings for intra-Europe trips will be reaped from reduced Eurocontrol and airport fees.
Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio is, under an FAA contract, developing a probablistic damage-tolerance design code for turbine rotors, now designed under a safe-life method
Mercury Air Group of Los Angeles has purchased Stevens Aviation at Nashville International Airport for $4.2 million in cash. The acquisition brings Mercury's holdings at the airport to over 100,000 square feet of hangar space, over 10,000 square feet of office space and a 5,150-square-foot terminal building on 39 acres. Dale Krupla will be kept on as operations manager. Mercury now operates 13 Mercury Air Center FBOs throughout the United States. The company says it plans to open a new facility at Charleston, S.C.'s International Airport in April 1998.
The PW306A engine, while un-proven, is an evolutionary outgrowth of the PW305 that powers the Learjet 60 and Hawker 1000. Unlike the PW308, however, the PW306A has less temperature margin. It's rated at 5,700 pounds of thrust for takeoff and is flat rated to ISA+9 degrees C. An automatic performance reserve function enables the PW306A to maintain its rated takeoff thrust to ISA+16 degrees C during one-engine-inoperative takeoffs.
