Challenger 600 aircraft came furnished with a Sperry SPZ-650 analog flight guidance system, including dual electromechanical ADIs and HSIs, a single analog air data computer, a Primus 400 weather radar and a dual-channel SPZ-650 autopilot. The package also featured Collins Pro Line 1 comm/nav/ident radios, a Collins radio altimeter (dual displays), dual Aeronetics RMIs and a two-inch JET standby attitude indicator.
Micro-Poxy, an anti-corrosion clearcoat and gunk resistor is now available from U.S. Technological Research. Available in eight-ounce cans or gallons, the formula can be applied by hand with ordinary polishers, or sprayed on all areas of the airframe and exterior surfaces, such as propellers. Micro-Poxy cannot be penetrated by acid rain, salt spray or other corrosives, ac-cording to its manufacturer. Suggested retail price: $25 to $30 per can (sold in cases of six). U.S. Technological Research, 1285 Stone Dr., San Marcos, Calif. 92069.
St. Louis-based Avtec Corp. will add the Sabreliner 70 and 80 series to a life-extension program it previously developed for Sabreliner 40s and 60s (January, page 22). The program, primarily one of inspections for corrosion or other damage, extends the life of the business jet initially from 10,000 hours to 15,000 hours. Subsequent inspections can extend the aircraft's life to 17,000 and 19,000 hours, respectively.
Kansas City Aviation Center filed suit against Avfuel Corp. over contaminated avgas in its underground storage tank at Johnson County Airport in Olathe, Kan. (June, page 20). KCAC tore down the engines in about 90 percent of the 123 aircraft fueled from the tank, and so far says it has found no fuel-related damage. Testing revealed more than 200 gallons of what KCAC says appeared to be Jet A commingled with some 9,000 gallons of 100LL. At issue is the source of the contamination and who will pay for the engine work.
Priester Aviation is introducing shared leasing. Starting with a Falcon 10, the Wheeling, Ill. firm's Shared Aircraft Program offers a one-third lease interest at $15,000 per month for 36 months. The lease allows up to 200 hours of use annually at $950 an hour. The monthly fixed fee is $12,850. Operations are conducted under FAR Part 135.
The ICAO Council will bring together directors general of civil aviation of all its 185 member countries for an international conference in Montreal on November 10-12 to discuss safety and security issues and the ICAO Safety Oversight Program. The Council proposes an expansion of the program and would like to adopt safety oversight audits.
The House Subcommittee on Aviation has not yet scheduled a hearing on H.R. 664, the so-called ``Airplane Emergency Locator Act'' that would extend the requirement for ELTs to jets. Representative Christopher Shays (R-Conn.) introduced the bill in connection with the search for a Learjet 35A missing after an attempted landing at Lebanon Airport, N.H.
Alan Nitchman was promoted to vice president of operations and is responsible for all operational aspects of the four Elliott FBO facilities. Warren Tanner was moved up to the new position of director of special projects. Martin G. Grier joined the company as vice president and general manager of the Moline facility.
Comments are due September 2 on a proposed transport-category type certification basis for a civil version of the Bell GH205A Huey being developed by Garlick Helicopters. Since the mid 1990s, the Hamilton, Mont. firm has been attempting to receive a TC that will permit upgraded surplus Hueys to be removed from their current restricted category. Among other limits, that category forbids them from carrying passengers or operating under FAR Part 135.
By Arnold Lewis Consolidation of regional airframers is still very much up in the air as manufacturers jockey for position and markets while the edges of one consortium begin to fray.
Orders for up to 117 regional jets worth roughly $2.7 billion failed to stifle some dissenting opinions at the 1997 Paris Air Show in June. While the orders firmly placed Brazilian manufacturer Embraer back on the map and gave Bombardier a launch customer for the 70-seat Canadair Regional Jet Series 700, they also raised anew the trade controversy between Canada and Brazil.
After their recent purchase of Transtar Aviation Services in Houston, Helipro International of Bellingham, Wash. and Airwork (NZ) of Auckland, New Zealand have established Helipro Completions to replace the 17-year-old Bell and MBB BO-105 airframe and tailboom repair facility. Helipro plans to expand the services of the former Transtar to include electrical and paint shops, and custom completions of new helicopters.
Environmental Protection Agency recently singled out avgas as a major source of lead pollution, paving the way for new rules that could require vapor recovery systems on fuel storage tanks and fueling trucks. According to the National Air Transportation Association, there are no vapor recovery systems available and, because of the relatively small avgas market, ``it's questionable'' if manufacturers will develop such a system.
The 22nd annual Oklahoma Aircraft Dealers Auction and Trade Show (OADA) sets up at Jones/Riverside Airport in Tulsa on September 4-6, with an expected 200 jets and turboprops on the selling block. The OADA chose the Tulsa airport this year because of its expanded facilities and additional ramp space. Show organizers urge buyers to arrive early to inspect the aircraft and logbooks. For information, call (919) 728-1555.
U.S. regional airline growth leveled off in the first quarter after coming off a record year, according to the RAA. U.S. regionals carried 61.9 million passengers in 1996--a record-setting total and an increase of 8.3 percent over 1995, said the RAA. The RAA also said revenue passenger miles increased in 1996 to 14.22 billion, more than 11 percent better than in 1995, while the average load factor was 52.98 percent, up 3.07 percentage points.
Proposed rulemaking calls for Class D cargo or baggage areas on certain transport aircraft used in air carrier or air taxi passenger service to be eliminated as an option for future certification. Further, compartments no longer designated as Class D would have to meet the fire detection and suppression standards of Class C compartments by early 2001, if the rule is adopted. Comments are due to the FAA by September 11.
The ultimate poignant climax of a thunderstorm might be the microburst. As a mature storm sucks up tons of moisture and lifts it up into the upper reaches of the troposphere at speeds that can reach 6,000 feet per minute, or more, little droplets join forces to become large raindrops. The large drops may freeze into hail at high altitudes. The thunderstorm eventually yields its massive load to gravity and precipitation starts to rush downward.
Shell Aviation at Grand Strand Airport added maintenance, painting and refurbishing to its FBO services. In addition, the Air BP facility has extended its normal business hours, and is now open from 0630 to 2400 seven days a week, with on-call service available at any time. Shell's ``One-Call'' service also is now available to make reservations for rental cars, accommodations and entertainment. (800) 660-2886.
Anybody who has been flying for 70 years is bound to have a few good flying stories to tell. In the case of 92-year-old Crocker Snow, his long and distinguished career as a civil and military pilot, an FBO operator, aviation regulator and champion of general aviation have provided him with plenty of material to fill a captivating new autobiography titled Log Book: A Pilot's Life.
PlaneSense, started by Alpha Flying, Inc., of Norwood, Mass., is one of the world's first fractional ownership programs for single-engine turboprops. It got off the ground at the end of 1995 with a pair of Pilatus PC-12s and is expected to exceed 2,000 fleet hours of operation this year.
Del Monte Aviation, a 50-year-old FBO at California's Monterey Peninsula Airport, will change its name to Del Monte Jet Center when it completes construction of a new terminal and opens it in the fall. The two-story, 8,000-square-foot building will replace the existing 35-year-old facility.
How are your scanning techniques? The NTSB believes all pilots must sharpen their visual scanning skills for both air and ground operations. To put action behind this thought, the Safety Board has called upon flight instructors to emphasize careful scanning techniques during training and biennial flight reviews.
