Responding to concerns about the likelihood of being confused with other organizations--especially one with a similar name, goal and constituency--a recently-established group for dealers and brokers has changed its name to the Professional Aircraft Sales Association (PASA).
The Arriel-powered S-76C+ is now the only model of this twin-turbine helicopter remaining in production. Sikorsky has ended production of the P&WC-powered S-76B--the only other member of a family that, at one time, numbered five versions following its introduction in 1978.
In further efforts to ``harmonize'' U.S. helicopter regulations with corresponding European regulations, the FAA is proposing to: require a cockpit indication of autopilot operating mode, clarify burn test requirements for electrical wiring in transport rotorcraft and establish a requirement for an electrical-wire burn test in normal category rotorcraft. Comments are due by September 8. For more details phone the FAA: (817) 222-5120.
Raisbeck Commercial Air Group received an STC enabling Boeing 727-100s to meet FAR Part 36, Stage 3 noise levels. The STC involves a change only to the aircraft's flap operation to minimize drag and noise, and consequent revisions to the AFM. Landing speed is about four knots faster at MLW and takeoff roll is about 600 feet longer. The price of the kit is $695,000, with installations available at Raisbeck's Seattle headquarters. Raisbeck previously received Stage 3 approval for the 727-200.
JAA/FAA discord has led to a pushback in U.S. certification of a Flight Dynamics head-up display in Falcon 2000s until December. A Dassault Falcon Jet official said the FAA go-ahead will include Category IIIa approval. JAA certification was received on September 5, 1996. FAA approval originally had been expected shortly thereafter (February, page 13).
Trade Days International, of Tulsa, Okla., is trying something different when it comes to aircraft auctions--once a month at the same group of northwest Arkansas airports, with each airport hosting a different segment of the industry. The company kicked off this unusual approach on July 3 with a series of auctions of hang gliders and gliders at Hunstville Airport, radio-controlled models at Smith Field, helicopters at Rogers Airport, recip general aviation airplanes at Springdale Airport, and turboprops and jets at Fayetteville Airport.
The Web surfer looking for the particulars on an aviation activity can search for any key variables about an event--the sponsoring organization's name, geographic location or whatever is known. For each event, the site lists the event date, location, description, airport (if applicable), contact name, phone number, and e-mail and Web site addresses for further information.
Aviation Supplies and Academics and Summit Aviation have teamed up to release a new CD-ROM Flight Library Series for Windows and Mac OS users. Three different options are available, each on a single CD-ROM: The 1997 -FAR/AIM CD ($24.95) has the FAR/AIM, FAR for FlightCrew and FAR for Aviation Maintenance Technicians. The 1997 Flight Library CD ($49.95) contains over 500 publications and online graphics, including the previous three books, plus selected advisory circulars (ACs), FAA reprints and handbooks and Crane's Dictionary of Aeronautical Terms.
The former FBO run by Corporate Jets Airport Management at Albermarle Airport is being taken over by Piedmont Aviation Services. The maintenance operation changed hands on July 1 and fueling and other line services are scheduled to be handed over to Piedmont on September 1. In addition to Charlottesville and its headquarters in Winston-Salem, N.C., Piedmont has five other FBO locations in the South. (804) 978-1474.
AT&T Wireless Services is now marketing its fully digital Regional Airline Airborne Telephone System (RAATS) for commuter airline turboprops and jets. The system enables passengers to place and receive calls, faxes and data using laptop computers, said Bob Johnson of AT&T's Aviation Communications Division in Seattle. The system also can be used for voice and data communications between the cockpit crew and airline dispatch.
The latest generation CMA-900 series FMS has received TSO certification for oceanic, en route and terminal navigation, as well as for stand-alone GPS non-precision approaches. The Quebec-based company's newest version comes with features to meet the JAA's Required Navigation Performance applications, including BRNAV.
Rockwell Avionics and Communications says the delivery of graphical weather data to the cockpit via high-speed VHF datalink was demonstrated with ``good results'' during flight tests. The tests collect full-color North America weather data and store them on board for use by aircraft display and interface software. Specific area-maps can be selected.
Even if you're ``metallurgically im-paired,'' it does help to know what the repair centers are talking about. Here's a rundown of some state-of-the-art repair processes used by the OEMs, major overhaul stations and their vendors:
This sales support unit for IAI business jets returned Wayne R. Oedewaldt as regional vice president for Western region sales. He served as president of Astra Jet just before and during its transition to Galaxy Aerospace.
Texaco and Atlantic Aviation have opened--slightly later than originally scheduled--a limited-service FBO at Arturo Michelena Airport. Only transient fueling currently is available. Services to be developed over the next 12 to 24 months will include ramp and hangar parking, maintenance, flight planning, ground transportation and hotel reservations. +(582) 959-4322.
Douglas B. Mykol, who has served as the medical training coordinator of HBAcorp.'s FACTS Training International for 10 years, now heads a spinoff company called AirCare International. The Olympia, Wash.-based firm will provide on-site inflight medical emergency training and equipment sales--including automatic external defibrillators (AEDs). Another AirCare service is the Medical Director Program (MPD), a package that includes coordinating AED purchases, training on the AEDs, and follow-up and post-incident critiques on the use of the equipment.
New additions to Trimble Navigation's line of GPS navigation receivers include the Series 2000 Plus systems, designed to meet JAA BRNAV requirements scheduled to go into effect in January 1998. Different versions of the systems, all meeting TSO requirements for stand-alone non-precision approaches, are available for light, medium and heavy general-aviation aircraft, according to the Sunnyvale, Calif. firm.
II Morrow offers the new Apollo GX55, a panel-mount GPS receiver with moving map display that upgrades all of the firm's panel-mount Loran and FlyBuddy GPS units. This TSOed system has a graphic display featuring 12,800 pixels for improved clarity and readability. ``Smart keys'' allow the user to de-clutter, add waypoints or edit flight plans. The GX55 is pin-compatible to ease installation, says II Morrow. Standard is a ``Flybrary'' Jeppesen data card. Price: $3,495. II Morrow, P.O. Box 13549, Salem, Ore. 97309. (503) 581-8101; fax: (503) 364-2138.
Planning and construction of Mid-America Airport, a joint-use facility with Scott Air Force Base, is continuing towards an October opening. Located 24 miles east of St. Louis, the airport will be an FAA-designated reliever for Lambert-St. Louis International. The airfield's two parallel runways will be available for use by both civil and military aircraft. A business aviation FBO is not immediately planned, but general aviation aircraft fueling will be available from American Terminal Services, also the provider of airline fueling. U.S.
Veteran avionics marketer Randall P. Lincoln becomes publisher of B/CA and A/C Flyer magazines starting this month. Lincoln joins B/CA after 15 years of experience in aircraft electronics sales. Most recently, he was director of worldwide sales and marketing for AlliedSignal Commercial Avionics Systems in Lenexa, Kan. Lincoln succeeds David W. Ewald, who has been with B/CA since its inception in 1958, most of that time as publisher.
Honda's experimental turbofan engine apparently is not intended to go with the airframe the company flew three years ago. An American Honda Motors official told B/CA that the firm has concluded its ``materials research program'' involving a small carbon-fiber jet built in concert with Mississippi State University (May 1993, page 18). The Honda official emphasized it was never the company's intent to get into the airframe-manufacturing business.
The National Air Transportation Association has scheduled two more sites for its Line Service Supervisor Training this year: Houston on September 14-15 and New Orleans on November 10-11. The agenda will focus on the hands-on aspects of line-service quality control, fueling safety and proper fuel filtration. In addition, newly promoted supervisors will learn how to become effective managers of their former coworkers. The seminar price of $195 for NATA members and $250 for non-members provides participants with lunch for both days, training manuals and manager guidelines.
The FAA enacted a proposed AD requiring the operators of 414 GE CF700-powered Falcon 20s and Sabreliner 75s to install improved engine fan guards. Operators have until August 26, 1999 to replace the fans--at an FAA-estimated installed cost of $42,400 per engine. The AD was prompted by an uncontained engine failure on a Falcon 20 on January 20, 1995, in which dislodged fan blades penetrated the fuselage. During its attempt to return to Paris' Le Bourget Airport, the aircraft crashed, killing all 10 persons aboard.
Embraer and Bombardier were not alone in scoring regional-jet orders at the Paris Salon. The year-old Fairchild Dornier logged its launch customer for the 32-seat Do 328JET with a hard order for six from French regional Proteus Airlines, which is based in Dijon but hubs out of Lyon in the livery of Air France and Air Inter.
