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.
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.
