On October 1, a Connecticut state law is scheduled to go into effect eliminating the sales tax on the purchase, service and parts of aircraft with MTOWs of more than 6,000 pounds. This is one of several initiatives the state has taken to ease the financial burden on business aircraft operators. In 1993, Connecticut replaced its personal property tax on aircraft with an annual registration fee (August 1993, page 30).
For turbine-powered aircraft, Christie Electric Corp. has rolled out (on a two-wheel mobile cart) the Model R-400. The solid-state unit provides 28 VDC power at 400 amperes continuously, with a peak of 2,000 amperes for turbine spooling. Complete with AC and DC cables, the unit has multi-position switches for adjusting output voltage. The R-400 takes three-phase 230/380/460 VAC, 50/60 Hz input power. Price: $6,500. Christie Electric Corp., 18120 S. Broadway, Gardena, Calif. 90248. (310) 715-1402; fax: (310) 618-8368.
From NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System Callout newsletter: The first officer was the pilot flying the aircraft on an ILS approach. At about 25 feet prior to decision height, the captain announced, ``I've got the runway.'' The FO--misinterpreting the comment to mean handing over control of the aircraft to the captain--replied, ``OK, you've got.'' The captain immedi- ately responded, ``No, no, you've got it.''
FAA proposes to update aircraft design standards to clarify and amend which positions of high-lift device controls should be gated. The purpose of gates is to aid pilots in preventing an altitude loss when retracting flaps, slats or other high-lift devices, particularly during landings and go-arounds. The proposed amendment to FAR Part 25 also will harmonize these standards with those being proposed by the JAA.
New software for the digital electronic engine control will add a Mach hold feature for the Falcon 50EX, according to Dassault Falcon Jet. The software is scheduled to be integrated into new-production aircraft in the fall and will be offered as a retrofit package.
This FBO and mod center has added three new staff members: Jerry Keizer as director of avionics sales and product support, Denny Cullen as avionics/installations manager and Jim Pommier as avionics crew leader.
Ian Cheyne, a founder of this engine overhaul facility, has been appointed director of marketing for the company. Ron Coleman is the new southeastern sales representative.
Barnhart Aviation Service of Wilmington, Ohio recently received an STC for a mod permitting Beech 1900Ds to use 17 degrees of flaps for landings. The company claims the reduced flap setting lessens the risk of tailplane stall in icing conditions, and improves crosswind landing and OEI handling. The mod involves repinning a connector to eliminate the GPWS ``TOO LOW, FLAP'' warning at 170 feet radio altitude.
Photograph: A precursor of the future general aviation ``light twin''? Williams International A proof-of-concept aircraft that could stimulate the market for small, relatively low-cost, business jets is currently under flight evaluation by Williams International. The V-JET II is an experimental aircraft participating in a NASA program to develop a low-cost, four- to six-place turbofan-powered general aviation aircraft. The all-composite V-Jet II, powered by two Williams engines, is being test flown by Burt Rutan's Scaled Composites from Mojave, Calif.
Pilots are conditioned to think in terms of multiples--engines, avionics, vacuum and fluid pumps, generators, supporting crewmembers. If asked to name their most essential redundancy, most business aircraft pilots would unhesitatingly say engines. So it shouldn't be surprising that business aviation, specifically, corporate flight departments and the insurance companies that underwrite them, has traditionally cast a jaundiced eye on single-engine airplanes, especially for the carriage of executives and employees.
B/CA polled some overhaul centers to learn what engine parts are repairable and what savings can accrue to operators by using repaired parts vis-a-vis new ones. ALLIANCE ENGINES
FAA said it plans to release shortly a series of proposed rules that would require aircraft with unpowered ailerons and pneumatic deicing systems to exit icing conditions ``when specific visual cues are detected.'' Those rules could be in place by early 1998.
Fairchild Dornier says wind tunnel tests of its 328JET, a proposed regional airliner and corporate shuttle, confirm that the aircraft will have a high cruise of 375 KTAS and a 900-nm range with all 32 seats occupied. The firm also said the $10.55-million base price now also includes an APU, and the planned MTOW has increased to 33,047 pounds. Major suppliers announced to date are: Aeromacchi and OGMA for the fuselage; Dunlop for the wheels, tires and brakes; Honeywell for the EICAS; and Messier-Dowty for the landing gear.
In the early 1970s, Avco Lycoming was as new to the commercial turbofan engine market as Canadair was to the business aircraft industry. The ALF502 was the firm's first turbofan engine. It used a military turboshaft engine's gas generator mated to a reduction gear box that powered the fan. It suffered from some of the worst growing pains of any new, light-turbofan engine in history.
Gulfcoast Avionics is offering Falcon brand headsets. The F-15 headset (shown) is the top of the line, with 24-dB noise reduction, dual volume control, stereo/mono switch and air-gel headpad. It weighs 15.9 ounces. Price: $129. Less-expensive headset models and intercoms also are available. Gulfcoast Avionics, 4243 N. Westshore Blvd., Tampa, Fla. 33614. (813) 879-9714; fax: (813) 875-4514.
AlliedSignal is in the midst of a transaction to acquire Grimes Aerospace of Urbana, Ohio. Grimes, owned by Midland-Ross since 1996, makes exterior and interior aircraft lighting systems, power supplies and aircraft engine systems. AlliedSignal will assume customer support after the transaction is finalized.
Breakfast with a short, but intense, learning session as a chaser is what Wayfarer Aviation of White Plains, N.Y. is serving at its ``Breakfast Club'' training series. The air charter and management company is reaching out to dispatchers, schedulers, charter salespeople and administrative assistants with light sustenance, coffee and informative talks--all free--to familiarize them with different aspects of business aviation, including specific business aircraft. Manufacturers' representatives and Wayfarer's staff have been recruited as speakers.
Exhibitors' booth reservations for the NBAA's 50th anniversary celebration and annual convention on September 23-25 in Dallas have reached a record high--3,302, six percent greater than the total of 3,106 at the November 1996 show. Because of all of the interest from would-be exhibitors, the NBAA has opened another area at the Dallas Convention Center. In addition, nearly 190 aircraft will be on static display.
In a move to upgrade Russian airports to international standards, the Russian government is seeking private investors for 34 of 63 state-run airports, including Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo in Moscow. The impact on corporate aviation is uncertain now. A high-ranking Russian official says the recruitment of private investors is the crux of a plan to garner more than $5 billion for renovations to these airports.
Pat Howard says he bought his Socata TBM 700 ``for speed.'' The Redmond, Washington-based software applications entrepreneur routinely flight plans a 270-knot cruise speed for the 400-nm average legs he flies, with the occasional lope out to 900 nm.
FAA, U.S. airlines and other operators continue to question the seeming lack of civilian involvement in the U.S. Air Force's GPS, slated to become virtually the sole means of navigation in the near future. The latest concerns stem from the Air Force's refusal to locate a GPS control facility at an FAA preferred site in Washington, D.C. (Vandenburg AFB is the Air Force's choice) and the service's failure to support a second civil frequency.
