Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will give New Jersey's Linden Airport $3 million if it does something to keep general aviation aircraft away from Newark Airport airspace also used by airlines. The Port Authority maintains that general aviation flights are causing expensive airline delays at Newark. At press time, the operators of Linden Airport had not responded to the offer.
Israviation Ltd. displayed its ST-50 prototype for the first time at the Paris Air Show. The ST-50 is an all-composite, pressurized, five-place, single-engine pusher turboprop priced at $1.25 million. The Israeli company said it has four firm orders. Design efforts began in 1993, and the prototype has logged 75 hours since its first flight on December 7, 1994. Certification is expected by mid 1998. The ST-50 will come with a four-tube EFIS and weather radar. A flat-rated 600-shp P&WC PT6A-135B will power the aircraft.
Airbus Industrie officially launched a corporate jet version of the A319, a twin-engine airliner certificated for 124 passengers in April 1996. Designated the A319CJ (for corporate jet), it will carry up to 50 passengers and, with a lower payload, have a 6,300-nm range. Certification is scheduled for spring 1999. CFMI or IAE fanjets power the A319.
Boeing has received 17 orders for its BBJ so far this year, with professional golfer Greg (the Shark) Norman as one of them. Norman has agreed to act as a spokesman for the BBJ, but Boeing said he will pay full price--$30.5 million in 1995 dollars for the 6,200-nm jet. (The current price is $37 million.) To date, total orders for the BBJ stand at 20, including two from General Electric, a partner in the BBJ program and supplier of the new 737's CFM-56 engines. The BBJ is a hybrid 737 combining parts of the new -700 and -800 models.
Raytheon Aircraft has joined the fractional ownership game with its ``Travel Air'' program, offering shares in King Airs, Beechjet 400As and Hawker 800XPs. Flying begins in August, and the initial fleet includes three of each type of aircraft. The jet aircraft will be offered in one-eighth share increments, while the King Airs will be sold in fifths. Aircraft will be sold for five-year terms with guaranteed buyback provisions after two years.
A revision to FAR Parts 121, 125 and 135 now permits the use of the autopilot for takeoff and initial climb. Previously, the rule prohibited this use of the AP below 500 feet agl. The new rule requires operators to obtain specific FAA approval of the AP system and the procedure. Part 91 operators were not subject to the limitation.
Raytheon Aircraft is so pleased with the results of its first attempt at automatically laying up a composite fuselage of the new Premier I business jet that the first airframe--originally slated to be a non-flying prototype--will continue through production and join the flight-test program. The company is in the midst of producing a second fuselage, but has met with some delays as it works to qualify a second composite material vendor. The first wingset also is in production, and first flight of the Premier I is on schedule for this fall.
Austin, Texas--The former Awesome Aviation at Executive Airpark has been purchased by Cutter Aviation. The operation is an AvFuel dealer and provides hangar storage, tie down, rental cars, computerized flight planning, dawn-to-dusk operation and guest showering facilities. The addition of Austin brings the Cutter FBO chain to four locations. (512) 251-2433.
Jet Aviation can now provide maintenance on Citation Xs, Hawker 1000s and similar-size business aircraft at Zurich International Airport. The increased capability results from the firm acquiring a hangar formerly belonging to REGA, an air ambulance operation. The company's total hangar space at Zurich is now 13,779 square feet.
Professional Aircraft Accessories (Titusville, Fla.)--Terry Jones was appointed president of this newly formed, FAA-approved repair station that specializes in the support of Beech turboprops and Boeing, Gulfstream and McDonnell Douglas aircraft.
The fuselage of the first Dash 8-400Q (for quiet) is being prepared for mating with its wing. First flight of the newest member of the Dash-8 family of twin-turboprop regional aircraft is scheduled for November. De Havilland says the Q interior will have an active noise-canceling system that will make the cabin ``almost as quiet as that of a jet'' (May, page 126).
BFGoodrich Aircraft Evacuation Systems division has chosen Bangalore, India as its first service center in southern Asia. The company will maintain life rafts, life vests, escape slides, slide rafts, survival kits, helicopter floats, seat belts and oxygen equipment. Work will not be limited to BFG products.
Montreal--A new FBO building and crew/passenger lounge are slated to be part of a major facility expansion at Innotech's maintenance and refurbishing complex at Dorval International Airport. The 70,000-square-foot operation, scheduled to open in November, will stand adjacent to the existing Execaire hangar. The existing crew lounge and passenger terminal will be converted into a customer service center for visiting maintenance and refurb clients. (514) 636-7070.
Uncommanded shutdowns of a CFE738 on two Falcon 2000s--in November 1996 and in May 1997--are unrelated, said CFE officials. The first event involved a synchronous blade-tip rub in the axial compressor stages during cruise. The FADEC shut down the engine as a precautionary measure. The second incident occurred during takeoff when two adjacent second-stage, HP turbine blades separated from the turbine wheel.
Beginning this year, B/CA is offering a new perspective on business aircraft utilization by the most successful companies in the United States. In the past, we have reported the business aviation activities of companies listed in the Fortune 500 and the Fortune 1,000. However, these rankings were based on sheer size-for example, assets and sales volume.
Paul Garrison, a former B/CA managing editor, died at age 79 on April 12 in Tucson due to complications related to cancer. Garrison worked for B/CA from July 1972 through September 1973, then moved to Santa Fe, N.M. to pursue a freelance writing career. Garrison wrote feature articles and news for other aviation magazines, and authored several books.
FAA's recent approval of extended maintenance intervals for the S-76 trims the ratio of maintenance hours per flight hour from 2:1 to 1.6:1, according to Sikorsky. Main inspection intervals have increased to 100, 300 and 1,000 hours, compared to 50, 150 and 750 hours previously. Many special inspections also are now phased with normally scheduled inspections, and the formerly required annual inspection has been dropped.
This fall, the FAA is scheduled to approve or disapprove proposed FAR Part 150 noise compatibility programs for Naples Municipal Airport and Sarasota's Bradenton International Airport. For more information, contact Tommy Pickering at the FAA in Orlando. Phone: (407) 812-6331.
Dassault Falcon Jet (Teterboro)--The company's flight operations department promoted the following six employees: Jerry Tritt to chief pilot-technical; J. David DeAngelis, chief pilot-operations; Tom Major to the newly created position of manager of flight operations and maintenance; Richard Iudice to assistant chief pilot; Tricia Rogers to flight operations administrator; and Dan Petramale to chief of maintenance.
Omaha, Neb.--The Nebraska Airport Authority is evaluating proposals it is receiving for its recent solicitation for an FBO at Millard Airport. The current operator is Hangar One. (402) 895-4974.
Operation of the first Falcon 2000 in the Commonwealth of Independent States was imminent at press time. Earlier, the aircraft received Russian certification. No modifications or special equipment are required for certification in Russia, said Dassault Falcon Jet officials. To date, 12 Falcon business jets are operated in the C.I.S.
Aviation Supplies&Academics is offering Dale Crane's new Inspection Authorization Test Prep to brief candidates for the FAA's IA Knowledge Test. The softcover book includes 200 study questions that could be asked on the exam. Other reference materials provided in the volume are relevant ACs, ADs, regulations, FAA orders and type certificate data sheets. Price: $24.95. ASA, 7005 132nd Pl. SE, Newcastle, Wash. 98059. (206) 235-1500; fax: (206) 235-0128.
National Park Overflights Working Group will hold a final meeting on August 4 and 5 in Denver to discuss management of sightseeing aircraft. The nine-member NPOWG, appointed in May by the DOT and the Department of the Interior, includes officials from the AOPA, the Helicopter Association International and the National Air Transportation Association, as well as environmental interests.
National Aircraft Resale Association (www.nara.dealers.com)--This site contains information on the services provided by NARA's aircraft dealer/broker members and associate members-service and support companies. Linda Martin
