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
The FAA, which has been known to fudge the facts to make them conform to the conclusion the agency wants to reach, has now wandered deeper into the philosophical swamp. It's claiming that it shouldn't have to do cost-benefit analyses on the airworthiness directives it issues-an idea that could cost the business aviation lots of money in pursuit of questionable safety gains.
Picture the scene: An early Boeing 727 simulator at United Airlines' Flight Training Center in Denver sometime in the mid 1960s. The trainee is a grizzled combat veteran of WWII with enough airline seniority to fly one of the early jets, a man with 20,000 hours in reciprocating engine airplanes flying basic instruments to marginal airfields in all weather. This is a man of experience and conviction; a somewhat cynical man who had learned by ordeal that machinery lies, cheats and kills; a man who has survived 35 years in airplanes by his wits.
In reference to our article ``Is Background Check Rule a Stranglehold'' (June, page 28), we make these corrections: First, the requirement for sharing pilot records is not an FAA rule, but a congressional mandate. Second, the law states that an employer must obtain--from the FAA, the National Drivers Registry and previous employers--specific information on a prospective candidate who will be employed as an air carrier pilot (FAR Part 135 or 121). These three entities have 30 days to submit the required information to the requesting employer.
Dover, N.H.-based Business Express Airlines emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on May 22, following final DOT approval of the company's reorganization plan. The company is now wholly owned by the Philadelphia investment banking firm of Dimeling, Schreiber&Park.
Certification of the Citation Excel has slipped from September to early 1998, while certification of the Learjet 45 is further delayed to August. Learjet 45 certification was postponed several times after missing its original summer 1996 target (November 1992, page 26). Both aircraft have been ordered for fractional-ownership programs. EJA is buying 50 Excels for its NetJets program (see above), and JetSolutions, the Bombardier and AMR Combs joint venture, is purchasing 24 Learjet 45s for its FlexJet program.
Uvair (Houston)--This contract fuel division of Universal Weather and Aviation has promoted Jerry Scott to senior manager and Sherrie Cowart to manager of Uvair Administration.
Flight Safety Foundation has presented awards to the following individuals: Patricia W. Andrews, manager of Global Aircraft Services for Mobil Business Resources Corp. and chair of the FSF Fatigue Countermeasures Task Force, is the recipient of the FSF President's Citation for Outstanding Corporate Leadership; Joan Sullivan Garrett, president of MedAire Inc., was presented with the FSF Business Aviation Meritorious Service Award for her contributions to corporate aviation safety; Edward D.
Your ticket to flying RVSMs in the NAT system airspace is a Letter of Authorization (LOA) from an FAA Aircraft Certification Office (ACO). However, you must leap over nearly a dozen hurdles on the approvals track before you can cash in on the advantages of RVSM.
However, GA Team 2000's initial two-week trial run of TV commercials on ``Stop Dreaming, Start Flying'' netted more than 2,000 requests for a $35 introductory flight coupon.
Pratt&Whitney Canada's PW530A may be an evolutionary engine, but the performance numbers indicate how far light-turbofan engine technology has come in three decades. The PW530A, rated for takeoff at 2,887 pounds to 79F (26C), is the first application for the 3,000- to 4,500-pound-thrust PW500 engine family that is being developed with the Bavarian firm Motoren-und-Turbin Union, which is a 25-percent partner.
Dupont (Wilmington, Del.)--William O. McCabe was made Director of Corporate Aviation with responsibility for managing the flight department's 70 people and eight aircraft.
The Texas legislature has scuttled onerous proposals to impose aviation fuel taxes and rescind the exemption from state sales taxes of aircraft parts and labor. Over the past few months, state lawmakers have been deadlocked over provisions of a comprehensive tax bill designed to raise up to $2 billion in the next two years (June, page 16).
Barnhart Aviation Service and Skyway Airlines have received an FAA STC for a 17-degree flap setting on the Beech 1900D to permit more stabilized approaches during IFR conditions. It also provides a reduced risk of tailplane stall in icing conditions.
In the wake of British Aerospace's decision to end production of the Jetstream 41 twin-turboprop commuter/shuttle by the end of the year, a company official said that there will be no end or reduction in support services. A BAe official told B/CA 200 of the 1,000 people who will remain employed in Prestwick, Scotland, where the Jetstream 41 was manufactured and where major subcontract work will continue, will be dedicated to providing support for the approximately 106 Jetstream 41s in the field.
Magellan Systems (San Dimas, Calif.)--Chris Carver has been named marketing manager of aviation products for this satellite and communications equipment manufacturer.
July 30 is the deadline for comments on Nav Canada's proposed user charges for air navigation services. Fees, to be based on factors such as aircraft weight and distance flown, will be phased in over two years, beginning November 1, but the start of charges for aircraft weighing 12,500 pounds or less will be deferred until November 1, 1998 (June, page 30). For more information, call Nav Canada at (613) 563-5588.
The number of controllers at ATC towers as well as en route and approach centers in the New York area will increase to 294 by October and 339 by October 1998, primarily as the result of a memorandum of understanding reached between the FAA and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association.
Dave Smith, who resigned as president of American Eurocopter amidst federal charges of fraud related to the firm's sale of military helicopters to Israel, was acquitted of charges of paying illegal commissions in connection with the sale (March, page 22). Earlier, Eurocopter pleaded guilty to the charges and agreed to pay $25 million in fines and penalties (April, page 20). An American Eurocopter spokesperson said there were no plans to rehire Smith. Neither Smith nor his attorney could be reached for comment.
EH Industries, which has sold more than 80 military EH-101 large helicopters, has sold its first civil unit--to an operator in the Far East. Two civil models are offered: a utility version with a rear cargo ramp and a 30-seat, passenger-carrying aircraft.
Illustration: Chart: B/CA COMPARISON PROFILE (% RELATIVE TO AVERAGE) Tradeoffs are a reality of aircraft design, although aeronautical engineers attempt to give each model exceptional capabilities in all areas at an affordable price. The laws of physics, however, do not allow one aircraft model to do all missions with equal efficiency. B/CA compares the subject aircraft's performance and characteristics to the composite traits of the aircraft in its class. We do this to evaluate the strengths and compromises of the subject aircraft.
Step into the cockpit of the Citation Bravo and, at first, you're likely to think you're in an Ultra. No wonder. The Honeywell Primus 1000 system has the same three, eight-by-seven-inch display tubes and the familiar layout. A closer look reveals that AlliedSignal CNI 5000 SilverCrown panel-mount radios are installed in place of the Ultra's remote-mount CNI radios. There is a single AlliedSignal GNS-Xls in the console.
Several independent pilot unions have asked Congress to force the FAA to require TCAS on cargo aircraft. The unions represent pilots flying for, among others, Continental Airlines, FedEx, Tower Air and UPS. The National Air Transportation Association opposes such a requirement, at least for on-demand cargo operators, and says TCAS provides only ``minimal'' safety that does not justify its weight and cost.
Champion Aviation Products (Liberty, S.C.)--Steven W. Straub has been promoted to general manager for this manufacturer of exciters, ignition leads and spark plugs.
